RCU Forums - View Single Post - Excess speed on landings
View Single Post
Old 05-31-2009 | 06:26 AM
  #27  
jester_s1
Moderator
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,266
Received 35 Likes on 30 Posts
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default RE: Excess speed on landings



Actually, if you're bounching the landings, you're getting too slow and stalling the wing. A common mistake for beginners is to treat the wing like a parachute that will float the plane down to the ground. You have to keep the plane flying all the way to the ground, and you need sufficient airspeed to do it. When your wheels touch down, you should still have enough airspeed to be able to pick the plane back up if you want to. What's probably happening is you're coming in and using your elevator to control altitude, which means you start your flare too soon. That kills your airspeed which then makes you pull up more, stalling the wing a foot or two off the ground. That'll bounce it every time. A nose heavy condition will make that tendency worse.</p>

There are two things to do to fix it. First, take a shallower approach angle. Second, keep the nose down until you're just a few inches over the runway. Keep your engine running and goose it if the controls get mushy. With adequate airspeed, any plane can be set down just like an egg using elevator control to make the fine adjustments.</p>