Pilot performance ups and downs

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Localizer
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Pilot performance ups and downs

Post by Localizer »

Last Monday for no particular reason I decided to do some touch and gos. And so I did - making one bad landing after another and after another. I was changing speed, MP, aiming point, pattern leg lengths. Nothing worked. It was late afternoon, I was not tired or anything, but I just could not land the airplane right.
Then yesterday I had a meeting 200 miles away, so I flew a cross county and then back home. Both times I nicely greased the airplane on the runway.
I'm just puzzled by this. :scratch:
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RV-10 build is in progress.
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smoss
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Re: Pilot performance ups and downs

Post by smoss »

yup, just happens like that sometimes. Some days just not in the zone, for no particular reason. I have experienced the same phenomenon.
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Pehu
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Re: Pilot performance ups and downs

Post by Pehu »

DA40NG is quite "touchy" on the speeds and runway conditions. Wind, turbulence, heat from the sun etc all factor in. Sometimes the speeds and all are in perfect balance but then you get a heated runway that lifts air up and you get bounces, as the plane doesnt want to settle.

I am a bit of perfectionist myself, but I have learned to live with the fact that not all the landings are that smooth :)
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Sandy
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Re: Pilot performance ups and downs

Post by Sandy »

I have found, and observed, that "pumping" the stick close to the runway is a certain way to mess up a landing, while bringing the nose slightly up, and holding that attitude when close, allowing the speed to bleed off and allowing the plane to settle onto its mains seems to work best. Sometimes a little touch of throttle is useful to help arrest the descent rate as the plane touches down.
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krellis
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Re: Pilot performance ups and downs

Post by krellis »

Hope you bring your DA40 down to CCO. It will be right at home with Falcon Aviation Academy and their fleet of Diamonds of various flavors. Maybe I can talk you into a ride? I miss our DA40 sometimes and really liked the way it flew. I'll trade you a ride in my RV-7A.
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Localizer
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Re: Pilot performance ups and downs

Post by Localizer »

Absolutely yes! You will see me at CCO in August. :)
Sure, we will take a ride and I will gladly try RV-7.
DA40 40.779
RV-10 build is in progress.
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