"Paul Tomblin" wrote in message
What you're calling "ground effect" is actually the zone where the wind is
in the "boundary layer". Right at the bottom, turbulent air will hit the
gound and "stick", then each successive "layer" of air above it will slow
down a bit relative to the one below it, but also stop moving across the
layers. So near the ground, you get lower wind speeds but also more
laminar flow.

That 'boundary layer' effect which includes 'wind gradient' is also what
allows one to land in seemingly impossible xwinds. I've now twice
experienced x-winds too high to maintain a proper slip (wing low, fuselage
aligned) during final but once within a wingspan or so of the ground, the
xwind is reduced just enough to let me 'assume the position'.

Are there any other effects that might be at work here. Would flying in
'ground effect' somehow smooth out the bumps? Would this effect be
significantly different in Maule versus a Mooney because of wing location?
(I wrestle with my Maule in the flare but found once the Mooney (201) was in
ground effect, a smooth landing was assured.) Just thinking out loud here.