Landing? It's Simple!!! Look Here

[DamnedRen]

Alot of folks are always asking me:
"Why is my gear stuck?"
"How come I crash all the time when landing?"
"Flaps? How come they don't work all the time?"

The answers are pretty easy and can be pretty much  summed up into one word. Speed! YOU ARE TOO FAST!

Just about every plane flying has a speed restriction in gear extension. The same goes for flaps. For instance, the max speed for flaps 5 in a B727-200 is 215 knots. If you try to extend them over 215 you run the risk of damaging the flaps. Gear retraction in a Skyhawk (A4M) is 165 knots (trying to remember my NATOPS). The A4M lifts off around 145 knots. You have a few seconds to get the gear up because it accellerates so well or you run the risk of breaking them. Ok, enough rhetoric. I think you get the picture and these real life concerns are the same in Aces High. So whacha need to know for landing?

First learn where all your gauges are in the cockpit and that you understand how to read them. The important ones are:
Airspeed Indicator
Flap Setting Indicator
Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)
Manifold Pressure Gauge

You also need to know about:

Auto Pilot settings
The Flare

Remember the gauges are not located in the same place on the panel in all the planes (there was no standardization back then).

The airspeed indicator is pretty simple. Its kinda like your speedometer in your car. However, many new folks dont notice it because the gauges are small and the numbers are abbreviated. In other words,  the number 8 = 80, 12 = 120 mph. Pretty simple.

Flap Setting indicator. This, too, is pretty simple. As they go up or down you will see the indicator showing what setting they are at. The Q key on your keyboard puts them down and W brings them back up. You may have to look for this gauge as they can be anywhere on the front panel.

The VSI. This gauge is normal located to the right of center of the panel on all the planes. In level flight the needle points to 0 on the left. If you climb at 1000 feet per minute (fpm) then the needle will point at 1 (up). If you descend at 1000 fpm then the needle points down to the number 1. Simple, right?

The manifold pressure gauge can be used as a "gouge" to judge your airspeed. You can use it to  set your approach speeds as it is very easy to see and read. O Hg manifold pressure = throttle set to idle. This is not your RPM gauge but can be used as a gouge to set airspeeds. For instance, in a B727 we used the fuel flow indicator as a gouge to set airspeed. A fuel flow of 2500 pph in a clean configuration will give you 250 knots of airspeed at 5000 feet. You don't have to mess with alot settings just push the throttles til you have 2500 flow rate on all three engines. Simple.

Autopilot level (X key on keyboard) is a simple tool that levels the plane out and lets you slow for landing at a steady rate. Hit X key and cut the throttle and the drag of the plane will slow it down gently.

Whats a Flare? Well, a plane needs to descend to land on a runway. By the same token, too high a descent rate may break something if you don't do something to slow the planes rate of descent. Just before touchdown you need to arrest (stop)the descent and level the plane off a few feet above the runway. If you cut your throttle at this point the plane will slow and gentley settle on the runway. It's also good practice to pull gently back on of the stick as the plane slows and it will actually "stall" just as it touches the runway. In a tail dragger you wil get a nice 3 point landing (all wheels touch down at the same time).

So whats needed to land the plane? As I said before most problems in landing are a direct result of speed. You have been flying your aiplane around for a half hour at anywhere between 200 and 400 mph. Slowing to landing speed after all that zooming around is something you gotta get used to. Normal landing speed, using flaps, is anywhere from 80 to 100 mph on most planes in Aces High.

Altitude also plays a big role in landing. Remember, nose up - plane slows, nose low - plane speeds up. If you're high and push the nose down you speed up. Not a great idea when your trying to land. Alternatively, if you're low your view may be somewhat restricted because the nose cowl gets in your way and you end up trying to "drag" the plane on to the runway. Trees can get in the way of that.

Ok, nuff said. I'll cut to the chase!

