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Old 17th August 2001 | 22:21
  #52 (permalink)  
yellowperil
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 52
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From: Henley-on-Thames, UK
Smile

Don't worry about the landings too much, like someone said, one day it all just clicks and you find you can do them; this happened to me and that was in gliders where you only get one chance to get it right per flight... no go-around without an engine!

Glider circuits and landings are a bit different to powered things, but may be of some help. Circuits and landings are done without reference to the altimeter, instead we use a reference point method. From your high key point pick where you're going to land, and look at it throughout the circuit. If you have it about at 30 degrees underneath you, you can judge if you're too close it, too high, low, whatever.

Once you've turned onto finals, try and keep the reference point in the same relative position on the canopy. This means you can see if you're under- or over-shooting.

When you begin to think you're going to bury the aircraft some way under ground, shift your focus from your reference/ aiming point to the horizon. By doing this, you find you can judge very small changes in height, and it's alot easier to gradually keep easing back on the stick until the aircraft is flying a foot or so off the deck. If you keep easing back, you will eventually kiss it onto the ground, and be completely stalled. No chance of leaping back into the air (two landings for the price of one!).

Works well in gliders, and good for taildraggers it seems. Hope that helps

Yp
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