Down wind taxying technique

[UK Cub Nut]

Here goes for my first post on this excellent forum ( I have been peeking on it for months.)

I fly a PA18-135 here in UK and love it to bits.

I saw the other thread on downwind stick position and I use the stick nearly full forward downwind when in greater than say 15kts , my reasoning that there is next to no slipstream over the tail in that condition and forward progress is mainly achieved from the windage blowing on the behind of the machine , the engine is blip,blopping along at the idle stop also. This is on tarmac I hasten to add, lumpy grass does require more thrust now and then and then I judge stick position according to how much power is being applied.

Winter is arriving here in UK and with it the isobars are bunching up. The old chestnut of taxying downwind in 20 gusting 30 kts (23 gusting 35MPH) of breeze was very topical today where I was flying.

The local tug pilots all taxy downwind in such conditions with full flaps applied, their reasoning is it presses the aircraft on the ground.

I don't do that, my reasoning is that I don't want to add to my drag profile going down wind which would tend to speed the aircraft up and therefore increase the amount of brake required to contain speed which can only be a bad thing etc etc.

Both techniques seemed to work fine today , I didn't dink my prop and neither did my flap applying tuggy friend!

Any thoughts or strong feelings on flap positions for downwind taxiing from you people who live in an isobar rich environment?

Yours from UK

UK Cub Nut

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[Don QN]

Flaps add lift to the wings. Remember that when turning from downwind to a cross wind or into the wind. Otherwise, in high winds you could find yourself in an unusual and/or unintended attitude while doing so. When you're on the ground keep the blue side up!