Approach and Landing airspeed techniques
A question which has puzzled me for years. I learned to fly in the RAAF in the early 1950's. In those days most military Pilots Notes stated approach and landing speeds as over the fence figures. We were taught to land by using gradually reducing airspeeds from the time base leg was commenced until arriving over the fence at the Pilots Notes recommended airspeed. It was commonly known as the bleeding back airspeed technique. The fighter "buzz and break" was an example of this technique where relatively high airspeed was used on what was termed "the initial" and airspeed bled back in a tight low level circuit. The theory was a wartime technique to have enough energy before touch down to counter an enemy intruder attack.
Since the introduction of jet transports the approach and landing technique has changed to a fixed airspeed approach depending on the weight and flap setting. For example, the so called stable approach criteria where the VREF plus wind additive is established by mid final and held until the flare. The difference between the two techniques being the former uses a steadily bleeding airspeed to arrive at the manufacturers recommended VREF at the threshold versus a fixed airspeed technique established early on final.
It could be argued the bleeding airspeed technique requires finer judgement of flight path and airspeed control while the fixed airspeed is easier for (say) a coupled approach.
Maybe the difference between the two airspeed techniques is something to do with jet transport swept wing handling characteristics? Discussion appreciated.