A Barry Schiff article recommends a compromise: initially you need time to attempt re-start, mayday, find a safe place to land etc, then you need distance to make the field and set up a good approach
Capitaine wrote:
then you need distance to make the field and set up a good approach
This is exactly what I teach away from. Yes, there will be times when you need the distance (to make it to the coast, and land). But, if you can find a suitable landing site closer, choose that, forget trying to achieve a maximum efficiency glide, and instead, make a good approach into your chosen spot, with a faster speed being your reserve for your misjudgement, or a longer flare, if you need it. There is no other reserve you can control for yourself in an airplane than speed, so manage it to you advantage.
“glide slowly, or glide fast?”
Doesnt this entirely depend upon the wind direction and where you want to end up? Or am I just being thick?
Regards, SD..
You should add 5-10 knots to Vbg when gliding into wind, or for gusts, and while in theory slow to Vmin sink when gliding downwind. Minimum sink is close to clean stall speed so zero energy to flare.
In practice having a sensible best glide you always use, easy to remember, that allows energy to flare. The not so streamlined Super Cub seems to handle practice forced landings best at 70 mph IAS, which is a bit faster than Vbg, and a fair bit faster than Vbg if solo.
