Landing Setup Approach H-86
Landing Setup In this section: G-88 illustrates how varying winds effect the glide slope of an airplane during the approach to landing. Because winds vary in speed and direction, and are seldom constant, you won t be able to pinpoint how high or far out to idle the engine to land on the runway each and every time, unless the runway is approached from a lower altitude. H-89 & 90 illustrate the landing setup sequenceemphasizing the importance of a level base leg turn. System II 1. You will find that the landing is not that hard when you get the plane to the runway without having to make large last ditch corrections. 2. Approaching the runway without having to make a lot of corrections hinges on coming out of the base leg turn already lined up. 3. Consistently coming out of the base leg turn already lined up requires that you keep your turns consistent and start them in the right spot. 4. Controlling the touchdown location hinges on a timely idling of the engine. A lower approach to the runway makes this easier to judge. Flying at lower altitudes places a greater emphasis on maintaining level turns. Consequently, any difficulties setting up landings are most likely the result of not starting the base leg turn in the right spot, and/or needing to pay more attention to keeping the base leg turn level! H-91 & 92 illustrate the landing approachstressing the importance of getting lined up before idling the engine. H-93 through H-95 summarize the steps necessary to consistently set up a successful conclusion to each flight. H-87 KPTR: A good landing is the result of a good approach setup.
Wind Effects Upon the Landing Approach By initiating a gradual descent on the downwind leg and thus setting up a lower approach to the runway, judging when to idle the engine is made much easier since the model will not have far to go before touching downregard- less of wind or model type. Wind, model type, etc. all influence the angle and length of the landing glide slope from a given altitude, thus making it difficult to judge when to idle the engine to consistently land on the runway. A headwind impedes the plane s forward progress, resulting in a shorter steeper descent, and thus having to wait to idle the engine until near the end of the runway. Idle Lowered Approach: Consistent Landings on the Runway Little or no headwind results in a longer glide, and having to idle the engine further out. Idle 1/3 throttle level flight Reduce power slightly to initiate gradual descent Idle Approach Touchdown Area ( regardless of wind ) KPTR: A lower approach takes the guess work out of when to idle the engine since the touchdown will be so soon after idling. H-88
Landing Setup Sequence Keeping the downwind leg relatively close makes its position easier to judge. Consequently, any inconsistencies getting to your base leg turn target can be quickly rectified by keeping your downwind leg closer in, and thus improving your ability to consistently duplicate its position en route to the target. Pg. E-64 Fly to base leg target Pg. D-51, E-6066 Closer-lower comfortable view downwind Reduce power slightly to initiate gradual descent Establish a closer lower downwind Leg. Reduce power slightly to initiate a gradual descent. Establish the target and trust your turn inputs. Maintain a level base leg turn. Fully correct the turn when the fuselage points at you. Line up in reference to yourself closer in. - Input small brief bumps, one at a time. - Idle the engine after establishing the lineup. Pg. F-69 Smoothly pull and hold in a small amount of up elevator close to the ground to smooth out the touchdown. Trust me. The plane doesn t know it s lower, so if you repeat the same turn inputs that you have been making higher up, they will work just as well now. H-89 KPTR: Difficulties getting to the target can often be traced to inconsistent positioning of the downwind legs!
Landing Setup: Maintaining a Level Base Leg Turn One of the most important aspects of setting up a successful landing is maintaining a level (even speed) base leg turn thus making for an easier full correction of the turn and a lineup free of distracting oscillations! Pg. D-55 Right-hand Landing Pattern Idle? Line up slightly in front of you Full Left Correction Pg. A-5, C-42, E-65 Target Pg. E-60 66 Pg. C-40 & 41 Extended Centerline Reference Pg. E-60 Right turn, Left correction LC KPTR: A level (constant speed) turn is crucial to entering a gentle steady approach descent! H-90
Landing Approach: Detecting and Correcting Deviations Throughout the approach, keep asking, What is it doing in reference to me? knowing ahead of time that the runway is directly in front of you. When neither a deviation away or at you is detected, and the path is projected to be close or slightly in front of you, it has to arrive over the runway. Left-hand Landing Pattern One bump at a time. If one doesn t do it, you can always apply another. Pg. A-9, C-38 Target Line up: Project the flight path of the plane as a whole (not point it) Pg. D-51 & 52 Extended Centerline Reference Use body rotation and thinking push away - pull in to aid L-R coordination. Pg. D-53 & 54 H-91 KPTR: Throughout the approach, detecting and correcting deviations is accomplished most quickly in reference to yourself.
Landing Approach: Idle [Line up before you let up!] With the goal to land on the runway, it s easy to get ahead of yourself with thoughts of when to idle? Carefully consider that by focusing entirely on A projected touchdown well before you is likely to undershoot short of the runway. A projected touchdown in front of you will be on the first half of the runway. fully correcting the base leg turn and establishing a good lineup, you will actually afford yourself more time to think about idling in the absence of needing course corrections! A projected touchdown well past you is likely to overshoot or roll off the end of the runway, unless impeded by a strong headwind. Idle the engine the moment it appears the plane will reach you and the runway Aware of your position near the approach end of the runway, determine when and whether to idle the engine by comparing the plane s projected touchdown with your position. Closer in to you Slightly in front of you Pg. E-58, 59, 67 The runway s directly in front of you KPTR: By making the lineup your #1 priority, you will find yourself with more time to assess when to idle the engine. H-92