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Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 6:16:33 PM   
Adui


 

Posts: 510
Joined: 8/24/2007
From: Dayton, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Hey all,

I dont know how many here are having issues with "hot" landings, but I did.

Here is waht I suggest, BEFORE you solo if possible. Have your instructor teach you how to fly slow, and how to get it to slow down in the first place.

Then fly circuits at the slowest speed your plane will fly.

Finally, when you get ready to land, slow it down all the way, and as was taught me here, use the throttle only if you lose altitude too early, use the elevator to keep it level and therefore slow.

As you make your turn to final a couple clicks of throttle will keep it from tip stalling, then immediately down to idle for the glide in. If your trainer is like mine it will literally float in over the runway and settle like a feather!

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Chance favors the prepared mind. ~Louis Pasteur~
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RE: Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 6:57:28 PM   
Nathan King



Posts: 1468
Joined: 5/29/2007
From: Omaha, NE, USA
Status: offline 		Amen! I teach ALL of my students slow flight well before they solo. Many beginners that have never had slow flight practice just don't realize how slowly their trainer will go. Unfortunately they tend to come in too fast and try to drive the aircraft onto the runway, resulting in rough, damaging bounced landings. Never, ever give a model aircraft "down" to drive it onto the runway. Your best case scenario is a large bounce and worst case scenario is wheelbarrowing out of control leading right into a crash.


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Nate,
WACO Brotherhood #99

(in reply to Adui)
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RE: Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 7:38:16 PM   
flyX


 

Posts: 630
Joined: 7/24/2007
From: el centro, CA, USA
Status: offline 		The only way I was able to discipline myself to do that is to dedicate one flight out of four to practicing proceedure truns
at 3/8 throttle . it's borning as heck sometimes but it'll help on the slugish controls.

Over the years, I develope a habit of flying a couple of times around the field before making landing aprroches.
This way it gives my brain time to adjust to the slower speed perceptions . The same effect as when you exit the freeway onto surface streets
and there's a darn speed trap posted 25mph.lol So I'm doing 50mph thinking I was doing only 25mph. Until i glans at the speedometer again, or
people giving me the birdy

That's why i use to come in too hot sometimes...I slowed down, but not slow enough. It just seems slow, slow compaired to
the hgher speed i was flying.

(in reply to Nathan King)
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RE: Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 8:03:30 PM   
n19htmare


 

Posts: 302
Joined: 3/28/2008
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I did slow fly by's my first day and that has helped me out tons to learn my plane. Now I know how slow is too slow and I hardly stall and have good landings.

(in reply to flyX)
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RE: Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 8:08:09 PM   
CGRetired



Posts: 4226
Joined: 9/14/2004
From: Galloway, NJ, USA
Status: offline 		The only problem I have with that is when you are on downwind, going slow, and then begin the turn to base, you may be pretty far away to see enough to react quickly. Soooo.. the best thing I would think to do in this situation is to make turns very slowly and carefully, and do NOT get to carried away with the turn angle. Make nice wide turns and closely watch the airframe for signs of stalling.

CGr.

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Skylark 70 - OS 75 AX; Venus II - OS 1.20 AX; Tiger 120 - OS 1.20 AX; Protege - OS .75 AX. Airtronics - Spektrum. AMA 705964. Semper Paratus!

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RE: Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 8:38:52 PM   
Adui


 

Posts: 510
Joined: 8/24/2007
From: Dayton, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Good point!

When I make turns at slow speed I make SHALLOW turns!

< Message edited by Adui -- 6/26/2008 8:39:45 PM >

_____________________________

Chance favors the prepared mind. ~Louis Pasteur~

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RE: Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 9:20:29 PM   
Nathan King



Posts: 1468
Joined: 5/29/2007
From: Omaha, NE, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: CGRetired

The only problem I have with that is when you are on downwind, going slow, and then begin the turn to base, you may be pretty far away to see enough to react quickly. Soooo.. the best thing I would think to do in this situation is to make turns very slowly and carefully, and do NOT get to carried away with the turn angle. Make nice wide turns and closely watch the airframe for signs of stalling.

CGr.


Very good point. Also, be aware of overshooting the turn to final when there is a tailwind on the base leg. The pilot often overshoots and performs a very steep bank at slow speeds and low altitude in attempt to regain proper runway alignment. When in doubt, level the wings, power up, and go around for another try.


