Tips for Short and Soft Field Take off and landings - PPL flight training (Flight 30)

Moon Rise

This lesson was all about short and soft field take off and landing.

As we get closer to winter the days are getting shorter and the sun is setting so early that it's hard to get any flying done in the evenings after work. This evening we started with some ground review talking about compass errors and short and soft field operations. By the time we took off the sun had almost set so we flew mostly in twilight and watched the moon rise each time we went around the pattern.

The picture to the right shows the reflection of the moon in the water of the south bay on a very low tide. You can also see the hills over on the east bay.

Short Field Takeoff

The aim is to take off with as little runway as possible, and get over a 50ft obstacle with as much clearance as possible. The required steps for a 152 are:

• Use as much runway as possible when positioning
• Apply Brakes
• 10 degrees of flaps
• Max power, then release brakes
• Rotate at 54 kts (pull back yoke a little more during acceleration to feel when the plane comes up)
• "Obstacle departure speed" of 54 kts until above 50ft
• Then lower nose and accelerate to Vx or Vy
• Once Vx or Vy speed attained retract flaps

Short Field Landing

• On Final, apply full flaps and enter slow flight (lower throttle, pitch up, throttle on)
• Descent will be more nose up than normal and greater drag therefore more throttle required
• Levelling will be closer to ground (due to slower speed)
• Touch main wheels, retract flaps
• Lower nose and Brake relatively hard

Soft Field Takeoff

The skills learned for this take off are applied to grass runways where it is important to keep the front wheel off the ground (or with minimum weight) as possible. When taxing it is important to keep moving so as not to get stuck.

• Pull back all the way on the yoke to take pressure off front wheel. Apply cross wind correction if required.
• 10 degrees flaps
• Apply full power
• When nose comes up ease it forward to keep front wheel off ground but not too high
• When mains are up lower nose to accelerate in ground effect
• Rotate at Vx or Vy and retract flaps when >100ft and at Vx or Vy

Soft Field Landing

Much like a normal 'good' landing but softened a little and with no braking.

• Normal approach but keep a about 100 rpm of revs on level
• Drops the revs just as you touch down to lower the plane more gently
• Keep nose high as long as possible
• Keep moving and do no brake
• Call "Simulation Over" before braking to exit runway

Lesson Highlights: Practiced compass errors and short/soft field procedures

Stats: 6 landings, 0.9 hours