Landing distance

[redhawk]

I have landed my -8 on a relatively short (for a RV) back country strip in Utah with high bushes near the end. The strip is around 4000' feet in elevation. I practiced quite a bit before bringing it in there using the powered/drag it in approach technique. The trouble with this is that the pitch angle to maintain just above a stall with power and a decent angle to clear the bushes was substantially nose high, wiping out forward visibility which then made a spot landing difficult. It was also then difficult to judge my wheel clearance over the tall bushes. I landed to a full stop in about 600 ft from the end.
I have since had better success approaching at about 60 to 65 kts in a steep enough angle to clear a obstacle, then chopping the power completely so that my prop is as idle as possible at touchdown. This requires good timing and accurate pitch adjustment to touchdown firm but not hard.
With a fixed pitch prop, the windmilling effect really hurts the deceleration, so having the prop "unwound" as possible at touchdown helps substantially.

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by N941WR

65 Kts in a 9(A)?

I do ALL my approaches at 60 Kts at full idle. Really simple, abeam the touchdown point, put in all the flaps and trim it for 60 Kts. Fly the entire pattern at 60, slowing it over the fence.

Remember, trim for airspeed and power for distance.

Even then, once in ground effect, you must slow it down before touching down to minimize your ground roll.

Let me add...

Solo and / or at light weights I fly final at 55 knots. I still have enough energy to flair. Much slower than that and your sink rate goes up pretty good.

[Steve Barnes]

This goes back almost 20 years ago but I landed at the highest airport in the U.S. 9988 ft. 3000 ft. long and paved. (Coyote Flats by Bishop California) The temperature was about 60*f + or -, no or little wind. I was at gross weight (about 1550#). The RV4 160 H.P. and a CS prop. On take off we rolled about half the runway before we became airborne. NOW THAT IS PERFORMANCE!

Steve Barnes