LOL!
No genuine curiosity as to whether or not there was a difference in terminology - Im not worried which is 'right or wrong' only whether or not there is a difference.
On the subject of approach speed if you are at 75kts and flare your speed will not drop off to 50kts by touchdown...the definition of Vat is speed over the threshold - to flare @ 75kts and touchdown at the correct speed you are looking at flaring @ 100'...however, unless I am mistaken Vat is defined @ 50' over the threshold (same as performance charts are calclated from). Thus you need to positively adjust to Vat rather than expect it to happen for you.
I will scan the ASI until the flare is started...I have 65kts pegged *before* commencing the flare. This leads to a touchdown speed in the 50kts region.
This is the way I was taught, this is the way I teach, it works for every approach...if you need 60kts for a short field approach you dont want to have 75kts at the start of the flare - you will take too much runway up...
Remember touchdown speed is once again different to threshold speed - there WILL be a deceleration from threshold speed to touchdown speed - it appears here that a touchdown speed of 65kts is being advocated! or did I misunderstand something?
As I said I aim for Vat *before* the flare...by the time the flare is complete hold-off is at a speed not far off of the stall...maybe 50-55kts.
The sequence I use/teach goes
Turn base , carb ht hot, set 1500-1700rpm, 2 stages of flap, hold att & let the airspeed reduce approaching 75kts lower the nose & trim.
Turn final, radio call, when short final full flap speed 65 kts.
Over the threshold start to reduce power & flare. Hold off (try to avoid landing - as I say to students - dont try and find the runway - its still there and will always find you! - pity the italian display pilot @ RAF Fairford this year hadnt been told this...)
If you are lucky the stall warner just went off as you touched down - failing that it should have been pretty close - i.e. speed of about 50kts (stall with full flap is 44kts).
Similar technique for short field - but peg 60kts - obviously requires playing the power now though...
This is a really interesting thread....Im curious for other comments...maybe one or two of the others here will wake up & chip in!!!!
