Lesson 15 - Glide and Flapless approaches

Refresher on flapless approaches - 1500 RPM and 70 knots.

Glide approaches at 65 knots. Estimate point to close the throttle to land a third of the way down the runway, which on runway 24 is about taxiway Bravo.

If aircraft is too high, then use flaps - flaps 10 initially, and flaps 20 once you are sure to make it. Flaps 30 only once very certain! It is OK to land without flap.

The circuit was fairly busy today and at one stage I needed to orbit. I was not disoriented this time, as I was the last by doing this.

In the debrief, Tim raised a number of "peripheral" items that I need to remember and correct:
- I have to taxi slower.
- When cleared to line up on the runway, I need to remember the transponder, the strobes and the landing lights.
- After landing, leave all the controls until clear of the runway when you can do the post-landing checks (otherwise one day I WILL raise the undercarriage instead of the flaps - when I am in a plane I can do that with!)

Of the flying items, I need to only do a rate 1 (15 degree of bank) turn when asked to orbit. I also need to not be scared of the radio - I don't think I am really worried by the radio anymore, generally, but today I was more cautious. Must remember the "if in doubt, shout" saying! I also need to keep an eye on my altitudes - I tend to get a bit high on the downwind leg.

The flapless approach - which we did with quite a long final - was quite a "firm" landing - although Tim confirmed that it hadn't caused any problems with his underpants! The issue, as we discussed it later (the landing, not the pants) was that on a flapless approach, the nose attitude tends to be higher, so it is more difficult to judge the sink. Therefore I need to beware of closing the throttle too early (and smacking down on the runway!).

Overall a good lesson. Tim talked about going to Rochester for the next lesson, as we would need to do a circuit detail or two on Rochester's grass runways - preferrably before going solo, as Rochester is the alternate airfield. I'd quite look forward to that - a change of airfield would certainly be interesting!

Stats at end of lesson 15
Description	Hours as P2	Hours as P1	Take Offs	Landings
Lesson	1:00	0:00	6	5
Total	14:50	0:00	29	21