Question For The Experts - Use Of Flaps.
Flying schools typically require a training aircraft, say a Cessna 172, to fly a base leg around 65 knots, final around 60 knots to the threshold.
1.3 Vs is around 61 kts as Vs, power off, flaps down, is about 47 kts. Stall clean is around 55 kts from memory.
My question is as follows. Suppose you are on final, configured with full flaps for a landing, say just at 500ft. The engine coughs splutters and dies.
You are doing 65 knots. You judge you aren't going to make the field. Yes, I know I should be able to make the field, but that's moot just now. In addition at places like YMMB, some pretty flat approaches get taught in my opinion.
What is to stop you retracting flap to extend your glide?
I've never seen this discussed, let alone demonstrated or taught. The rule seems to be that once flaps are down they aren't going to be touched until you are on the ground. What am I missing here apart from the obvious issue of retracting flaps below the clean stall speed?
I've tried this at altitude in an approach configuration and their are no abrupt trim changes, etc.
The same issue relates to off field forced landings. Too much flap? Why not just retract some until your glide is what you want?
Handing over....