The taxiways at Reno Stead will swallow your tailwheel whole, and not even spit out the hub for re-use....
The taxiways at Reno Stead will swallow your tailwheel whole, and not even spit out the hub for re-use....
Although not unfriendly airport but unfriendly comments about RVs at some airports in the Houston area. I recently heard a group of slow big tire pilots complaining in general about RV pilots because they come in fast to do low approaches and cut in front of others in the pattern.
This has nothing to do with the airport itself but it does remind us just because we have faster planes doesn't mean we have to fly like jerks.
I've been a victim of the slow Piper 777 doing the 3 mile base to final turn and have even done a few 360s to give him more time. It's a hassle but not a reason to give our planes a bad reputation over it.
This has nothing to do with the airport itself but it does remind us just because we have faster planes doesn't mean we have to fly like jerks.
I've been a victim of the slow Piper 777 doing the 3 mile base to final turn and have even done a few 360s to give him more time. It's a hassle but not a reason to give our planes a bad reputation over it.
Just wondering, why is it that the faster plane is the "jerk" when a much slower plane does a 3 mile final? Im just finishing my pilots license so I am open to learn. Why isn't it the same as a slower car pulling out of the way going up a hill?
Just wondering, why is it that the faster plane is the "jerk" when a much slower plane does a 3 mile final? Im just finishing my pilots license so I am open to learn. Why isn't it the same as a slower car pulling out of the way going up a hill?
When you quote only part of the comment it takes it all out of context. I never said flying the faster plane makes anyone a jerk on the contrary I said just because we fly a faster plane doesn't mean we have to act like jerks (for example cutting in front of slower planes in the pattern contrary to Regulations).
Regarding student pilots, I think it's a disservice to teach them to fly a 3 mile final hanging from the prop with power trying to land on the numbers.
First if that engine hick-ups you'll land somewhere before the runway and it's not only dangerous it's going to be hard to explain how you were in the pattern and didn't make it to the runway.
Second the student is supposed to be pointing their approach to the land on first third of the runway so you're not supposed to be trying to land on the numbers. Have you ever seen a commercial airplane with professional pilots land on the numbers? ** Please not looking for exceptions like St Martin or St Barts, been there done that, landed there many times, not the point. Still if you want to land on the numbers then point ahead of that point for your approach, but I digress.
I understand when I have a student that might not be ready and might need more time to set up for the approach, that's fine to extend, but as a CFI it's my job to see that and get them ready earlier the next flight around the pattern. When the plane is doing the same 3 mile pattern over and over and over, that's an issue.
When I first started flying my plane, I would drag it in like that. After a while, I realized that was wrong for all the reasons you mentioned. Nowadays, I fly a higher pattern (1,200'-1,500'), a rounded base, a steeper approach, and land farther down the runway - all traffic and runway length permitting, of course. Doing all these things is a LOT safer, IMHO, an it doesn't tie up the airspace for very long. Allow me to post a short video (Since this is an RV forum, please imagine these wings are aluminum; The speeds are about the same). As the video begins, I was at 1,000' AGL turning final.Regarding student pilots, I think it's a disservice to teach them to fly a 3 mile final hanging from the prop with power trying to land on the numbers.
When I first started flying my plane, I would drag it in like that. After a while, I realized that was wrong for all the reasons you mentioned. Nowadays, I fly a higher pattern (1,200'-1,500'), a rounded base, a steeper approach, and land farther down the runway - all traffic and runway length permitting, of course. Doing all these things is a LOT safer, IMHO, an it doesn't tie up the airspace for very long. Allow me to post a short video (Since this is an RV forum, please imagine these wings are aluminum; The speeds are about the same). As the video begins, I was at 1,000' AGL turning final.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8u7frzifonyhnvw/2019-04-06 T&Gs_0598.mp4?dl=0
That was a nice stable landing and that's what I strive for and teach for the majority of landings, of course adjusting for short fields, obstacles, etc. as needed.
Hopefully if you are teaching RV pilots to land "A" models, you aren't teaching them to land flat (3 point).
