260Driver wrote:The two reasons to dump flaps that I'm aware of are to 1) decrease the lift on wing and 2) shift the CG forward over the brakes to maximize their effectiveness.

260Driver wrote:
I'm not to the point where I can dump 'em quick enough on a STOL landing. (Maybe I need one of them EZ Flap things...)

aktahoe1 wrote:
andy wrote:
F.E. Potts' "Guide to Bush Flying" page 137: "Normal STOL landings are made using a careful approach as described in the chapter on approaches, then touching down at minimum airspeed using full flaps with the brakes partially on. As soon as the airplane is on the ground, the flaps are retracted and maximum braking is applied. This will require full up-elevator (stick back) to keep the tail down; if the tail starts to rise because of soft terrain or other conditions, brake pressure will have to be relaxed to the point where the tail will stay down."


I personally would agree with this technique all the way to the part that talks about keeping the tail down. You can keep the tail in the air as you feather your brakes all the way to the stopping point and still land very very short. I see guys all the time 3 point or put there tail down way to soon and come out with flat tires, broken stingers, etc ( in rough terrain of course). The entire technique I beleive summerizes a good STOL landing expect the low tail IMO.

Funny, but I had this same discussion with the DPE durring my commercial ride. He wanted the tail down. Thats ok on pavement or smooth grass but you get the same results (with some practice) with the tail up and you can see not to mention the other hazzards your avoiding as I mentioned above. For that matter, watch the heavy touring guys in Valdez wheel all of the landings on pavement. It could come down to the plane as well. A good number of the cub guys 3 point it for short. After watching Coyotee Ugly fly and land a lot, he spent most of the time wheeling it in. Obviously all is a matter of prefrence. Heck I hear all the time about retracting flaps once on the ground as well. I learned to keep the flaps down to slow you down. If you land and then retract them drag decreases and the airspeed can pick up due to clean air flow. I beleive in keeping the flaps down and apply your brakes with the tail up so I can see. Again just my own opinion...Everyone is different. Practice pracitce practice. What works for you...

AKT


Actually, what Potts is describing there IS a tail low wheel landing. The point is you KEEP the tail LOW (he says "down", which means low) by using full nose up elevator to counteract the braking effect.

MTV