Thanks for the answers Frans and David.
I've been typically flying short final at 70, over the fence at 65.
However, I've found the float can be quite excessive - compared not only
to cessna's but my previous Microlight Jabiru UL-450 (also slippery, and I
used to come over the fence at 60, never more). I find the europa to
float on the ground effect longer than I've been used to. It's no
problem, just something to get used to. Unfortunately in my first few
landings I was finding myself planting the wheels onto the runway rather
than letting the speed decay in the float, and this was making for some
terrible landings. I'm over that tendency now, but want to explore a
slightly lower speed to see if I can reduce the float and land shorter. I
know just a few knots can make quite a difference.
Frans, am I understanding you correctly that for a short field you
actually come 'over the fence' and then retract the flaps before touching
down? I'm imagining you wind the flaps in, and the aircraft settles
faster. If I understand correctly, it certainly sounds interesting and
I'll have a play - no need on my home 450m, but could be interesting
elsewhere.
I'll have to go and remind myself of the full flap stall speed, but from
memory I think mine is a bit higher than yours, I seem to recall something
around 48kts, but I will check.
-Carl.
On 13/04/2012 09:49, "Frans Veldman" <frans@privatepilots.nl> wrote:
>
>On 04/13/2012 09:46 AM, Carl Meek wrote:
>> I'm interested in what speeds people use? Most relevant to me is a 450m
>> grass bumpy strip in a Tri-Gear XS.
>>
>> I'd like to know speeds on Final, "Over the fence" and round out.
>
>Depends on the stall speed/features of your ship. I have seen Europa's
>that have a 10 knot higher stall speed than some others. I wouldn't
>recommend my landing speed to them!
>
>> I'm trying slightly different speeds on each landing, but feeling
>> generally I'm a bit fast
>
>This might be due to your experience in other aircraft. Europa's tend to
>float a bit more than Cessna 172's.
>
>To give you an idea:
>My avarage particular landing speed (well, the short final at least) is
>60-65 kots, if the runway is long enough and there is no wind shear or
>heavy turbulence. In a short field I tend to land with no more than 60
>knots, and in the mountains with lots of wind shear and thermals I
>prefer to land with about 70 knots. I find these speeds giving me a
>large safety margin and at the same time not causing an excessive flare.
>Stall speed of my ship (high top tri gear) is 42 knots (no wing drop
>tendency) with flaps fully extended.
>I usually come in high enough to perform the final glide with the power
>fully idle, except for very short fields where I like to drag the ship
>over the threshold: then power off and flaps up and the bird immediately
>settles right on the spot.
>(If you want to practise this, don't do it initially at the numbers but
>choose some other spot on the runway so you have a reasonable margin in
>both directions).
>Like I said, I prefer to glide to the runway with power fully idle.
>Approach speed can be a bit lower if you like to come in with more
>power. Also, the Europa side slips reasonably well, this too can be part
>of your landing technique.
>I always land with flaps fully extended, even with cross winds; the
>rudder is powerfull enough to line up with the runway even at low
>landing speeds. It may be beneficial to land in cross winds with a bit
>more power so the air flow over the rudder remains higher.
>
> I'm wondering what speeds are recommended for
>> best safety without compromising control.
>
>Don't copy others landing speeds blindly! It depends on the particular
>features of the bird and the abilities and landing technics of the pilot.
>
>Frans
>
>
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