Original Posted By:
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Flying in the Kansas Wind On Wednesday I went out to face a stiff, gusty, east crosswind. A couple of buddies showed up, who I told I would give 'em a Pietenpol Ride, but I wanted to do some solo landings before I took on a passenger. There was about3/4 sock exposed at almost direct crosswind, which made it Pilot's discretion asto which runway to use. Initially, the Skydivers plane was using 35, but when I finished pre-flight, they took off on 17. I've been looking for an opportunity to practice crosswind technique, and this one really laid it out forme. Taxiing in the wind was not really difficult, just remember Climb into a quartering headwind, and dive away from a quartering tailwind. It did rock thewings back & forth some, but was very manageable. Just before back taxi on 17,two of the skydivers were landing behind me, and to the right...I didn't and couldn't see them coming. I'm glad they decided not to land on top of me !! Left crosswind takeoff was not too bad...just keep the left aileron in during the takeoff run, and gradually bring it back to close to neutral until rotation. Break ground, and she immediately weathervanes into the wind, and Ifly sideways the rest of the way down the runway, and turn left soon after the endof the runway, to take advantage of the more forgiving terrain. Stayed in thepattern to do some landings, & back taxi. Base to final I overshot the grass strip, and the first landing was a third of the way down the 1500' grass strip, and a pretty good bounce, so I went full power for a go around...don't eventry to save a bad landing...just go around. The next attempt was much better,but still a bounce. I was trying to carry too much speed on final approach, with the upwind wing down, so the instant the mains made contact, I blipped some forward stick to keep it on the ground, for a wheel landing. I disappointed my friends when I told them it was too rough to risk taking a passengerin these conditions. I was bouncing all over the place on downwind. I did another flight later on in the evening, after the wind died down some, went southabout 5 miles, and did some steep turns about a point...Smoke On !! Came backand made 3 pretty good landings. Remember : If you can walk away, it was a good landing...if you can use the plane again, it was a Great Landing !! On Thursday, there was a Full sock of wind, right down the runway. I had less than a half load of fuel, and was by myself today, so I thought I wouldsee how short the takeoff roll would be...maybe even a Vertical takeoff !! I rolled the plane out of the hanger, and pointed 'er right into the wind, for pre-flight. She just wouldn't stand still long enough for me to pre-flight !! She kept tippee toeing, lifting one wheel off the ground, then the other, then the tail would come up. I couldn't even walk away from the plane !! I hadto hold 'er from rolling backwards, too. I thought maybe I would have to chalk the Back of the tires !! This went on for about 10 minutes, before I decided to put 'er back in the barn (hanger). If I had a helper, I could haveflown that day, but this launch was beyond my solo capacity.Ah, yesss...the Kansas Winds - always challenging...practice, practice, practice !!!Chuck G.Wichita, KSNX770CG________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2006 6:11:54 -0700