PING! Mike Rapoport

One thing that works on my Husky is to drag it in, cut the power and
retract the flaps at the point of desired landing from a foot or so off
the ground. This plants me firmly. Then it is a braking contest. How
hard can I brake without nosing over? If the tail comes up during
braking, back off.

There really are two different short field techniques. One where there
is an obstacle, and one with a clear, no obstacle approach. If there is
an obstacle, drag it in along the tops of the trees, cut the power and
come down as steep as possible and get it planted as soon as possible
and on the brakes. You slow down faster on the ground than in the air.
This is where it is good to have a plane with a steep decent
capability.

The other is where you drag it in only a few feet up and flare and dump
the flaps and brake as described.

I really only like to land if I have a times two margin. My Husky can
usually get down in 400' once it touches, at the Idaho 7000' density
altitudes. So I need 900' to be comfortable. Most of those Idaho strips
are long enough. I need less if the landing is uphill. The times two
margin gives me some room for error. I am most nervous on the ones with
no go around.

Biggest problem is winds. If theres much disagreeable wind or
turbulence, just don't do it.

It's nerve wracking to fly around that Idaho wilderness. There are so
many trees, if you lost an engine, not many options. I did a lot of
strips out there on two visits. But I don't go there much anymore. I
guess I think its a little hazardous. Well, more than a little. Some of
those strips, the trees have gotten taller and taller every year. That
and there have been so many fires, the place isn't all that attractive.


But its the place to go for real world small strip experience. If you
can handle those strips, you can handle just about any.

The Alaska stuff is another story. Need inside information to operate
up there. They aren't charted. Nor are they maintained.