"Dive Away From Wind?"

Photo: Chris Hill

I would hope that every one of us learned early on in our training the proper control positions when taxiing whenever there was some wind present. I'm sure we all remember the diagram showing in which quadrant the wind was and how the controls should be positioned to ensure that the wind didn't get the best of things and put our airplane up on a wing tip, or on the prop in the case of a tailwheel airplane.

I know for me, as a student pilot, it was sometimes difficult to remember. I'd go through an intellectual process of ascertaining where the wind was coming from and then visualizing how the ailerons and elevator should be positioned to counter the effect of the wind. ("Windward aileron down and elevator / stabilator trailing edge down.") And when I started my tailwheel training, it became even more important, because I no longer had a "training wheel" out in front to help me out.

Then one day it came to me… if I have a quartering tailwind, don't think about it… just "dive away from the wind." And I have been advising my clients this way ever since.

But in the ensuing years I have seen many tailwheel pilots who are making one very BIG mistake. While they might be "diving away from the wind," unfortunately their taxi speed exceeds the wind speed. So rather than countering the effects of the wind, their control deflections aid and abet that very wind in its effort to upset their carefully laid plans to go flying that day.

So when taxiing a conventional-gear (tailwheel) airplane, pay close attention to not only the direction of the wind, but the wind velocity as well. Be sure that when taxiing with a quartering tailwind to not only position your controls correctly, but also be sure that your taxi speed does not exceed the wind speed.

Doug Stewart is a MCFI, DPE and 2004 National CFI of the Year. He is the Chairman of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators. He operates DSFI, Inc, (www.dsflight.com) out of the Columbia County Airport in Hudson, New York, where he provides instrument, tailwheel and sport pilot instruction.

Comments (5) Post a comment

All Comments

Submitted by jmarken on March 04, 2010.

I'm glad to see someone else saying this. There's more though! You have to consider propwash. I have a Cessna 195 and if you stand by the tail with it idling at 800 RPM there must be a 25 knot propwash over the tail. My dad learned to fly in the Air Force in a T-6 in the 1950's and says the rule was stick in your gut all times; they never even discussed or considered anything to the contrary. Now, a 7AC or J-3...not much propwash, but still some.

You have to just consider what the airflow over the tail is based on wind speed, taxi speed, and the level of propwash your airplane produces.

100%
Good comment?
yes
no

Submitted by ginnyw on March 04, 2010.

Hi, Doug and Jeff! My old retired Navy instructor told me always to keep stick back in the Champ, as the prop wash was always going to be more of a factor than the tailwind. Just feeling what the plane wants, I have never felt I should put stick forward. I always taxi really slowly in this plane; one could outrun it easily. We have some howling winds here, but those aren't Champ days:)

Good comment?
yes
no

Submitted by jcarapellucci on March 04, 2010.

My dad was ex

Good comment?
yes
no

Submitted by jcarapellucci on March 04, 2010.

My dad was ex Army Aircorps, trained in the AT-6 and flew the P-51. His rule was always stick in the gut, except on gusty days when a significant tail gust might put you up on the prop before you could react.

Don’t think prop thrust is significant, even with only 85 hp? We flew a Cessna 140 out of a grass field. In the muddy spring, he would walk the plane out of its tie down with full brakes, full throttle, float the yoke forward, raise the tail, full rudder then intermitently release the opposite brake, walk one main gear about 3 feet forward, then the other, then slow it down, put the tail down and taxi.

You’ve never taxied, until you’ve taxied a tail dragger on turf, in the mud!

0%
Good comment?
yes
no

Submitted by Ed Cook on March 04, 2010.

Nothing is automatic in flying. I can't say the stick should "always be in your gut", because you can't say "always" and "never" in this game. Give the airplane what it needs. If your in tall grass requiring power to taxi with wind behind, probably the stick should be back, at least until it is time to stop. If it is a nice hard surface taxi-way and your having to "ride" the brakes at idle with a tail wind, maybe the stick should be forward. There is lots to consider, this is why autopilots haven't totally taken over (yet) and won't as long as real thinking is required. Remember, when pilots stop thinking and doing what is needed, something gets bent.

50%
Good comment?
yes
no

Top Rated

Your Comment

All submitted comments are subject to the license terms set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

Newsletter Signup

Tip of the Week

When Flight Instruments Lie

Knowing the quirks of your attitude indicator can come in handy during night flights.

Contest

Win a $1,000 Certificate for King Schools Courses Sweepstakes!

flyingmag.com is part of the Bonnier Marine Group Network

Member Login

not a member? sign-up now!

Digital Subscriptions

Related Articles