I like 1.5 Vs until on final, that provides a good margin
for maneuvering with bank angles up to 30 degrees. Yes you
can calculate the proper speed, Beech does have the proper
speeds on their performance charts, adjusted for actual
weight.


"john smith" wrote in message
...
| In article 4B6Fg.4479$SZ3.926@dukeread04,
| "Jim Macklin"
wrote:
|
| Lands are all about controlling speed, the right speed.
1.3
| Vs(x) for the weight you're actually flying.
|
| Remember that Vsx gear down is about 15-20 mph slower than
Vsx gear up.
| Look it up in the charts.
|
| You didn't say
| what model Bonanza, but an A36 can be 800 pounds under
| certificated GW, or 25% under. You must reduce your
| approach speed by the proper amount or you will float
| forever. Beech does publish excellent TO and Landing
graphs
| with speed adjustments.
|
| Landing weight = w2
| Max gross weight =w1
| Stall speed landing weight, landing config = Vs1
| Stall speed at max gross weight, landing config = Vs
|
| [sqrt (w2/w1)*Vs] = Vs1
|
| You can fly a few knots, not more than 5, faster which
will
| give you a steeper descent and then you can use the
extra
| speed to slow down to get a better glide. If you are
using
| best glide speed there is nothing you can do to improve
your
| approach without adding power.
|
| You are likely flying too fast and too wide on downwind.
| You are also probably watching your gauges and airspeed
as
| you configure the Bonanza for the approach, do it by
sound
| and feel and watch the runway for relative motion (drift
and
| glide path) and you should do fine.
|
| Remember, you will get a landing gear failure and it may
| come in the pattern with a simulated engine failure.
Make
| sure you know the procedure and have checked during the
| pre-flight that the gear handle can be un-stowed
[sometimes
| the spar cover is installed over the handle]. But also
| remember that it take 50 turns to get the gear down and
you
| only have so much time. If he gives you a simulated
engine
| failure and then the gear fails, exercise your judgment,
| tell him that in a real case you'd land gear up rather
than
| risk a crash while trying to crank the gear. Then add
power
| and go-around, crank the gear on downwind to show him
you
| know how. Sometimes an examiner will give you a task to
see
| if you have fixated on the checkride and not the safety
of
| the flight.
|
| Jim, is there any speed that is best to fly when cranking
the gear down
| by hand?