Landing a C172 - power off at threshold or flare?

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Simicro
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Re: Landing a C172 - power off at threshold or flare?

Post by Simicro »

Can someone explain a bit what "chop and drop" means please.
P3Dv4.5 - V35B - C172 - Cherokee
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scottb613
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Re: Landing a C172 - power off at threshold or flare?

Post by scottb613 »

Hi...

It’s just a simple unofficial phrase used to indicate - when the pilot feels the runway threshold can be made while on final approach without power - the “chop” is “chopping the throttle” or the pilot’s action of pulling the throttle to idle - the “drop” is what happens when the pilot pulls the throttle to idle - the aircraft immediately increased its pitch down attitude giving you a dropping sensation... You have to consider this change in pitch angle or glide slope when on final and making the determination of when to pull the throttle to idle - it’s really not hard - but it does add a new variable into the critical final approach... I’m usually several hundred feet in the air when I chop the throttle... If you don’t estimate correctly - you just add throttle as necessary - but that really doesn’t happen... One of the benefits - is you approach at a fairly steep deck angle that helps avoid “flat landings” (putting the aircraft down at a shallow deck angle with excess speed)... The other is that you become pretty familiar with how the aircraft glides without power...

This flat landing demonstrates the porpoising that often accompanies it... There’s a better video where the pilot knocks the nose gear off the aircraft - just can’t find it at the moment...

https://youtu.be/G9FkYpvTyrc

Regards,
Scott





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scottb613
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Re: Landing a C172 - power off at threshold or flare?

Post by scottb613 »

Simicro wrote:Can someone explain a bit what "chop and drop" means please.


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scottb613
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Landing a C172 - power off at threshold or flare?

Post by scottb613 »

scottb613 wrote:
Simicro wrote:Can someone explain a bit what "chop and drop" means please.


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This is the one I was looking for:

https://youtu.be/NMmHYWjEmkY

Any time you feel the aircraft begin to porpoise - your immediate action should be to apply full power and go around as the damage can be catastrophic... I saw a kid at KMGJ do it to his dada brand new Diamond DA-40 - the force was so great - there were stress cracks emerging from the wing root down the leading edge of the wings - I’m guessing it was totaled but I don’t know much about carbon fiber repairs...


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Last edited by scottb613 on 27 Oct 2018, 05:30, edited 1 time in total.
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Simicro
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Re: Landing a C172 - power off at threshold or flare?

Post by Simicro »

Hello Scott,

Thanks for your comprehensive explanation on "chop and drop".

I got it.

Tony
P3Dv4.5 - V35B - C172 - Cherokee
i5 4670K @4.3 Ghz - 32 Gb DDR3 - GTX 1080 8 Gb - 2K @165 Hz G-Sync - Win 7 x64
Microsoft Force Feedback 2 modded with CH Fighterstick - VKB Sim T-Rudder Mk.IV Pedals

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scottb613
Technical Sergeant
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Joined: 28 Dec 2015, 11:06
Location: KMSV

Landing a C172 - power off at threshold or flare?

Post by scottb613 »

Hi Tony,

Happy to help - your enthusiasm is obvious...

Regards,
Scott


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Simicro
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Re: Landing a C172 - power off at threshold or flare?

Post by Simicro »

Yes you are right Scott :wink:

An it is an enthusiasm to bridge the gap in terms of knowledge that has been lasting a too long time.

I aim at understanding the most basics and essential things that I neglected in the past.
P3Dv4.5 - V35B - C172 - Cherokee
i5 4670K @4.3 Ghz - 32 Gb DDR3 - GTX 1080 8 Gb - 2K @165 Hz G-Sync - Win 7 x64
Microsoft Force Feedback 2 modded with CH Fighterstick - VKB Sim T-Rudder Mk.IV Pedals

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