Cross wind landing in a trike

[Big-D]

I often wonder what the best teqnique is to land a trike in a strong crosswind. The airy turns its nose into the wind which is not in line with the runway so there is a risk that you could roll the trike if you do not land it properly.

I have somehow always managed to put the airy down in a crosswind situation but would like to know how the rest of you do it. I was taught 2 different teqniques by 2 different instructors and have used both but still don’t feel confident when landing in a crosswind.

1. Approach with a lot of power 5500rpm and keep flying the trike right above the runway (About 2m), gently let the backwheels touch (still with 5500rpm power) and as soon as the back wheels touch the undercarriage will pull straight, then cut power until the front wheel comes down, as soon as the front wheel touches, pull in the bar. (There is a considerable gap from the moment the back wheels touch down to when the front wheel comes down and you almost “wheelie” the trike for a while.)

2. Approach with good airpeed and 3500rpm, cut power just before round-out, then bleed of speed and keep the plane off the runway for as long as possible hoping that as the speed bleeds off the nose will no longer turn into the wind but become straight with the runway, backwheels touch down and front wheel right after.

Your thoughts on the best and safest way to land in a crosswind?

D

[Dreamer]

I always circle the field a few times trying to placate the wind, if you know why its cross then you can reason with it.

[Big-D]

:D

[KFA]

I have an unconventional way of landing in crosswinds, eg the wind is 90 degr from your left. I approach with a little extra speed (52-55mph) in the windlass and with power. Just before the flare and after the roundout I move the wing right and then back in a small quick movement. What this does is the wing loses it's weathercock action for a second or two and flies dead straight. I then just cut power and put her down a little harder than normal.

I also use the same tecnique as Big D but I find that this one works best on tar runways. I must say this needs a lot of practice, if done wrong you will drift of the runway or stall. This is an advanced manuavre and I will recommend only when landing in a very strong crosswind on a tar runway after some practise.

[Dre'man]

Hi Big D, I have only just gone solo but so far all my flying has been in wind. Your option 2 is the one I have been using and have had no problems. By the time I touch down there is no energy left in the wing. I am sure in a few more hours I'll be trying some different techniques.

[Big-D]

I was fortunate enough to see two Rosslyn instructors land in a nasty crosswind this Saturday, and it looked so easy so I had a quick chat to them.

The theory is that the if the nose of the airy is turning left into the wind on landing then the back right wheel will be lower and will touch the ground first. Therefore, all you have to do is make sure you land softly and the right back wheel will let the trike turn straight and then the left back wheel will touch followed by the front wheel, and by the time the front wheel touches the trike will be straight.

Model of the story, bleed off speed and put the wheels down one at a time. Golden rule is to keep in the trike's fying direction in a line with the runway, no matter how much the nose is turning into the wind

D

[KFA]

I agree Big D but the problem with the above is when you have trees or other obstacles next to the runway you get rotor terbulance that will catch you when you are flying slowly with little control or momentum.

At our runway you get this reasonably smooth descent until about 5 meters of the ground then all hell brakes loose when the rotors over the bushes hit you .

[Junkie]

Fly the plane, use ALL the controls at your disposal - incl power, don't be tempted to roundout higher than 2 -3m, to ensuure you get into and stay in ground effect and fly along until you and the plane are ready to touch down. Dont force the front wheel down to avoid goosewalking, and once on the ground bring the bar all the way back and brake
Go around a few times until you get the hang of it - also consider a downwind / uphill landing if you have the choice as you will benefit from terrain shielding effect, but please do remember your ground speed will be somewhat higher- so DONT be in a HURRY

Short sharp reactions - no place for lazy pilots

[Dreamer]

some crosswind landings here with big bliks, I think the winds here would blow us across the ocean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=875pOtAe3ZA

[Dreamer]

and some more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0QSXkJg ... ed&search=

[brucem]

I think technique on crosswind landings in a trike depend on a number of factors, such as length of the runway, width of the runway, surface of runway and rotor effect of obstacles and trees. Most trike pilots learn a preferred technique that they're comfortable with and develop this with experience. Tar runways are a lot less forgiving and require a different technique to dirt or grass strips. The key to any crosswind landing is having enough airspeed. I normally approach at a flatter angle with substantially more airspeed and fly the aircraft onto the runway. It is then a combination of bar and power settings with a constant glide slope angle all the way down to the runway threshold. Do not come off the power too soon and keep a constant power setting all the way down to the ground. I try to make sure that all three wheels are on the ground as soon as possible for more directional control on landing. With a really wide runway one can approach at a slight angle into wind instead of the conventional line-up approach.

[Hot Stuff]

Big D
Funny you say that about the Rosslyn Micro Flyers. We had guys land at us on Saturday from your club and they could not believe the wind. Due to the mountain right next to us we train with the cross wind issue so for us it's not as bad for us as it is for you guys. But they right, practice, practice, practice

Enjoy

[gertcoetzee]

@Morningstar:

After landing today I had the chance to get Francois on film - see Video link on http://www.zu-dve.com

[Big-D]

You boys at the coast sure can fly - I would have come in with alot more juice (Probably the wrong thing to do but has worked for me) - He handled it well - Heavy cross wind, notice how the trike pulls straight as he applied power

D

[gertcoetzee]

Every landing at Morningstar is different - there are hills 4 miles to the south & southeast, one two miles to the north, and Blouberg to the east. Then the field is flanked by wattle to the north, south and west. Immediately next to the field on the west is Port Jackson. With a bit of wind all these cause their own effects - once below the Port Jackson, approx 10-15 feet things settle, as do sphincters.

Have another look at that videoclip, once it stops (last frame) you can see the windsock on one of the hangars.