Skytrash
Active Member
I am amazed at how well the RV-9A lands in cross winds.
Last Tuesday the winds were pretty high as a cold front passed through the area. A friend and I were returning to our home airport with the AWOS reporting wind 17 gusting to 25 at 70 degrees off runway heading. And of course the wind always blows with the hangers, trees, etc on the upwind side of the runway. Half way down the 3400 foot runway is the best for limiting the swirling wind around buildings.
On final we had a good 20 to 25 degree crab angle to keep lined up with the runway. Transitioned to a slip at about 50 feet over the numbers. No problem with rudder authority. The gusts and burble made it necessary to be very active on the stick. The amazing part is that I could maintain the runway centerline without feeling like I was even close to running out of control authority.
Touched down on the upwind tire and a gust lifted us off the runway but kept the upwind wing down and kept flying. Set down on the upwind tire again 50-100 ft further down the runway and almost immediately the other main was on the ground. I retracted the flaps as soon as both mains were on the ground to dump lift. Rollout and taxi were uneventful.
I am wondering what the real demonstrated cross wind component is for the RV-9A. I am now going to consider mine 17 knots. It is really probably closer to 20.
Anyone out there demonstrated a higher cross wind component in a 9A?
I have to say that I commute in my 9A almost every day so I do get plenty of practice.
Last Tuesday the winds were pretty high as a cold front passed through the area. A friend and I were returning to our home airport with the AWOS reporting wind 17 gusting to 25 at 70 degrees off runway heading. And of course the wind always blows with the hangers, trees, etc on the upwind side of the runway. Half way down the 3400 foot runway is the best for limiting the swirling wind around buildings.
On final we had a good 20 to 25 degree crab angle to keep lined up with the runway. Transitioned to a slip at about 50 feet over the numbers. No problem with rudder authority. The gusts and burble made it necessary to be very active on the stick. The amazing part is that I could maintain the runway centerline without feeling like I was even close to running out of control authority.
Touched down on the upwind tire and a gust lifted us off the runway but kept the upwind wing down and kept flying. Set down on the upwind tire again 50-100 ft further down the runway and almost immediately the other main was on the ground. I retracted the flaps as soon as both mains were on the ground to dump lift. Rollout and taxi were uneventful.
I am wondering what the real demonstrated cross wind component is for the RV-9A. I am now going to consider mine 17 knots. It is really probably closer to 20.
Anyone out there demonstrated a higher cross wind component in a 9A?
I have to say that I commute in my 9A almost every day so I do get plenty of practice.