trick to avoid crosswind landing in late afternoon...

On 10/4/2017 12:48 AM, AS wrote:
On Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at 5:38:54 AM UTC+2, Steve Koerner wrote:
[repost from Arizona Soaring Assoc board where it seemed to be of
interest]

I'm sure many already know this -- it's a good trick to know if you
don't.

Late afternoon summer wind will very often completely stop right at
sunset. If you are faced with a crosswind landing in the late afternoon,
a solution is to hangout until sunset.

I've done this several times over the years at various airfields
including just a few days ago flying out of Estrella. I came back about
forty minutes before sunset to find an 80 degree cross of about 15 knots.
The flag was whipping sharply. I probably could have landed it, but why
take a chance?

There remained some very weak thermals able to sustain to about 2500 ft
as is common at the end of the day. So I just hung out until the sun
dropped below the distant mountains and landed in calm conditions. An
added benefit is that you can see the runway after the sun drops if you
are needing to land to the west as is the usual case in the southwest.

Interesting idea, indeed! How long can you fly after sunset w/o nav-lights
or is the sunset time much after the sun disappears behind the mountains?
Just curious,...

I got into the habit of doing the same thing from Boulder soon after my
arrival there, for the same reason. Very useful experience gained for future
late-in-day XC's too...what's not to like?!?

Bob W.

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