"Frank Ch. Eigler" wrote in message
...

Hi -

Can someone share some personal experiences of flying small airplanes
with a yaw damper? In particular, does the slipping crosswind landing
technique require the yaw damper to be shut off on final? Does it
significantly aid passenger comfort? When installed in a light twin,
does it mask the normal immediate yaw/roll signal of an engine
failure? Does it make sustained single-engine flight easier? Is it
just an overkill?

- FChE

A yaw dampener will fight you if you try to slip or skid. More advanced
ones will start trimming the rudder against you too, so yes, you turn off
the dampener for takeoff and landing. Basically a yaw dampener coordinates
turns. On some airplanes (V tail Bonanzas) the tail has a tendency to wander
back and forth and a yaw dampener is said to make passengers happier. It
doesn't mask an engine failure enough to notice the difference.. If you had
no rudder trim, it would make single engine flight easier but I have never
seen a twin without rudder trim.

Mike
MU-2