Short and Soft Field LandingsIn both of these types of landings the object of the landing is to get the aircraft on the ground and slowed to a taxi in a quick manner. Based on the requirements of the field itself, the choice for a soft or short field landing will modify how the pilot does this to some degree. Short Field Landing: As in all aircraft, the short field landing is typically performed in order to use as little runway as possible and may include the need to clear an obstacle at the landing end of the runway. A higher approach path is used for the short field landing than a normal approach and as the aircraft nears the ground, in a tailwheel aircraft, the pitch of the aircraft is brought to a three-point stance and the aircraft is allowed to contact the ground at a minimum airspeed. For a short field landing, the higher approach path is aimed at a touchdown point that will allow the pilot to remain clear or any obstacles along with providing sufficient space to conduct a rollout that will be slowed by the use of braking action without over-running the landing area that is available. Soft-Field Landing:For the soft-field landing, the pilot will land in the three-point stance at a minimum airspeed, although the touchdown point and the approach may or may not have to consider obstacles or the length of the run out as in the short-field landing. After the pilot contacts the ground, the aircraft is kept in motion to avoid the potential for getting stuck in a soft-field until the aircraft is on sufficient ground where this is no longer a concern. For the tailwheel pilot, these two types of landings are virtually identical to the normal landings that they will perform, three-point landings, on a regular basis and are only slightly modified to consider the approach path needed, the stopping distance, or the need to keep the aircraft moving after touchdown. In both cases, the key will be to use a full stall landing technique in the three-point landing stance so as to allow the aircraft to have the least possible chance of bouncing and to contact the ground at the slowest possible controllable airspeed. This further allows the aircraft once it is on the ground, to maintain the greatest controllability for run out and taxi.*In aircraft that have limited forward visibility, a modified wheel landing may be used that transitions quickly to three-point stance for short field operations. This will allow the pilot to continue to the point of touchdown with improved visibility then transition right to a three point stance shortly after touchdown to slow the aircraft quickly and keep the tail on the ground. |
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