SEL 'FIRM' landings
'Fess up' time. We were having a hanger session a while ago, talking
about firm landings. My worst was going into an airport near Urbana IL
(not sure of the spelling, this was back in the early 80s so it made an
impression on me.)
There was a cross wind from the left, and for some reason I I decided
to land close to the numbers. Turns out there was a big barn not far
from the runway threshold, and it really messed up the airflow right at
the runway. I fly a Mooney, and don't like to carry a lot of airspeed
into the flare.
The wind went from a headwind component of 5 or 8 knots to a tailwind
right at the start of the flare and the airplane quit flying a couple
of feet off the runway. I thought the gear would come through the
wings!
Turns out nothing was damaged, and the locals said they did like to
watch transient pilots deal with that problem.
I had to return there later that day, landed a lot longer on the
runway, and carried a few more knots of airspeed as well.
I learned a lesson most of you probably already know. If there's a
crosswind and there's any kind of obstruction to the windward side of
the runway, take special care.
That's my story (and I'm sticking to that excuse!). What's your's, and
what were the lessons learned?
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