Jay,

You've hit one of those little known areas of science and physics.
Just as tornadoes are caused by mobile homes, any landing other than a
perfect squeaker is caused by the hideous heavy gravity transient.

Nothing you can do about it. Just have to accept it.

All the best,
Rick


Jay Honeck wrote:
I've noticed something about my landings over the last few years, and

wondered if you folks have had the same experience?

After my first 100 hours or so, my landings were pretty consistently
okay.
A nice one every now and then, adequate ones the rest of the time.
Every
now and then a crosswind landing might stress the gear a bit, but
nothing
too horrible.

Around 500 hours, I seemed to master the art of the greaser -- if I
really,
really worked at it. Most of the time, my landings would be good,
sometimes
great.

Now, some 400 hours later, flying about the same frequency throughout
(1 - 2
times per week. Around 100 hours per year), my landings seem to run
in
streaks where I will be almost perfect, separated by periods where my

landings are good, but not greasers.

What *is* that?

I don't feel any different. The plane is no different. I'm flying
just as
often. Weather conditions are similar. I feel like I'm working the
approach
just as hard, and in the same way. Yet, *something* is different.

For example, right now I'm in a streak of near-perfection. I had
passengers on Wednesday that told me they had never landed so
smoothly,
ever. Hell, *I* have never landed so smoothly, ever, as a passenger
or a
pilot. I've just been rolling them on, in any wind condition. Yet I
know
that two months ago, I had a couple of real clunkers that probably
had my
passengers wondering if I was really a pilot.

So, what is this phenomenon? Karma? The stars? Blood pressure?
Phase of
the moon? It's frustrating to not be able to break down cause and
effect
here -- does anyone else notice this?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"