Guess this is another entry from the "Still Learning Department".
I posted a video a couple years ago showing some glide tests. I revisited this topic this evening and captured some video of power-off landings:
We've discussed this topic previously but there may be Eaglers who didn't see the discussions or will be ready to fly in the near future. Some points to consider:
1) The glide angle needed to maintain 50mph is STEEP! These are very draggy planes and the pilot who attempts to stretch a glide will come to grief. It takes discipline to push the nose over until all you see is ground but that is what is required to maintain enough speed to allow for one landing attempt that won't take out the gear.
2) This procedure is one that all of us need to practice occasionally. Making a successful power-off landing can be mastered but the trick is to make it occur precisely where you want it. I'm still working on that. But if the target is placed in the center of the windshield on my XL...and held there.... touchdown will occur pretty close to the target.
3) Speed bleeds off extremely quickly when the glide transitions to the flare. As in....RIGHT NOW! In less than five seconds I saw airspeed decay from 50mph to 25mph once the glide was broken with a fairly aggressive flare. And it has to be aggressive because elevator authority is bleeding off with airspeed.
This is good stuff and helps us sharpen our airmanship, also kinda fun. And, it is a pretty good way to land an Eagle in a short distance. Just practice so your landings occur just as your plane touches down....not afterward.
