Crosswinds Aren't Just For Landings Any More

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 10/17/2018 at 10:32 • Filed to: wingspan, Planelopnik

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Watch as this Ryanair 737 gets some serious drift on takeoff from Birmingham, England during tropical storm Ali. In typical understated fashion, the airline said, “This flight from Birmingham to Alicante departed as normal (in windy conditions) and the flight continued without incident.” Once airborne, the flight attendants moved through the cabin to distribute clean underwear.

Just Jeepin' > ttyymmnn 10/17/2018 at 10:40

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Birmingham Drift.

Damn that’s impressive in a terrifying way.

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 10/17/2018 at 10:40

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That looks like nice work by the pilot to maintain the centerline, tbh.

Future next gen S2000 owner > ttyymmnn 10/17/2018 at 10:40

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I’ve always wondered why commercial planes don’t have crab gear like B-52's. Seems like it would make sense, especially on the bigger stuff like the 747 and A380.

Ash78, voting early and often > Future next gen S2000 owner 10/17/2018 at 10:44

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I think it’s just because the B-52's gear is tandem and wouldn’t be able to tolerate the torsion on the airframe if they were fixed (the plane would probably ground-loop and crash) . Wing-mounted gear are pretty burly and can withstand the twist a lot better.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn 10/17/2018 at 10:50

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At least from that camera angle, that looked dangerously close to a tail strike on the takeoff roll.  I’d like to think some company accountants are as happy as the pilots that it wasn’t.

ttyymmnn > Just Jeepin' 10/17/2018 at 10:51

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Birmingham Drift.

That’s a better title.

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW 10/17/2018 at 10:53

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Yeah, he definitely earned that takeoff. Some commenters on AvWeb said that he almost ran out of runway, too, but I think it’s more a case of the runway sloping down and out of view.

Any landing you can walk away from = any takeoff you can make it to altitude from

ttyymmnn > Future next gen S2000 owner 10/17/2018 at 10:54

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What Ash said, but also because they are like casters on a table. It’s easier to rotate with just two sets of wheels, but the Buff has four. 

ttyymmnn > Ash78, voting early and often 10/17/2018 at 10:55

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https://oppositelock.kinja.com/1829812551

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 10/17/2018 at 11:05

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I think the zoom lenses along with the slope of the runway make it impossible to judge how much runway is left (and I also think they exaggerate just how ‘exciting’ these videos are, too).

Besides, a crosswind isn’t really going to add to takeoff distance much - they will add a few knots for the gust factor, but I doubt a 737 has much trouble with Birmingham.

Cé hé sin > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 10/17/2018 at 11:31

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Landings and takeoffs viewed using extreme zoom always look much scarier than they actually are.

DipodomysDeserti > ttyymmnn 10/17/2018 at 12:16

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I experienced a takeoff like this when flying out of Frankfurt once. They already had one runway closed due to high winds. Stuff like that doesn’t really phase me, but my wife doesn’t like flying and she was freaking out.

Chinny Raccoon > Cé hé sin 10/17/2018 at 12:26

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Also leads to the ‘Why is the runway full of hills’ comments.

ttyymmnn > DipodomysDeserti 10/17/2018 at 13:52

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People don’t understand that you are actually better off in the air. Takeoff and landing are always the most dangerous part of flying.

DipodomysDeserti > ttyymmnn 10/17/2018 at 14:33

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Takeoff and landing are what my wife hates about flying. Once we’re in the air she’s gtg. Doesn’t help that it’s always pretty rough coming into Sky Harbor.

ttyymmnn > DipodomysDeserti 10/17/2018 at 14:46

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Is that a noise abatement airport? I remember flying out of John Wayne and going almost straight up. It was fun!