Originally Posted by
speedracerntrixie
If I'm flying in a cross wind I first have to determine the angle the wind is coming relative to the runway. Then based on the airspeed I think I'm going to be flying I will need to determine the amount of crab angle into the wind. Then without any instruments at all I am supposed to duplicate from one pass to the next the same exact airspeed and crab angle on an airplane flying anywhere from 300 ft to 1200 ft away from where I am standing? If I do all this correctly I will be able to do strait passes parallel to the runway? Will the 1/2 gallon of fuel I will be burning be a variable? It is approx 15% of total aircraft weight at take off. I suppose I can have my caller standing there with a wiz wheel..
Not sure about it sounding silly, but people do it all the time slope soaring (traditional not dynamic) and can do it without a rudder or engine?
And no, you don't have to have your upwind wing low either. You just don't turn the airframe through 180 deg at each end, just like you don't rotate the airframe through 90 deg into a vertical upline if you're flying into a headwind.
Serious question, do you rotate through 90deg until your nose is pointing straight up, then start leaning on down elevator to stop it getting "blown" backward when pulling to a vertical upline in a headwind?.