[NSRCA-discussion] Wind correction

[Adam Glatt]

Hi John.  Welcome to the game of wind correction.  There's flying 
pattern, and then there's flying pattern in the wind.  The difference is 
that in the wind you have to mentally trace the change in position of 
the airplane to determine the correct pitch and yaw to fly at.  In calm 
you simply point the plane where you want to go.

Perfect wind correction in pattern requires the wings be held level with 
the horizon for all normal flight, and during rolls the points are still 
perfect 45 or 90 degree banks from level with horizon.  Wind correction 
is completely in the yaw and pitch.  In practice, this results in 
techniques like always-present yaw angle in a crosswind; slight pitch 
angles in any and all uplines, 45s, and loops in the presence of a down 
the runway wind.

There are more techniques that you will need to be perfect at it.  The 
more advanced ones include higher throttle while flying upwind and lower 
while flying downwind, varying elevator position throughout any and all 
looping segments in a down the runway wind to achieve a truly round loop 
(if, during the loop, you go from straight up to upwind you will need to 
decrease your elevator input, as the plane will have a high airspeed by 
low ground speed; if, during the loop, you go from straight up to 
downwind you will need to increase your elevator input), and  the 
trickiest of all, aileron correction during a yaw'd pitch change (i.e. 
every time you use elevator in a crosswind).

That last one is often completely overlooked until someone tells you 
about it.  The best way to realize this correction is needed is with a 
stick plane or hand plane. Fly a level horizontal at a huge yaw angle to 
compensate for a huge crosswind.  So, fly straight but have your plane 
yaw'd 45 degrees.  Now pull elevator.  Remeber, the elevator raises the 
noise relative to the tail.  As the nose lifts and eventually gets to a 
vertical, and if you've been honest with yourself, the ailerons are now 
banked.  The only solution to this is aileron input during the elevator 
input.

Have fun in the wind.

-Adam

John Konneker wrote:
> I'm new at this.
> OK, not really but it's been over 20 years.
> Yesterday while practicing in enough crosswind (blowing in) to have a 
> noticeable effect I was having difficulty keeping the plane form coming in 
> too close.
> I am confused about what the acceptable techniques are to maintain position 
> and ground track.
> Is it acceptable to fly a maneuver with less than wings level to counteract 
> the crosswind?  This has the effect of corkscrewing the loops, etc.
> In the stall turns while going up trying to hold the plane into the wind it 
> will begin to yaw early giving the impression that the turn is being "lead" 
> and is starting too early.
> Is this acceptable.
> Like I said, I'm confused as to what is wind correction and what starts the 
> "1 point per 15 degree" deductions.
> Thanks!
> JLK
>
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