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From: ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: To Flap or Not To Flap...
Message-ID: <3394@alice.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 15-Feb-85 12:57:42 EST
Article-I.D.: alice.3394
Posted: Fri Feb 15 12:57:42 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 16-Feb-85 06:29:45 EST
References: <3393@alice.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 27

I expect different airplanes respond best to different techniques.
I fly single-engine high-wing Cessnas (150, 172, 177RG), and,
like others, I have had different instructors tell me different things.
From these various things, I have evolved the following guidelines
that work well for me in the airplanes I fly:

	1. Avoid power-on approaches unless you use at least
	   20 degrees of flaps.  I know that's not always possible
	   in a busy pattern.  The reason for avoiding power-on
	   approaches without flaps is that if the engine quits
	   you can pick up the flaps and at least still have a
	   shot making the field.

	2. The fixed-gear Cessnas I fly all have 40 degrees of
	   flaps available.  The airplane flies more or less
	   like a brick with all the flaps on.  I have become
	   increasingly suspicious of full-flap landings in
	   those airplanes on a long runway, because the steep
	   nose-down attitude makes the flare a touchy matter
	   and because I don't know what I'd do if I needed to
	   go around and the flap motor failed.  The 177RG has
	   only 30 degrees and the flaps are less effective,
	   so I always land that airplane with full flaps unless
	   it's really gusty.

Because of these two things, I find my most satisfying landings
in the 150 and 172 are made with 20 degrees of flaps.