Take Offs
Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2022 6:27 pm
Most of us are taught to have a slight back pressure on the stick when taking off in an airplane. This is usually good practice, especially in a bumpy runway, but it can sometimes be a problem in a TSi. The slightly rear CG causes you to lose steering authority as your speed increases with a quartering or direct crosswind. You can wander or even be pushed entirely off the runway by a left (or right) wind that hits the vertical stabilizer, and with no nose wheel or rudder authority, pushes you to the left.
I’ve found that just a slight forward pressure on the stick will keep that nose wheel authority that allows you to oppose the crosswind vector on take off. Be mindful of bumpy runways!
I’ve found that just a slight forward pressure on the stick will keep that nose wheel authority that allows you to oppose the crosswind vector on take off. Be mindful of bumpy runways!