I have gotten comments from slow movers with students before, airborne. Irritated me, I was fully aware of them and adjusted my pattern. It does bother me when slower folks flying deep patterns get irritated with me cutting in line when I can take off and land 3 times when they are on final. I don’t do anything stupid or cause them delay; I guess it is the perception of delay or ignorance.
Although not unfriendly airport but unfriendly comments about RVs at some airports in the Houston area. I recently heard a group of slow big tire pilots complaining in general about RV pilots because they come in fast to do low approaches and cut in front of others in the pattern.
This has nothing to do with the airport itself but it does remind us just because we have faster planes doesn't mean we have to fly like jerks.
I've been a victim of the slow Piper 777 doing the 3 mile base to final turn and have even done a few 360s to give him more time. It's a hassle but not a reason to give our planes a bad reputation over it.
Referencing Houston and RVs, I've been doing them 30+ and nearly 20 years, respectively. I'm sure the occasional conflicts of perspective occur, but it's rare. More often, it's the people who don't realize that climbing at 2,000 fpm is not illegal and that an overhead approach is in the AIM and can be done safely and politely with other planes around, who make the remarks.
Actually, within the last 5, 7 years I have not seen or heard anything that would be any less than very accommodating to the local training and weekend flyers. But that's south, east and north sides of town. Don't spend much time on the west side.
All it takes is a call on the radio. You can tell if someone's new and loaded up. I/we either steer completely clear of that field, or stay well clear of these people. The average, competent Piper/Cessna pilot gets a polite and clear call on the radio if we're trying to make an approach to the field in formation or permission is requested to overtake or maneuver around them. And its never done in a manner to cause them any delay or imposition. Come to think of it, I've never seen an RV pilot cut off someone in the traffic pattern around Houston.
You're correct, it was a spelling mistake. Notice I was talking about the approach. I mistakenly typed "landing" when the first one should have been "approach". As you can see I used the word landing at the end of the sentence meaning the entire sequence of events. A stabilized approach works for A models and any models. I've corrected it in the original post, thanks.
In case it wasn't clear, my comment was regarding the landing example in the video you were referencing......
Tri-gear airplane.... flat / 3 point touch down
... I was approaching Brunswick, GA a few months ago ...
We're talking about the same video. I was saying that the stabilized approach in that video applies to any airplane (not the landing itself).
Well...if we are to correlate the GPS speed with airspeed, the approach in that video ranged from 100KT in the beginning to 85KT before the round out. Is that "stable"? Not really. Do I think it's a bad approach? Not at all. Is it a good way to fly this airplane? Probably. Is there only one way to fly an approach in all airplanes? No way! I just get a little weary of this "stabilized approach" stuff being preached so often, as if most pilots need special training and reminders to fly smooth and not throttle jockey the airplane and chase the glide and airspeed all over the place. Most pilots fly OK. By the same token, most drivers who've passed drivers ed very quickly stop weaving around within their lane on the road as well. "Wow honey, look how stable that driver is!"
It is the old George Carlin routine.
Anyone who drives faster than you is a maniac.
Anyone who drives slower than you is an idiot.
We fly faster than most, so...
Tower controllers here (we are a Class "D" airport) sometimes get so overloaded they can't accept traffic for pattern work and you have to hold outside the airspace. I have been #8 for takeoff on more than one occasion while 5 or 6 airplanes are approaching to land. So IMHO if someone isn't flying their airplane as you want them to, suck it up and adjust to it or don't fly there. YMMV
Awwwww... but I enjoy the craziness here. It keeps me sharp as a pilot so I have a better chance of handling just about any situation.Time to move away from that craziness and go to Texas ! If only you knew someone who owned an airport in the middle of the USA (close to 3 coasts) that you could live with your plane at your house with no traffic, awesome weather (no hurricanes), no humidity (no corrosion), four 45x45 hangars (use one while you build yours), ........ www.facebook.com/VacaMooAirport/
Time to move away from that craziness and go to Texas ! If only you knew someone who owned an airport in the middle of the USA (close to 3 coasts) that you could live with your plane at your house with no traffic, awesome weather (no hurricanes), no humidity (no corrosion), four 45x45 hangars (use one while you build yours), ........ www.facebook.com/VacaMooAirport/
Respectfully, Texas is full. NO VACANCY!!!