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-   -   Landing a light twin (https://www.pprune.org/tech-log/663728-landing-light-twin.html)

Pizza Express 8th March 2025 19:49

EXDAC
please tell what Aircraft you fly that you need to add power in the flare? If you mean flying a stabilised approach (dragging it in) not sure what difference that makes. In fact on a steep glide approach flying light aircraft, with idle power I seem to have no need to add power in the flare, as well as regularly landing an Airbus on glide paths exceeding 4 degrees. Genuinely interested in the operating technique you are following?

hans brinker 8th March 2025 20:19


Originally Posted by pineteam (Post 11843606)
That’s interesting. I fly IAE for over 10 years and I have no clue about EPR value. Lol. I will have a look on my next flight. I’m 90% of the time landing A/tHR off on NEO and CEO ( with EPR) I only use the N1 and speed trend for reference. It’s always around 45/50% on all A320/321. And in the cruise above FL300 pitch 2 degrees N1 80 % you will always be above GD and below VMAX. The only time I used EPR is in cruise with ATHR off to match the thrust on both engines since it’s supposed to give a more accurate thrust value than N1.
I did not fly twin pistons for a while but I remember cutting the power too early was much less forgiving than A320.. But like pizza express says, as long as you flare at the right time, cutting the power during flare like any plane should work just fine. Only practise on type you will find what is more appropriate. On Airbus I do exactly as per fcom and it works like a charm. 30 feet RA I flare and cut the power. But in reality they behave slightly differently: on A320 with IAE, you could cut the power at 100 feet and still not worry about the energy; the idle thrust is quite high and I believe since the engines are much smaller they create less parasite drag. Do that on a CFM or NEO especially with flaps full … It might be another story… :}

Best part about EPR on the CEO is that the scale is much bigger in the range you use. To set cruise power in the CEO it is around 1.LVL for .78 (so if you are level off at FL370 set the donut at 1.370, and wait what happens, less for light and cold, more for heavy and hot). If you level off after descent at low altitude just set the donut at 1.05 when you see alt cap and wait. Much easier than trying to guess if cruise power will be 78% or 81%, and so much easier to set, same for the 40-55% flying around low just because of the linear scale for N1. Yeah, NEO flaps full will drop at idle!

EXDAC 8th March 2025 21:00


Originally Posted by Pizza Express (Post 11843619)
EXDAC
please tell what Aircraft you fly that you need to add power in the flare? If you mean flying a stabilised approach (dragging it in) not sure what difference that makes. In fact on a steep glide approach flying light aircraft, with idle power I seem to have no need to add power in the flare, as well as regularly landing an Airbus on glide paths exceeding 4 degrees. Genuinely interested in the operating technique you are following?

Over 40 years ago when I started flying tailwheel SEL I was shown that, at the end of an idle power approach, adding 100 rpm just before touchdown would make 3 point landings much easier. It gives a second or two more time to get the sink rate close to zero and to establish the perfect 3 point attitude.

Unlike an Airbus, a light taildragger flown at minimum safe approach speed has no excess energy and stops flying when flared to 3 point attitude. Of course, if you flare perfectly every time from an idle power approach that 100 rpm over idle is not needed.








pattern_is_full 9th March 2025 01:45

One element missing so far in this discussion. In most** light twin-prop aircraft, the propellers are "blowing the wing" and adding some lift directly via propwash flow (in addition to overall airspeed).

One can be adding (or losing) lift directly by throttle setting, not just by prop pitch and IAS changes.

That cuts both ways - in such a twin-prop, leaving a little power in during the flare can cause more "float" — but chopping the throttle too fast can cause the twin to flop onto the runway as that "propwash lift" around the wings vanishes instantaneously, even before the IAS changes much.

In the C172, that will not happen much (if at all). Its propwash mostly impacts the fuselage, and the remainder is passing under the high wing-roots.

**There are exceptions - Cessna Skymaster, Dornier Do28 Skyservant, all-pusher-prop configurations that at most "suck" the wing - (no remarks from the peanut gallery! := :E ), etc.)

hans brinker 9th March 2025 04:37


Originally Posted by pattern_is_full (Post 11843752)
One element missing so far in this discussion. In most** light twin-prop aircraft, the propellers are "blowing the wing" and adding some lift directly via propwash flow (in addition to overall airspeed).

One can be adding (or losing) lift directly by throttle setting, not just by prop pitch and IAS changes.

That cuts both ways - in such a twin-prop, leaving a little power in during the flare can cause more "float" — but chopping the throttle too fast can cause the twin to flop onto the runway as that "propwash lift" around the wings vanishes instantaneously, even before the IAS changes much.

In the C172, that will not happen much (if at all). Its propwash mostly impacts the fuselage, and the remainder is passing under the high wing-roots.

**There are exceptions - Cessna Skymaster, Dornier Do28 Skyservant, all-pusher-prop configurations that at most "suck" the wing - (no remarks from the peanut gallery! := :E ), etc.)

See the Dash 7. Four engine, huge props, Flaps 45 for extra drag, so high power producing lots of lift at very low speeds.

Centaurus 9th March 2025 10:09

Flying the 737 what I found annoying because it was so unnecessary, were pilots who had the habit of giving a "burst" of power at the flare. Their excuse was it made for a smoother touch-down. I called it a 'nervous Nellie' technique.

Flap Sup 10th March 2025 08:55


Originally Posted by hans brinker (Post 11843769)
See the Dash 7. Four engine, huge props, Flaps 45 for extra drag, so high power producing lots of lift at very low speeds.

IIRC, we rarely needed flaps 45, even for 7,5 degrees approach/800m rwy. No need to add power for flare in the Dash7 - but also no chopping levers to flight idle.



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