User Guide

106
Before we go any further, set your directional gyro (which
has probably drifted during our earlier flights) to match the mag-
netic compass on top of the panel. As you get close enough to the
airport, you’ll see the big numbers painted on the ends of the run-
ways. These represent the magnetic heading of the runway, minus
the final zero - for example, 9 would be a heading of 90 degrees,
24 would be 240 degrees, etc. Obviously, each runway has two
numbers, 180 degrees apart, painted on each end: the other end
of runway 9 is runway 27, the other end of runway 24 is runway
6, etc.
Pick the runway you’re going to use, note its number, and
turn the airplane so you’re flying 180 degrees opposite that direc-
tion (called the reciprocal heading). If you don’t feel like the men-
tal math, just turn to parallel the runway, with the reciprocal head-
ing at the top of the directional gyro and the direction in which
you’ll be landing at the bottom.
About halfway along the runway, extend the first notch of
flaps and trim, if necessary, to maintain level flight. Keep an eye,
not just straight ahead, but out to the left. When your planned
touchdown point is below the left wingtip, reduce power a cou-
ple of hundred RPM and begin a gentle descent - no more than
500 feet per minute.
Keep looking to your left as well as checking forward. When
the end of the runway has moved back to about the 8 o’clock
position, you’ll start your base leg by making a smooth 90-degree
turn to the left. Roll out of the turn, and the runway should be at
about the 11 o’clock position. This is a good time to extend the
second notch of flaps, adjusting trim and power as necessary to
maintain a smooth descent at 70 to 80 knots.
As the runway moves back to the 10 o’clock position, start
another smooth 90-degree left turn. As you roll out, the runway
should be straight ahead; if you plan to use the rest of the flaps
(there’s no law that says you have to - in fact, the airplane lands
just great with no flaps at all), this is a good time for them.
The hardest thing for early students to judge is the correct
angle of descent, but most larger airports will help you out.
Depending on where you are, you’ll either see a pair of light bars
on the left side of the runway (the Visual Approach Slope
Indicator, or VASI), or a single line of four lights (the Precision
Approach Path Indicator, or PAPI).
Flight Instruction
They work in a very similar fashion. Using VASI, if you see
two white light bars, you’re above the optimum glide path; if the
further bar is red and the nearer one is white, you’re right where
you should be; and if they’re both red, you’re too low, and should
add power right away.
With PAPI, the resolution is even more precise. Four white
lights mean you’re quite a bit too high; three whites and one red,
still high, but not as much; two white and two red, just right; one
white and three red, you’re low; and four reds, you’re really low -
again, add power and climb back up to the correct glide path.
Either way, keep your wings level, making small corrections
to stay lined up with the runway centerline; use elevator, and trim
if necessary, to control your airspeed; and make judicious power
adjustments to control altitude and glide path. As you get right
over the end of the runway, don’t look at the ground right ahead,
but at the far end of the runway. In the 172, if you simply raise the
nose until the top of the instrument panel is just about on the hori-
zon, then gently wipe the power all the way off while holding the
nose in that position - remember, it’ll try to drop as you remove
the power, so be ready to add a little more back pressure - you’re
almost guaranteed a creditable landing.
Squeech! Congratulations! We’re on the ground, but you
can’t relax quite yet—“the airplane isn’t done flying until it’s tied
down.” Carefully apply the brakes to slow down, and remember
that once on the ground the airplane steers with the rudders, not
with the yoke - I’ve had otherwise excellent students “grease on”
their first landing, then sit there twisting the yoke as the airplane
sashays toward the edge of the runway…
…but you’re too sharp for that, aren’t you? Welcome to the
world of fliers…and, since it’s traditional to cut off a student’s
shirttail to commemorate his or her first solo, I hope you were
wearing an old one today!
Flight Instruction
107
Landing Attitude
Perfect
Nose too low,
too fast!
Nose too high,
too slow!