Planespotta

Soft Takeoff:

A soft takeoff starts with the taxi phase. ALWAYS USE FULL NOSE UP ELEVATOR WHEN ON A SOFT SURFACE!!! Use the recommended flap setting. Do not apply brakes as you turn on to the runway - if you must, lightly tap on the brakes. Smoothly apply full power as your longitudinal axis aligns with the runway centerline. Apply necessary right rudder to counteract the unusually high pitch attitude. As the nose lifts off the ground, try to hold it as low to the ground as possible to permit speed to gain as fast as possible. When you feel the airplane become airborne, slightly decrease AOA and build speed until at Vx or the recommended speed. Climb at this until 200 AGL and then transition to Vy (in an RG Cessna, delay gear retraction because the gear turns sideways into the wind and increases drag as it retracts. This increased drag has pulled airplanes down into trees). Transition to Venrouteclimb at 800-1000AGL.

Short Takeoff:

Flaps as recommended. Use all available runway. Hold brakes and apply full power - this both lets you check systems before you plow down a short runway and prevents you from wasting valuable runway with the engine not producing max power. If your airplane has liftoff and barrier speeds (Pipers), aim to liftoff at the liftoff speed and climb out at the barrier speed until at least 50 AGL. This is neglected by many pilots. THEN transition to Vx until 200 AGL (depending on obstacles) - then Vy until 800-1000 AGL - then Venrouteclimb.

Short and Soft Takeoff:

Combine the above tips. Add power as you turn to align with the runway (DO NOT hold brakes to apply full power, as you may dig into the surface and suck dangerous particles thru the prop and damage it). Once you are airborne and in ground effect, accelerate to barrier speed. Climb at this speed until at least 50 AGL (the height of the standard FAA tree), then transition to Vx, Vy, and Venroute climb as described above.

Way too tired to write about landings...may do it later.