Well after six days of not flying, my instructor had a little treat for me. The winds were blowing today (11-18knots), about ninety degrees from the runway heading, so he simply states.. "show me your cross wind landings". After learning to land in Iowa, I was comfortable with cross wind landings, so we headed out.
However! Lets just say the first landing was NOT pretty, it was effective but not graceful. The second resulted in a slam and go, he laughed as I took it around "glad you didn't try to salvage that". As I took off, I noticed the fire truck parked by the runway, like the vultures! I could swear the controllers were betting on a crash truck exercise as they keep giving me the runway with the worst cross wind per my instructors request.
Now I'm getting irritated at myself. I know I can land in cross winds, I actually love them! The third landing was better, and the fourth was respectable. Finally landing number eight was smooth, on center line and controlled. We stopped while I was ahead. While riding home I was thinking what was causing my issues, to cross wind landings. Then it dawned on me, its the crab.
Cross wind landings are typically handled by one of two techniques. The crab or wing down and top rudder methods. That was it, I preferred the wing down top rudder technique when I was in Iowa. Well now I know the crab method! Not all planes can handle or are designed for the cross controlled technique of wing down top rudder method so, now I can do both.
I'm off to complete my cross country planning for my first California cross country. We are off to Hemet and Borrego Springs tomorrow.
However! Lets just say the first landing was NOT pretty, it was effective but not graceful. The second resulted in a slam and go, he laughed as I took it around "glad you didn't try to salvage that". As I took off, I noticed the fire truck parked by the runway, like the vultures! I could swear the controllers were betting on a crash truck exercise as they keep giving me the runway with the worst cross wind per my instructors request.
Now I'm getting irritated at myself. I know I can land in cross winds, I actually love them! The third landing was better, and the fourth was respectable. Finally landing number eight was smooth, on center line and controlled. We stopped while I was ahead. While riding home I was thinking what was causing my issues, to cross wind landings. Then it dawned on me, its the crab.
Cross wind landings are typically handled by one of two techniques. The crab or wing down and top rudder methods. That was it, I preferred the wing down top rudder technique when I was in Iowa. Well now I know the crab method! Not all planes can handle or are designed for the cross controlled technique of wing down top rudder method so, now I can do both.
I'm off to complete my cross country planning for my first California cross country. We are off to Hemet and Borrego Springs tomorrow.
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