Pietenpol-List: landing technique

[matronics]

Original Posted By: shad bell
Greg wrote:>Try the "Khe Sanh" approach, fly a tight pattern and keep it high on >final.>When you cross the fence pull the power to idle and push the nose down,>and I mean WAY down. Round out to a normal flare and touch down.Instead, I call my landing technique the "Que son?" ("what are those?" in Spanish) approach. As in, "Hey, look! Did somebody leave some juicy tacos laying on the runway numbers?" approach. Coming up abeam the numbers, pull carb heat and reduce power. If there is no wind, power goes to idle. If there is wind, hold maybe 1500 RPM. Either way, set 70MPH and do a circling approach all the way down to the flare. I do lose sight of those tasty tacos laying down there on the numbers, but regain my view of them as I round out to final. I realize that 70 is a pretty high approach speed, but give me a while till I hone my technique and get that down to 65 or 60. For now, I need the extra margin and I'll take what I can get, especially with plenty of runway to train on. After all, I climb out at 55 so I know it will fly at that speed (with power, anyway).By turn to final, I'm committed and if the airspeed isn't locked in, things typically won't go well. If airspeed is good, everything is rosy until I start the flare. My problem in the flare is that I need maybe another couple of dozen landings before I get that picture burned into my mind and do it automatically. Right now, my tendency is to flare it a bit high because I can't quite judge how high I am from kissing the runway and I don't want to slam it down. The spring gear and tires are great for the little drop-ins I've done a time or two when flaring too high, but I want to sharpen that up.If my airspeed is off when I finish the roundout to final, all bets are off. Staring at the airspeed indicator has been where I've blown it in this department. Best way is to just sneak a glance at a critical moment, not to actually look at the ASI because by then when I look up I'm done for.As far as short field performance, Charlie aptly demonstrated 41CC's capabilities by taking off on the ramp at Zapata, pointed directly at the windsock across the runway from the ramp. I'm going to say 300 ft., but that's into a good headwind. From my flight Sunday, I can vouch that the Pietenpol with a good running A65 is an excellent short field performer going up and coming down.And I've got to try the "Khe Sanh" approach!Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net_________________________________________________________________Find what you need at prices youll love. Compare products and save at MSN Shopping. http://shopping.msn.com/default/shp/?pt ... ______Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2007 19:57:18 -0800 (PST)

[matronics]

Original Posted By: "walt evans"
Walt,I land N502R the same way but add only 50 to 100 RPM. The very first landing I did in my Piet I didn't add any and it was the worst landing I have ever made in my life (at the top of the bounce I had enough height to just add power and stay in the pattern). Coming back around, at flare I added the 50 to 100 RPM's and my landing made me proud. That landing gave me the confidence that without further ado I headed out for home (Florida to Tennessee).Gene(hopefully getting my engine case back this next week so I can rebuild the engine and be flying within the month.)----- Original Message -----

[matronics]

Original Posted By: John B Franklin Jr