Approach Speed

[DannyDot]

What approach speed do you use? The guy I bought my Tcraft from recommended 60 normally and 50 for short field. But, a friend of mine just pointed out approach speed is normally 1.3 times Vso which would result in slower speeds.

I am happy with 60/50. The plane doesn't float much at these speeds and full up trim is 60 in my plane.

Danny Deger

[flylo]

Re: Approach Speed

That's what I use also.

[pete]

Re: Approach Speed

I use stall speed + 10mph for short field. +15-20 otherwise.

Pete

[astjp2]

Re: Approach Speed

Danny, stick with the 50/60, its easy to remember and stall characteristics vary with the conditions. Tim

[flyguy]

Re: Approach Speed

Danny, are you saying that your Vso indicated is less than 38 mph? I just did 1.3 Vso for 38 and it comes to 49.5=50 rounded. In a prior life my 65 12D would quit at 38, so I used that number. My present -85 quits, for reasons unknown to me, at 44 indicated
Just curious.
Darryl

[flylo]

Re: Approach Speed

My '40 BL65 I learned to fly in would fly at 30 MPH indicated in ground affect. I remember it scared the heck out of the examiner on my check ride. We were about 12' or 15' high landing & he saw the airspeed at 30 & started yelling we're going to stall! I started laughing. I don't think he ever flew anything that flew so slow. Love these Taylorcrafts! Where else can you have so much fun going slow.

[Len Petterson]

Re: Approach Speed

Stall 42 indicated with nose high. Power on or off. Empthy weight is 823 lbs.
Approch speed never over 60. (= 62 to 58 )If over 60 she floats from here to a point past the end off the runway,= 1800 ft with wire or trees at either end.
50 I consider minimum safe airspeed
I flown her what slow and it has good control at what speed.
BUT!
50 Mph is only 8 Mph faster when stall speed so watch for a stall if the wind drops off on you.
You state you run out of trim. Is your trim wire tension spring stoping the needed travel, have the trimwire sliped on the wheels and causing the above problem.
Len

[birdlegs]

Re: Approach Speed

So, as for ASI's and slide rules I'm compelled to weigh in,calibrate a dozen ASI's and they will vary,(aneroids will) one of my most influential mentors pulled the tube from the ASI and would have me shoot landings w/o one,feel the ship in the glide and to the turf, it quits when it quits.But thats just me. (Thanks Wally)
Birdlegs

[flyguy]

Re: Approach Speed

Well yeah, that is why we don't want to say fly 60 or 40 or whatever, that is what 1.3 Vso is for--
That is why I wondered about 1.3 vso being less than 50.
I should have said "what is your indicated stall speed?" work with that.
Darryl

Hello Dano, are you there? LOL.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Approach Speed

The correct approach speed can be determined by covering the airspeed indicator, opening the windows, not talking to anyone, and shooting 30 or 40 landings under different conditions with the airplane talking to you

[birdlegs]

Re: Approach Speed

Finely put Mr. Bill.........

[flykenken]

Re: Approach Speed

Well I gotta throw my 2 bits in on this one. As for app speed I check it when turning final then fly by feel from there because I am watching the landing area for critters, potholes and debris. I think angle of attack is more important than airspeed. But really there are so many variables such as soft field, rough field, asphalt, up hill, downhill, dips, hot day, cold day, gross weight or lite, aft or forward c of g. I will say with a 72/48 prop on a c85 with 0200 crank, because of the disc effect, momentum, and all that other stuff it is hard to slow the plane (and the engine) up enough on final to land accurately 3pt onto a short field over an obstacle especially with a strong gusting wind. So I land on mains and use the brakes in this case. The 72/44 prop handles this better but a 71/41 prop is perfect for this. Of course now your cruise speed is slower unless you give it lots of rpm but not only does the plane fly real nice and spritely with the fine pitch prop (it turns way tighter and is super responsive) but also the engine runs cooler with the fine pitch prop and you burn less gas too. As I'm in the mountains I got the VGs and the plane tracks way better on final in gusting crosswinds. You usually land nose high on the tailwheel first and ride it a bit as you slow down.
I might as well give my opinion on tailwheels while I am at it. The Maule solid tailwheel works fine in Spring/Fall(slush,mud), Summer(grass) and Winter (snow). If you stick a big tailwheel on then it just raises the tail and reduces your angle of attack and makes the takeoff roll longer.

[DannyDot]

Re: Approach Speed

The correct approach speed can be determined by covering the airspeed indicator, opening the windows, not talking to anyone, and shooting 30 or 40 landings under different conditions with the airplane talking to you

I like this. The plane can be flown by feel, not by staring at the instruments.

Danny

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Approach Speed

I like this. The plane can be flown by feel, not by staring at the instruments.

Danny

Yup, and getting your eyes calibrated to the correct attitude picture. And your butt muscles calibrated for when you are too slow and it's thinking about dropping out from under you.

[Guest]

Re: Approach Speed

I was practicing slow flying Saturday, hot and humid and two people on board.

Couldn't fly at 50 mph, the right wing kept doing a weak stall, just a shudder then falls off.

I remember doing 40-45 a couple of years ago and I think with two people.

I swear that after the new struts went on I tend to glide faster too (and cruise).

Airspeed appears to be correct I checked it Sunday.

What do you guys slow fly at?

Dave