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From: wolit@alice.UUCP (Jan Wolitzky)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: To Flap or Not To Flap...
Message-ID: <3393@alice.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 15-Feb-85 11:07:34 EST
Article-I.D.: alice.3393
Posted: Fri Feb 15 11:07:34 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 16-Feb-85 06:26:21 EST
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 35

While I'm no expert, here's my two cents worth:

I was taught to fly nice, squared-off approaches (i.e., downwind leg
extended about 1/2 mi past the end of the runway, then a 90-degree
turn to base, then a 90-degree turn to final) with partial flaps
applied as soon as I reduce power (approx. opposite the end of the
runway), and full flaps applied on base, with about 1500 rpm carried
throughout (for a PA-28-140, PA-28-160, AA-5A, ...).  This technique
has the advantage of producing pretty-looking patterns in the sky, 
(not such a bad thing, since others can guess where I'm going) and
a good amount of time to "stabilize" the approach -- nothing happens
too quickly, the rate of descent isn't too great, and the technique
carries over fairly well to instrument training:  the descent angle is
pretty much like an ILS approach, but with the two right angle turns
thrown in.  I fly like this with nervous passengers and FAA inspectors
on board.

I don't like it, though.  I don't like being strung way out on final
at about 500' AGL with all that flap hanging out, just waiting for the
engine to cough or for someone flying a tighter pattern to cut me off
without looking.  I would feel real bad flying all the way from point
A to point B, always (well, almost always) having a field in mind for
a soft landing should the engine quit, and then having to land in the
trees with my destination airport in sight.  As long as there's no one
in the pattern ahead of me (I don't want to cut anyone else off,
either), I like to fly a power-off approach, which means about a
180-degree turn from downwind to final.  Since I also like to land as
slow as possible to save on tires, which means using full flaps, this
means flying a pretty steep descent, which means having to flare
rather assertively.  It means having to use a different technique
when I'm under the hood, or flying with my wife, but it also
clears me out of the pattern fast and gives me a little more peace of
mind.
-- 
Jan Wolitzky, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ; (201) 582-2998