Land in a crab and drag the wheels to get into alignment??? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Ewww... that's so Navy Pilot Training!

Nobody (worth their salt) does that in big airplanes but I've seen the YouTube videos of some guys doing it in Japan, on a 747 with 40 knot crosswinds and is it ever UGLY! And tires are expensive!

There are two schools of thought on the whole cross wind landing thing, at least in big airplanes.

1. Fly it down in a crab all the way to the flare (20 feet in a 757) then "kick it out" and put it on the runway going straight. I do not like this method as it almost never works smoothly, that's why you want a wet runway, so it won't grab the tires and throw you sidways, but will instead slide on smoothly, if you are not exactly aligned with the runway. Some guys swear by this method but I never liked it.

2. Fly it down in a crab until about 200 feet, then put it into a slip to align it with the runway, and land it one main wheel at a time, upwind wheels first. This is my prefered method as it usually works out better for passenger comfort and you don't need a wet runway to "help" cover up your mistakes! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Coming from a 90% civilian -Piper Cub- background, I was taught to slip in a crosswind at a very early age, (14) so I feel more comfortable using that method. It's always worked for me on the big iron as well.

One thing is certain, if you don't align the axis of the airplane with the runway before you put the tires to the pavement, you (and EVERYONE in back) will feel it, big time, you may even have to buy all the Flight Attendants beer! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />