Hi to all you simmers...

This is a bit of a techie story about the Boeing 757 and also the 767. 

Crosswind operations with the Boeing 727 or the 747 requires an almost wings level operation on takeoff and landing so as not to scrape an engine on the 747 or a wing tip leading edge on the 727.  As an instructor on both those planes it was important to explain how to handle these x-wind takeoffs and landings.  It was important to crab to landing in the 727 & 747 so as not to hit anything during touchdown. 

Now we come to the 757 & 767 which has longer landing gear and was much higher off the ground during takeoff and landing.  You could still use the crab into the wind during the landing, but it was much better slip into the wind during the landing and keep the nose aligned with the runway.  In fact the autopilot on the 757 & 767 would transition from a crab to a slip around 500 feet on approach. This made the landing a lot easier since the nose was aligned with the runway so there was less side load on the landing gear and since you would be landing on the up-wind gear the spoilers would react differently during the touchdown.  If you land with wings level the spoilers deploy at the same time on both wings to kill the lift.  But during a side slip landing on just the up-wind gear the spoilers deploy at a slower rate to allow the plane to settle nicer and make a softer landing.

I really enjoyed flying the 757!  8-)

Stay well and enjoy your flying,
Lou