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  #1  
Old 06-29-2011, 07:09 PM
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n5lp n5lp is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Carlsbad, NM
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Default Perfect Three Point Landing

I'm not a regular watcher but probably catch a part of "Wheel of Fortune" a couple of times a year while cooking or something. Tonight one of the answers was "Perfect Three Point Landing." Wow! What an anachronistic phrase to still be hanging around. Maybe there is a reason.

We all know that this can only occur with a tailwheel type aircraft and those are almost gone. Ag planes and many bush planes still have tailwheels but observation suggests that those people mostly don't favor three pointers. Even in the RV community only some favor three pointers. I am one of those.

Has anyone ever hear the term "Perfect Two Point Landing?" I haven't. It just isn't that challenging. All you have to do is be lined up with the centerline and have a low rate of descent and NOT make a "Three Point Landing." Many people like that. As for me I enjoy the challenge of having those things right and also having the deck angle exactly right and the sideways drift at zero.

This weekend I was flying a very distinguished scientist in the area he is the world expert on. Now that is satisfying enough but it happened that this late Summer morning landing turned out to be one of those rare ones when all three wheels slowly accelerate. The very non-pilot commented on it with words something like "very nicely done." Usually I discount all non-pilot comments but this time he was right and it was really really satisfying.

I did have to tell him what a rare occurrence this sort of landing is. Boy what fun it is to keep trying for those rare ones though.
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RV-6 N441LP Flying

Last edited by n5lp : 06-29-2011 at 07:16 PM.
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  #2  
Old 06-29-2011, 08:33 PM
John R. Graham John R. Graham is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Alpharetta, GA
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Default

One day a few years ago, I was out doing takeoffs & landings in the 170B on the family farm grass strip, mixing wheel landings and three-pointers. Just once, in the flare (this one was a three point), I first hear the grass hitting the mains--a gentle whisssh--and then, without even the slightest bump, the noise of the wheels rolling along the ground. After that one, I quit for the day. I haven't been able to do one quite like it since.

- John
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  #3  
Old 06-29-2011, 08:36 PM
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Ironflight Ironflight is offline
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Congratulations on bagging (another) one Larry! Perfect...TRULY Perfect....three-pointers are like a pitcher's "Perfect Game". You don't get very many!

And yes, they sure feel good when they happen. I think most of mine have been in Cubs on grass. They just seem to go with three-pointers...

Paul
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  #4  
Old 06-29-2011, 08:44 PM
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N546RV N546RV is offline
 
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I've pulled off a fair number of three-point landings...






...in nosewheel aircraft.
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  #5  
Old 06-29-2011, 09:45 PM
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N200PF N200PF is offline
 
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Location: North Oaks, MN
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Very cool Larry! Now when are you planning your next one?

The only one I've ever had where I stalled just as all three wheels started rolling and barely felt my transition from flying to rolling was the day after my tailwheel endorsement. (seriously!) I had done about 30 landing in the previous two days and it was my first day solo in a tailwheel. (RV-6) It was at 21D and I'll never forget it...It's been downhill ever since.

- Peter
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  #6  
Old 06-29-2011, 10:08 PM
RV8R999 RV8R999 is offline
 
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what exactly is a 3-point landing?
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  #7  
Old 06-30-2011, 12:34 AM
gasman gasman is offline
 
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Location: Sonoma County
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Watch a Kangaroo..........
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  #8  
Old 06-30-2011, 04:40 AM
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pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
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Location: Louisville, Ga
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Default There are some exceptions..

My Air Tractor weighs 3800# empty and flies at 8,000# or more The landing gear handles the loaded airplane fine but is oh...so..stiff empty!

Unless we do perfect three-pointers, it really slams around. The engine is about 10...12' ahead of me and that long arm really stresses the motor mount if I bounce, so most all of us wheel them on...it's just so much more of a gaurantee than a three-pointer.

When I flew in the B-17 Liberty Belle last year, I was amazed at the beautiful and consistent three-pointers her pilot made and I said so. He said, "Oh, she's a big ol' pussycat...easy to three-point!" His typical...aw shucks humble response, when, in fact, he was a great stick!

Best,
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  #9  
Old 06-30-2011, 05:02 AM
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GusBiz GusBiz is offline
 
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Default Do Ozzies have Kangaroos in their back yards

Quote:
Originally Posted by gasman View Post
Watch a Kangaroo..........
Its a little off topic but....

I always say "look this isn't the movies you know..."

Yet I live 20 minutes from our second largest city and I go for a run most days of the week through a park and find our hop happy friends checking me out as I run past.

So maybe there is some truth to it.
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  #10  
Old 06-30-2011, 05:47 AM
cwreeves cwreeves is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 76
Smile Perfect Three Pointer

Larry, I agree with your point of view. I'm one of those older guys who learned to fly and got my PPL in "Tail Dragger". A Cessna 120 to be exact. Striving for and making that perfect landing every time is one of those "Lifes Little Pleasures.
Charlie, RV-7
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