PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Why is landing the bloody plane so hard?!
Old 6th Mar 2015, 16:33
  #96 (permalink)  
Shaggy Sheep Driver
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I echo was has been posted above about poor L/D aeroplanes being the easiest to land. The most complex and most capable aeroplane I ever had a share in and flew regularly was the Yak52. It almost landed itself!

With that massive paddle prop in fine pitch, power off, gear and flaps down, it came down like an upside-down Harrier. The first time it was demonstrated to me during my check out we were so close to the runway I didn't think we'd land in the same county never mind anywhere near the numbers. But as John says, you point it at very short final and flare, and the thing lands itself, rolls a short distance, and stops (this is on grass).

The only fly in the ointment was fitting that in with C172s on 3 degree 'drag it in on power' 3 mile approaches off bomber circuits (to a small grass field!). And there were plenty of those!
Shaggy Sheep Driver is offline