Thrust Flight

JULY 11, 2024

You’re greasing the landings, your flight instructor has finally stopped chirping on about your insufficient use of the rudder, and the crosswind is blissfully mellow. One day, you’re flying the pattern and feeling pretty good about things. Then, all of a sudden, your CFI says it’s time to taxi back to the ramp.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Rudder Thrust 52

Flight Training Central

MARCH 4, 2024

As the airplane turns onto the following base leg, the tailwind will decrease and becomes a crosswind. The bank angle should be reduced gradually with coordinated aileron and rudder input. The turn from downwind leg to base leg will be more than 90 degrees to compensate for the increasing crosswind.

Groundspeed 52

Groundspeed Crosswind Aileron Rudder 52

Air Facts

MAY 24, 2024

The only thing that caught my attention was a 90 degree crosswind coming from the east that was gusting to 11 or 12 knots. Turning base to final, I found the crosswind to be gusting as advertised. My left crosswind became left downwind very quickly. Why aren’t you strong on the rudder pedals to steer us on centerline?”

Aileron 81

Aileron Crosswind Knot Runway 81

Plane and Pilot

JULY 9, 2024

The unique H-tail reduces the left-turning tendencies during takeoff while also minimizing the weathervaning effect prevalent in crosswinds. While the original Ercoupes lacked a rudder and rudder pedals entirely, this example has had them installed as an aftermarket kit, making the airplane a bit more familiar for newcomers to fly.

Rudder 65

Rudder Airplanes Crosswind Tail 65

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 23, 2025

Taxiing procedures: Moving the aircraft to the runway involves steering with your feet using the rudder pedals. Although I consider myself somewhat of a fearless adrenaline junkie, watching the wheel just outside my window touch down on the pavement while the other was still suspended as we leaned into a crosswind got my heart racing a bit.

Rudder 78

Rudder Descent Pilot Runway 78

Pilot Institute

JULY 12, 2024

Flying the Base Leg All aircraft land into the wind, so the base leg usually involves some crosswind. The crosswind can push you out and mess up your glidepath if you’re not careful. It’s tempting to increase the bank angle and add some rudder to rotate the aircraft. Use the rudder pedals to maintain centerline.

Descent 52

Descent Weight-Shift-Control Crosswind Runway 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 4, 2024

When I was working on my PPL, I learned crosswind landings proficiently, plenty good enough for the check ride, but we never had an ugly, gusty, strong crosswind landing day. I was telling him how I had just made a whole series of beautiful, one-wheel, crosswind landings. He looked puzzled. Why might that be? Hopefully not.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Aileron Runway Gross Weight 52

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 1, 2024

Power has to be added, pitch is changed from nose down to nose up, elevator trim adjusted, rudder pressures (and trim if available) changed, flaps reconfigured and gear (if appropriate) retracted. With regular practice it becomes second nature to add power with your right hand as you increase rudder pressure with your right foot.

Crosswind 52

Crosswind Approach Rudder Airplanes 52

Plane and Pilot

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

I watched the stick flutter to and fro in sync with the rudder pedals as Wilkins fought to maintain the centerline, all the while pushing in the throttle. Once there, he put us in a slight right turn toward our first fuel stop 60 miles ahead, continuously fighting the stick as the gusting left crosswind did its best to push us off course.

Runway 82

Runway Crosswind Rudder Pilot 82

Pilot Institute

MAY 9, 2024

We counteract adverse yaw by applying rudder in the direction of the turn. The amount of rudder required depends on roll rate and airspeed. Airspeed and attitude change constantly, and we must change rudder input along with them. We apply right rudder to counteract the left-turning tendencies.

Rudder 52

Rudder Lift Aileron Drag 52

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 12, 2025

Primary Flight Controls The primary controls of a small plane are the yoke, rudder pedals, and throttle. Rudder pedals help manage yaw, which keeps the aircraft aligned during turns or crosswinds. The throttle controls engine power, determining your speed and altitude adjustments.

Weather 52

Weather Pilot Rudder Drag 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 16, 2024

If there is a crosswind at the airport, you should mention this in your brief. Discuss your nominated crosswind technique. Explain what aircraft input you will require to land the aircraft in the crosswind. For example, the crosswind is from left to right. You will either carry out the side-slip or de-crab technique.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Descent Approach Runway 52

Pilot Institute

MAY 4, 2024

Will you need a crosswind correction? Not Applying Crosswind Controls Directional control becomes difficult when proper technique isn’t applied during crosswind conditions. Use the rudder to keep the aircraft in line with the runway and apply aileron into the wind. Almost every landing is a crosswind landing, after all.

