wrote:

Matt
As a matter of fact, I ofen demonstrate slow flight with ZERO
indicated airspeed and make turns while doing so. And, I show it to
students to let them see what is possible.
Having a problem in picking out the quoted areas so bear with me? "The
idea is to fly slowly so as to not tear off the wings and fall to the
ground"? Where else are you gonna fall, and how can you prevent damage
to the airplane like tearing off the wings? I fear you have the image
of the common picture of that airplane sitting in the top of a tree
like it was intended to land there? The reality of it is, you will
crash to the ground or very near it!

That depends on the type of trees you land into. I've never had to make
a real emergency landing so I can't speak from first-hand experience,
however, I've seen a number of aftermaths of airplanes that have gone
down in trees. A fair number end up in the canopy, especially if they
land in evergreens. I've seen several get hung up in hardwoods. And,
yes, many, maybe even most, make it clear to the ground.


As for touching the tops of the trees, I have done it and am more than
roughly correct. I've also had the experiences, many many times of
having my wheels contact crops as I was spraying, and felt the instant
drag forces that suck you down. Certainly we want to be going as slowly
as possible prior to impact but it is much better to do it under
control rather than on the edge and lose control at the first
disruption of our flight attitude and/or.airspeed.

I never suggested flying at a speed where you weren't in control. I
said I'd fly as near to a stall as possible and try to have the stall
closely correlate to the impact. Keep in mind, that if anything the
contact of the tires will impact an "anti-stalling" action to the
airplane as it will rapidly reduce the angle of attack. So being on the
verge of a stall as you make impact will almost certainly mean that you
won't ever stall the airplane completely as the AOA will lessen pretty
much instantly as you say.


Did you see the clips of the clown in Louisiana doing his abortive
takeoff attempt and wrecking his airplane in the process? I have no
sympathy or empathy for his ineptitude and careless operations. It
happened so fast he had no time to make any corrections and his speed
wasn't high enough for pieces to be torn off. The end result was the
same though. A wrecked aircraft that crashed into trees with extensive
damage to the plane and the vehicle/s he hit enroute to the accident
scene.

The clown that hit the truck mirror and ambulance? I did see that one
and I likewise have no sympathy for the pilot, and I hesitate to even
use the term pilot.


Matt