landing or dropping

[xinmayu]

I can land on the runway with Approach. However, i don't know how to have a soft touchdown. I always shut down Autopilot and minimize throttle at 100 fts. And then, I touch the ground heavily and sometimes even jump up and down untill drop on the ground. Why? How can i touch down softly like those real planes?

[Scottler]

Could be a few things:

As you cross the end of the runway, drop your throttle to idle, and apply just a little bit of back pressure to raise your nose.

Then don't touch anything.  If you're doing everything right, your airplane should just slowly come down.  

If you're coming down too hard, that tells me that you're either coming in too fast, too steep, or  you're diving for the runway at the last minute.

There's a great lesson in F$2002 that handles landings.  Very helpful.  

[visitor]

You can learn alot watching the
instant replay, you may be flaring
too high and stalling onto the
runway, watch your v-speed It
should be about -500fpm on approach
and come back to -50fpm just as you
touch down,
Keep doing them, it gets better!!!

X

[fisharno]

Different aircraft need a slightly different touch when landing.

What helped me with all my landings even in Heavies, is to take the Cessna out and practice decending and touching down using only the throttle to control your rate of decent. If you have full flaps deployed, your throttles shouldn't be at idle unless you're coming in way fast.

But, like I said, it really depends on the type of aircraft.

[hiflyphil]

hi

Depends what plane your flying they all seem to require different power settings.

My 747 seems to float down the descent line with barely minimal power once you've got your flats and gear down. And you should be able to maintain a speed just below 200 knots, the slower you fly the easier it is to desend and manouver to the correct line. Obviously keep a close eye on the airspeed, about 160 your a blot on the landscape.

I always find it better to control the power yourself from a long way out, about 20 miles is plenty of time to get set up. Remember when you switch your autothrottle off, your joystick throttle is probably going to be nothing near what the computers had the throttle set at and you'll probably get a sudden increase in power or a sudden loss in power and head for the deck.

Once you go to a smaller jet liner like the 727 I find I have to keep quite a bit of power on to prevent the plane stalling.

It all takes practice so hang in there  ;D

Phil

[Scottler]

Because its always a good idea to take landing advice from a guy whose quote reads "Fly Phil Airways.  I promise we'll hit the tarmac-hard."

LOL, sorry Phil-had to.

[Stingray686]

Practice, practice, practice.  And right when you think you've got it, practice it another 100 times!!

We all have bad landings, but in our world, we can always walk away from them!!

[ysteinbuch]

I've noticed that applying the spoilers (not all the way!) at certain points during the descent will slow the aircraft down. Generally, I use throttle adjustments on final. If the plane is properly aligned and the flaps are down, I just flair right before touchdown and ease the plane onto the runway. I immediately activate the spoilers and the reverse thrust, while braking. Nine times out of 10, I'll be happy. The other time, oh well.  ;D

[packercolinl]

It's getting the whole package together to get you to that smooth-as T/D. It"s all practice.
Try doing slow circuits in the 172 cessna with flaps down using your throttle to touch and go 3 times in the length of the runway and maintain height. The added advantage is that you will have to keep an eye out for where you are in respect of the airfield. Get the basics right then apply them to bigger aircraft!

[Whitey]

I vastly improved both my landing skills and ILS skills a coupls of days ago...easy peasy...

I took the Baron 58 and did circuits of Prestwick airport until I ran out of fuel...took hours because the manifold pressure setting was always quite low.  To releive the boredem, I made every third approach a full stop landing and then taxied back and took off again for another two touch and goes and a full stop landing.  Try this in any aircraft...it does work.

[packercolinl]

One way you can do circuits and concentrate solely on aircraft control is pick an island to fly from. This gives you an immmediate reference without having to rely on on compass headings etc,just look out the window and there you are!! Try RARATONGA,hill one side ,sea the other. Fly it 'til you get to know your plane then start to apply your compass etc. Use the visual references as well(light coloured water near the coast)to guide you.
This can be quite a learning curve. Cheers