[From Bruce Gregory 960326.1642]
Bill Powers 960326.0700
It's even simpler than that. You control two variables: (1) you
see the runway as aligned with your line of sight, and (2) the
rate of drift left or right is zero. When you've accomplished
this, you find that the airplane is pointing off to one side,
which is really the first you know about the crosswind. The main
thing that's different if you learn about the crosswind from the
radio is that you aren't surprised to see which way the airplane
is aimed.
A crosswind landing _could_ be done by prediction, using
information about the direction and speed of the wind, but it's
much easier, and more reliable, just to control the right
perceptions.
I guess I was speaking from the point of my idee fixe, learning.
When you are learning to land in cross winds, you may: (1) look at
the wind sock, (2) anticipate that you will have to lower your
left (or right) wing; and (3) anticipate that will have to hold
right (or left) rudder. This anticipation or prediction sets you
up control your perceptions, since it is not always obvious what
you must do to get things looking the way you want them to look.
I'll try to do better with my margins.
Regards,
Bruce G.