Most Unstable Airplane Flown in Xwind Conditions

SeanD

Well-Known Member
Just out of curiosity. What are some of the most unstable airplanes you have flow in cross wind conditions?
 
Not that airplane is difficult to fly in xwinds due to being unstable, but the 421C/414A's that have an interlink between the aileron and rudder are not fun to try and land in 30kts. The interlink turns the ailerons towards to rudder being applied, so if you apply right rudder the ailerons are automatically going to want to turn the aircraft right and vice versa.
 
Not that airplane is difficult to fly in xwinds due to being unstable, but the 421C/414A's that have an interlink between the aileron and rudder are not fun to try and land in 30kts. The interlink turns the ailerons towards to rudder being applied, so if you apply right rudder the ailerons are automatically going to want to turn the aircraft right and vice versa.

I had more an issue with the fact that the gear stance was just very wide for the size of aircraft. You could put one main down smoothly, then the other one comes crashing down as you slow down. D'oh!
 
I had more an issue with the fact that the gear stance was just very wide for the size of aircraft. You could put one main down smoothly, then the other one comes crashing down as you slow down. D'oh!

I flew a 421C/414A with straight legs and they were a pain in the ass to get a smooth landing out of period. We later had a 421C with trailing-link, boy was that sweet!

The 414 I'm flying now lands much nicer than an A model 414 and it's got straight legs...so who knows!
 
The 207 is a good airplane, even in a cross wind, but a few years back I ran into a 40kt direct crosswind in Akhiok that pretty much maxed out my abilities to land it.
 
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Didn't get to land it, just ride and observe, but the guy flying this had REALLY active feet in a mild crosswind.

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i would wager ANY tailwheel. As far as recent planes ive flown, prolly the amphib 206. Completely unstable. Conventional gear, I cant really think of one i was uncomfortable with.
 
Piper Tri-Pacer converted to a tail wheel. Had the afore mentioned aileron/rudder interconnect. What a PITA on a cross wind.
ATR-72. Narrow carriage under the fuselage, high wing. Cross wind itself was not difficult, but I once had a captain let go of the yoke when he went to the tiller and the airplane started to lift the upwind wing. Standard procedure was for the captain to say "You've got the tops" before letting go... this guy came from the EMB-120 and learned very quickly why we were suppose to do this. It was.... startling.
 
Mooney aiplanes are known for their crosswind performance (or lack thereof). Very little aileron authority can make things very interesting.
 
Someone explain the "my tops" or "your tops" thing again? I know its about giving control etc etc. but what does it stand for?
 
Someone explain the "my tops" or "your tops" thing again? I know its about giving control etc etc. but what does it stand for?

It means 'You hold the xwind correction on the yoke, my hand is going for the tiller'.
 
Didn't get to land it, just ride and observe, but the guy flying this had REALLY active feet in a mild crosswind.

View attachment 16076

That looks downright terrifying in a crosswind.

Honestly, I haven't flown anything really terrible in a crosswind. I scared myself pretty good in a Piper Super Cruiser, but I'm not sure if that was actually because of the design or if it was just my lack of experience with landing from the back seat, using heel brakes, and having one of those flimsy little "shopping cart" wheels for a tailwheel.

My 140 can be sporty also, but it's fairly tame as far as tailwheels go. Now that I've flown it a lot, I'd fly it anywhere I'd be willing to fly a C-150. But it was humbling when I first started out with it in crosswinds.
 
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