Landing the S4 & S5. #69 114

Landing the Rans S4 & S5.

Typical of all very light microlights, approach & landing must be done with power. The Rans needs 45 mph & (~4,500 rpm) land on the main wheels, reduce power & then lower the tail S4, or nose, S5.

If you don't she may well suddenly stall on, as with plenty of drag and low stored energy - low mass - it can stop flying whilst still 10 ft up !   Or get skittish and need lots of pedalling to keep control.

The other 'warning' is not to practise a take-off followed immediately by landing straight ahead. In any a/c it's a tricky combination due to poor aerodynamic control at low power and speed.

Landing on an upslope, better not to come in on a descent, but to approach level, with enough power to maintain your speed at about 45 mph plus. Increase power momentarily, even to full power, as you flare UP the slope according to its steepness.Then quickly wheel it on.

With a flat strip
Make use of power, flaps or side slip to adjust your initial approach, but full flap can jump out of its latch at the last moment and anyway its drag can give you an unexpected stall half way through your landing flare so I reselect flaps up two stages, from full to one third before late finals [watch out for a bit of sink]
I've never knowingly had carb ice, but it behoves you to rev up every 20 - 30 secs to ascertain that it is clear. A burst of power on the landing flare seems to help your elevator authority for the flare. when approaching from cruise height watch your CHT as you glide down, you need power to arrest the descent and a cold engine may hesitate for 2 or more seconds to pick up from anything below 4000 rpm, so power usage requires a lot of anticipation more like a jet than a zappy piston!

Added from April RansMail #118, by S4 & S5 owner Peter Greenrod (G.B.)

Having now done over 200 landings in my S5 here is my evaluation. Thanks first to Vince and Mike for their invaluable advice when I first started with this aeroplane.

[Seems everyone has the same problems when starting off with the S4/5 'plane, in that they get little advice which is coupled with a false sense of security of being an 'experienced' pilot already. Thus Francois, Roberto, you & me at least, had scary first rides M.]

To some degree, any advice on landing technique can depend on the airfield and surface that you fly off, together with obstructions on the approach. Most of my landings have been on a 1000 metre tarmac strip and this has given me plenty of length to play with various techniques and also allows me to practice very slow flight 1 foot off the ground.

Nearly all the current and previous advice is to avoid landing without power due to the low inertia of the Rans. This initially concerned me with the regard to the possibility of an engine failure early in my learning period. To this end I progressed as quickly as possible to master the no power situation and this is now my preferred method of landing.

I agree with the current advice to master the power on landing first. This will help build confidence on slow speed handling whilst making a very slow landing and consequent roll-out. Approach at around 45mph and 1 to 2 stages of flap with power 3-4000 rpm and gently fly it on with power. Do not reduce power at all until you are about 1 foot off the ground gradually and then as the speed reduces, you will settle the last 1 foot smoothly onto the ground, then cut power. If you are any higher and/or you also reduce power and try to flare you will mush and land hard. At least if you are only 1 foot up and get it wrong you will just plonk on.

For me, the trouble with the above method is that, whilst it will allow for a slow speed landing, it also exposes you for a longer period of time to the effects of gusts etc.

For a power off landing. From an approach of say 500ft, with no power and no flaps set (flap max speed is 50mph) I fly somewhere between 55-70mph to adjust the angle (60 is ideal) You can more or less aim the plane a few yards before your required touchdown point because of the high drag. You need to maintain/achieve this 60mph and dive until very close to the ground because when you round out you will slow down very quickly. You will then need perform very fast inputs to first quickly round out , then maintain a flat attitude as close to the ground as you can because when your energy runs out you will stall/mush on. You cannot allow the plane to climb, but you also cannot force the plane down otherwise you will porpoise down the runway.  It is difficult to correct this and you should apply power and go around (not an option if no power!)

I like to compare a landing in the S5 with no power, to landing a remote control plane. When you build confidence you can apply flap when rounding out and below 50mph. But your hand is now not on the throttle!

A practice forced landing for me is as follows. Speed 45, 1 stage flap. Pick a field usually very close to you and descend until you are sure you can make the touchdown point. Then point the nose down whilst releasing the flap to accurately aim at your point. Increase your speed and angle as required. ( Land as above.) You can successfully can get into small fields with trees on the boundary and also start your landing roll at the beginning of the field with this method . Practice , Practice, Practice - you never stop learning.