Landing exercises
Introduction
The landing exercises presented here will help you get comfortable with controlling an airplane near the ground and in a flare. If you can fly the exercises well, you will have an easy time learning how to land. The exercises should be performed with an experienced flight instructor on board.
Centerline tracking with crosswind correction
Fly down the runway with enough power to sustain level flight at a comfortable airspeed; about 1.5 Vs usually works well. Maintain altitude just a few inches or feet above the ground. The goal is to fly right over the runway centerline with the nose of the airplane pointed straight down the runway. If there is a crosswind, wing down into the wind will be needed to keep the airplane from drifting downwind and opposite rudder will be needed to keep the airplane from turning into the wind.
Sliding sideways while pointing down the runway
Once you have experience with centerline tracking, try sliding the airplane from the upwind side to the downwind side of the runway and back while keeping the nose pointed straight down the runway at all times. You can also try flying over the centerline while pointing the nose left and right to prove to yourself that you can point it wherever you want to. The control inputs necessary to perform this exercise well are the same as those used in crosswind landing. Remember to use the stick (ailerons) to move the airplane from side to side and use the rudder to keep the nose straight.
Long flare
One thing that makes learning to land challenging is that you only get to practice the flare for a few seconds each time around the pattern. Helicopter pilots have it easier in this regard. They can practice hovering a foot off the ground for as long as they want. The long flare exercise prolongs the flare so you have more time to practice it.
The long flare exercise works best at a long runway. Have your instructor fly the airplane to a point about a foot over the runway threshold at cruise airspeed; e.g. about 2 Vs. He should have it trimmed so that there are no unexpected trim forces when you take the controls. As the airplane passes over the threshold your instructor will reduce power to idle and relinquish the flight controls to you. Your job is to fly down the runway centerline as low as possible without touching down.
During the long flare you should apply crosswind corrections to stop any sideways drift and to keep the nose pointed straight down the runway. Your altitude should be constant or decreasing almost imperceptibly. As the airspeed decreases the pitch will have to increase. Try not to touchdown before the stall warning horn sounds. If the runway is too short to touchdown at the end of the flare, go around.
Freeway driving
This exercise is designed to help you practice using rudder to keep the nose of the airplane straight during takeoff or landing rolls in a tailwheel airplane. Have your instructor touchdown on the main wheels near the beginning of the runway. The instructor should perform a wheel landing, but maintain enough power after touchdown to keep the airplane rolling. While the instructor controls the stick and throttle, your job is to steer the airplane down the runway using the rudder pedals. If you start to swerve, or just to help get the feel of the rudder, try wiggling the rudder pedals back and forth rapidly.
Until next time, FLY MORE.