Quite true, but then the concept of "floating" is relegated to any
approach speed above stall-speed. How much speed margin is included in the POH
approach speed? Indeed, for a "slam-dunk" short-field approach, one hangs it on the
prop with a minimal speed margin that gust factor allows.

All I was trying to point out is that the (deserved) bad reputation of the
PA-28 gliding like a refrigerator with power-off can be partially mitigated by the VG
installation.

As a representative datapoint, I fly the approach in my PA-28-180 at 80mph IAS
with 2-notches. The book value says 85 mph (minus 2 x 3mph for the flaps) = 79mph.
With that speed, I've got just a second or two of "finesse" to do at the flare before
the energy is gone and it sinks on. At 75 mph it's a flare-drop-chunk one-motion.
Given the VG's and aftermarket wingtips on it, that's pretty much book corrected for
5mph or so.

Prior to the mods, coming in at 80mph with 2-notches had a pretty ugly sink
rate associated with it.

-Cory

: I would think that still means the landing is too fast. With STOL
: mods that lower the stall speed the landing speed would be adjusted to
: meet the new stall speeds.

: Float normally means too fast. If the mods change the characteristics
: so that float is still there at the corrected speeds I'd have some
: concern.

: Typically it takes a while to get used to flying the proper speeds
: after adding mods that reduce the stall speed and increase lift at low
: speed.

: Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
: (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
: www.rogerhalstead.com
:
: -Cory

--

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
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