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"Flaps...."

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3. "RE: Flaps...."
06-07-02, 07:36z 

Use what you need, when you need it. Gusty or windy in a light airplane, consider a reduced flap setting, or pulling them up just after touchdown. Or full flaps. Use what's required.

Setting specific intervals and positions for adding flap increments is very remedial. It's a good starting point for a student pilot, but at some point each pilot must start to think about it, and put down flaps and make power reductions according to need, rather than by rote.

Typically I'll apply the first increment of flaps as soon as I reach the flap limiting speed for that setting. In my airplane that's 202 knots. Gear speed is right there too; sometimes I'll put in the second increment before gear, sometimes I'll go gear first. It depends what I'm trying to accomplish. I need to slow to 150 KIAS before putting in the final increment, and that usually waits until later in the approach.

Generally I put in my first increment approaching the IAF. If it's an instrument approach, I'll put in the second increment while outbound for the proceedure turn, or prior to intercepting the final approach course. If it's a precision approach, the gear will go down within a dot of the glideslope, and then land flaps when the appropriate speed is reached. If I know I'll be circling, I leave only the 2nd increment of flaps in, until the landing is assured.

However, the circumstances must dictate. If I'm in a Navajo that is flying single engine, I'll be loathe to add much flap or put the gear down until I absolutely need to. Once airspeed and altitude is lost in such an airplane when loaded, one won't get it back. Accordingly, one must be sure that it's the right thing to do and hold off until it is.

On some occasions, putting full flaps in on the downwind may be appropriate. On others, delaying them until on final may be very appropriate. The presence of ice and other considerations may also be important.

There are no hard, fast rules. Use whatever works, considering the circumstances and the need.

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Table of Contents
  Subject      Author      Message Date     ID   
  Flaps....    DHamblin      06-06-02       
     RE: Flaps....   aboyd[Guest]      06-06-02      1   
        RE: Flaps....   DHamblin[Sysop]      06-06-02      2   
     RE: Flaps....    avbug[Guest]      06-07-02      3   
        RE: Flaps....   DHamblin[Sysop]      06-07-02      4   
             RE: Flaps....   CRodin[Guest]      06-07-02      8   
     RE: Flaps....   jerryrosie[Sysop]      06-07-02      5   
        RE: Flaps....   Ben_Chiu[Admin]      06-07-02      7   
             RE: Flaps....   DHamblin[Sysop]      06-08-02      10   
     RE: Flaps....   Ben_Chiu[Admin]      06-07-02      6   
        RE: Flaps....   DHamblin[Sysop]      06-08-02      9   
             RE: Flaps....   avbug[Guest]      06-08-02      11   
                  RE: Flaps....   DHamblin[Sysop]      06-08-02      12   
     RE: Flaps....   Patty_Wagstaff[Sysop]      06-12-02      13   
        RE: Flaps....   DHamblin[Sysop]      06-12-02      14   

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