Landing with bomber drones

[Whitten]

Is there any particular way to land with drones and to make sure both drones make it safely on the runway? The problem occurs when I extend the landing gear; the drones don’t always immediately line up single file behind me. Sometimes they wait until what seems like 1,000 or so yards away from the runway, then they drop their altitude and either land short of the runway or crash. So what do I need to do to get the drones to land properly?

[Rolex]

First, there is no penalty if drones seem to land off the runway, but you land on a runway. You still get credit for a successful landing with the drones and any perk points gained during the sortie. In a formation, that is counted as 3 sorties.

Keeping your drones in tow requires you reduce throttle or RPM (- and + keys on number pad) and not do any sharp turns or maneuvers or changes in altitude. Keep things smooth and plan your landing from far out. Stabilize your final approach with drones behind you and extend gear then, not before.

Try to stay smooth and see how that goes...

[Auger]

I'm certainly no expert, but a long final is probably the best way to get them home.  You need to be a few miles from the end of the runway, on the runway heading, with no more than 500 feet of altitude per mile to the runway.  Get your speed under 150, drop a notch of flaps and get the gear down at least a half mile from the end of the runway.  Finally, don't land at the threshold.  You shouldn't put your wheels down any closer than 1/3 of the way down the runway, although you can go up to 1/2 with no problems.

[BaldEagl]

It seems to me as long as you land safely they land safely.

I often come in at wierd angles to the runway, banking in at the last moment to align the runway.  As long as your speeds under about 150 and you don't drop gear until your lined up I think your ok.  

I can't remember losing a drone on landing.

[Scca]

I have found extending gear when you are over 250 feet agl will cause them to go boom..  

I just extend gear at the very last second and it works.

[Whitten]

Thanks for the advice guys. I can finally get both drones safely on the runway or atleast pretty close. I now make longer approches for better line up and I lower my gear just a second or two before touchdown. Deciding when to lower the gear makes a world of a difference. Thanks again.

[Spikes]

I wait until I am about 1/2 way down the runway then put the gear down and land.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Scca
I have found extending gear when you are over 250 feet agl will cause them to go boom..  

I just extend gear at the very last second and it works.

I extend my gear on final, probably as high as 1,500 feet on occasion. Never had an issue like you have. Deploy your flaps before you lower the gear. This gets the entire formation whoa'd down prior to dropping the gear. When the gear come down, the drones line up for the runway. If you deploy them too low and well off the runway, they may hit the ground. So, make your approach at a greater angle of descent and you should have no problems.

My regards,

Widewing

[Roidrage]

Originally posted by BaldEagl
It seems to me as long as you land safely they land safely.

I often come in at wierd angles to the runway, banking in at the last moment to align the runway.  As long as your speeds under about 150 and you don't drop gear until your lined up I think your ok.  

I can't remember losing a drone on landing.

Roger that, havn't lost one either.

[lagger86]

I've landed  with some pretty bad angles at many different speeds and when I come to a halt I jump in the tail gun and see my drones hanging out on the runway already cracking their beers. I always drop flaps early, and put my gear(If I have any left) down right before I hit the concrete seems to work all the time.