Warbird Information Exchange

THREE…count ‘em…THREE landings today. Each one better than the last. Still having a bit of trouble with the “ground effect” feel, but it’s getting easier. Finally had it explained to me where “ground effect” starts. I thought when I felt it, I was only about 10’-15’ above the runway. NOT SO, says my instructor. After I had it explained to me that I had to keep flying down to the runway until I was where I wanted to be, I did much better. After my first attempt (which pretty much SUCKED), he had me do another low level (about 10’) pass so I could see how much “control” it was (or wasn’t) going to take to let the airplane settle. First low level, was kinda’ harsh. I let the gear touch on two separate occasions within about 500 feet. Went to full power and back around to try again. Second time was WAAYY better. Never touched and stayed ABOUT where I wanted to, altitude wise. Around again for another “touch and go” which I did WAAYY better than the first. Around, one more time, for my last landing which I was even proud of.

Mudge the happy

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Land of the free because of the brave

I seem to recall it's said any landing you walk away from is a good one.

On that basis, an excellent start.

and any one you can still use the airplane again is an excellent one. Good job. My first instructor told me that the last time he had felt landings like my first few, he was in the Navy flying panthers!

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Woot!

Now you know what it's about!

Fun stuff huh!?

Congratulations!

Z

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Much congrats Mudge..I'm still thinking about it...keep it up..Tom

Good work Mudge

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Don't touch my junk!!

Mudge,
were those 3 landings on the same approach or 3 seperate ones ?

BTW, did the surprise package show up yet ?

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Matt Gunsch, A&P, IA, Warbird maint and restorations
Jack, You have Debauched my sloth !!!!!!
We tried voting with the Ballot box, When do we start voting from the Ammo box, and am I allowed only one vote ?
Check out the Ercoupe Discussion Group on facebook

Matt...very humorous but don't pick on me. I'm very proud of being able to walk away from a "still usable" airplane.

And yes. Very interesting stuff. We watched the Crash Science last night and Mrs. Mudge could only gasp each time they showed a crash.
Thanks.

Mudge the appreciative

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Land of the free because of the brave

Mudge.......Goodonya !!!

A little personal aside you may share with Mrs. Mudge. When I was learning to fly my darling son was 5 and we had a very rudimentary PC and a very early version of Flight Sim. I would try to do the sim thing and if I didn't crash on the runway on takeoff I usually hit the Sears Tower or whatever that Chicago building was on the Dark Ages version of FS. My dear son would watch this and then say "Oh Mommy I sure hope you don't crash the real airplane that way this weekend." I could have traumatized him for life but he grew up to be OK and I didn't crash the real thing.

Sounds like you're getting the hang of that ground effect stuff.....practice practice practice.....makes perfect......we're all still practicing ya know.

Good on Ya, just let the A/C the work for you and don't induce anything extra with the controls, hard as one can try, they will not produce any lift no matter how much one pumps the controls

Lynn

Ground effect starts at half the wing span distance above the ground, says FAA. probably about 15 ft for a Warrior. It's just a concept, at about 5 ft you feel it more. Landings: 1st, It ain't that hard, don't worry about it. 2nd fly the proper speed down to about 15 ft, close throttle, 3rd Look about 200ft down the runway or so, 4th As the plane gets closer to the runway pull back gently, progressively on the wheel so that when the plane is about a foot over the runway you are almost to stall speed, 5th Hold it off, add more back pressure, don't let it touch, (DON"T PUSH FORWARD) until finally it runs out of speed and settles the last few inches onto to runway. Finally say "This is easy why didn't I do this before" and never you at $$$$$ when you are having fun.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK