If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#41
|
|||
|
|||
Jon Kraus wrote
We just purchased a'79 M20J 4443H. I am in the middle of getting my 10 hours with a CFI for Insurance purposes and I have to tell you that this thing is a lot different to land than a Skyhawk. Yes it is. It's also a lot different than other airplanes in its class. It's not really that it's harder to land - it's that it advertises even your most minor mistakes to everyone watching. Some airplanes make you look good even when you are sloppy - true of the C-172, and also true of the Bonanza (and pretty much every Beech product I've ever flown, though I admit I haven't flown and Beech taildraggers). Some airplanes make you look bad if you do anything short of a perfect job. I've got the speeds down good (100 on downwind, 90 on base and 80 on final) but getting it to the runway smoothly has been a challange. Those speeds sound right. However, all the correct speed buys you is a landing that is WHERE you want it. The Mooney gear has very little shock absorption. In something like a Bonanza, you have long oleo struts - so a few inches either way is no big deal. Three inches high and you will never know it. In a Mooney, three inches high is very noticeable. Those rubber donuts simply are not very good for shock absorption. Bottom line - you're not just transitioning into an airplane that lands differently, you're transitioning into one that requires more skill to land well - not just airspeed control, but judging your altitude and rate of descent in the flare precisely (and I mean down to the inch). I've never flown a low wing plane before the Mooney and I am having a problem with the sight picture working out for me. Is this a pretty common issue in transitioning to these planes or should I just resign to the fact that I'm not going to get as nice a landings in my Mooney as I did in the Skyhawk . It's not a low wing vs. high wing issue - it's just that you are being called upon to judge and control your altitude and rate of descent in the flare more precisely than was ever necessary before. You are extending your skills. So get a CFI experienced in Mooneys (not some guy who has 10 hours in one, but someone who actually owns and flies a Mooney) and practice man, practice. With time, it will come. Michael |
#42
|
|||
|
|||
Michael wrote:
It's not really that it's harder to land - it's that it advertises even your most minor mistakes to everyone watching. Also advertises those mistakes to the pilot's rear. There's not much give in those rubber biscuits. |
#43
|
|||
|
|||
In rec.aviation.owning Jon Kraus wrote:
: We just purchased a'79 M20J 4443H. I am in the middle of getting my 10 : hours with a CFI for Insurance purposes and I have to tell you that this : thing is a lot different to land than a Skyhawk. So far I am glad that snip; followup limited to RAO Hi Jon! Nice airplane. The trim is very powerful in these airplanes. Much more powerful than a skyhawk or cherokee. It's important to trim the plane up to final approach speed instead of holding pressure or you'll never be able to round out and flare precisely. I think your final speeds are a couple knots too high unless you're flying at gross. One other thing to watch is make sure that you arrest the sink rate with a good round-out. It's not the same as a flare. If you flare without stopping the sink rate you'll pound the plane onto the mains (carrier landings). The plane will slam the nose wheel down and bounce right back up. You can get away with pounding a skyhawk or cherokee or navion in because they've got very forgiving landing gears. Mooney airplance have little damping in their landing gear, the rubber donuts compress then expand right back leading to impressive bounces. Also try to lower the nose gently after touching down. "Derotation" it's called in jets, or "fly the nose to the runway". Just letting the nose come down of its own accord will usually bounce it. I find that coming down final slowly, trimmed up to approach speed, using full flaps, close the throttle over the fence, stopping the sink rate as the plane gets to 1 or 2 feet, and letting the plane land itself works for me. Trying to force it onto the runway won't work. I do feel for you; my first landing in the M20J (a 1983 model) was at Nantuckett. I was 10K fast, and floated something like 2500 feet before touching down while listening to the owner screaming "just let it go don't force it on!!!" Good thing the runway's 7000 feet long... -- Aaron Coolidge (N9376J) |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Skycraft Landing Light Question | Jay Honeck | Owning | 15 | February 3rd 05 06:49 PM |
Landing a Mooney | Jon Kraus | Owning | 42 | November 16th 04 07:00 PM |
VW-1 C-121J landing with unlocked nose wheel | Mel Davidow LT USNR Ret | Military Aviation | 1 | January 19th 04 05:22 AM |
"I Want To FLY!"-(Youth) My store to raise funds for flying lessons | Curtl33 | General Aviation | 7 | January 9th 04 11:35 PM |
Off topic - Landing of a B-17 | Ghost | Home Built | 2 | October 28th 03 04:35 PM |