Originally Posted by wombat13
Ronnie, one of the problems with asking a question on the forum, particularly a question of such importance as short field take off technique, is that you will inevitably get contradictory answers and as has happened in this case, things do go off at a tangent.
I watched the spat sunfish / QDM and this made me rethink what I told you. In the case of my advice, deploying flap just before rotating into the ground effect is, perhaps, best left until you have a bit more experience. Deploy prior to the roll.
The Wombat
I tried, without success, to pour some oil on what has rapidly become a urinating competition. Ronnie, to try and encapsulate the best of what has been suggested:
Understand the correct technique for your aircraft.
Read up on STOL (both short and soft) for your aircraft.
Find a FI who can instruct.
Try deploying flap both before and during the roll - settle with what you are comfortable with. The difference will be only a few fields you won't be able to use.
Don't be afraid to ask the FI to "test" the speed tolerence of your aircraft. The POH is vital as a "get out of jail card", but for sucessful STOL, experimenting with an FI beside you could save your life later.
It takes some balls to come on the forum and admit bending an aircraft. The sh1t that is being poured on Sunfish by one or two people for doing this is representative of appalling ignorance and does not help.
A wise man learns from his mistakes. A very wise man learns from other mens mistakes.
Let's keep the forum as a place where we all can continue to share and learn.
The Wombat