Cross-Wind Take-Off Techniques

[John Lawton]

Hey Guys,

When you lift the tail on your take off roll in any tail dragger that has an engine that rotates clockwise (from the pilot's perspective) you are also going to get some gyroscopic effect that tends to make the airplane veer left as the tail comes up. This gyroscopic effect was much more pronounced in my Pawnee with 300+ hp that I used to tow gliders with, but it's there with the Ximango, too, just not as strong as with the Pawnee. It became second nature for me to anticipate this tendency and to input a sharp tap or two on the right rudder pedal as I lift the tail on take off with any tail dragger to compensate for this effect until the tail is up and stabilized.

My home field is turf and I've found that I need to get the tail up as soon as possible so that I can accelerate to flying speed. Leaving the tail on the ground on a turf runway, especially if the grass is tall, lengthens the take off roll considerably. I don't notice any real difference on pavement, though.

Regards,

John Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135

[bruceschimmel]

Thx, all, for the great discussion. In a left quartering wind, I'm finding that the classic advice is best. Start with a touch of right rudder, ailerons full left and back, and neutralize slowly enough to keep the left wind from getting under the left wing.

[keyvan]

HI , TAKE A LOOK AT TO THIS SITE

www.taildraggers.com - Documentation

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[Ron Snedecor]

Hi Guys,

I'd sure like to hear a little more discussion about wheel landing the Ximango. John, I liked your the description of your technique. I have a fair amount of taildragger time and have never had a problem with wheel landings. But with the Ximangos stiff landing gear and so much lift in the wings the moment the gear touches and the tail drops ever so slightly I'm back in the air. Is it just a very careful timing of the spoiler?

Ron Snedecor
AMT-300 #115

[John Lawton]

Hey Ron,

Yep, spoiler timing is the key, IMO. I level off at about 1' with the spoilers cracked open about 1"-2", then slowly open the spoilers to about half until it slows and settles. I push forward slightly on the stick as the mains touch to keep the tail up, then pull full spoilers to keep it on the ground. As it slows the tail settles to the ground. I pretty much always do wheel landings. I don't think it's always necessary to wheel land the Ximango, though. I do wheel landings because that's the habit I developed from towing gliders with my Pawnee. Unless I had a strong tail, i.e., >12 mph, I'd usually land back towards the grid in the Pawnee to save time. Keeping the tail up would get me back to the line quicker for the next tow. I feel a bit more in control with the tail up, too.

Hope it helps!

Regards,

John Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135

[Ron Snedecor]

Thanks John. I'll keep working on it.

Ron

[Jorgen]

Hi Guys,
new to the forum, thanks for great tips regarding XWind. I fly a Fournier with monowheel undercarriage (ancestor of the Ximango!) so wheather-vaning is pronounced and even taxying in windy conditions can be a challenge. At or close to flying speed, managing XWind is pretty standard, but as you loose rudder authority things can get pretty interesting. Normally you have to keep the tailwheel on the ground in XWind conditions but another tip that I feel you guys might have use for is that a burst of power (with full rudder) to "blow the tail right" can come in handy in certain situations.

Best Regards/ Jorgen

[bruceschimmel]

Hmmm. A "burst of power" would be really nice. But on t/o, the engine is already maxed out. However, if you start the t/o roll with the airbrakes extended, you can imitate a "burst of power" when you retract them). And keeping the airbrakes out, initially, also "sticks" the a/c to the runway until the rudder is effective, which is about 40 kts.

[John Lawton]

A lot of glider drivers in high performance ships will open their spoilers initially on tow. I've seen some of the self launchers use this trick, too. I have been told raising the spoilers forces more air outboard and over the ailerons, giving some roll authority sooner than would normally occur. This technique also helps keep them from dragging a wing tip in the beginning of the tow after the wing runner releases, especially when they have ballast in the wings. I had one guy in our club I used to tow regularly in an SZD-55 who couldn't successfully launch unless he started out with the spoilers open. I have to say as a tow pilot who towed routinely from a short strip it's a little unnerving to look in the mirror and see the glider you're towing with the spoilers open as you barrel towards the trees at the far end.

Regards,

John Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135