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Chapter-6 Takeoffs and Climbs-V20_Sport Pilot Handbook 8/30/2021 6:10 PM Page 18

6-18 Rod Machado’s How to Fly an Airplane Handbook

Correcting for a Crosswind During Takeoff

A
Deflect aileron
control fully
Crosswind B into the wind
from the right Apply right rudder as
airplane accelerates to
keep airplane aligned
with runway centerline

D
Fig. 20 Upon liftoff, make
a coordinated turn Crosswind
Here’s how you’ll prevent (crab) into the wind Correction
to correct for wind
side-stress distress from hap- drift After Liftoff
pening. When you’re aligned
with the runway, take another
look at the windsock or other
wind indicator to determine C
the direction the wind is blow- As airplane accelerates
reduce aileron deflection
ing in the runway environ- but do apply enough to
ment (don’t worry if there’s prevent drifiting
no wind indicator nearby). As Fig. 21
a good stick and rudder pilot,
you can simply feel what the wind is doing to your airplane as you begin moving and immediately
apply the appropriate correction. Now turn your control wheel (or deflect your joystick) fully into
the side from which the wind is blowing (Figure 20, position A). This raises the aileron on the upwind
wing and provides a downward force to that wing as you accelerate.

You might be concerned that a full deflection of the control wheel into the wind will cause the up-
wind wing to strike the ground as you accelerate. That’s not going to happen. As the airplane sits
on the runway before takeoff, there’s no downward force on the upwind (right) wing. As the airplane
accelerates, you’ll actually sense the increasing aileron control response because the upwind wing
begins to lower just a tiny bit. That’s the response you’re looking for during a crosswind takeoff. As
your speed increases, reduce the aileron deflection just enough to keep that upwind wheel firmly
planted on the runway, at least until you lift off (Figure 21, position C). Now you’re assured that the
airplane won’t be skipping sideways due to the crosswind’s influence.
As soon as you lift off, the upwind wing will want to drop because of the aileron input (Figure 21,
position D). That’s to be expected. Since you’re lifting off, however, the upwind wing will also be
moving away (vertically) from the runway, so it’s not going to strike the ground, even in low wing
airplanes. The point here is that you don’t want to be stingy about deflecting that control wheel into
the wind to correct for crosswind drift during the takeoff roll.