At 09:24 AM 2/08/04 +1000, you wrote:
>Hi
>
>I've just been reading Cath Conway's excellent diary from the Women's
>Worlds and was struck in particular by
>
>"The biggest eye opener was how small the paddocks are. They are not
>fenced and there are no swer lines which helps but there can be high
>trees on approach. What is considered to be a good landing field can be
>as short as 300m or even less if the approaches are good. This started
>us thinking about the differences in flying an approach between
>Australia and Germany. Our 1.5Vs plus wind (we haven't seen any wind yet
>and have been told that 30 kph (15 knts) is a strong wind. We looked at
>the gliders' manual's and noted that the LS4 recommended minimum
>approach speed is 90 kph which is less than 50 knts. There are some
>paddocks that a higher approach speed will mean you will not get in."
>
>As I was trained (and did my first XC) in the UK, this is not news to
>me. It does however raise an issue very close to my heart - the way we
>train people for XC.
>
>Back in the UK, I was trained for XC to fly the last part of the
>approach and landing full airbrake and full flap _every_ landing,
>passing over any approach obstacles with the minimum safe clearance -
>and this is the way I fly Alice. Effectively, every landing is a short
>field landing, which ensures that when you need to do it, you are in
>current practice and really know how best to get your aircraft down
>safely in a restricted space.
>
>Here in Australia, the post solo/pre XC training syllabus does not
>however explicitly include short field landing, nor do we encourage XC
>pilots to practice short field landings. Various people I have spoken
>with about this subject have suggested that this is largely irrelevant
>as Australian paddocks are so large. But that is not the case
>everywhere.
>
>What do others feel about this issue?
I completely agree with you that this should be done and required to be
taught. The paddocks aren't always large for various reasons and Aussie
pilots might well go to New Zealand where at least in the North Island the
paddocks tend to be about 125m long and divided into 3 by electric fences.
1.5Vs plus the wind probably works well for Kookaburras and Grunau Baby but
is hopeless in heavier modern gliders. A Nimbus 3DM stalls at about 43
knots two up. 60 knots across the fence is plenty under most circumstancs.
I would modify this depending on the circumstances.
What you are talking about is substituting a rule for proper education and
situational awareness.
Any PPL power syllabus teaches short field landings.
The UK also now teaches a modified form of the square circuit based on what
experienced pilots actually do in outlandings. The downwind to base turn is
started earlier and cuts the corner there. Less chance of finding yourself
on base too far downwind.
Mike
Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments
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