Raising Flaps just before Touch down.
- Thread starter BestGlide
- Start date
MRC01
In the Clouds
Is this a theoretical thought experiment about AoA and physics? Or is it seeking practical advice?
The practical advice: don't do that.
The physics discussion: what kind of flaps? how much flap being raised? what kind of airplane?
The practical advice: don't do that.
The physics discussion: what kind of flaps? how much flap being raised? what kind of airplane?
So many times in the past, i have found myself in my 172 in a nose up attitude just above the ground....
just floating and floating and floating and floating, and then i catch a wind that gets my plane off center line and "just plane funky" in general, and a seemingly "unknowable (time of) touchdown"
I've found raising a single "1 mississippi count" of electric flaps just when i have my plane exactly where i want it, just barely above the runway, results in a touchdown basically immediately following, and a stay down.
No more bouncing, no more seemingly hour long unexpected floats just above the runway.
They have been some of my smoothest most predictable landings.
Was curious if anyone else enjoyed the same.
just floating and floating and floating and floating, and then i catch a wind that gets my plane off center line and "just plane funky" in general, and a seemingly "unknowable (time of) touchdown"
I've found raising a single "1 mississippi count" of electric flaps just when i have my plane exactly where i want it, just barely above the runway, results in a touchdown basically immediately following, and a stay down.
No more bouncing, no more seemingly hour long unexpected floats just above the runway.
They have been some of my smoothest most predictable landings.
Was curious if anyone else enjoyed the same.
Last edited:
MRC01
In the Clouds
That means you are too fast.
A better (simpler, safer) solution is to slow down. In most 172s, try 60 kts on short final which will put you around 55 kts in the flare. If you don't hear the stall horn in the flare just before the wheels touch, you're too fast.
Brian
Administrator
You beat me to it!
For me, a normal landing in my 1965G 172 is 68MPH on short final and 63MPH over the numbers. If you do the math, my numbers are almost exactly the same as the ones quoted just above.
Katzenjammer
Soloed!!
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2019
- Messages
- 177
Too fast.
Brock Boss
Soloed!!
Making a configuration change like this may set you up for failure if you ever find yourself flying a retractable gear airplane, mistaking the gear handle for the flap handle.
Troy Hamon
Private Pilot
I have heard of people using that technique for spot landing competitions, but even for that it is inferior to a good stabilized approach without excess airspeed.
I make that statement based on watching some spot landing competitions. The winners fly slow airplanes slowly on approach. And touch down within two feet of the landing target line. With practice, in any small Cessna you can get within 50 feet.
I make that statement based on watching some spot landing competitions. The winners fly slow airplanes slowly on approach. And touch down within two feet of the landing target line. With practice, in any small Cessna you can get within 50 feet.
Troy Hamon
Private Pilot
Off-airport practice with a Cessna 185 a few years back. After the first landing, used my tracks as a target. This is not great performance, but gives a good idea what you should be able to do without monkeying around with flaps on short final.
Brian
Administrator
I think it's especially useful -- and, yes, fun -- to practice that kind of spot landing when doing power-off 180s or simulated engine outs. If the chips are down, being able to put a plane down in a 500' piece of grass somewhere might well be the difference between a bad day and a really bad day.
MRC01
In the Clouds
Agreed. Though if I had to do that, and succeeded with passengers unharmed & airplane intact, I would call that a great day! Even if the airplane was a total loss because it could not be flown or trucked out and had to be cut apart and destroyed.
Brian
Administrator
Yep!
Bruce Chien
Moderator
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2019
- Messages
- 799
One day you will pull up your gear. Don't be doing that.
Aeromot
Superior Pilot
I don't know about that. It is kind of fun to watch.
Troy Hamon
Private Pilot
Ah yes, super good point.
We can count on Art for the lighter side of safety!!!
Aeromot
Superior Pilot
Should You Raise Flaps On Landing For a Shorter Ground Roll?
We don't recommend it. Here's why...
www.boldmethod.com
midlifeflyer
Instrument Training
Why? Is this one of those questions about the theory of a short field technique you’ll never need to use because you never go into fields short enough to require anything more than standard book technique?
Troy Hamon
Private Pilot
Well…I have landed places short enough to benefit from committing to the landing and the brakes. But they were not runways.
Challenger1
In the Clouds
I know this is a old post.
I had to say that it is bad idea and don't do it for several reasons already mentioned.
You probably already are past this point but just slow down more.
I come across the threshold at about 50kts in a 172 with 40 flaps, 60 is too fast unless it is a windy gusty day.
Good luck