A few months ago an Antonov An2 flew over our model field. It is the huge biplane with a single monster radial engine and it flies very slowly. Its slow speed in a stiff crosswind meant that its heading (where it is pointing) was quite different to its track (its path over the ground). Our then club Chairman looked up and commented on how much rudder the pilot must be holding on. Aaaargh! I had to explain to quite a few of them that an aeroplane goes straight through the air and no rudder is being held on at all, it is only appearing to travel sideways in relation to the ground which the aircraft itself knows nothing about. Cross country flying in any aeroplane would be impossible if we had to hold on rudder against the wind - rudder is very strong and makes your leg tired out in minutes, most full-size planes do not have a rudder trim.

This does not suddenly change just because you are on approach in a side wind, though some model fliers seem to think so. The laws of physics don't know you are on approach. An aircraft on approach in a sidewind is flown just like an aircraft in the climb or cruise - if its heading and track are different its because it is being blown by the wind and not by holding on rudder. Think it through - rudder causes yaw which very slowly causes turn due to fuz lift and engine thrust being angled off. If you hold on rudder in a wind then you will eventually go around in a big circle!

Harry