Had a few thoughts on landing today… nothing radical or new, just another way of contemplating the process. Between slip and crab, I do favor the crab method on final, but I had to clarify to a student today that I don’t mean to hold the crab until a rapid-reversal, magical bait-and-switch at touchdown. That’s never what I’ve done or taught, but sometimes if I’m not careful that’s precisely what the student perceives. The result of that mis-perception is far less graceful than what I will describe next.
So, here we go…
- On final approach be sure to remain relentlessly on center, right down the zipper-like centerline. Accomplish this with the yoke (left hand).
- Airspeed is controlled by pitch adjustment which is trimmed to perfection. The picture.
- Descent path is stabilized and maintained by the throttle (right hand).
- The nose is positioned with the rudder pedals. Either push the tail or pull the nose, whichever makes most sense to you.
- When you move the nose into position, it will become necessary to work harder to keep the centerline using the yoke. This act will automatically drop the upwind wheel for touchdown.
- Now the flare… hold it off dynamically adjusting as you go. As the plane slows it needs more input to hold it off the runway.
- Look down the runway. This is where all the good info is. You’re still steering to center. You’re still holding it off. Maintain this all the way through initial touch and beyond.
- Keep the nose up until down to taxi speed.
- Ailerons into the wind. This will help hold the upwind wing down if the wind is strong.
Two final thoughts:
- The act of straightening the nose with the rudder sets everything else into motion. Don’t leave it for an “I’ll get to it if I’m not overloaded,” or an “it’s just one thing too many.” When you push the rudder it becomes necessary to steer harder into the wind to stop side drift. This drops the upwind wheel. So, if we wait until the last possible second to move the nose, there is no sequence set up before the (premature, unstable) touchdown. Come in stable then start the landing/flare sequence with the rudder pedal.
- Flaring is the key to preventing the ugly high speed tricycle. It also protects the delicate nose gear. I like to think of the nose wheel as the little sister, being protected by her two older brothers. Let the weight of the plane be handled by them.
