quote:

ORIGINAL: Simul8R

I am still in my early 2nd a/c (3rd actually - RIP 2nd) days. When I was flying my 2nd a/c which was a low wing trainer at a field with a very limited runway I had trouble as I was approaching too fast and had the pleasure of watching my flare use up all the available runway.

I was flying my circuits high because I just didn't trust the engine. At one point I had more deadstick landings on my plane than my glider and that takes some doing.

I slowed down, flying the approach at idle power, but then found that I was running out of energy in the flare and I made a lot of hard and bounced landings. That was when I started to learn to use just a little power into the flare. All of a sudden the plane greased nicely onto the ground.

Now I am flying at a larger field and with an OS 55AX engine on my a/c. The concern about the engine cutting out at any time and especially on a go-around is no longer preventing me from flying circuits at a better height. Approaching with power and just using a little blip power to arrest the descent instead of elevator is making all the difference. With the larger field I don't have to panic if I miss my touchdown point and with that comes the ability to get in more practice approaches.

This backs up what everyone has said. 

Learn to use the power to fly a powered approach using the throttle to control descent, and flare, and not elevator and then just practice. Get out there at a time when there are not many others at the field and then you can just fly circuits and touch and goes for hours if necessary. Don't forget to fly the plane until it is static. I also find that rolling on the mains during the go around is a great practice for rudder control during the takeoff roll.

Just my 2c worth.