Thursday, August 28, 2008

Crosswind Landings

I can't tell you how many miles I've flown. I've used frequent flyer tickets about half a dozen times and have over 100,000K in various accounts. Work keeps me busy - and I've seen so many beautiful parts of the country. Of course, work being what it is - I usually only see the airports and the hotels, but I try to get out as much as I can. This is especially true when I go to Las Vegas - where I saw Toni Braxton's Revealed concert (I totally love her), and wasted hundreds and hundred of dollars in slot machines, and rode the Big Shot on top of the Stratosphere (never again!). Maui was just plain beautiful too, although I only had one day to really enjoy it personally. The sunset was just so beautiful.

Not so beautiful are the damn flights. And one of the things that still unnerves me is landing - because the nose is never completely in front of the tail on any landing. It's the sky's answer to yaw, and I fucking hate it. I have to regulate my breathing and sit upright in my seat and not look out the window. My sense of direction is keen, and I can tell you that I have never been on a flight that landed in a position completely parallel to the runway.

So, I've done some research on youtube (crack for internet junkies) on crosswind landings, because of that one time I landed in Indianapolis and almost got whiplash as the plane drifted sideways before it touched down. Needless to say, hitting the runway to careen at 80 mph while drifting in a direction perpendicular tot he runway is jarring. But prais God, I've not dealth with the likes of this ... yet.



Or this



(thought I rarely fly in airliners that big)

or even this!



I would totally find another way home.

11 comments:

Jen of JustGrowAlready.com said...

ha! if i wasn't terrified of planes before (i damn near hyperventilate every lift off and touch down) after those clips, my ass isn't stepping unless i HAVE to.

JACK said...

j.e.n.i - I totally hate landing in the wind. And corsswinds?!?! OMG, I would totally shit my pants if I was on that first flight up there. And that last one? How about I would find the pilot and smack the fuck out him?!? hmmpphh

Dave Van Buren said...

Why did that last plane look like "Soul Plane" bouncing on hydrolics and shyt. I have never had a problem flying.

JACK said...

Dave: lol - I thought the same thing. I once hit turbulence so bad I thought I was meeting Jesus. But landings always freak me out.

Anonymous said...

OMG Jack this is the wrong time to post this the wrong time i have a flt to take on the 5th of Sept. and you know i am committed i have to funny thing is i spoke to ur aunty and she told me her flight was so scary she is truely terrified to fly. had the nerve to tell me to just be carefull. damit i aint flying the shit how can i be carefull and now you. WHAT AM I TO DO:........

Anonymous said...

sorry it was me :anonymous: 143143143

JACK said...

143, I knew it was you. LMAO @ september 5. I totally forgot. My bayyuuuudddd. You should be fine - it's NEVER windy PR. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Our plane sled off the runway once when I was landing in Boston because of ice (the Charles River is at the end of the runway). Had some rough landings but never any crosswinds.

The Jaded NYer said...

dammit... I'm going to FL in November. Now I'm gonna need for you to express mail me some of you Xanax, please!

JACK said...

jaded, I'm unsure what xanax you refer to. What is that?

Mo said...

thats not even cool!
i'd die....possibly w/shit in my pants cuz i'd be so scared.