Lining up on late,late final?

[lcseale53 0]

Rudder for directional control - including cross controlled flight on final...? Absolutely essential if you are flying a taildragger (conventional gear), and good practice if you are flying anything else. About 1500 taildragger landings ago I learned the difference between a good landing and a controlled crash - and it all starts in the approach. Granted, light crosswinds pose little difficulty using either technique, as long as you stay alert and reactive. But with a significant crosswind, a stabilized forward slip to touchdown is really the only safe option - and that also may include touching down on the upwind main and tailwheel first, followed by the downwind main. It's not easy, but then that's why they put the training wheel on the front:). Regards,Leon

[Misha_K 0]

I would add that increasing screen resolution might help as well. With low resolution you sometimes cannot tell whether you are lined up or not until you get very close, particularly with a small narrow runway. Misha

[turner112 52]

Hi Leon - What Jacobus described - rudder for direction, but wings level?Not sure how you slip with level wings...Personally, even with a mild crosswind, in a 172 (the only thing I've flown) I'm way more comfortable crabbing in and just slipping at flare...Taildraggers must be fun.Andrew>Rudder for directional control - including cross controlled>flight on final...? Absolutely essential if you are flying a>taildragger (conventional gear), and good practice if you are>flying anything else. About 1500 taildragger landings ago I>learned the difference between a good landing and a controlled>crash - and it all starts in the approach. Granted, light>crosswinds pose little difficulty using either technique, as>long as you stay alert and reactive. But with a significant>crosswind, a stabilized forward slip to touchdown is really>the only safe option - and that also may include touching down>on the upwind main and tailwheel first, followed by the>downwind main. It's not easy, but then that's why they put>the training wheel on the front:). >>Regards,>Leon

[lcseale53 0]

Andrew,You're assessment is correct. You can maintain directional (runway alignment) control with wings level but you can't maintain proximity - you move away from the centerline. Which is why you either slip or crab in the first place. You must have the upwind wing down to move the lift vector into the wind (essentially a cross controlled turn into the wind). The reason this is so important in a taildragger is to insure centerline alignment at touchdown. Anything otherwise is exciting at best, and expensive at worst (the infamous groundloop). The same is advisable in an aircraft with a nose wheel, but it's not as critical, as the tri-gear setup will tolerate almost anything. And a previous post was also correct in that passengers don't necessarily enjoy a slip, and the crab is certainly more comfortable.And yes, taildraggers are great fun, but demanding of one's undivided attention - but still fun!Leon