Brooklands: *No, I don't have an explanation as to why the speed range for a normal approach is below the short field approach speed.
I also wondered about when I recently set foot in a 172.
All other GA aircraft I have flown during a short field approach use speeds lower than the Normal Powered Approach speeds.
The short field approach in the 172 feels remarkably like a NPA without the unusually higher nose attitude, high power to arrest rate of decent and lack of flare.
I figured the speed was high to cover accidents caused by screwed up short field landings. Since the Cessna's book landing distances are very short even without the short field technique.
In the S model with a Vs0 = 40Kias. 61 kts is close to a 50% margin. I would assume you could increase the landing performance even at MTOW by reducing the speed below this and still maintain a safe margin above the stall.
However would not be too keen to meddle with speeds decided at certification.
Any ideas?