Flight Lesson 6

Crosswinds/Ground track, Performance

Ground lesson 6 must be completed before this flight lesson.

Objective: For the student to be introduced to crosswinds by doing the same maneuvers as Lesson 5 but with a crosswind.

Assignment for this lesson:
  • Read and understand FAA Airplane Flying Handbook, Chapter 6 through section “Drift and Ground Track Control” as specified in “HPTS Sport Pilot Guide of What to Study.”
Content:
  • New: set up the weather to have a 10-knot wind blowing from the south with no turbulence. Set the weather to be early in the morning (this provides a shadow on the runway so you can see how high you are of the runway for the low approach maneuver).
  • Here you are going to do a controlled takeoff and departure with a crosswind by keeping it in the middle of the runway, keep the stick slightly to the left to account for the crosswind, rotate at the proper speed (typically 60 knots), and maintaining 60 in your climb +/- 10 knots. Climb at 60 knots (or whatever the recommended climb speed is for the airplane). Keep the airplane in the middle of the runway but it will be crabbed to the left as you go down the runway.
  • Turn left, gently 90-degree turn, maintaining 60 knots until you get to a 180-degree heading directly south.
  • Keep climbing to 7000 feet MSL than level out and reduce throttle to maintain 70 knots. Here you maintain 7000-foot altitude, 70 knots airspeed and a 180-degree south heading.
  • Set up the aircraft to be in a three-mile final approach to the Carson City runway 27 same as lesson 5. Again, this will be the starting position for the rest of the maneuvers in this lesson.
  • New: Cross wind low approach maneuver – Start the flight at this 3-mile final approach position. Maintain 60 knots but reduce throttle to approach the runway at the proper glide slope where the approach VASI lights show the proper glide slope to the runway (half red – half white). Make sure you can see over the instrument panel by moving the eye point up as required but can still see the airspeed indicator. Proceed on this glide slope until you get to the runway and then increase power to remain level about 5 feet over the runway maintaining 60 knots. This is a very difficult maneuver, especially in a crosswind. Once you get to the end of the runway, apply full power and do a go around. This is the end of the maneuver. Practice this maneuver until you get it under control.
  • New: New crosswind performance maneuver 30-degree bank- Start at the 3-mile final approach position at 60 knots. Climb to 6000 feet and stabilize straight and level at 60 knots. Then do a 30-degree banked turn to the left with a complete 360-degree circle to come out at the same heading. Maintain altitude and airspeed. (Some throttle may be needed in the turn to maintain altitude.) Do a 30-degree banked turn to the right with a complete 360-degree circle to come out at the same heading. Maintain altitude and airspeed. At any time during this maneuver, you get to the airport, turn 90 degrees to the left at a 30-degree banked turn and fly to the south. Use this 180-degree heading as your start and end position for each maneuver. Continue to do these left and right hand 360 degree turns until you can maintain flight within 200 feet altitude, 20 degrees heading, and +/- 10 knots airspeed.
  • New: Cross wind performance maneuver 45-degree bank- Start at the 3-mile final approach position at 60 knots. Climb to 6000 feet and stabilize straight and level at 60 knots. Then do a 45-degree banked turn to the left with a complete 360-degree circle to come out at the same heading. Maintain altitude and airspeed. (Some throttle will be needed in the turn to maintain altitude.) Do a 45-degree banked turn to the right with a complete 360-degree circle to come out at the same heading. Maintain altitude and airspeed. At any time during this maneuver, you get to the airport, turn 90 degrees to the left at a 45-degree banked turn and fly to the south. Use this 180-degree heading as your start and end position for each maneuver. Continue to do these left and right hand 360 degree turns until you can maintain flight within 200 feet altitude, 20 degrees heading, and +/- 10 knots airspeed.

Crosswinds and wind with introduction to ground reference and track in winds

____ Takeoff

____ Departure

____ Flight headings and crab angle

____Ground track

____ Approach

____ Low approach

____ Landing

____ Crosswind drift

____ Crosswind components

____ Crosswind components on takeoff, enroute, and landings

This module is complete when the student can maintain flight within 150 feet, 15 degrees, and +/-10 knots while performing the maneuvers listed in the content of this module.