Glenluce and Galloway Flyers
Depending on the model and the strength of the wind, this is the tricky
bit! More highly loaded models are easier as long as you keep a bit of
extra speed on in your approach and don’t try to slow it up too much. If
you come in at your normal landing speed, you run an increased risk of
a tip stall with disastrous consequences. I’ve seen this happen way too
often. You must also remember to keep enough airspeed on as you
make your last turn in to line up with the runway otherwise again you
run the risk of flicking out in a tip stall that will be all over before you
can do anything about it.
In a crosswind landing use little or no flap and be prepared for a
longer and faster run out than normal.
If you are trying to land a slow, lightly loaded model, allow it to yaw as
much as you can to get a bit of bite into the wind. WW1 biplanes, vin-
tage models and small foam electric models can be made to crab in
very slowly, but don’t slow up too much otherwise they can just drop
out of the air or flick over in an instant.
As soon as they are on the ground, use rudder to turn them directly
into wind and reduce throttle to idle.
You need to keep “flying” such models even when they are on the
ground to prevent them ground looping round or tipping over. Do this
until a helper is able to approach from behind the model and secure it
for you.
I’ve seen many models burst undercarriages in crosswinds because
there was too much side stress on them as soon as they touched down
whilst still yawing sideways. You need to be ready on the rudder and
ailerons to turn into the wind a bit to take the pressure off the U.C.
when you touch down.
Make sure you turn the model into wind to stop it lifting a wing tip
and being blown over.
A good way to learn these skills is to gradually practise in milder cross-
wind situations to learn what the model does and how it behaves differ-
ently. In time you will be able to increase your level of challenge as
your experience and skills grow until the point where you are comfort-
able with even a full 90 degree gusty crosswind.
I would always advocate getting to know your model’s flying charac-
teristics very well before you attempt to take off, fly and land in cross-
wind conditions.
Ally Young
Landing off in a cross wind