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Old 08-20-2013, 09:12 PM
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Treetop64 Treetop64 is offline
What the heck...?
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Redwood City, California
Posts: 513
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You're dropping your gear and flaps way too late, not allowing yourself enough time to trim the aircraft for landing, and are consequently rushing things on final.

By the time you turn on final everything should already be down, except for the last bit of flaps. On final you should only be lining up on the glideslope and establishing descent speed until touchdown, not trying to hurry up and drop everything in a mad rush before you land.

As a basic, general rule:
Downwind leg - drop gear and first increment of flaps.
Base leg - drop second increment flaps.
Final - Trim and adjust throttle for the glideslope (imaginary or otherwise) until touchdown.

Throughout, you're managing your speed and descent rate.

When established on final, you control your altitude/descent rate with throttle, and control your speed with the elevator.

Cut throttle as you pass the runway threshold, and - this is key - hold the aircraft just off the surface and let it settle itself onto the runway just before stall. When touching down, you're actually trying to just keep the aircraft from landing, not make it land. It sounds counter-intuitive, but that is the smoothest way to land an aircraft and comes naturally after a bit of practice.

Good luck!
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