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----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Bob, For approach and landing speeds with an Alon, I regularly used the 1.3 times minimum flying speeds with these considerations. 1. Determine the TRUE minimum flying speed of YOUR plane with YOUR airspeed indicator and compute 1.3 times that speed for your approach. (Do NOT assume your plane and airspeed indicator match book values since airspeed indicators especially can be way off and planes can vary.) 2. Realize this will require a steeper approach - plan for it and practice it. 3. Add 1/2 the gust factor - if the winds are 15 with gusts to 27 you would add 6 mph to your approach speed. But DON'T add an extra five for the wife and an extra five for the kids. I habitually flew my approaches at 1.3 times minimum flying speed. I usually flew base and final at 1500 rpm until I had the field guaranteed, then I'd pull the power back to idle. If you've got a dangerous approach (trees), you might have to fly a steeper approach at idle (keeping 1.3 times minimum airspeed) so you don't have to worry about losing power on final. If you do this and find you're overshooting, you have to do a go around unless you have rudder pedals. If your Coupe has pedals, you can slip. If you fly at 1.3 times minimum speed carrying power on final and you LOSE power you may have to drop the nose and INCREASE speed to stretch your glide. Coupes have the kind of short Hershey Bar wing that gave Short Wing Pipers (Tri-Pacer, etc.) their amazing ability to make very steep descents. Low airspeed approaches in the Coupe will give you a pretty steep approach. In my testing, I found that my best glide ratio was at a HIGHER speed than 1.3 times minimum. I got my best glides at 1.4-1.5 times minimum flying speed. What this means is, if you lose power on final DO NOT pull back on the yoke to slow up because that would STEEPEN your glide and you would be in the trees. Instead, drop the nose and INCREASE airspeed to stretch your glide. Do some flight-testing and practice. What I've said above is, I think, a good general "truth" about Coupes with our Hershey Bar wings. But you should do testing of your plane to find out what's the sink rate and glide ratio at various airspeeds. Watch for that flat spot at the top of the curve where there's not a lot of change to the glide ratio with changes of airspeed - on my testing that came around 1.4-1.6 times minimum flying speed. See the LOWER glide ratio you get at 1.3 times minimum and test the glide ratios you have at 1.2 and 1.1 times minimum speed - it gets way steeper. Whenever I flew a different Coupe, I would always get away from the airport and determine minimum flying speed, then I'd fly the approach at 1.3 times minimum. Flying the approach at 1.3 times minimum gives a nice moderately steep approach, it gives an option to stretch the glide (by increasing airspeed) on power loss, and gives just enough energy to flare without too much float. I like it. Ed Burkhead http://edburkhead.home.insightbb.com/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2002 11:07 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [COUPERS-TECH] Re: Digest list: Ercoupe Technical discussion (moderated) Can any one tell me the proper takeoff & landing speeds for a1966 Alon A2 . I have conflicting information. The Qwners Manual says for takeoff 65 MPH and approch speed 70-80 MPH The Origional Flight Manual says Landing & takeoff at 65 MPH I am operating out of a1800' grass strip and landing at 70 MPH is a little scary. If the grass is even a little wet you slide all over the place 70 MPH seem very fast to me. If you make a hard landing at that speed something has to give. I was able to land my 182 slower then that. Any advice would be apreciated before I break something. With a power off stall speed of 48 MPH I figure you should be able to land at about 60 to 65 MPH. That's 1.3 times the stall speed. Iam a little afraid to try it at my grass strip due to the possibilty of ending up in the trees at the aproach end of my runway if Iam wrong. Any insite would be welcome. Thanks Bob Bullock N5621F ================================================================== TO UNSUBSCRIBE go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm ====================== TO UNSUBSCRIBE go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
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