DAY 11
After much pondering about the weather today, it finally became good enough to do an hour of circuits in the Arrow, and after the previous pretty awful flight I was determined to make this a much more pleasant flight!
A couple of hours before the flight I read and went over my notes taken previously on what needs to be done, by when and where in the circuit - getting it pretty solid in my head (ie doing my homework!), I was quite amazed with the results......
Rotate at 70 kts, unusable runway left - gear up, once gear up light is out rpm to 2500, manifold pressure also back to 25, by now you're about to hit 500' so check flaps, engine t's & p's, landing light off and trim for 90....
once in downwind, get the checks done quickly, efficiently and make sure you trim - the plane becomes so much easier to fly once its trimmed properly!
Turning base, you're stable at the circuit height, properly trimmed, so reduce power, pitch for 80 kts and 2 stages of flaps.
Turn final, miss the mast at 750', call final, 3rd stage of flap, pitch for 75 kts, adjust power and whadda you know - she kissed the runway every time!
Trimming the plane is definately the answer!!!!
We also did a couple of glide approaches which were definately an eye opener..
When in late base, you pull the power to complete idle - no flap at this stage.
Its up to you to judge where you pull the power (before turning final) so you're able to make the runway - pretty hard to get right straightaway
I pulled the power to idle and firstly I thought I was too high.... then she started to sink like a brink! Keeping the speed at 80 kts was paramount as this was the best glide - no flap was used until short final to ensure you'd get in.... its better to be high (you can loose height) than low on a glide approach obviously!
...More tomorrow!