Mailing List lml@lancaironline.net Message #31757
From: Gary Edwards <gary21sn@hotmail.com>
Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: airspeed on final
Date: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 02:07:08 -0400
To: <lml@lancaironline.net>
I use the same picture (cowl just touching my aim point) regardless of load.
I know from experience that I'll have enough energy to flare with that as my
maximum AOA. My speed changes a little bit depending on my fuel load, but
not much. The slowest IAS I've seen is about 69, though I usually try to
stabilize at 72. I'm normally solo, but my fuel load makes more difference
than a passenger. My CG doesn't change much, so that hasn't seemed to make
any difference.

Bill K.
 
 
Bill,
 
Thanks for the info.  I think we are on the same page with the aim point on decent.  I was speaking more of the planes attitude in the flare. 
 
That is interesting about your fuel/passenger relationship.  My plane is just the opposite.  I get a big difference in nose high attitude with a passenger, and very little with extra fuel when solo.  I typically land with less than 18 gallons remaining, but even with more fuel onboard, the nose high attitude is not as much than when a passenger is on board.  Big difference in landing weight between the two.
 
Also, I tend to land a little on the fast side as my plane has the short gear legs and rear ventral fin which reduces my rudder ground clearance with a high angle of attack on landing (I scraped the rudder one time so made a landing speed adjustment after that).  For that reason I stabilize at about 78 knots, with touchdown at about 65 knots.  With that I waste a lot of runway while in ground effect. 
 
Gary Edwards
LNC2 N21SN 

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