Hi Jerry, all
I misspoke when I said "Most find it easier to establish a 'stabilized approach' (constant airspeed and engine rpm while maintaining a relatively constant rate of descent with the yoke) until just before touchdown." That's just how I (and Maynard) do it because I leave my trim at "level cruise" at all times except when in a cruise-climb at 90 mph, changing cruise altitude up or down, or in a cruise descent.
My reasons for that: It is common practice to set the trim to some "nose up" position, set the throttle for the desired rate of descent and just ride the bird down. If wind gusts cause momentary increases and decreases in sink you have to reassert control and get back "in sync" with the plane, and I don't like being "behind the curve" that way. Approaches flown at full up nose trim (the "Land" position marked) can lull the pilot into a false sense of security "dragging in" at high angle of attack and a speed so low if the engine quits much of your lift is lost. If that happens near the ground there will be insufficient altitude to trade for the speed necessary to flare (1-200') , and damage is probable. Finally, I have come to believe that having the trim tab up in the "level cruise" position results in greater flare from maximum "up" elevator...yielding 1-2 mph slower touchdown. Have not attempted to verify or measure that, though.
Regards, WRB -- On Mar 15, 2010, at 09:00, Jerry Ward wrote:
That was an excellent explanation - I have only had the plane for about a year and a half. The person I bought it from said he always flew his pattern about 90 and approached touch down at about 85. I found this to work out pretty well and have since tried to land slower and slower. I have found that it will stay controllable at about 75 but much less and it is really going down on it's own. I have a GPS and the speed seems to be consistent with the GPS so I don't think that there is anything wrong with the Indicator or the Pitot system. Maybe some of my problem is I seem to almost always have someone beside me that weighs about 240 and so we are at near max landing weight and that must also make landing speed greater. So far I have done a good job of keeping both the plane and my passengers safe and happy. And I guess that is all that counts. Along with loving every single second of being in the sky with the Coupe. Thanks everyone for the info and the concern. Keep'em flying.. Jerry
