Originally Posted by Final 3 Greens
You want it trimmed for the right speed - 75KIAS over the fence for a PA28 is crazy, although I dont think that Sunfish means this literally.
ÍIRC the final VRef for a -181 is 63KIAS AT GROSS (this is important) and if you exceed this speed you will floooat.
My landing technique in PA28s is to trim for VRef and then try to keep the aeroplane flying in the flare.
It will land when ready and some will be greasers, some will not. All will be safely within book performance and surely this is the point?
And they are very easy to fly and land :-)
65 knots for a -181, 64 knots for a -140, 63 knots is for a -161 (assuming that any of us can peg a speed that accurately!).
POHs recommend an initial approach speed of 75 knots for a -181, 74 knots for a -140 and 70 knots for a -161.
Most of my PA28 hours are in -161s (about 90 hrs on type), and I've found that trimming with 2nd stage of flap to 70, then holding a
maximum of 63 on the yoke (reducing to about 58 lightweight and solo) and selecting full flap over the hedge (or a bit earlier if high) works for consistently neat landings.
What one should never do imho on any PA28 is approach fast, save in very gusty conditions onto a very long runway.
G