You wanna land to do that you gotta get low and slow.
You can zoom the runway if ya wanna. But you need to get down to around 1000 feet (check altimeter)
1)Turn outbound away from but parallel to the runway You may go out 1-2 miles. Its no big deal.
2)Hit X key and get it level at 1000 ft
3)Cut throttle to let it slow down
4)Watch your airspeed indicator
5)When it slows to 160 mph get your flaps down
6)Continue watching your airspeed indicator
7)As the speed decays to 140 go ahead and drop your gear (G key on keyboard).
At this point you may want to add some power. Use your manifold gauge to adjust your power setting. At idle its 0Hg manifold pressure. Anywhere from 10-20 Hg will just about maintain altitude in level flight.
8) Begin a gentle turn inbound to the runway and get aligned.
9) Adjust your power so your approach speed is between 100-120. Remember we took you out a 1 or 2 miles so you have alot of time to make this happen.
10) The plane will begin a gentle descent let it continue to descent adjusting power to maintain the 100-120 mph.
11) Point yer nose at the approach end of the runway.
12) As you approach the end of the runway begin a gentle flare by easing the throttle off more and pulling back on the stick very very gently.
13)Now look down to the far end of the runway. Use the far end of the runway to keep you aligned on center.
14) The plane will settle on the runway. As it touches down get your flaps up and hit your space bar (ground braking) to slow and stop.

You just landed! Well done!

[mia389]

Heres some films of landing if they help.

landings

landing on a cv

[acepilot2]

Yes, but also make sure you do not go too slow-this can easily result in a stall or crash (from landing too hard) while landing.

[mia389]

Ive learned to land by stalling the plane right before touch down. Thats when I fly the schools pipers anyway. I carried here to AH and seems to work pretty good. If you get slow you will rate of decent will really start to fall then I just add power.

Pitch for speed
power for altitude or rate of decent or climb if need be

[vorticon]

it may help the people having problems if you include a picture of those instruments...

[Cobra412]

I do a typical stall landing myself as Mia389 has said. And as far as stalling to the point of crashing it's rather easy to compensate with most AH aircraft.

I typically come in at around 160 give or take 10mph.  Set my flaps to 1/4 down.  I allow the aircraft to descend at approximately at a rate of 1 to 1.5 and slowly dropping my airspeed and altitude.  During the descent I will gently manipulate the stick aft or forward slightly to adjust for my descent angle to touch down at approximately 10 to 20 feet after EOR.

If your descent is too fast gently pull back (you can walk it in the whole time with a faint sound of the stall horn audible) and jockey the throttles to keep airspeed and altitude in check.  Ensure your lined up on the runway trying this because low speeds and high AOA don't mix well and any adjustment in yaw/roll could very well dump the wing down quickly and lead to disaster.

Also depending on the aircrafts flight characteristics at low airspeeds you may have to input another notch of flaps if the engines can't be used to compensate for vertical movement effectively.  With the extra bit of flaps a hard power on will allow you to adjust fairly easily for miscalculated descent rates.

[Soda]

I find the best approach speed to be right around 120mph.  Less than that and the aircraft can wallow a bit in handling, more than that and you are prone to easily climb.  While aiming for the near end of the runway I chop any remaining throttle and pull back gently just as a cross into the runway.  That typically settles you down, nice and gentle, at about 90-100mph which is usually just about perfect.  Maintain back pressure on the stick and apply brakes, this will help keep the tail planted to the ground so you don't ground-loop.

[Ecliptik]

Eventually you goof around and do things like land a loaded B26 on a CV.    

Knowing how to land pretty much anything on a carrier can save your butt in the MA once in a while.

[sh1V]

Tear like hell to base low.  When you get real close cut throttle and start weaving to dump speed.  At 190 drop gear and flaps.  Continue weaving until pointed at runway and going real slow.  At just above stall point throttle up a bit to maintain your position.  You want to be running straight down the runway with a tiny bit of throttle.  Push forward slightly until right above ground and gently close throttle.  This way you touch down as opposed to falling down.

