https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FJuTyf2sJc
Hi all,
I've been reading the messages about landing and approach speeds. I've read
some quite scary stuff. I don't like posting on here because all you get is
shot down and people tell you what you are doing is dangerous. So I've hardly
ever quoted or responded because everything is "Each to their own!"
Attached is a link to a video I posted on youtube recently about such events
and approaches. I'm not saying anyone should copy what I do, in case of
litigation. I'm also going to say what I don't do and the reasons why I don't
do them. That is all gents. Enjoy... Remember, I'm not telling anyone how to do
it. This is just food for thought.
This only works for a taildragger of course. For a nose gear plane I'd do
similar, except I'd ride a little less forward pressure, a lot of back pressure
to save the nose wheel, is really not a good idea. if you hit a hump, the plane
can take off again at low speed and that is going to hurt. Now you have a high
angle of attack and little control-ability, no visibility and can all end up in
tears. But with forward pressure, yes it may get airborne over a hump, but you
are at the right angle of attack to place down again gently, you have some back
pressure effect left, there is no chance of it climbing high. So I always go
for very little back pressure. If anyone disagrees, remember, don't reply, I do
not care, I'm just telling you what I do.
So in the video are different approaches in my KR2. 1st is Vagar on the Faeroe
Isles after descending around some cloud at about 1.30 seconds in. 2nd TKM on
Iceland a 500 meter grass strip, 3rd Kulusuk a gravel strip in Greenland, 4th
Nuuk International on a man made hill, 5th in a hurry to land at Sanderson USA
and final arriving at Oshkosh.
Normal decent speed is 120 mph, circuit 100 mph over the fence 80 mph touch
down 60 mph tail down 20 mph. I wheel on for good visibility and better
control, three point landings are a no no, you loose all vision and can end up
floating. Landing at any speed close to the stall is a stupid idea, can causes
the aircraft to fall out of the sky uncontrollably and bounce all over the
place. I've never heard of anyone landing an aircraft close to the stall speed,
it just is scary to read even scarier to do.
My Kr2 stalls at 42 mph reliably, I land or hope to at about 60 mph and push
the stick forward to pin the aircraft on the ground, ride the bumps, I can see
clearly and you balance the aircraft on brakes and rudder and slowly have to
push more forward as the speed bleeds off and the elevator looses effect until
the tail drops at about 20 mph, when everything has come to a virtual stop
anyway.
I have tried to three point KR2 and lots of other aircraft, it just feels wrong
and a very poor method. Wheeling Kr2s on is easy, you just fly towards the
ground, parallel the ground till the wheels touch, catch the tail, job done...
The short approach to the grass strip technique is to hit the end of the runway
at 60 mph and hard on the brakes. That runway was 500 meters long 1,500 feet
and I had 100 meters to go when I pulled over. If you go in slow and un-sighted
because of a high angle of attack, you can end up floating along when you
should be on the ground slowing down.
I see No need for complicated flaps or air brakes, spoilers or belly boards and
actuators, you just close the throttle and it virtually stops in the air, 100
mph to touchdown speed in about 4 seconds. If in a hurry as I was on the
approach to Sanderson you can do everything 20 knots faster you just wear out
your brakes quicker.
Its only food for thought.
Enjoy. CH.
