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The Navy Way by Bill Russell

I have become increasingly concerned about so many Lancair handling problems during initial familiarization landings. Since I have found my Lancair 320 handling characteristics to be excellent, I can't help but feel that the main problem is pilot technique rather than Lancair deficiencies. Therefore, I would like to offer the approach and landing technique which I have used, usually successfully, over a lifetime of landing carrier aircraft,

The final approach may be considered as an energy management problem during which the pilot controls the airspeed (kinetic energy) with nose position and the vertical rate of descent (potential energy) with the throttle. To simplify the approach, I (and thousands of other carrier pilots) attempt to establish my final approach airspeed (actually angle of attack) on the straightaway at least a quarter of a mile from touchdown. With the throttle, I continuously adjust my glide path while, attempting to hold a constant airspeed.  If high, I reduce the throttle slightly until nearing glide path, then "catch" the descent with increased throttle to maintain glide path, and if low, vice versa. In my mind, using this proven technique simplifies the problem by essentially nailing down the kinetic energy early during the final approach so that more attention can be devoted to line up and controlling the continuously decreasing potential energy.   I like to think of the final approach to touchdown as controlling the air-plane with my right, or throttle hand.

This technique offers several advantages:

 - I have eliminated all, or at least many, of the kinetic energy vari-ables, thereby simplifying the problem.
 - I can pretty well spot my pro-jected touchdown point well out.
 - I don't have a lot of excess kinetic energy to dissipate, leading to such problems as crosswind drift and/or Ievel off height.
 - The engine is in a higher, more responsive power range and should be fairly constant.

On the disadvantage side, of course, is the fact that the kinetic energy is less than it would be on a high, fast, low power, gliding approach (which I avoid like the plague unless I'm driving a sailplane), reducing the safety margin in the unlikely event of a last minute power failure.

If you haven't tried this approach lately, try it, you'll like it!

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