Chunk wrote:Practicing some proper three point landings at the former Castle AFB.
Due to the way FSX handles replays, you'll notice my canopy was closed and my flaps were fully extended the entire time. In reality, I had the canopy opened and used the flaps properly, per the landing checklist. How'd I do Scott?
Looking very nice. Good stabilized approach which is especially important in prop fighters.
Concerning what is commonly referred to as the "3 point" landing;
In propeller driven fighters, as you gain some experience, a lot of us who have flown them regularly and are flying them today like to make tail low landings on the mains. This is a modified wheel landing half way between a true wheel landing and a stall landing. Flying onto the mains tail low allows for more positive control at touchdown and better all around control at various landing weights.
You do however have to be careful when landing this way that you actually fly it on the mains gently as opposed to dropping it in hard. If you do drop it in hard the mains take the force transferring the force back through the long arm of the fuselage thus forcing the tail down hard making premature ground contact. If you still have some speed on the airplane when this happens the sudden increase in angle of attack on the wing can lead to a hefty bounce.
Flying it on gently prevents this however and the added control is a good tradeoff.
Just remember to fly the airplane and don't get lazy in the flare and all should be well using the tail low technique.
In the end analysis, it's a tradeoff and how you do it becomes a matter of individual taste and skill level.
I much preferred the tail low technique myself.
Dudley Henriques
