I'm an old tailwheel pilot so I'm not adverse to using the rudders but not at high speeds. You remember the DC-8 70 series with the big CFM engines. Well the inboard engines were about 18" off the ground with the struts compressed. So crosswind landings where a skill. I would teach to line up just on the upwind side of the center line. As you would start your flare push the nose out of the crab with the rudders and start to lower the upwind wing, keeping in mind that at 8 deg you are close to hitting the engine. One good thing about the -8 was the ground spoilers where not automatic. You had to grab the handle and deploy them once on the ground, which was after both main gear where on the ground.
When Douglas folded and became a part of Boeing, Boeing had a great big meeting for all the Boeing/Douglas operators in the world. One of the Boeing engineers was talking about crosswind landings and mentioned that it was ok to land in a crab. Well after his talk the next guy up was from the old Douglas. The first words out of his mouth where "At Douglas we never taught any pilots to land their airplanes in a crab" !!! Well he got a standing ovation!!! Keep in mind that nearly all those in attendance where Chief Pilots with years of experience probably starting with the DC-3.
When Douglas folded and became a part of Boeing, Boeing had a great big meeting for all the Boeing/Douglas operators in the world. One of the Boeing engineers was talking about crosswind landings and mentioned that it was ok to land in a crab. Well after his talk the next guy up was from the old Douglas. The first words out of his mouth where "At Douglas we never taught any pilots to land their airplanes in a crab" !!! Well he got a standing ovation!!! Keep in mind that nearly all those in attendance where Chief Pilots with years of experience probably starting with the DC-3.
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