Alltrikes

Did you know it was dead stick Monday today?  Well, it may not have been for many of you but it was for me.  I got out flying late today and since it was so calm (no more than 2-3mph on the ground) and since there was absolutely no traffic at the small airport I was flying at, I decided to practice some power off landings.  At least a dozen.

I will admit that with my first couple dozen flights in my new trike (Maverick II / JCV-360 / Pacer wing) I never once performed a  power off landing.  Because I transitioned from an ATF with Stratus wing I did not feel comfortable with idea of a dead stick landing with my Pacer wing until I became familiar with its performance and behavior in maneuvers.  Now I am quite comfortable with my Pacer wing and how I tuned it.

So I would like to challenge all part 103 trike pilots to make a habit of periodically performing some simulated engine out landings.  I am sure many of you do it regularly but I suspect others rarely or never do it.  I worry about those that NEVER do it.  Why?  Because simulated engine out landings build confidence in your ability to judge glide path, ability to hit a target touch down point, alignment, etc.  That confidence and practice doing it pays off when the real thing happens.  I will admit that I have had 6 REAL engine outs in as many years, but (knock on wood) all have been nonevents. In all cases, those real engine outs were my fault as they will be in almost all cases.  So the question is not whether you will ever experience an engine out, the question is when will it happen to you.  If you have been flying trikes long enough it is quite likely you have experienced 1 or more real engine outs.  If you have never had one, then count your self blessed, lucky or what ever.

Since I came from a HG background I of course always did landings with out power, but I realize there are quite a few part 103 trike pilots who never did any HGing.  So practice of engine off landings might feel very uncomfortable to you and you might even tend to avoid such practice all together.  Please, please, please do your self a favor and practice power off landings on a regular basis.  You will one day thank your self for that practice.

If you have never done a simulated engine out landing here is what I recommend.  Only begin doing it on a very calm day and at an airport or airstrip with no traffic.  Start by cutting power on final when you know you have your preselected touch down point made.  Then try cutting power on base and then on down wind leg.  Gradually increase altitude at which you decide to cut power.  Also gradually experiment with cutting power with increasingly more challenging conditions, higher winds, more cross wind component, known mechanical turbulence, etc.  If you do this on a semi regular basis, you will develop confidence that you can deal with a real engine out in most any situation.  I hope this advice is useful to some.  Fly safe ...Joe