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Coordinated on XC on Windy Day

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Aerodynamics, General Aviation, Student Pilot

I've noticed on windy days that keeping the aircraft coordinated can be difficult -- the ball will tend to bounce back and forth in the turn coordinator, and I will find myself "chasing" it with the rudder pedals.  

Any advice for managing this situation?  At cruise it doesn't worry me as much as setting up for approach to land. I think I've read too many stall/spin in the pattern stories lately...

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1 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Feb 23, 2015

    It depends on the airplane, but often your inputs will be behind what is happening. By the time you press the rudder, the tail may already be moving back to center, and your input accelerates it past center faster than it would go on its own, Sometimes, just resting your feet on the pedals and offering some resistance will help. In my Bonanza, a common technique is to press the opposite rudder as by the time you apply an input, the aircraft is already moving towards center. Better yet, turn on the yaw damper. 🙂

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