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Nate,
WACO Brotherhood #99

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RE: Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 9:20:35 PM   
Jburry



Posts: 560
Joined: 7/12/2006
From: Cape Spencer, NB, CANADA
Status: offline 		All beginners seem to land hot. Slowing down the approach is part of what needs doing, but it's not everything. Knowing how to handle a slow flying plane is definately important, and everyone needs to learn that.

I try to make standard rectangular approaches, rather than the more often seen "great circle" type of approach. A rectangular approach involves flying the downwind leg at a comfortable but low throttle setting, beginning to establish the glide slope that will define the approach. After going about 50 yards downwind of the runway threshold, and about 100 yards beyond the runway centerline, a smooth 90 degree turn to the base leg is made. Glideslope is maintained. Throttle is reduced. Elevator is increased gradually to slow the plane without ballooning. When and how much throttle is reduced depends on the plane and conditions. Continuing on, another smooth 90degree turn is executed so as to end lined up with the center of the runway, glideslope continuing. Over the threshold of the runway, at about 15-20', the throttle is chopped to its landing setting (different for different planes, and some sleek designs may require the throttle to be chopped earlier, while draggy ones will require power longer.... This works as typed for most trainers.) Now the glideslope is continued, until the craft is about 1' off the runway, about 1/4-1/3rd of the way down the runway.

At this point the beginners just continue the glideslope until the plane hits the runway, and they bounce to a stop. What should happen instead is that the pilot should now begin easing in more and more elevator, the goal being to fly the plane 6-12" above the runway as long as possible. This is what flairing is all about. The plane will slow and slow, the nose will rise. As it does so, the pilot will allow the plane to settle slowly. The plane will slow to a point where elevator will no longer keep the plane flying and it will settle on the mains. Done correctly, the plane should touch down more or less right in front of the pilot, and use the second half of the runway for roll-out.

The whole trick to landing is mastering that little flare. If the plane balloons, elevator was added too soon, and/or the plane was still too fast. Try reducing throttle earlier on approach. If the plane won't make the runway on its current glideslope, a click or 2 of throttle will stretch the slope out. Some planes don't want to be flared, but really the flare still happens, it's just very subtle. Warbirds are this way, as are the "snappy" aerobats (caps, yaks...). Basically, the pilot learns to pull out of the glideslope at just the moment the wheels touch.

J

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RE: Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 9:23:44 PM   
gaRCfield


 

Posts: 1274
Joined: 5/20/2008
From: Burlington, VT, USA
Status: offline 		I guess I learned this practice when flying with my Nexstar - idling the plane in from base, or maybe even further, and letting the plane float in for a landing. While it might be a way for beginners to get the plane to the ground, I prefer to land with a bit more power.

I agree with practicing the slow flight up high, to learn the slow flight characteristics of the plane.

I don't agree with flying the plane at idle for so long; a little gust of wind at idle, especially as you're making your descent, can stall you right into the ground. I fly in at about two clicks above idle (at least; with the Nexstar I could come in a little under 1/4 throttle) and don't get to idle until I'm over the runway (less than 6 feet) and want the plane to come to the ground. I can fly my plane at idle speed, and keep it in the air for quite a while. But from the high elevation practice, I definitely found it doesn't take much of a change in conditions to cause a tip stall.

Again, practicing the slow flight characteristics at high elevations is really, really beneficial. It was suggested to me quite a bit when I first started, but I didn't really start listening until just recently, and it has really paid off.

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..this hobby is doing weird things to me...

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RE: Slow flight, Advice from a new pilot too new pilots: - 6/26/2008 9:35:42 PM   
flyX


 

Posts: 630
Joined: 7/24/2007
From: el centro, CA, USA
Status: offline 		That's why i practice doing prceedure turns or touch and go. I make those square truns...way beyound the field or runway at decent altitude and
sufficient power or air speed during the turns...so I don't tip stall during banking...you never know if a gust of wind will hit the model.
The final trun is at least 100-200 feet beyound the end of the run way. This gives me time to adjust for the straight path over the
runway. One manuver at a time. I can adjust altitude/speed via power or elevator. Plus practicing adjusting the throttle on the straight
path over the runway...I don't freak out if I need to bail...apply throttle before i pull.lol

(in reply to Adui)
       Post #: 10

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