Watching A Plane Coming To Land...

[sandyRoe]

Imagine a clockface and the plane flying along the line from 6 to 12. Its nose seemed nearer the 1 and the tail towards the 7. An added breaking manoeuvre, crosswinds, or what?

[Graham-W]

Crosswind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMvLuUJFHYk

[sandyRoe]

I'd bet there were a few sick bags filled during that landing ^

[237SJ]

Crosswinds probably. It would have lined up on the runway at the last minute but the aircraft has to have the wind on it`s nose on the final approach which is why it would appeared to be skewed. The first time I ever messed about flying a plane (with a friend of mine who was an instructor) I tried to land a Piper Tomahawk in a sidewind. I couldn`t figure out why I kept being blown off course. I obviously hadn`t mastered the art

[WyeDyed]

^^^
And underpants, I'll warrant!

[Graham-W]

"Pass the brown trousers", I think.

[chrisgel]

Possibly crosswinds, but could be pilot using Yaw to correct his alignment to the runway.
Some scary examples of crosswind landings for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOx5Knk6S9I

[237SJ]

I can`t do links but there was a brilliant example of a Lufthansa crosswind landing on youtube a while ago. Poor passengers!

[sandyRoe]

I think I've seen enough of dodgy landings in the two links posted here. Next time I'm abroad I'll get the train to Paris and then another to Bayonne.

[grasscarp]

You are using the rudder pedals to yaw the aircraft, so that you are not blown off the centre line when descending in a crosswind. At the last minute you centralise the rudders so that you are then travelling in a straight line as you touch the ground. (I have a commercial pilots licence)

[Hopkirk]

That's why it can be pretty unpleasant at the back of a Jumbo on a crosswind landing - when the pilot kicks the rudder pedals to straighten the aircraft up on touchdown, you suddenly move sideways.

[grasscarp]

Back row of a Boeing 767 stalling during a test flight can be quite fun too Hopkirk.

[237SJ]

I can`t say I have ever felt that kind of yawing down the back of a Jumbo. the A320 was by far the worst aircraft I ever experienced as far as yawing was concerned.

[carrust]

Grasscarp. How are your nerves when landing a plane in a cross wind? Are you cacking it or does the training kick-in?

[grasscarp]

It is not scary for the pilot - at least speaking for myself - it is a challenge and you feel quite good when it is all working as it should. I have been in a very strong wind holding the aircraft almost sideways.

[knowabit]

I live under the flight path to Heathrow, and often see planes at this angle.

[excelsior-1]

it amazes me how an aircraft weighing 700,000 pounds can be affected so dramatically

[grasscarp]

You probably live somewhere near me Knowabit. I can see Heathrow control tower from my upstairs windows.

[knowabit]

Lol, I'm not that near grasscarp! I do remember going to football with my dad, he used to play in Bedfont. We would lay on the grass and watch the planes, it seemed like you could reach out and touch them... They were so low, thundering past us. I'm about 8 miles away, although directly under flight path!

[Hopkirk]

How about this one, at the old Kai Tak airport in Hong Kong.

Not just crosswind, but an awkward banked approach.

Fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtnL4KYVtDE

[Stephen_G]

Just for 237SJ (Don't watch if you're a nervous flyer!!!)...