tips for landing centerline?

[jieitai]

I hate using trim....I hate using autopilot. I fly manual. Letting the plane fly itself takes the fun out of the game.

So, since I can't land a jet, despite the fact that I'm proficient with taxi, takeoff, and navigation, that one thing, means I should just scrap the idea of flying jets and go back to base 1?

I have made nice, centerline landings with the Cessna, the 737, and the 747, but I'm not consistent.

Maybe I'm just burned out. There are days I can fly, and days I can't. One day, I can land a helicopter on a building, the next I can't even get it to hover.

[BAW0343]

Trim just allows you to release pressure on the stick to make it physically easier, not have the plane fly itself.

So not being good at one thing shouldn't matter?

[Slotback]

Learn how to slip; including side slip and forward slip. That works. I get on the centre line every landing cause I just side slip.

http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/fli ... g/slip.htm

Use trim, it doesn't let the plane fly itself, it relieves pressure so you don't have to constantly pull back on the stick. Without trim, might I add, most airliners probably couldn't lift their nose off the ground.

[Anxyous]

Learn how to slip; including side slip and forward slip. That works. I get on the centre line every landing cause I just side slip.

http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/fli ... g/slip.htm

Use trim, it doesn't let the plane fly itself, it relieves pressure so you don't have to constantly pull back on the stick. Without trim, might I add, most airliners probably couldn't lift their nose off the ground.

Yeah, but default aircraft don't side-slip properly...

You're wrong about airliners not being able to lift off the ground without trim though...

[Slotback]

Learn how to slip; including side slip and forward slip. That works. I get on the centre line every landing cause I just side slip.

http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/fli ... g/slip.htm

Use trim, it doesn't let the plane fly itself, it relieves pressure so you don't have to constantly pull back on the stick. Without trim, might I add, most airliners probably couldn't lift their nose off the ground.

Yeah, but default aircraft don't side-slip properly...

You're wrong about airliners not being able to lift off the ground without trim though...

In the Md-11, unless you have an AFT CG, or want to raise the nose at 210 knots +, then yes, substantial nose up trim is required. The 747 and Md-80 are similar.

[macca22au]

Trim is manual.  Flying without using it means you can't fly!

[Brett_Henderson]

I hate using trim....I hate using autopilot. I fly manual. Letting the plane fly itself takes the fun out of the game.

So, since I can't land a jet, despite the fact that I'm proficient with taxi, takeoff, and navigation, that one thing, means I should just scrap the idea of flying jets and go back to base 1?

I have made nice, centerline landings with the Cessna, the 737, and the 747, but I'm not consistent.

Maybe I'm just burned out. There are days I can fly, and days I can't. One day, I can land a helicopter on a building, the next I can't even get it to hover.

I'm going to continue in this thread, because you seem genuinely intersted in flying realistically.

Trim is an important flight control. You can't dismiss it as something you don't like to use. When flying straight and level, do you just constantly hold elevator pressure ? Or do you trim so you can let go of the yoke/stick ? Same goes for landing and taking off. If you look at ANY checklist, you'll see that "Trim for Takeoff" is there. In fact.. in a C182 checklist, it's part of the after-landing procedure. Flaps up, transponder to standby, cowl-flpas open, trim for takeoff..

By "flying to the runway", I mean just that. Pitching, banking and yawing all the way down. Kinda like a video game where you use the joystick to keep the target in your sights. Small, slow prop-planes let you get away with that (just like real flying). They're very forgiving... You can be all over the sky on your way down and still hit the centerline. Big jets don't allow for that.. and I fear that's what's happening. You've trained yourself to land like that, and it aint gonna work in a big jet.

Climb back into the C172 and do a few hours of pattern work. Concentrate on flying perfectly squared

[C]

Use trim, it doesn't let the plane fly itself, it relieves pressure so you don't have to constantly pull back on the stick. Without trim, might I add, most airliners probably couldn't lift their nose off the ground.

You're wrong about airliners not being able to lift off the ground without trim though...

He's not far wrong. Depending on weight at take off and landing, I've taken off and landed with half trim or more, and even being a degree or so out of trim can substantially increase control loads.

[Alejandro Rhodes]

you should try RudderPedals

[jieitai]

you should try RudderPedals

Or I could just twist my joystick.....

It's interesting about trim--I've done about 6-7 hours in Piper Warriors back in 2004, and we never touched the trim controls. I'd prefer to hold altitude manual, because if I did set the trim, and let go of the stick, the yoke would be blocking the view of my instruments (at least in the jets). The one aircraft I have been able to consistently land centerline with is the Mitsubishi F2A, but who knows how realistic the flight model on that is.

Really, I can get one of the big birds on the runway, I just can't do it perfectly and professionally.

[Anxyous]

Use trim, it doesn't let the plane fly itself, it relieves pressure so you don't have to constantly pull back on the stick. Without trim, might I add, most airliners probably couldn't lift their nose off the ground.

You're wrong about airliners not being able to lift off the ground without trim though...

He's not far wrong. Depending on weight at take off and landing, I've taken off and landed with half trim or more, and even being a degree or so out of trim can substantially increase control loads.

I stand corrected then

And jieitai, I suggest at least trying to do a flight in a C172 or B58. Not for training, just for fun.

If you don't enjoy it, something's wrong with you

[jieitai]

I've done many flights in the C172. My best was an IFR from Fukuoka to Nagasaki (despite the fact that ATC was bouncing me around like a pinball). I've done some flying in the Baron, but it's really touchy to fly.

I'm gonna do some touch-and-go's until I get dizzy.

[BAW0343]

I've done many flights in the C172. My best was an IFR from Fukuoka to Nagasaki (despite the fact that ATC was bouncing me around like a pinball). I've done some flying in the Baron, but it's really touchy to fly.

I'm gonna do some touch-and-go's until I get dizzy.

I'll agree with you there, I think the 172 is a bit touchy with a standard joystick.

[jieitai]

And that was with a 10 knot crosswind. But I still didn't nail it centerline, the centerline was running along the passenger side. I may be unconsciously tilting the wings to the left when I'm landing.

[Wii]

And that was with a 10 knot crosswind. But I still didn't nail it centerline, the centerline was running along the passenger side. I may be unconsciously tilting the wings to the left when I'm landing.

It's hard to land perfectly centerline in FS but I think of it this way: If the line is between your back gear, you're good.