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Old 09-06-2005 | 02:17 PM
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Charlie P.'s Avatar
Charlie P.
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,117
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From: Port Crane, NY
Default RE: FLYING IN THE WIND

I always land better with a good headwind. Think about it. Say the plane's landing speed at idle is 15 mph. With a 10 mph headwind that means it's happening in front of you at a relative 5 mph over ground. With a 15 mph headwind most models can drop in at a near enough hover.

Takeoffs into a good wind are easier, too. The plane has lift out the giggie.

Now, a 15 mph crosswind can make for a fun time when the rubber meets the runway.

The thing to watch out for are low level and/or low speed turns to downwind. Gusts are also a bummer at times, especially with flat-bottomed wings.

One of my planes is a taildragger with a huge vert strab & rudder and that forces me to either taxi fast or "blip" lots of throttle to swing the tail around. I've have had winter days on skis when I'd set it up, only to have it skid sideways and weathervane all on it's own.