In short cut throttle and flaps still you're almost stalled at the begining of the runway, hit throttle to speed up, then gradually descend while cutting throttle slowly.

[jodgi]

Step on the rudder, doesn't matter which way. That will make your plane sideslip and drag increases dramatically from the "barndoor" effect. dip the wing of the "dead foot" side to maintain the direction you wish your plane to travel ("dead foot" is the foot which is passive i.e. not stepping on the rudder pedal).

If you come in for a good landing at good speed, but you're a little high, then sideslipping will allow you to get down more quickly. If you come in way hot and high, you can step on the rudder while performing a 360 degree hard turn in the direction of your "dead foot". This will normally bleed speed from 400+ to a comfortable landing speed in one turn.

This is actually my preffered way of landing quickly:
zoom at full speed with WEP towards the airfield.
When close and aligned (somewhat) with the strip, cut the throttle, step the rudder and initiate a turn in the other direction (a little care has to be taken not to flipstall the aircraft, but after a few times you will get the hang of it).
Turn on the edge of blackout/stall until below 200mph.
Drop everything (gear, flap, divebrakes) to add drag.
Correct as applicable and land.
Often I sideslip until I start the flare.

Try this when normal landings bore you.

Note: Variations of this kind of hot landings are trained by airforces to minimize the time the plane is exposed to ground fire. I believe the Norwegian Airforce calls it "Tactical landings".

[mia389]

jodgi I think thats called a forward slip not a side slip:D  Good manuver to lose speed though.

[HavocTM]

Please to help what is B727-200? is this new perk fighter? I believe is german right? thank you hitech for making such wonderful new fighter as i know this plane is how germany won the war

[Xjazz]

Landing with damage plane

Ones I lose my Hurri I both elevators.
I could still  controll my decent&climb rate with throttle but prety slowly of course. Level flight wasnt problem.  Near airfield I spiraling down for proper final altitude and I could landing nicely

[TracerX]

Everyone has explained how to land very nicely.  Here are some summary tips to remember key points:

1.  If your still a beginner: "Give yourself plenty of room."  If you angle your decent towards the airfield, your landing might go long.  You have to give yourself space to slow down, so if you think you need 2 miles to slow down, give yourself 4 since it is easier to throttle up and maintain airspeed than to slow down.

2.  "Always pull back on the stick to land, never push foreward."  If you have to push foreward to put the wheels on the ground, you are going too fast, and need to slow your plane down more.  Another way to say this is "You want to fly the plane till it can't fly anymore."

3.  "A landing occures when you reach stall speed and your altitude is ground level."  It is a matter of timing so it takes some practice to make altitude and speed meet at the same time.

4.  To slow down: "Make the plane dirty."  Fighter planes are not supposed to slow down, so you have to make it do so.  Drop everything you can to make drag.  Flaps, Gear, anything that dangles from the plane to disturb the airflow around the plane.  If you have decreased the RPM setting, crank it back up since this creates drag.  Low RPM=Low drag.  High RPM=High drag.  

5.  To slow down even quicker: "Use opposite rudder" or "Rudder right bank left." Whichever direction you like, you can maintain a straight course even while banking and loosing altitude.  Use the Rudder.

6.  If you make a mistake on approach: "Go around again."  If the approach doesn't look right, or your too fast whatever, have patience and try it again.  Don't make yourself a skid mark.

7.  Finally, "Wheels side down."  You never want to land with the Wheels side up.          (Inverted for the slow learners.)

[Max]

When it comes to landing, the Corsair is my nemesis...doesn't matter which one. Any other AC I can land clean (flaps up) and flare it nicely around 120 ias. Flaps up on a Hog usually spins me around as soon as wheel meet pavement. One or two notches of flaps usually flips the tail up and over. What I find works best is to make a normal, clean approach and cut the engine about a quarter runway lenght, short of the runway and flare in to the pavement and let it roll to a stop.

DmdMax