2slow2matter
Posts: 2406
Joined: 8/25/2004
From: Springtown,
TX, USA
Status: offline
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When I was first flying, I got some instruction, but then one day I was just out flying with a buddy. After about 10 or so minutes, I told him "you know eventually you're going to have to help me land this thing." He laughed. but, what he had me to do helped me tremendously. We walked out to the edge of the runway, and I brought the plane toward the runway. What he said that helped so much was to move the aileron stick toward the low wing. So, in other words, everytime a wing started to dip, to move the aileron stick that direction until it leveled back up. That was probably the biggest thing I had to overcome--learning how to correct the roll during landing--which is when the controls are always reversed. And, when you are only feet off the ground, you certainly don't want to roll it the wrong way!
I don't know if it's adviseable for a newbie to fly a plane toward them while standing at the edge of the runway, but it worked for me. Soon after that, I was backing farther and farther away from the runway until I was landing it from behind the fence.
As for now, most of my landings are greased. I have one plane that I fight ground looping on, but other than that, it's cake. Some advice I can give is:
1) don't get too slow--you'll stall
2) keep the nose down until you are just 10 or so feet off the runway, then level it out and let it sink. Once you are a foot off the ground, flair the nose to bleed off the residual energy. Some planes handle this differnent than others, so be careful!
3) Always aim for a spot just off the end of the runway--at first, you will always overshoot your landing spot because of depth perception. If you aim for a spot just beyond the threshold, then you will most likely set it down somewhere just past the threshold.
4) When you are preparing for landing, cut your throttle to about half on the downwind leg--make sure your downwind leg is at least a few hundred feet out from the runway--so you have a decent cross-wind leg.
5) When you turn onto the crosswind (base) leg, cut your throttle a little more--to about 25%. This isn't always an exact, as every plane is different. I have planes that if I cut them to 25%, they might fall out of the sky, so be careful of this, but on your trainer it should be a good starting point.
6) Turn onto final when you are lined up with the runway, and reduce the throttle to just a couple of clicks above idle. You should turn onto your final leg at a distance of around 200 feet or so beyond the threshold. If it is a strong headwind, this distance can be greatly reduced. If there is no wind, you might want to increase it somewhat. You should be at around 150 or so feet in altitude when you start your final approach.
7) On the final leg, you should point the nose of the plane down, and let it descend to the landing spot. If you're going to be way short, give a little throttle and then back off the throttle. Use your rudder at this point to hold course. Use the ailerons to null roll only!
8) When you get about a foot off the runway, drop the throttle all the way to idle, and flair the nose by applying some up elevator. This will decrease airspeed, causing the wing to lose lift, and the plane should settle to the ground.
9) If you are going to be long, or not lined up, GO AROUND! unless you are out of fuel, there is always another chance--use it!
Some trainers won't land wtih any throttle at all. I say keep a few clicks just because it's good habbit. If your plane won't slow down enough to land, then idle it all the way down.
There are better ways to explain what I have said, and others will chime in. Take some of mine, and some of others, and put together the way YOU feel most comfortable with. Remember, it takes practice! And, there will be boo boos, just keep on trucking!
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From a pile of sticks they are born, to a pile of sticks shall they return.
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