Landing

[DarkSarcasm]

After several attempts of mis-landing(?), I am improving now - I think.

Have you tried a cushion? :big_grin:

 

 

[Peiler]

I have been reading the 'fly better' series of books, available free (previously listed on a different thread), and book two has a section on how to create a consistent aiming point by putting a dot on the windscreen at the correct position for your sitting height. It is a simple version of the HUDs they use on military aircraft.

 

The book talks about how to use the aiming point in all aspects of flight, including how to use it to create consistent 'over the tarmac' approach velocities and positions.

 

While I haven't tried it yet it seems to make a heck of a lot of sense, and it may assist you.

 

Cheers,

 

Chris

 

 

[DarkSarcasm]

I have been reading the 'fly better' series of books, available free (previously listed on a different thread), and book two has a section on how to create a consistent aiming point by putting a dot on the windscreen at the correct position for your sitting height. It is a simple version of the HUDs they use on military aircraft.

I've read those books too and saw that. The thing that worried me was that you might end up relying on the dot then not be able to do it successfully without the dot... I guess once you got better at it you might not rely on the dot so much but, to me at least, there seemed the possibility of ended up relying solely on the dot and not being able to land properly without it.

 

However, that's just my idea, so don't let it put anyone off trying a dot!

 

 

[pradeep]

I totally agree with you Darky,

 

I like to learn the way it was intended to, yes it is hard to learn but once learnt you get much more satisfaction.

 

But that's only me, may be this is why I still like to drive a manual, and wanted my wife to learn a manual too.

 

I think I am talking too much... :-)

 

cheers.

 

 

[shags_j]

You know you are starting to become profficient when you realise the mistakes you are making. Next step is to rectify them but it is all good.

 

 

[darinm]

OK...so you need help with landing, and here is the way I look at it for tricycle undercarriage aircraft. Your attitude about controlling the aircraft will determine how good you land. Keep this in mind...

 

RULE 1: ATTITUDE >> You haven't finished flying until the aircraft reaches a stop and the engine is off.

 

RULE 2: The Roundout. Look at all of the runway in front of you. Keep your eyes out of the cockpit and looking straight ahead down the runway center. Don't try to find the end of the runway in particular and don't look at anything closer than say 30 metres. Just look at the whole overall scene in front of you. The aim here is to start the roundout at say 20ft to make the aircraft fly level with the runway and to keep the wheels about 2-3 feet above the runway surface.

 

For the first practice exercise do the roundout to keep the aircraft wheels just a couple of feet off the runway. Don't let the wheels touch and remember to keep a small amount of power to keep you around about the stall speed. Keep the wheels just off the runway until you run out of safety margin then slowly apply power to climb out as per normal takeoff.

 

The key to keeping the aircraft from touching the ground will be gentle power changes, if required, and your quick but steady responses on the stick. You'll need to make sure your looking straight ahead down the runway. You shouldn't need to look at your instruments and simply learn to sense if the aircraft is becoming too slow or too fast. Your airspeed should be low enough that the attitude of the aircraft keeps the nose wheel higher than the main gear. If you accidently get too low you always want the main gear to touch before the nose wheel.

 

You might want someone to video your landings so you can see the height at which your able to keep the wheels from the ground and also how steady you can keep that height as you skim over the runway without touching it. Once you've mastered this exercise its time to move on.

 

RULE 3: AIRCRAFT CONTROL >> When you practice circuits/touch and goes, apply the main wheels but keep the nose wheel from touching the ground, i.e. keep the nose wheel just above the ground then lift off again when the remaining runway safety margin becomes to small.

 

The start of this exercise will involve the normal roundout...as you begin the roundout bring power back to around 1/2 of your normal approach power. This will depend on the aircraft you are flying. Once you have levelled from the round out, keep your eyes well ahead of the aircraft down the runway center.

 

NOW FOLLOW THIS FLARE PROCESS:

 

A) Keep the wheels about 3ft above the runway.

 

B) As soon as you feel the aircraft wheels getting closer that that 3ft, pull the stick back enough to keep the aircraft back at the 3ft.

 

C) Repeat step A & B until the stick is 3/4 of it full travel backwards leaving room to control the touchdown.

 

D) Once the stick is 3/4 or more of the way back simply hold the stick or move it only very slightly backwards to ease the main wheels onto the runway gently. If the stick is all the way back before you touch the runway you won't be able to control the touchdown to make it smooth.

 

As the wheels touch the ground, you will need to add enough power to keep the aircraft from slowing down. As you add power you will probably need a fair bit of forward stick to keep the nose from rising. You should be able to sense the speed with your eyes, ears and other sensors. Don't look at the instruments. Keep your eyes outside looking down the runway center. The attitude at which you touch down with the main wheels must be kept by using the horizon line and other outside references. Steer with your rudder pedals to stay on the center. Keep the wings level. Roll along the runway until you run out of safety margin then apply power steadily to full and takeoff as per normal. Don't let the nosewheel touch the ground! The aircraft should lift off the ground itself at the same attitude as when you touched down the main wheels. Its possible you may be able to the lower the nose from the touchdown attitude without letting the nosewheel touch the runway. This will teach you to keep flying the airplane even after you've touched down. Now you can wipe all the sweat off your forehead. By no means is this an easy task and you should be proud if you can do it with precision.

 

Once you've mastered that....you will be able to practice lowering the nose wheel slowly so that it gently touches the runway (unlike most landing I've seen).

 

Let me know if you have success or not with this exercise. I hope it will help and give you nice soft, greasy landings.

 

 

[shags_j]

Awesome Darin. Never seen it put like that before.