I was doing a bit of Maule flying yesterday and had to make a fuel stop at Shelbyville airport which had current winds of 260 @ 17 gusts 21. These winds are sporty enough when I have been flying regularly, but it had been nearly 4 months since I last danced with the Maule. I guess it was my hightened sense of attention due to not having flown it in a bit, but I greased a one wheel landing on 18 with the flaps up and right wing low. I held it on the right wheel until I lost enough speed for the left tire settle onto the runway then pulled the tailwheel down and dumped the flaps to negative to kill as much lift as possible. With the landing completed, the taxi challenge became fun as the tail was acting like a sail in the gusty winds...lost of brake usage to keep her from weathervaning.

I spent a little over an hour on the ground visiting with some fiends and clients before it was time to depart. By this time the winds had kicked up to 260 @ 23 gusts 31. I told the lineboy that I would be departing accross 18 on taxiway Tango which would have me heading directly at the FBO, but Tango is on a 250 heading. He gave me a funny look and I assured him that with these winds I would only need about 150 feet. I held short of 18 at Tango and did my runup followed by my radio call: "N30822 crossing RWY 18 and departing West on taxiway Tango". Needless to say when I turned back towards the west to start the takeoff run there was a small crowd gathered outside the FBO to see this crazy pilot. I was airborne just after crossing the hold short line and was climbing on an elevator. I crossed over the FBO at nearly 500 feet above it...old man BD would have been proud.

Do what you gotta do to keep it straight and safe...

I read this the day you posted it, shortly after landing at the airport near my parent's house in very challenging crosswind conditions- I was gonna' respond that day, but the interweb ate it...

Anyway, several years ago I was leaving that same airport to come home and the winds were HOWLING right across the only open runway. Knowing the airport layout, I asked around about the "condition of the intersecting taxiway for departure". Without asking permission I indirectly let my intentions be known, and got helpful responses from the staff at the city run airport.

I had almost the same scenario as you- departing from a short taxiway right into a row of hangars, but with a screaming headwind to help me out, a crowd of people watching the whole time.

When I flight planned my trip back down there a few weekends ago, the winds were forecast to be gusting to 33 direct crosswind, so I called the airport to ask again about taxiway condition and to imply my intentions upon arrival. I was amazed at how helpful people were, and the common sense that was applied. The wind had died down by the time I got down there and so was able to land on the main runway, but I was glad to have options.

I have never asked permission for landing (or taking off) on a taxiway when high cross winds made it the sensible thing to do, I HAVE simply informed other traffic that that was what I was going to do, and then did it. A few times at controlled airports it has gotten interesting, as in they (tower) advised the closed runway was "unavailable", but I told them I was "unable to comply" with the runway in use, and went ahead and landed on the closed (300' wide, 6000' long, and directly into the 26 mph wind, in a BC 12D T-Craft) runway, and then I simply thanked the controller for the help. To me, this was a way to say " Yeah, I get it, this runway has been officially closed for years (KPIH, 26 I believe), and there are some weeds and frost heaves, but I think my plane can handle it more safely then the cross wind, so I'm going to land there even though you told me it was closed, and once safely on the ground I'll be a good boy again and we can just forget it happened, and thanks again for the help".

Left unsaid is: if I groundlooped it or had a problem JUST because I ignored the obvious alternative safer option, was that controller going to help pay for the repair materials, and show up at my shop to help in the fabric work, repainting etc.? NOT going to happen, the plane comes first, keeping the controller happy comes second, and the good tower guys know that and work with you in a pinch. Taking off on a taxiway for the same (safety reasons) hell yes

I take off from taxi ways quite often. I've never had a problem just announced and scan well for traffic. I think its always safer in even moderate winds in a light plane.

Hi, Chris. I've landed the J3 on grass a number of times in direct crosswinds of 27 gusting 33, but I'd dread it on asphalt and would really dread it in a Maule. Why to you elect to keep the tailwheel up? Myself, in gusty crosswinds, I much prefer landing on the tailwheel and windward main simultaneously.