I wanted to get some of your short field landing techniques. I am a low time tail dragger and have experimented with both wheel and 3-point landings. Seems like I eat less runway with 3-points. What is your experience and what speeds do you use etc...?
Thanks,
Todd Wilemon
Aberdeen, MS
Short Field Landings
Short Field Landings
N9453E
Re: Short Field Landings
Todd:
The secret is precise control of your airspeed on final. Climb to 3000 ft agl, and practice slow flight at 60, 55, 50 and even 45mph with throttle at idle (do not forget your carburetor heat!) until you are really confortable. Then try it at the slowest speed that you feel secure. In my Champ 45mph on short final, 3 point, gives me my shortest landings.
Pablo
The secret is precise control of your airspeed on final. Climb to 3000 ft agl, and practice slow flight at 60, 55, 50 and even 45mph with throttle at idle (do not forget your carburetor heat!) until you are really confortable. Then try it at the slowest speed that you feel secure. In my Champ 45mph on short final, 3 point, gives me my shortest landings.
Pablo
Re: Short Field Landings
My best landings (three point) seem to occur when I use 55 on final and bleed the airspeed off until the Champ settles in to a nice flair. Anything faster and I'll bounce every time as it floats up when I try to flair. I haven't done enough wheel landings to comment much but 65 on final seems to work OK and I level off above the runway until the wheels contact.
I still tend to flair high on occasion. Not sure I'll ever solve that problem. Flying a Cherokee with it's ground effect for 25 years tends to make a person sloppy. The Champ is more demanding.
MikeB
I still tend to flair high on occasion. Not sure I'll ever solve that problem. Flying a Cherokee with it's ground effect for 25 years tends to make a person sloppy. The Champ is more demanding.
MikeB
Re: Short Field Landings
Todd,
Slow flight practice, with attitude awareness outside the airplane! Notice the airplanes attitude in relation to the horizon. Cowl and wing relation to the horizon. Watch the airport threshold move up and down in the windshield. Find the point in the windshield where the airports threshold does not move (up or down) at the best slow flight speed, fly that to the transition between glide and flare. Control that with the throttle(altitude) and elevator(speed). It has worked for me for years in Champs and T-Crafts. The Champ I flew 55-60 for three point and 65-70 for wheel landings. Hope this helps.
Charles
Slow flight practice, with attitude awareness outside the airplane! Notice the airplanes attitude in relation to the horizon. Cowl and wing relation to the horizon. Watch the airport threshold move up and down in the windshield. Find the point in the windshield where the airports threshold does not move (up or down) at the best slow flight speed, fly that to the transition between glide and flare. Control that with the throttle(altitude) and elevator(speed). It has worked for me for years in Champs and T-Crafts. The Champ I flew 55-60 for three point and 65-70 for wheel landings. Hope this helps.
Charles