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Old 13th Jul 2015, 10:15
  #19 (permalink)  
Mechta
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
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When the press report a power pilot making a successful forced landing, they will often state, " The pilot had flown gliders so was trained for this" or words to that effect. Whilst it is true, that in most cases, in a glider you only get one attempt at a landing*, you have airbrakes which are used to fine tune your approach and touch down point.

If you were to use a glider, e.g. ASK13, with the airbrakes held open by the instructor to a position which gives an approximate glide angle and descent rate of the power aircraft, it would be a more realistic scenario for practicing FWLOP. Side slipping, circuit planning and speed would be the primary methods of adjusting the descent rate and touch down point.

There are (at least) a few issues though:
  • Turns with airbrakes out are generally discouraged
  • The pilot is closer to the ground at touch down so the view is different
  • A glider may get away with landing on surfaces which would put a tricycle undercarriage aeroplane on its back
*The exception being at a hill site at which it may be possible to overshoot back into lift and have another go.
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