Power-Off 180's Help
#11
Your best glide speed is for maximizing range, not "still air". The point of a power off 180 is not to maximize range. You might have to if you mess it up, but that means you are flying on the extreme of being low and barely making it, rather than "bracketing" as described above. Your CFI should have given you techniques to come in neither high nor low, but in a position where you can get higher or lower on GP if necessary. CFIs really got to be held accountable here, this is usually one of the weakest areas, and it's passed on from CFI to CFI as "guessing" and it screws students. It can be done methodologically and quantitatively. After all, what if you have to actually land engine out?
#13
I will say that it is the most unforgiving aircraft I've ever flown. I've flown other tailwheels and it is definitely at the top of the herd for being a pita to fly. Not to mention it is severely underpowered with the IO360... It really feels like it needs a 540 or something.
#14
I also keep an eye on altitude throughout the maneuver. If you have turned 90º through the maneuver, you should have lost half of your altitude. Don't rush the maneuver. Often times rushing leads to turning too quickly before you have lost enough altitude, leading to being high.
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#15
Thank you everyone for your suggestions!
I am doing this in a C-172 RG, I think the biggest problem for me right now is just getting used to the sight picture, I did most of my flight training in low wing Diamond aircraft and the sight picture change is much more than I expected (took me 4+ Flights to get past landing flat!).
Thinking back on it I think I am also visualizing my approach path on my landing point and not my aiming point, so I am hoping that fixing that will help. I also think that I hesitate with putting the flaps down, a month ago I was coming up short on all my Power off 180's.
I'll go do a few rounds of practice and see if any of this helps. Thanks again!
I am doing this in a C-172 RG, I think the biggest problem for me right now is just getting used to the sight picture, I did most of my flight training in low wing Diamond aircraft and the sight picture change is much more than I expected (took me 4+ Flights to get past landing flat!).
Thinking back on it I think I am also visualizing my approach path on my landing point and not my aiming point, so I am hoping that fixing that will help. I also think that I hesitate with putting the flaps down, a month ago I was coming up short on all my Power off 180's.
I'll go do a few rounds of practice and see if any of this helps. Thanks again!
#16
Don't change more than one thing at a time. First, try adding the flaps a few seconds earlier. See what that does. Not enough? Turn base later next time by a few seconds. Keep making tiny changes until you are within the 200' range. Remember that it's generally OK to land a little bit far, but any amount short is an un-sat, so always err on being higher! And don't forget to modify your pattern for any crosswind, which will definitely change things up. Good luck.
#18
Most of my students had trouble with Power off 180s, the biggest issue was that they always doubted themselves when it was time to put gear and flaps. They waited a second or two... which always caused them to be high on the approach. Fly with a CFI and find out what the profile is for the aircraft that you fly. Then fly the profile every single time and don't hesitate to drop gear and flaps when you need to.
You can also try flying on the back side of the power curve... drop flaps way too early that way you'll come up 100-200 feet short of the runway, requiring you to add full power and do a go around, then try it again.
You can also try flying on the back side of the power curve... drop flaps way too early that way you'll come up 100-200 feet short of the runway, requiring you to add full power and do a go around, then try it again.
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