Weight-Shift-Control 52

Weight-Shift-Control Runway Approach Crosswind 52

Pilot Institute

OCTOBER 13, 2024

You should use the rudder to do this. Use the Rudder In case of a strong crosswind, you can use the crab control or side slip to keep the aircraft aligned with the runway. If you don’t compensate for the wind using the rudder, you may cause the aircraft to bounce sideways or swerve off the runway.

Descent 52

Descent Runway Rudder Pilot 52

Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

A jolt from the side can trigger a Dutch roll when flying in gusty crosswinds or heavy turbulence. To correct a Dutch roll, pilots should apply opposite rudder to the yaw direction to help dampen the motion. Once the yaw dampens, gradually reduce rudder input to neutral. What is a yaw damper?

Stability 52

Stability Center of Gravity Aileron Rudder 52

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 27, 2025

From misjudging the flare to battling crosswinds, these mistakes can challenge pilots of all experience levels. Remember that torque will be created as power is applied; therefore, it will be necessary to use rudder pressure to keep the airplane straight as it settles onto the runway.

Airplanes 52

Airplanes Runway Accelerated Stall Lift 52

AV Web

JANUARY 22, 2025

Twenty-five percent of stalls during go-arounds, 40 percent of those during takeoff or climb to pattern altitude, and 54 percent of those on all legs of the pattern between the crosswind turn and final approach were fatal, according to the AOPA/ASI report. We cant emphasize enough the need for rudder coordination.

Final Approach 52

Final Approach Airplanes Drag Crosswind 52

Flight Training Central

DECEMBER 4, 2023

At this time, it should be gently lowered.Maintain directional control and crosswind correction with appropriate rudder aileron input. Maintain back pressure on the yoke to keep the nosewheel off the ground until it can no longer aerodynamically be held off of the field surface.

Approach 52

Approach Ground Effect Final Approach Airplanes 52

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Like most homebuilts and many SLSAs, the RV-12 steers on the ground via differential braking, but the good-sized rudder does contribute if you have a bit of wind. The rudder hardly calls attention to itself outside of having plenty of authority. A nuance, perhaps. Right until liftoff, takeoffs are fairly uneventful.

Airplanes 84

Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 84

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024

NTSB ERA22LA169 describes a funny engine noise that prompted an earlier than planned turn to crosswind for an anticipated return to the airport. When power was added, there were brief pitch oscillations before the plane departed the left side of the runway, as if P-factor and lack of right rudder input were present.

Gross Weight 88

Gross Weight Runway Airplanes Pilot 88

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

By doing so, a recognizable, firm input demonstrates that using all the aileron travel wasn’t the answer—those rudder pedals are not footrests. Less-than-ideal conditions may mean a shift in lesson plan from a cross-country to an opportunity to perfect crosswind technique. No training block should ever be cast in stone. 1 priority.

Runway 52

Runway Wind Shear Crosswind Ceiling 52

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 2, 2024

By doing so, a recognizable, firm input demonstrates that using all the aileron travel wasn’t the answer—those rudder pedals are not footrests. Less-than-ideal conditions may mean a shift in lesson plan from a cross-country to an opportunity to perfect crosswind technique. No training block should ever be cast in stone. 1 priority.

Runway 52

Runway Wind Shear Crosswind Ceiling 52

Airspeed Junkie

AUGUST 2, 2024

The control yoke and rudder pedals offer precise control, contributing to the ease of flying. The reliability of the Cessna 172 shines through in various flight conditions, including crosswinds and turbulence. This simplicity in control is one of the reasons why the Cessna 172 is so popular in flight training programs.

Knot 98

Knot Cockpit Pilot Gross Weight 98

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

In 1998, I joined a venerable flying club, Stick and Rudder Flying Club of Waukegan National Airport (KUGN). I chose runway 14 (the UGN crosswind runway) and the crash and resuce vehicles moved onto the adjacent taxiway. Hopefully you can acquire that experience without injury or damage.

Pilot 87

Pilot Descent Runway Crosswind 87

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. When you discover too late that the old rudder lock doesn’t fit the new rudder… The local hardware store had pool noodles, PVC tubing, and rope. The upper Midwest scenery can be spectacular. As I got on downwind, the ADS-B went totally nuts.

