Lockheed C-130 Hercules @ KCGI

A Lockheed C-130 Hercules touches down during pattern work at KCGI. Flying out of Little Rock, Arkansas, the big transport made several close-in circuits and practice approaches to our 28 & 10 runways.

In the photo, you can see that the Hercules has a noticeable tilt toward the camera. This is to compensate for a strong, Northerly crosswind, which if allowed to go uncorrected, would drift the plane off the South side of the runway.

Aircraft with plenty of ground clearance from high-mounted wings and engines can use this technique called "cross control" that lets the pilot bank the plane into the crosswind with it's ailerons, while using it's rudder to hold plane's nose straight on the runway as it touches down, and rolls out.

Airliners with engines slung very low to the ground must touch down nearly level on their main gear, but slightly crossways on the runway, then swing around to align with the runway. There are several videos on You Tube, showing airliners doing an exaggerated version of this technique at Hong Kong and other airports famous for their strong crosswind conditions.

Still other large aircraft, such as the Boeing's B-52, handle the problem in a different way. They have landing gear assemblies that are designed to be canted during crosswind landings. The plane lands slightly crossways, while the landing gear stays aligned with the runway, until the plane rolls out and slows to taxi speed.

KCGI's long runways and control tower are often utilized by military flight crews, as they work to keep their piloting skills current and sharp.