On board for this flight was Ben Rauk, Glasair production manager and test pilot for this all-new design. Rauk had in past months demonstrated a landing with a 19-knot crosswind component and entered that figure into the pilot's operating handbook for the newly approved Merlin. The wind for our test flight was only 20 degrees off the runway heading. Descending through 100 feet and tran-sitioning from a crab to sideslip, the Merlin held its position above the centerline in the chilly gusts. The left main wheel touched down first, with no sideways movement that would have put strain on the gear.
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