Weather 58

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 58

Plane and Pilot

JANUARY 7, 2025

She flew like a big, lumbering Cub of sorts, complete with a wooden rudder bar, tall wooden stick, and instruments that seemed like they were straight out of World War One. Once youre used to those key differences, flying and landing a Stearman (without much crosswind, wink wink) is just as enjoyable, if not more, than a Cub.

Airplanes 98

Airplanes Tail Pilot Jet 98

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

The 172 has a steerable nosewheel, much heavier than the rudders on my RV-9A with a castering nosewheel. There was a nice crosswind, and I demonstrated landing on a concrete expansion joint, offset from the runway centerline. Not really a problem, as the CFI and I had a great chat for an hour about things aeronautical.

Pitot Tube 61

Pitot Tube Approach Aileron Instrument Landing System 61

Plane and Pilot

NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Like most homebuilts and many SLSAs, the RV-12 steers on the ground via differential braking, but the good-sized rudder does contribute if you have a bit of wind. The rudder hardly calls attention to itself outside of having plenty of authority. A nuance, perhaps. Right until liftoff, takeoffs are fairly uneventful.

Airplanes 77

Airplanes Knot Pitot Tube Gross Weight 77

Northstar VFR

APRIL 21, 2024

Is 10 hours enough to handle max demonstrated crosswind from the right seat? Not because of my stick and rudder skills (we all plant them every now and then), not because of my immense knowledge (I have to look a TON of stuff up), but because I care about my students' time, money and overall constant progression as a safe pilot.

Checkride 56

Checkride Airplanes Pilot Crosswind 56

Plane and Pilot

OCTOBER 29, 2024

Kentland has a 4,000-foot runway, east/west, with a crosswind straight out of the north. When you discover too late that the old rudder lock doesn’t fit the new rudder… The local hardware store had pool noodles, PVC tubing, and rope. The upper Midwest scenery can be spectacular. As I got on downwind, the ADS-B went totally nuts.

Weather 52

Weather Runway Knot Rudder 52

Air Facts

APRIL 10, 2024

Rudder stomping landings in the Cessna 180 that hated to stay in a straight line on the ground. And then the landing near Palm Springs when I became a test pilot for the 182RG crosswind component. First cross country to California from Illinois. First loop in the Citabria. It hasn’t been all McGee touch the face of God poetry.

Pilot 52

Pilot General Aviation VOR Cockpit 52

Pilot's Life Blog

JANUARY 5, 2025

Proper coordination of throttle, trim, and rudder inputs are critical during this phase of flight. Failing to anticipate gusts or crosswinds can make your landing unstable. Managing the critical engine, which is the engine closest to the aircrafts wingtip, is key to reducing drag and maintaining control.

Descent 52

Descent Final Approach Approach Runway 52

Fly with Eva

FEBRUARY 24, 2018

Every session we tick off training elements, from basics like steep turns and approach to stall recovery, TCAS RA, to engine failures, fires, evacuations, crosswind landings. I struggle to fly a nice approach, coordinating my rudder and thrust. I really enjoy the simulator phase a lot. I am not pleased with my performance.

Approach 52

Approach Flight Deck Cargo Pilot 52

Air Facts

JUNE 21, 2024

I let him have the controls again, my hands approximately one-sixteenth of an inch away away from the yoke, my feet surreptitiously on the rudders. I don’t think he knew what the ailerons or rudder did. Aileron into the wind, rudder to straighten the nose” also bounced off his doctoral noggin. I looked at him.

Rudder 66

Rudder Crosswind Knot Aileron 66

Air Facts

AUGUST 26, 2024

Of course wind can be a challenge, and crosswind landings often top the list of pilots’ least favorite maneuver, but that’s no excuse. If we’re going to fly on anything approaching a regular schedule, we must get comfortable operating in crosswinds and gusty conditions.

Knot 94

Knot Runway Airplanes Pilot 94

Flight Training Central

JANUARY 15, 2024

Once in position and any crosswind corrections noted, takeoff power should be applied smoothly and continuously while holding the brakes until the maximum obtainable engine power. The aircraft should be positioned for takeoff to take advantage of all usable takeoff area – even if this requires a short back taxi.

Density Altitude 52

Density Altitude Indicated Airspeed Lift Runway 52

Pilot Institute

APRIL 19, 2024

You’re at a high pitch attitude and are counteracting the left-turning tendencies with rudder. If you have a left crosswind and are banking left, you’ll have a tighter turn, which is beneficial. Spinning There is a higher-than-usual chance of a spin during an engine failure on takeoff.

AGL 52

AGL Runway Descent Lift 52