Airspeed In the PATTERN

[gfortin]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

According to the FAA, they are teaching that you should be 1.4VSO on Base. So if your stalling speed is 38, yu should be doing 54 on base. Then 1.3 on final which would be 50. Those numbers seem just a little slower than I would like to do.

[DanBrown]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

That would seem about right -- slightly faster than I've been doing recently, but I'm still floating too much. Saturday was a beautiful warm day here so I went up for a little practice. My IAS at stall is 35. Slow flight at 40 had reasonable control response -- 30 degree banked turns were no problem. On my next flights, I want (at altitude) to try how maximum slips, medium banked turns and dutch rolls do at 50 and 45. Then I'll nibble at slowing down my final approach. I'll want to try this at both gross weight and 250# under to get my target speeds and attitudes in smooth air. Then add the gust safety factors. I'll be very happy when I can do consistent spot landings with no need for power once it's cut on downwind. I'm definitely not there yet.

[gfortin]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

This discussion is making me want to go out and try some maneuvers at different speeds and see how my airspeed indicator is doing. I think mine might be indicating a few miles an hour fast.

[Pearson]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

You will think twice about that practice the first time the engine quits on you in the pattern and your short. Take it from someone who has had several emergency landings over the last 20 years. Always practice engine out landing precedure every time you land. There may come a day when you need it.

I have had the engine quit in the pattern. From three miles out at 1000' and cruise speed, I can make the runway if it happens. Once I am in the pattern I keep it pretty tight, but also like to stay on the back side of the power curve. That way I can use the throttle to control descent. If the engine quits, I will just turn toward the runway. Thanks for the heads up though! I just didn't want you to think I was at 65 IAS, three mile out. Occasionally, I keep it a little too tight. That is when the forward slip becomes my best buddy. Usually I could probably make it by just pulling the throttle to idle. But that is what I am trying to avoid.

[perryv1]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

I found that if you slip to the right (so you can see forward) About the time the time the passenger door window starts to flutter is all the reference you need to get your attention that you want to be on the ground.
PV

[M Jones]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

I found that if you slip to the right (so you can see forward) About the time the time the passenger door window starts to flutter is all the reference you need to get your attention that you want to be on the ground.
PV

Or your passenger starts to flutter! My buddy, who really doesn't like flying in fixed wing aircraft very much, got pretty nervous on short final with me one day while we were still in a heavy slip. I warned him before hand what was about to happen, and he said OK, but started climbing up the door yelling that we couldn't touch down like this. He did go fly with me again anyway...

[flybikefarm]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

Braver man than me, Mike! George

[RobertP]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

Go fly with Rob Lees and Andy Duke and the rest of their group at Leicester. They will steer you towards higher education and greater confidence with your T-craft. I believe they also have an F-22 there, so they will have personal experience with whatever minor differences between the early/late aircraft.

Most importantly, Rob will have access to a hack-saw, with which you can amputate the nosewheel and return the F-22A to its correct F-22 configuration

Bill,

Not sure about the amputation! I feel confident with the aircraft but I am always willing to learn from others! it is certainly very different to the spam cans I used to fly and certainly more rewarding. Since I have owned the aircraft for hangarage reasons I have moved from a busy municipal style airport where I was a group member with a C172 to an old unlicensed RAF base with no radio comms and often I am the only person flying out of there for days on end! The downside is that you don't get the to fly with others which is often part of a learning curve! The last time I flew with my wife in the Taylorcraft she said what happens if we crash nobody would find us for days, typical female logic! I reassured her that Taylorcrafts don't crash unless seriously abused! She seemed to believe me but never went to sleep once, not like she always did in the C172?

[VictorBravo]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

I have moved from a busy municipal style airport where I was a group member with a C172 to an old unlicensed RAF base with no radio comms and often I am the only person flying out of there for days on end!

You are enjoying something that many of us city-dwellers would love to have. Enjoy the lower pressure and fewer restrictions and landing fees and what not while you can! The Taylorcraft (amputated nosewheel or not) is genetically programmed to thrive in that specific environment

[akndrifter]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

I was out goofing around on skis today landing on a smallish pond with just my wife me and a third or more tank of fuel in the nose. I brought it in just over the trees at 60, chop the power slowed down to 55 then brought the power back in a little, on short final I didn't look at the speed much and stuck the tail down because there were a few bumps.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

Anybody know why there is a "thumbs down" thing on this thread? I thought it was a pretty good one.
Hank

[NY86]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

The thread starter put it there.

[gfortin]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

No I didn't

[NY86]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

No I didn't

I could be wrong, but I think in your initial post you, perhaps inadvertantly, clicked on the "thumbs down" icon. Maybe the list manager can confirm or deny this. You could try editing that message, but I think it may be too late.

[gfortin]

Re: Airspeed In the PATTERN

I guess I inadvertenly clicked on that thumb.