One of my past CFIs had a day-job as an aeronautical engineer. He
ran me & my 'Coupe through some of the flight tests suggested ~3 yrs.
ago on this list, for determining one's range in the event of engine
failure. We ended up with a rule-of-thumb that, with both of us in
the plane, and assuming calm wind, I could conservatively expect ~1.6
miles of range for every 1000' AGL.
However, I like Dan C's method of having a spot on the plane to use
as a marker at all altitudes, and will work on that one next.
Linda
N3437H (Sky Sprite)
L.A.
2b. Re: High sink rate: Feature, not bug
Posted by: "Caliendo Dan" [email protected] dan.caliendo
Date: Sat Jan 2, 2010 10:09 am ((PST))
I have a little different take on all this. One of the first things I
do with a new plane is determine what spot on the wing is where I
will land with no power. (On my Cherokee 6 it was a line of
rivets about half way out on the wing). On my Ercoupe it is under the
tip of the wing. I do this by practicing engine out landings at a
local airport doing touch and goes. I have a small airport
nearby with 5,000 ft runway and not much traffic so I pick about
midway on the runway as my touchdown spot. That allows me to end up
short or long until I determine the answer.
The advantage to this method is it doesn't change with altitude,
instrument variation or others factors that may be difficult to
remember when the engine quits. (My experience is that I lose
a lot of memory without the engine running.) Use the same airspeed
for your ASI on all landings (after you have determined "best glide
speed" for your plane during these practice T & Go's.)
As with any landing, the spot straight ahead that isn't moving up or
down on the windshield is the spot you will end up with if you
continue straight ahead.
Once I have determined the above I also determine how much I can lose
by slowing the plane, doing S turns, or slipping the plane if you
have rudder pedals. I like to be long on my
engine out landings and lose some extra when I have the spot
"made"....I haven't had as much luck getting more distance as I have
at losing extra!
One other advantage to this method is you get to experience just what
ground effect will do that you don't get practicing at 4,000 feet.
Dan Caliendo
Ercoupe Mach 0.14
3658H
