Landing Speed

[Mike Meehan]

Only ten poll choices allowed so pick the closest one--you can select more than one. So, if you normally land at 75 you can choose 74, 76 or both 74 & 76.

[Untainted123]

Assuming no short field etc, I like to come across the numbers with the speed decaying below 70, touchdown as it decays to about 60.

[Auburntsts]

Originally Posted by Untainted123

Assuming no short field etc, I like to come across the numbers with the speed decaying below 70, touchdown as it decays to about 60.

Ditto, more or less.

[Ironflight]

I don’t regularly fly RV-10’s, so no dog in the fight…. But are you talking approach speed, fence speed, final approach speed, or touchdown speed…or the stall speed when you actually touch down? Or something else?

Without knowing what you’re asking, your data won’t mean a thing.

[Jesse23]

Originally Posted by Auburntsts

Ditto, more or less.

What Todd says. Over numbers 70-75, touchdown full flaps <60. Stall is @53-55 with full flaps.

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by Mike Meehan

Only ten poll choices allowed so pick the closest one--you can select more than one. So, if you normally land at 75 you can choose 74, 76 or both 74 & 76.

The simple definition of land is when the aircraft settles onto the ground. If that is the intent of your question, then your speed selection range is way too high.

[A-Ron]

65 to 66 Knots VFR final approach speed


Warning: subject related AoA rant/praise plus some data...

I recently started flying Angle of Attack and knocked 9 Knots off my final approach speed. I was flying it at 75 per Mike Seager, which is of course a good speed for max gross, and a good speed for instructing. But, with two 175 pounders in the front and 50 pounds ballast in the baggage compartment, half-ish fuel, full flaps, I set 1600 RPM and pitch for 66. That puts me at a couple knots over "on speed". My landings have never been so good and so short and on the numbers.

My flight instructor and I went up to altitude to calibrate and test the SkyView AOA system. Then, after calibration, we saw approach speeds as low as 61-63 at 5000 ASL and still the flight controls felt nice and responsive, not mushy. We did multiple power off stalls with full flaps, 51-53 Knots, again at 5000 ASL. Also power-off stalls at 0 degrees flaps, 61-63 Knots and no stall break, just a good way to lose a lot of altitude in a short forward distance.

Stalls and slow-flight used to give me sweaty palms. Now, having a visual reference plus audio tone when "on speed," I've been doing some slow-flight almost every flight since, for fun! Also, I love glancing down at the AoA indicator when on the base-to-final turn and seeing all of my reserve lift! Flying AoA, it seems, makes for a better performing, safer, more capable airplane.

[gasman]

You actually can't land the aircraft without stalling the wing. If the wing is not stalled, the wing is still flying and the brakes are not very effective until the wing is stalled.

The RV9 group eventually figures this out. And then they can enjoy their short landing capability.

So based on Van's chart, at 2200# you will be close to 57mph (49kts).
And at 2700# about 63mph (54kts). Land your aircraft based on YOUR stall speeds during phase 1.
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CORRECTION...... When I wrote the above statement, I was only thinking about how I land MY RV. I land every time as a short field landing. I do not fly it on. I do not drag it on. In a no wind condition, when my mains touch down, I continue to add elevator (to full aft.) and brake (50% thicker discs) at the same time.... the wing is done flying. And the flaps ARE still down.

Do not apply any information in this post, to your landings, without fully understanding your aircraft.

[BobTurner]

Unless you have recording instruments, or an observer on board, the correct answer should be ‘I don’t know’. Just prior to touchdown, airspeed decaying, your eyes belong outside. And of course it depends on weight, which, for a -10, can vary considerably.
Edit: you may be able to make an educated guess if you can hear a calibrated AOA tone, know your weight, etc.

[rocketman1988]

Originally Posted by gasman

You actually can't land the aircraft without stalling the wing. If the wing is not stalled, the wing is still flying and the brakes are not very effective until the wing is stalled.

The RV9 group eventually figures this out. And then they can enjoy their short landing capability.

So based on Van's chart, at 2200# you will be close to 57mph (49kts).
And at 2700# about 63mph (54kts). Land your aircraft based on YOUR stall speeds during phase 1.

Not true. The wing does NOT need to be in a stalled condition to land…and in cases where there is any type of gust, you do not want to be right at stall speed, especially on approach.

Typical approach speeds are around 1.3 Vs, at gross approximately 72 knots, slowing over the fence to something less than that. If it’s gusty, add a few knots to increase the margin. I prefer half flap landings in my -10 and use about 76 knots on approach, give or take.

I definitely agree that your speeds should be predicated on your specific airplane; each one is just a bit different.