Whilst a Nimrod might not have been a 'heavy' jet, there was certainly no need to touch down 1500' from the start of the runway; particularly when carrying out a visual approach. Landing performance allows for the ac to cross the threshold at 50', at VATmax with an average pilot etc and have stopped before the end of the tarmac and, if conducting an instrument approach, changes to the approach path in the final stages would be ill advised; however, if you are looking out the window (and remember where the wheels actually are) you can land an aircraft where you want - preferably not in the undershoot. Landing 1500' in does not imply a smooth landing; neither does landing on the numbers imply 2'g'. I've landed smoothly on the threshold - once, I think - and thumped it in beyond the instrument touchdown point plenty of times - it was sometimes required to wake up the AEO!
Duncs
