Are we missing the point here? Isn't the top landing speed the speed at which the aircraft stalls which is the same as the minimum landing speed? During the landing, the stick/yoke should be progressively held back until the point when the aircraft drops onto the runway. Any higher speed then the aircraft is not landed but forced down with all the associated smoke and bounce!
From my own experience, my landings improved after I had obtained a tailwheel endorsement. I would recommend tailwheel experience for everyone even if they had no intention of continuing to fly tailwheel aircraft if only just to perfect landing techniques, it's real fun and makes it much easier to land nosewheel aircraft afterwards.
Last edited by Sensible; 25th Jan 2003 at 11:54.