NW_Pilot's Trans-Atlantic Flight -- All the scary details...

On 2006-10-01, Larry Dighera wrote:
On Sun, 1 Oct 2006 16:20:18 +0000 (UTC),
(Paul Tomblin) wrote in :

NW-Pilot, would you have gone with 55 knot tailwinds?

Why not? 55 knot headwinds cut into your fuel reserve, 55 knot tail winds
help it. I've flown with a 70 knot tail wind

Have you ever attempted to taxi a high-wing aircraft in 55 knot winds?

I flew a long trip in a Bonanza in 55 knot tail winds (it cut out one
refuelling stop, too). The SURFACE winds were under 15 knots. The wind
at 9000 feet can be much stronger than at near sea level.

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On Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:34:44 -0000, Dylan Smith
wrote in
:

The wind at 9000 feet can be much stronger than at near sea level.

I have a feeling, that in the arid, treeless wastes above the Arctic
Circle the wind gradient is not so steep.

On 2006-10-03, Larry Dighera wrote:
On Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:34:44 -0000, Dylan Smith
wrote in
:

The wind at 9000 feet can be much stronger than at near sea level.

I have a feeling, that in the arid, treeless wastes above the Arctic
Circle the wind gradient is not so steep.

You'd be surprised. There's a lot more to the wind speed difference
between winds at 9000 feet and the surface than merely surface friction.

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On Tue, 03 Oct 2006 15:56:26 -0000, Dylan Smith
wrote in
:

On 2006-10-03, Larry Dighera wrote:
On Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:34:44 -0000, Dylan Smith
wrote in
:

The wind at 9000 feet can be much stronger than at near sea level.

I have a feeling, that in the arid, treeless wastes above the Arctic
Circle the wind gradient is not so steep.

You'd be surprised. There's a lot more to the wind speed difference
between winds at 9000 feet and the surface than merely surface friction.

Be that as it may, I'd be reluctant to taxi a C-172 in anything
approaching 20 knots on the surface.

On 2006-10-03, Larry Dighera wrote:
Be that as it may, I'd be reluctant to taxi a C-172 in anything
approaching 20 knots on the surface.

In any plane the weight of a C172, you should exercise caution when
taxiing in winds of 20 knots or more. I routinely used to fly a C172 in
those kinds of winds (or otherwise I wouldn't have got to fly very
often). Proper positioning of the controls is highly recommended. I've
flown lighter taildraggers in stronger winds than that - it's not
something for a novice, but with a modicum of experience and care it can
be done quite safely.

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