Will it Land

[laurencen]

I have never considered landing in such wind but given it as the only option it would land, definatly take a wile, I would expect to get on final, then one could reduce the airspeed to just above the wind speed and touch down, worst headwind myself was 35mph in Pincher Creek Alberta, wind capital of Canada, the touchdown speed would have been less than 20mph, it took forever to land but on the other hand only used about 150 foot of runway and the takeoff was not much more,

 

[daTeacha]

Not being a pilot, I'll risk sounding ignorant, but is it not true that a tethered plane, if properly balanced and trimmed, can lift off the ground and act as if flying given a strong and steady enough headwind? Kind of like a very expensive kite?

And then I have to wonder what the original poster means by "land" -- properly set once again upon mother earth in a normal orientation, or just end up a pile bent and twisted airplane parts lying on the ground? All you guys that say a plane will always land eventually mean the latter, although I think the OP meant the former.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Not being a pilot, I'll risk sounding ignorant, but is it not true that a tethered plane, if properly balanced and trimmed, can lift off the ground and act as if flying given a strong and steady enough headwind? Kind of like a very expensive kite?

Thats sorta what Iwas wondering. Can natural wing lift be trimmed fully out such that headwind + propwind over the wings produces little or no lift?
larry

 

[laurencen]

Hi Rich, a tethered aircraft will lift of if enough wind is present, gliders are winched into the air or towed, they could act like a kite if left tethered, as for land no one wants a landing resulting in twisted metal, as long as the aircraft has airspeed faster than the headwind it can land on the runway, if not it will land backwards and this I assume would be tricky due to the fact once you touch down what can you do, if the airspeed is less than the wind it would be close to impossible to do other more than hit the brakes and hope to sit there, With a 100mph wind you dare not pull the controls back and to taxi would be a feat

 

[daTeacha]

Let's change the runway into a large steel deck attached to a large ship moving in strangely smooth seas during a strong wind. You're the pilot, you're in the middle of the Pacific, returning from a long distance flight to find that conditions have changed drastically while you were gone. You're low on fuel in a multi-million dollar aircraft that has a take-off speed very near that of the prevailing wind speed at the surface. How do you proceed?

 

[laurencen]

Rich, as long as airflow will keep the aircraft up, assume the wind was the same as aircraft needs to stay aloft then it would be close to a vertical landing, once touchdown occured assuming the brakes could hold it you are done, safe landing as the wind speed remained constant during the touchdown there will be no forward or reverse motion in respect to the ship and aircraft

 

[turnkey4099]

Depends on definition of "land".

Put the wheels on the runway? Yes.

Put the wheels on the runway and come to a stop? No, not without a crash.

Harry K

 

[Egon]

Ahh -- it all depends on relative airspeed!

Now are we not on a tractor forum but are we talking about tractors that place aircraft in their designated positions.

 

[ray66v]

Not only could I land it, it would be the slowest touch down and landing roll in history for a 150. landing into a strong head wind is very easy.
I will even go one step further you could hover a 150 with that kind of wind and even fly backwards if you wanted.

 

[RonMar]

You could touch the wheels, but land? NO. The stall speed of the wing drastically lowers in ground effect, so the wing will still be flying(or wanting to). It would probably also be the slowest final approach in history for a C-150