Originally Posted by
localflighteast
Landings are still a bit on the firm side
There is a widely held fallacy that the only "good" landings are the ones where you are hardly feel the wheels touch. There are plenty of instances (eg contaminated runways, strong/gusty crosswinds, short fields) where a landing "a bit on the firm side" should in fact be the desired result.
For someone just learning to fly do not concern your self with firm touchdowns, and obviously I don't mean when the airplane comes crashing out of the sky, I mean the one where there is a distinct bump as the wheels touch.
What you should be IMO grading your landing on is the following.
1) Did I fly a nice stable approach
2) Was the touchdown at the correct attitude to get a proper main wheel first touch down. You should give yourself a big smack up side the head if the aircraft touches on all 3 wheels at the same time or worse nosewheel first
3) Was the aircraft straight when it touched. If it gave a little lurch to one side when the mains touched it was not straight.
4) Was the touchdown on the centre line and near the chosen touchdown spot
As an instructor I would much rather see a good solid stable approach with the flare commenced at the right spot and the nose rotated to the correct touchdown attitude which is
held steady until the wheels touch. This will result in the aircraft likely dropping the last couple of inches for a safe firm landing.
What I do not want to see is a pumping of the wheel as the student tries to feel for the ground trying for the hero pilot "grease job" landing