April 14, 2011 - Soft Field Take-offs and Landings
Inconsistent weather precluded any soloing today, so we focussed on something a little different in the circuit: Soft field (i.e. grass) take offs and landings.
First, the take-offs....
The idea -- I think -- is to make use of ground effect in order to gain significant speed just above the ground before really starting the climb out. So, you use 10 degrees of flap, and rotate just slightly as soon as you are able, then push down a little in order to not climb, but fly just above the ground, rapidly gaining speed. Then when ready, about 80 kts in a 150, you start the climb out, and it just SHOOTs up! So cool! Such a feeling of power!!!! Totally fun! What a rush! (Oh, and btw, remember to put up the flaps during climb out, and check RPMs, temp and pressure. Yep, Vera forgot this step 4 out of 5 times. Big surprise!)
Soft Field Landings...
So because of the tendency for things to get stuck and stop with the extra friction of mud, let's say, or grass, it is preferred to add a little power just before or even in the flare, and keep the nosewheel up, for this sort of a landing. The power adding is important, otherwise the plane just drops on the ground. However, it is critical to not bash the tail on the ground, either. Kind of a finesse thing here, not my specialty, hehe.
Lari suggests power to idle on approach, so that you can can just a wee bit of power before the touch down on the back wheels. You really have to keep the control column all the way back to keep the nose wheel off the ground for this kind of landing. Definately need more practise on this stuff... lots of traffic this afternoon too... forgot what that's like after flying early in the morning the last time where things were pretty peaceful in the circuit.
Conference this weekend, so not flying again until Monday, unless weather craps out, in which case we'll fly Tuesday. :)))
First, the take-offs....
The idea -- I think -- is to make use of ground effect in order to gain significant speed just above the ground before really starting the climb out. So, you use 10 degrees of flap, and rotate just slightly as soon as you are able, then push down a little in order to not climb, but fly just above the ground, rapidly gaining speed. Then when ready, about 80 kts in a 150, you start the climb out, and it just SHOOTs up! So cool! Such a feeling of power!!!! Totally fun! What a rush! (Oh, and btw, remember to put up the flaps during climb out, and check RPMs, temp and pressure. Yep, Vera forgot this step 4 out of 5 times. Big surprise!)
Soft Field Landings...
So because of the tendency for things to get stuck and stop with the extra friction of mud, let's say, or grass, it is preferred to add a little power just before or even in the flare, and keep the nosewheel up, for this sort of a landing. The power adding is important, otherwise the plane just drops on the ground. However, it is critical to not bash the tail on the ground, either. Kind of a finesse thing here, not my specialty, hehe.
Lari suggests power to idle on approach, so that you can can just a wee bit of power before the touch down on the back wheels. You really have to keep the control column all the way back to keep the nose wheel off the ground for this kind of landing. Definately need more practise on this stuff... lots of traffic this afternoon too... forgot what that's like after flying early in the morning the last time where things were pretty peaceful in the circuit.
Conference this weekend, so not flying again until Monday, unless weather craps out, in which case we'll fly Tuesday. :)))