Landing the Lear 45

[Stewy44]

Hi guys,

Quick question - what are the best techniques for landing the default Lear 45?

At 120-130 knots and full flaps, it comes in at a high aoa - so I know that extra flaring isn't necessary - but the the nose wheel doesn't seem to want to "fall" naturally like the Boeing aircraft - I spent half the runway length with the nosewheel off the ground!

Do you "slam" the nosewheel into the ground with the joystick rather than let it fall naturally?

[Strategic Retreat]

Depending by weight, the Lear's Vref should hang at about 113~118 Kias, so add 5 more Kias as a rule, you're landing it at a correct speed.

If it keeps a too high an aoa, you might be landing it too heavy. How much fuel do you have still in the tanks when landing that way?

If the nosewheel takes too much time to get down, it is probably because of a combination of speed and bad weight distribution (too much weight towards the back), difficult to say from here. The reverse should, by rule, be engaged only when all the wheels are on ground, to avoid roughing the nosewheel... only be careful not to break your plane...

[Stewy44]

Thanks SR for your help - me thinks I need to do some touch and goes!

[chriswade]

check out mine see what you think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbqhEI31vq8

[garryrussell]

You can push the stick forwards and lower the nosewheel gently...why would you slam the nosewheel down?? :-/

I alwys ease the nosewheel down on all landings all types...I don't expect it to lower itself, I'm in control after all

[snippyfsxer]

On some airplanes, initial deployment of the spoilers at touchdown will cause a bit of a nose up pitching moment, so you might have to gently push the nose down, indeed.  To what extent FSX or FS9 is sophisticated enough to simulate that, I don't know.

[Stewy44]

Thanks Snippy - I just did a quick flight between Lugano and Zurich Switzerland and yes, as soon as I hit the spoilers, it wants to pitch up unless you're "managing" it with the joystick.

I came in a little hotter at 140 and this made pitch control on touchdown a little easier too.

@Chris, yes - your landing was a little on the hard side (nosewheel bounce?) and you deployed reversers a little late - but how many of us do greasers every time?

P.S. - the turbulence over the Berner Alps actually made me a little sick - the Learjet was bouncing around all over the place! 

[Stewy44]

I noticed, on a flight into London City that the spoilers deploy automatically when brakes/reversers are engaged - so one less thing to worry about.

Really getting into flying the Lear (the landings are getting better) - it's good fun - haven't been up to FL450 yet though!

[EVVFCX]

The spoilers generally only auto deplay if you tell them to.
Via keyboard there is 3 positions, retracted, extended and armed.
The / key will switch between extended and retracted.
Shift + / depending on your aircraft will auto arm the spoiler to deploy when there is sufficient weight on the undercarriage.
They will retract if you blip the thrust levers as you would to cancel reverse thrust.

You can use mouse on some aircraft and partially deploy before touchdown.
If you do use it, get used to approach with half spoiler, that way you can retract is landimng short and extend if long.
It's the gliding technique, not sure how well it would be in jets.
The vulcan has halfway spoilers via a switch.

[tcco94]

check out mine see what you think

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbqhEI31vq8

That landing seemed more like a stall crash at the decent rate you had. I'd suggest coming in a little faster and it seems like you were above the glideslope so come in lower.

[coalpedlar]

I land it at 125 KIAS, but not w/ full flaps.

Try an ILS landing at 125 2 inc. flaps to get the picture...

[Steven Hernandez]

good one

[Scatterbrain Kid]

..Lear 45..At 120-130 knots and full flaps, it comes in at a high aoa - so I know that extra flaring isn't necessary - but the the nose wheel doesn't seem to want to "fall" naturally like the Boeing aircraft - I spent half the runway length with the nosewheel off the ground!

Throw the rule book out the window, manually pop the spoilers on the approach, and stand on the brakes at instant of touchdown.
Fly and bully the thing just as you please, don't let it bully you!
"When you're in command, COMMAND"- Adm Chester Nimitz