Landing a Sonex

[Corby202]

We had the clubs annual spot landing competition last Sunday and with the pressure on with thousands watching (well 40 or so anyway) I surprised myself with not doing to badly, getting third on the day. I try to use full flap when I can as I seem to get more consistent reasonable landings plus the approach needed at the local airfield to avoid landing long is steep.
How do you guy's land and does anyone know what the factory recommends??
Phil

[daleandee]

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[fastj22]

I have been trying to perfect my wheel landings (paved, long runways). I just find them more fun and challenging. Most of my three point landings seem to be tail hooks too, maybe I should work on those too.

I have acro ailerons so small flaps. Full flaps on final unless there's a good crosswind. Touch down around 50 MPH. I find goosing the throttle right before touchdown arrests the decent and allows for a really greasy landing. As the wheels touch, throttle to idle, stick a bit forward to keep the tail up, then fly the tail until it won't stay up any longer.

[mike.smith]

I spent 1-1/2 years trying to get good 3-point landings in my tail dragger Sonex. They sucked. I've spent the last year doing nothing but wheel landings and they are smooth as silk and a piece of cake.

Mid-field, downwind: slow below 80 kts, add 1 notch of flaps
Just before base turn: Around 70 kts, 2nd notch of flaps.
Base to final: slow to less than 70 kts.
Final: 3rd notch of flaps (if windy, gusty or cross-windy, no 3rd notch of flaps)
Short Final: Shooting for 62 kts when flying alone. 65+ kts with passenger
Over the numbers: retard the throttle to idle. Level the plane; no nose up or down.

Speed will bleed off on its own. I usually touch down around 50+ kts and hold the tail up (very easy to do in a Sonex) until less than 35 kts. At that point, when the tail goes down you won't be in danger of becoming airborne again. The small tail wheel (I have a 6" wheel) does not have a lot of grip, so keep the plane tracking straight with the rudder pedals. Raise the flaps as you have time to do so.

If I'm landing on a grass strip I try to land with a little more tail down, and with a little less speed. The wheel landing still works, but I do err on the side of more tail down. Some landings are in these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OGHs5vUK2g&t=38s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctzIi77rxok&t=23s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP_xN9Vdp8w

Notice I always land left of runway center. It's not on purpose. The tapering sight picture down the glare shield sets you up for that. Joe Norris warned me about it but I still haven't been able to shake that and get landing on center.

[sonex892.]

Phil
Normally 2 stages of flaps for the landing. I'll select the 3rd stage of flap if a bit high on final. Base at 80 kts, final begin at 70kts. Before the flare aim to be slowed to between 55 to 60kts. I add about 5 kts to this if flying with a passenger or if its gusty.

For landing I try to 3 point it every time, then raise and fly the tail until it wont stay up any longer. If I had 40 onlookers I would botch it up for sure.

Steve
Sonex 892

[Sonerai13]

When doing a 3 point landing in a Sonex you do not do a "full stall" landing. You don't come anywhere close to stall angle of attack. If you did, your tailwheel would be about 3 feet below the main gear, and that doesn't make for a pretty landing!

The key to good 3 point landings in a Sonex is "sight picture". You need to fly the airplane to a 3 point attitude, and then do what you have to do to hold that attitude until the airplane flies itself onto the ground. Pay close attention to the three point attitude when you are sitting on the ground or taxiing. Spend some time burning that sight picture into your mind. SEE what the horizon looks like when the airplane is sitting on its gear. Then, when you flair for the landing, only raise the nose until you see that sight picture and continue to fly the airplane at that attitude until it flies itself onto the ground.

Unlike a lot of other tailwheel airplanes that you may have flown, the stick does not end up anywhere near full back during a 3 point landing in a Sonex. Unlike in a Cub or a Champ or whatever, you don't just keep pulling back on the stick as the airplane slows in the flair. If you do, you'll end up with the aforementioned tailwheel way lower than the main wheels. You need to say with flying the airplane at an attitude that results in a three point touchdown.

[planeolbob]

Sometimes you just get lucky......

https://www.flickr.com/photos/39943786@ ... 343815312/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/39943786@ ... 815488313/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/planeolbo ... ateposted/

Bob

[daleandee]

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[vwglenn]

I defer to what Joe says. I asked him about wheel landings when we did my transition training a couple years back. He recommended we just three point it. I have yet to attempt a wheel landing in a Sonex.

I slow to below 100mph on downwind, pop 100% flaps before the base turn and look for 80. Hold 70 on final and look for 60 or less over the numbers. I gradually pull the power to idle and get that picture Joe mentioned. I wait until the plane is done flying with all three wheels down and, only then do I, put the stick in my belly. Most of the time I can wait for the touchdown but lately I've been impatient and tried to set it before the plane was ready. The results of impatience are usually a bounce.

[fastj22]

I think Joe is absolutely right. Every time I try to flare doing a three point, I tail hook it then tigger down the runway. Gonna practice what he preaches.