Wheel / 3-Point Landings

Wheel Landings

(video above)

A few things to remember about wheel landings:

  • Level or just slight nose up attitude at touchdown (but really mostly level)
  • Better visibility over the nose and more control authority
  • Higher groundspeed at touchdown
  • Arrest the descent with a little bump of power for the last 6″-2 feet of descent (minimize “flaring” with the stick or yoke)
  • Resist the urge to “push” the airplane onto the ground (using forward stick or yoke)
  • Easiest to do as a stable power on approach (most airplanes use about 1,400-1,700 rpm happily to make a stable approach for wheel landings)
  • If you bounce GO AROUND

Three-Point Landings

(video below)

A few things to remember about 3-point landings:

  • Slower groundspeed at touchdown
  • Reduced visibility over the nose
  • Less control authority (due to higher AOA and less airflow over controls)
  • Bring the airplane down into ground effect and then flare very similar to a regular nosewheel aircraft (may be a more “familiar” flare and roundout if you are used to flying tricycle gear airplanes)
  • Resist the urge to “push” the airplane onto the ground (using forward stick or yoke)
  • Resist the urge to over flare and possibly “balloon”
  • If you bounce GO AROUND