Dec 9 - Specialty Take-Offs and Landings
Finally back in the game (at
least for a morning!), we reviewed some “normal” circuits, and I recalled my
automatic downwind checks and not-so-automatic flaps and power reduction combo
on base. Then it was time for some
speciality take offs and landings.
The first, grass field, is the most familiar to me, as I have taken off from REAL grass fields several times in PEI, in addition to having been introduced to the technique by Korkka, who even took me to Greenbank once. The idea, basically, is to taxi out onto the runway and take off in one continuous movement. Control column comes all the way back, to hold the nose wheel off the ground, and then allow the aircraft to become airborne ASAP. (10 degree flaps can help with this, in a 150.)
Once airborne, push forward slightly to go into ground effect. Accelerate to 60, climb out at 68, and for goodness sake, remember to retract the flaps!
Next, we did some short field take offs and landings.
Taking off on a short field requires one to make use of the full length of the runway, then do a “static take-off”. This encompasses holding down the brakes while pushing the power all the way in. Once you’ve checked you have full power, and temp/pressure is in the green, you let go of the brakes, and away you go! Again, 10 degree of flap can help with getting airborne sooner, and then stay in ground effect (so you are off the short runway) until you get to 60, then climb out, remembering once again to retract the flaps.
Short field landings require some more skill…
Upon turning base, bring down 20 degree of flap as usual, but now you also need to set up for a steeper approach, which will result in a slightly harder landing than normal. Steeper approach means putting down a full 40 flap on final, and adjusting the power accordingly. The full flap configuration makes the plane drop more, so the power reduction should be more gradual than usual. Also, you flare a little early, so that you can land right after the threshold of the runway (since it is a short one, you want to use the full length!) A little slower than usual, too. 55 kts, maybe, rather than 60.
Once on the ground, those flaps that helped you drop and fly slowly, are not helping you to slow down, so you want to retract them right away to help with braking. (Hmmm… do I retract flap on soft field, too? Not sure… will have to check!) Since you landed at a slower airspeed already, the combination of AS and retracted flaps will help you stop much sooner than usual, ideally before the end of your short runway!
Oh, how nice it would be if I could review all this tomorrow, and then go fly solo to practice! Alas, my next lesson is not until next weekend, weather permitting, and then it will be time to move on to the next thing, if we are to stay on schedule. Ugh!
The first, grass field, is the most familiar to me, as I have taken off from REAL grass fields several times in PEI, in addition to having been introduced to the technique by Korkka, who even took me to Greenbank once. The idea, basically, is to taxi out onto the runway and take off in one continuous movement. Control column comes all the way back, to hold the nose wheel off the ground, and then allow the aircraft to become airborne ASAP. (10 degree flaps can help with this, in a 150.)
Once airborne, push forward slightly to go into ground effect. Accelerate to 60, climb out at 68, and for goodness sake, remember to retract the flaps!
Next, we did some short field take offs and landings.
Taking off on a short field requires one to make use of the full length of the runway, then do a “static take-off”. This encompasses holding down the brakes while pushing the power all the way in. Once you’ve checked you have full power, and temp/pressure is in the green, you let go of the brakes, and away you go! Again, 10 degree of flap can help with getting airborne sooner, and then stay in ground effect (so you are off the short runway) until you get to 60, then climb out, remembering once again to retract the flaps.
Short field landings require some more skill…
Upon turning base, bring down 20 degree of flap as usual, but now you also need to set up for a steeper approach, which will result in a slightly harder landing than normal. Steeper approach means putting down a full 40 flap on final, and adjusting the power accordingly. The full flap configuration makes the plane drop more, so the power reduction should be more gradual than usual. Also, you flare a little early, so that you can land right after the threshold of the runway (since it is a short one, you want to use the full length!) A little slower than usual, too. 55 kts, maybe, rather than 60.
Once on the ground, those flaps that helped you drop and fly slowly, are not helping you to slow down, so you want to retract them right away to help with braking. (Hmmm… do I retract flap on soft field, too? Not sure… will have to check!) Since you landed at a slower airspeed already, the combination of AS and retracted flaps will help you stop much sooner than usual, ideally before the end of your short runway!
Oh, how nice it would be if I could review all this tomorrow, and then go fly solo to practice! Alas, my next lesson is not until next weekend, weather permitting, and then it will be time to move on to the next thing, if we are to stay on schedule. Ugh!