tough cross wind landing

[Christopher Murphy]

After the WCFC 3 of us had to get creative to get back to Colorado. My RV-4 not having enough range to make the last leg from Gallup,NM to Ft Collins non stop required a fuel stop short. The winds were gusting over 30 knots at most airports along the route but were forecast to be 300 deg at Lajunta Colorado which has a northwest runway. So I skirted snow showers most of the way over the high terrain. I was unable to get thru the (Routon pass) on I-25 northbound. I deviated east over lower terrain and made it to LHX where I found the winds to be a serious cross wind on both runways . My back up plan was to go on east to Lamar if I couldn't land at LaJunta. Since I had the camera installed, I turned it on for the landing. Look off the left wing at the beginning of the video and you will see blowing dust. I didn't realize how much I was verbalizing until I watched the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzumJUl6POc

[jjhoneck]

Originally Posted by Christopher Murphy

After the WCFC 3 of us had to get creative to get back to Colorado. My RV-4 not having enough range to make the last leg from Gallup,NM to Ft Collins non stop required a fuel stop short. The winds were gusting over 30 knots at most airports along the route but were forecast to be 300 deg at Lajunta Colorado which has a northwest runway. So I skirted snow showers most of the way over the high terrain. I was unable to get thru the (Routon pass) on I-25 northbound. I deviated east over lower terrain and made it to LHX where I found the winds to be a serious cross wind on both runways . My back up plan was to go on east to Lamar if I couldn't land at LaJunta. Since I had the camera installed, I turned it on for the landing. Look off the left wing at the beginning of the video and you will see blowing dust. I didn't realize how much I was verbalizing until I watched the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzumJUl6POc

Nicely done. From what I heard from friends who live there, Colorado was not the garden spot of the nation today.

[ColoRv]

It certainly was not the best of weather today.

I spent the day at the hangar...afraid to open the door. DIA was reporting 47 knots when I left. Chris...you're more pilot than I am.

[pierre smith]

Chris, I sometimes land diagonally (more or less) across the runway to reduce the crosswind component. Flare over the grass, miss the runway lights and cross the runway to the opposite side grass...it can help.

Best,

[Sid Lambert]

RV-4 rocks. Great job!

"I'll be glad when this day is over". I've said that a few times when returning home with windy condition.

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Chris, I sometimes land diagonally (more or less) across the runway to reduce the crosswind component. Flare over the grass, miss the runway lights and cross the runway to the opposite side grass...it can help.

Best,

This. Keeping it straight down the runway is overrated.

[WAM120RV]

Chris,

Very well done! I would have like to have seen the take off that followed after refueling as well. The 4 is really good at landing in a cross wind, I find taking off with the torque swing more difficult.

I have shared this on Facebook, I hope you don't mind.

[MarkW]

Nice landing. I played it without audio and it looked like a no wind landing to me.
At least you did not have a passenger to scare.
I don't want to bomb your thread but my wife has a story from a few weeks ago that she will not soon let me forget.
We were traveling to Charleston KCHS @ 9k and approach put me down about 10 miles out. Wind was 17G24KT so a little bumpy anyway. They turned me for final while still 3k and told me there was a C-5A on 5 mile final. I crossed the threshold 500' and 120kts. This is where I should have said UNABLE. I spent most of my effort trying to get down and slower that my crappy landing sideloaded enough to break a wheel pant. Glad it was a torn wheel pant and not a blown tire. Lessons learned.

[Chino Tom]

Nice landing!

[Christopher Murphy]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Chris, I sometimes land diagonally (more or less) across the runway to reduce the crosswind component. Flare over the grass, miss the runway lights and cross the runway to the opposite side grass...it can help.

Best,

Yes I have used that trick too. You notice I landed right of center line. This gives me room to let it move left if I can't hold it. The runway was pretty narrow to really get much angle on it.

Someone else mentioned torque on take off.. I used that to my advantage.

I learned tailwheel flying from really old timers and they taught me a lot of things to consider for a landing like this. They don't make pilots like those guys anymore.

This most important thing to take from this is that I had an out if I couldn't land.