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Old February 15th 17, 04:35 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
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Default S-turns on final

Gotta agree with Sean on this one. Sometimes you don't WANT to expedite the landing. Slips and spoilers decrease the time you are in the air. Sometimes delaying the touchdown while maintaining controlled coordinated flight is necessary if the runway is not clear, but might be safe few seconds later.

Remember that your "S-turns" should be MORE than 180 degrees to keep you from moving closer to the end of the runway. Really, your turns should resemble an elongated figure 8 with the crossing over a point aligned with the runway centerline. Round out of your final turn on to the final approach when the runway is clear, or your personal safety margin is reached. Remember that you are LOW, so SLOW turns are putting you in that nasty corner we are reminded of in every other article we read about in "Soaring" magazine. Keep your energy up!

If the runway is not clear yet, use full spoilers to minimize the runway length needed, touch down with as much margin as possible and get on the brakes. Steer off the runway at minimum speed to avoid the obstruction (aircraft, emergency vehicle, etc.)

Of course, if you have sufficient runway past the obstruction, overflying and landing long is a completely acceptable option. Better to be chastised and eventually forgiven than being carted away in an ambulance.