Backcountry Pilot • Soft Field Suggestions

Soft Field Suggestions

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Soft Field Suggestions

Maybe some of you soft field experts can give some suggestions on how to improve this effort??

Oops, thanks O Wise One.
Last edited by FloatFlyer on Tue Feb 05, 2013 7:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
FloatFlyer offline
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Re: Soft Field Suggestions

Here's one technique that I know of: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=11153

It's ok Ford, I know you have a life outside the Internet.
Zzz offline
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Re: Soft Field Suggestions

Wish I knew for sure you did! :lol:
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Re: Soft Field Suggestions

What seems to be the problem? You didn't provide much info.

Not an expert, but willing to offer my thoughts on the subject.

Soft field landings are much easier in relatively constant winds. Hard to do this with gusty winds.

In general, power seems to cure much of the soft field woes. You also need enough distance in the landing zone to use power to land very softly. Landing short and soft are sometime in direct conflict with each other.

My 185 has a Robertson Stol. My typical approach is 60-62 mph on final carrying about 13-15" MP. As I get closer to the ground I gently slow the descent rate with aft pressure on the yoke and as the speed bleeds off I add more power. My goal is to get the plane into a landing attitude at a minimum speed with enough power to arrive with minimum descent rate. You being a float pilot.....think glassy water landing only slower with less rate of descent at touchdown. Practice flying down the length of the runway with a nose high attitude a few inches above the ground. You may even touch and fly, touch and fly as you travel the length of the runway. When you cannot tell that the wheels have touched, you will have made the softest landing possible. You cannot get softer than this.

At first the transition from the approach to the touchdown will take a significant amount of distance as you get comfortable with the airplane attitude, speed, and power settings. Soon, you will be able to transition the plane from approach to touchdown in less time and distance.

My favorite type of landing. Good luck.
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Re: Soft Field Suggestions

Or, you could do like an old (OLD :) ) friend did... sell the plane & buy a boat!
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Re: Soft Field Suggestions

I suggest bushwheels. :D
robw56 offline
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Re: Soft Field Suggestions

To shed a little light on this thread: Floatflyer posted the video of the guys in the Antonov turboprop taking off from a big muddy sippy hole, which was a rerun, so I flicked him some shit for it in the form of the link to the older thread as "advice." Don't worry, Ford's a master of working the soft.
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Re: Soft Field Suggestions

Ha ha. Thanks Zane. Figured as much. Oh well, maybe someone will find my post useful.
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