Originally Posted by twk3395

There was the tiniest little crosswind, about 4kts, so you're probably right. Will focus on the ball! Thanks

Originally Posted by Flyhayes

It sound to me like you are having a problem with your cross wind. Make sure you take the opportunity to practice landings at airports where the winds aren't typically down the center line. This will quickly force you to develop proper rudder skills. Best time to do this is during the middle of the day when the winds are typically stronger.
In this instance, the ball is not your friend, don't attempt to use it during the landing phase of flight.
As mentioned before, the x-wind factor will constantly change through out the landing phase, which will call for constant rudder correction on your part.

GAI incidentally is where I perfected my x-wind landings, though it was during the windier months.
If you're flexible and can grab an instructor on short notice when the winds pick up, you'll tame them pretty quickly.
Good luck!

Originally Posted by Radials Rule

Get your instructor to take you on several low passes over a long runway with a decent crosswind. Crab, slip, cross control at various airspeeds (including the slowest speed that you're instructor is willing to go) and power settings to see how much control input varies compared to airspeed. Have him show you what happens when there's not enough correction vs too much correction.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Timbo

Focus on the RUNWAY, not the ball! Your eyes need to be OUTSIDE, all the time, at this phase of your flying, not looking inside at a tiny ball bounceing back and forth as you get close to the ground...

Have you got this book? If not, get it.

Stick and Rudder: An Explanation of the Art of Flying: Wolfgang Langewiesche: 9780070362406: Amazon.com: Books

And find a good tailwheel airplane and IP, get a few hours in that, then the C172 will be a piece of cake.

Originally Posted by Yoda2

Agree with Timbo, OP get Stick and Rudder book. I forgot to mention that (and other stuff) It's a must have book!

Originally Posted by ClippedWing

If you're struggling with crosswinds, ask your instructor to control one axis (roll, for instance,) while you control pitch and yaw. When you've got the rudder down, switch to ailerons and pitch. When you've got that down, then try again, I'll bet you've made significant improvements.

All above is correct but I used to dumb it down even further. Think of the rudder as the laser that points down the runway and the ailerons that keep you over the centerline.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by Flightcap

What others have said here is good.

Throughout the pattern, your hands and feet should be connected by steel rods. You bank right, put in some right rudder. If the nose starts to "swing" rather than "turn" (there is a difference, if your instructor has never showed you a skidding turn, ask him to do so), then relax the right rudder just a bit. But always input rudder in the direction of your bank inputs.

This all goes out the window when you are rolling out of the turn to final, however. You should know what direction of wind to expect. Be asking yourself through the turn, "will I have a left crosswind or a right crosswind?" Knowing the answer will tell you which direction to apply ailerons in order to correct for wind drift on final. Left wind, left aileron and vice versa. Put in the aileron correction as soon as you finish the turn to final, then use the rudder to make those runway centerline dashes STRAIGHT! Not almost straight, not sideways, but STRAIGHT. From that point on, change aileron as necessary to keep the aircraft from drifting side to side. Change rudder as necessary to keep the centerline straight.

Continue these inputs all the way through the flare and touchdown so that you land on the wheel that is on the side of aircraft from which the wind is blowing (called the upwind wheel). That is the aileron's job. Your wheel should also be pointing straight down the runway, not skidding sideways. That is the rudder's job. In a strong and/or gusty wind, this will require a fair amount of "dancing" on the rudder pedals. Don't be afraid to push all the way to the stop on the rudder control if necessary (If you have the rudder all the way to the stop and the airplane STILL turns towards the wind, you've just tried to land in a stronger wind than the aircraft is capable of handling). Remember your rudder gets less effective the slower you fly, so if the rudder input was correct on final approach, you may need more rudder input to achieve the same result during the flare.

Once you touch down, the temptation is to relax all your control inputs and breathe a huge, big breath. Don't do that yet! Just like the rudder, your aileron is less effective as you get slower, meaning you will need to put in MORE aileron into the wind as you slow down. A proper roll out is one in which you use rudder to maintain the centerline, and aileron input is gradually increasing until you are at full aileron deflection into the crosswind. If you are doing a touch and go, this will require more aileron input as you slow down followed by decreasing aileron input as you speed up.

Hope this helps. One final tip: all of the above is just to help you understand the theory behind what SHOULD be happening. When you are actually in the airplane, don't overthink what you have to do. Your instructor has probably already taught you all of these things, and all you have to do is develop the physical skill. You'll get there! : )

Originally Posted by Timbo

You Tube is full of good stuff on crosswind landings and rudder work, but doing it in a real J3 is much more fun.

Rudder Skills Tailwheel Training - YouTube

That guy sucked...

Better: Piper Cub Landing Practice - GoPro - YouTube

When I was 14 my Dad told me, "Yeah, you could start in the 150, or the Cub....the 150 is much easier but if you start in the Cub you'll be a much better pilot." Since I'd been flying with him in his Cub since I was 8, I stuck with the Cub until I needed radios for my Private ticket. It's still one of my favorite airplanes. You never forget your first love.

You have to use the rudder all the time in a Cub, all the way to the tie downs. After about 20 hours of that, when you then transition to a nose dragger, it's very easy. You can even see where you are going when taxiing!

But going the other way (nose wheel to tail wheel) blows some people's minds.