Why fly fast approaches?

"C J Campbell" wrote
My experience indicates to me that this is indeed the case. Using
some highly sophisticated tools (lawnchair and cold beverage) I have
been able to observe the speeds flown on final many times, and at many
airports. The vast majority are flying final too fast.

Well, OK. But I want to see how you measure the speed of airplanes using a
lawnchair and cold beverage. :-)

It's quite simple. I sit in the lawn chair and face the runway. I
note the beverage level in the container, and begin drinking at a
known calibrated rate as the plane crosses the runway threshold. I
stop drinking as the plane makes its touchdown. By noting the point
at which the airplane touched down and the amount of beverage
consumed, I can easily calculate the average speed flown on very short
final.

Is this not common knowledge?

Michael

In article , Michael
wrote:

"C J Campbell" wrote
My experience indicates to me that this is indeed the case. Using
some highly sophisticated tools (lawnchair and cold beverage) I have
been able to observe the speeds flown on final many times, and at many
airports. The vast majority are flying final too fast.

Well, OK. But I want to see how you measure the speed of airplanes using a
lawnchair and cold beverage. :-)

It's quite simple. I sit in the lawn chair and face the runway. I
note the beverage level in the container, and begin drinking at a
known calibrated rate as the plane crosses the runway threshold. I
stop drinking as the plane makes its touchdown. By noting the point
at which the airplane touched down and the amount of beverage
consumed, I can easily calculate the average speed flown on very short
final.
Is this not common knowledge?

That's fine as long as it is a stable approach.
What happens when things get interesting?
Do you stop drinking?
Do you take a big gulp?
Do you spew out what you have in your mouth?
Do you throw the bottle/can down, jump out of the chair to a) get out
of the way, or b) run to the aid of the injured?
I guess it all depends on how interesting the approach gets.

EDR wrote in message . ..

For the first landing, I stated the calculated 1.5Vso and 1.3Vso speeds.
The instructor again said, "No, no, that's too slow. Use 75 kts."

Was this a busy airport? Was there traffic behind you? I like to slow
to around 75 knots in my Mooney but have been known to use 100. If the
airport is really busy (class B's especially) and you have high speed
turn offs, he might have been suggesting you use a higher speed.

-Robert, CFI

For the first landing, I stated the calculated 1.5Vso and 1.3Vso speeds.
The instructor again said, "No, no, that's too slow. Use 75 kts."

Was this a busy airport? Was there traffic behind you? I like to slow
to around 75 knots in my Mooney but have been known to use 100. If the
airport is really busy (class B's especially) and you have high speed
turn offs, he might have been suggesting you use a higher speed.

No. It was a rural airport and we were the only ones there.

B-58 Hustler History: http://members.cox.net/dschmidt1/
-

"Michael" wrote in message
om...
"C J Campbell" wrote
My experience indicates to me that this is indeed the case. Using
some highly sophisticated tools (lawnchair and cold beverage) I have
been able to observe the speeds flown on final many times, and at many
airports. The vast majority are flying final too fast.

Well, OK. But I want to see how you measure the speed of airplanes using
a
lawnchair and cold beverage. :-)

It's quite simple. I sit in the lawn chair and face the runway. I
note the beverage level in the container, and begin drinking at a
known calibrated rate as the plane crosses the runway threshold. I
stop drinking as the plane makes its touchdown. By noting the point
at which the airplane touched down and the amount of beverage
consumed, I can easily calculate the average speed flown on very short
final.

Is this not common knowledge?

Michael

What an excellent activity!!!! I'm going to take a case of beer to LAX and
practice your fine procedure.