I had a wonderful flight today, started with me taking off the same time as a mooney. Except the mooney on the right runway had a problem, he left his luggage door open. I made an anouncement that he had a problem. He had to return to land. But the RV just zippped off the runway, way cool. I flew around for about an hour than landed at a local airport for fuel. I had 25miles to fly back and decided to run it as fast as I could at about 1200agl all the way back. I got to 7 miles out and called the tower for entry into classD airspace, I was currently doing 190mph. I was told to call in at 2 miles out, straight in for 21L. I continued to do 190mph. I got 3 miles out and called in and than pulled back the power, brake it baby. I was really going and the brake was coming on, but not fast enough, so I pulled up slightly. Down to 100kts, full flaps. I looked at the runway, way down there. Oh oh! I'm now at 1500agl. I went into a major slip with full flaps and pointed her to the runway, I'm now about 1 mile out. I held it there with a speed of 80kts. Major slip and going down, pointing to the numbers, vasi light all white, never saw the red. I thought to myself, I can always do a go around, but lets see what this baby can do. I continued to slip it major, right foot pushing real hard on the rudder all the way down to about 10 off. At that time, and a little long, but not to bad, I straighten her up and flair it, still with no throttle it's all the way back. I grease the landing, I pull the stick all the way back and at the same time the nose comes down and I hit the brakes. I make the first taxi way, which on a 2644 ft runway is about 2000ft in. No problem here, it just suprised me on what this airplane can do. What a wonderful airplane. I love it.
I have to say to make this landing, first the skill of the pilot is paramount, second the C/S prop, and finally the Grove brakes.
I have to say to make this landing, first the skill of the pilot is paramount, second the C/S prop, and finally the Grove brakes.
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