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Takeoffs, Landings, Go-Arounds
9 maneuvers · 90 words
Pre-Solo
Skills
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Skills - rate how you're doing

  • Normal takeoff & climb
    How this maneuver goes - Airplane Flying Handbook
    1. Line up on centerline, release brakes, advance throttle smoothly to takeoff power.
    2. Use rudder to track straight down the centerline, anticipating the left-turning tendency.
    3. Keep hands light, feet off brakes; let airspeed build.
    4. As controls become effective, apply smooth back-elevator to rotate to the takeoff attitude and lift off.
    5. Hold pitch for Vy, level the wings, stay coordinated on the extended centerline.
    6. With a positive rate confirmed, retract flaps/gear if equipped.
    7. Hold takeoff power to ≥500 ft, then set climb power, trim, and hold Vy.
  • Normal approach & landing
    How this maneuver goes - Airplane Flying Handbook
    1. On base, complete before-landing checklist, reduce power, descend at ~1.4 Vso with drift correction.
    2. Roll onto final, align with centerline, set final flaps, stabilize at ~1.3 Vso, re-trim.
    3. Control descent angle with pitch and power together to track the aiming point — never stretch the glide with elevator alone.
    4. At 10–20 ft, begin the roundout with gradual back-elevator to arrest the descent.
    5. Hold the wheels just off the runway; increase back pressure so the mains touch first at/near stall speed.
    6. Hold back-elevator for aerodynamic braking; lower the nose-wheel as speed decreases.
    7. Maintain directional control; brake smoothly once the nose-wheel is down.
  • Crosswind takeoff & landing
    How this maneuver goes - Airplane Flying Handbook
    1. *Takeoff:* enter the roll with full aileron into the wind, advancing to takeoff power.
    2. Reduce aileron as speed builds; use rudder to stay straight down the centerline.
    3. Hold the mains on slightly longer, make a positive lift-off; after breaking ground, crab into the wind and track the centerline.
    4. *Landing:* on final, wing-low method — lower the upwind wing to stop drift, opposite rudder to align with the runway.
    5. Continue the correction through the roundout, increasing aileron/rudder as the airplane slows.
    6. Touch down on the upwind main first, wings banked into the wind; let the downwind main settle.
    7. During rollout, add aileron into the wind (full by stop) and hold direction with rudder/nose-wheel.
  • Soft-field takeoff & climb
    How this maneuver goes - Airplane Flying Handbook
    1. Set flaps as recommended; taxi onto the surface with continuous motion (never stop).
    2. Apply takeoff power smoothly, holding back-elevator to unload the nose-wheel.
    3. Hold the nose-high attitude so the airplane flies itself off at low speed in ground effect.
    4. After lift-off, gently lower the nose to stay in ground effect and accelerate.
    5. Hold in ground effect until at least Vx (or obstacle-clearance speed).
    6. Climb at Vx to clear obstacles, then lower the nose to Vy.
    7. With positive rate and Vy, retract gear/flaps and set normal climb power.
  • Soft-field approach & landing
    How this maneuver goes - Airplane Flying Handbook
    1. Fly a normal approach at the recommended speed with flaps as recommended; avoid excess speed.
    2. Level off and fly 1–2 ft above the surface in ground effect, carrying some power.
    3. Hold a nose-high attitude; touch down at the lowest possible airspeed with wings still carrying weight.
    4. After the mains touch, hold back-elevator to keep the nose-wheel off.
    5. Use back pressure and power together to control the weight transfer.
    6. Gently lower the nose-wheel, adding a little power to ease it down.
    7. Avoid braking — let the soft surface slow the airplane; keep it moving to avoid getting stuck.
  • Short-field takeoff & climb
    How this maneuver goes - Airplane Flying Handbook
    1. Set recommended flaps; taxi to the very beginning of usable runway, aligned.
    2. Hold brakes, apply full power, confirm engine instruments.
    3. Release brakes; accelerate on all wheels in a low-drag attitude.
    4. At Vx, rotate smoothly to the Vx attitude for a positive lift-off.
    5. Hold Vx wings-level until obstacles are cleared (or to ≥50 ft).
    6. Lower pitch to accelerate to Vy; continue climb.
    7. Retract flaps (in increments) and gear, set normal climb power.
  • Short-field approach & landing
    How this maneuver goes - Airplane Flying Handbook
    1. Set up a stabilized final from ≥500 ft with the flap setting before full.
    2. When the field is made, extend full flaps and hold airspeed to keep the aiming point stationary.
    3. Fly to the aiming point at ≤1.3 Vso, adjusting pitch and power together.
    4. Judge the roundout accurately from the steeper angle — minimal float confirms correct speed.
    5. Touch down at minimum controllable airspeed in the power-off-stall attitude.
    6. Hold the positive pitch attitude for aerodynamic braking.
    7. On lowering the nose-wheel, apply maximum braking (stick back) to stop in the shortest safe distance.
  • Forward slip to landing
    How this maneuver goes - Airplane Flying Handbook
    1. Plan the descent for a slip on final; flaps usually retracted. `[verify AFM/POH slip-with-flaps limits]`
    2. Reduce power to idle; if descent rate is insufficient, enter the slip.
    3. Lower a wing with aileron, apply opposite rudder to hold the nose off the flightpath, control airspeed with elevator.
    4. In a crosswind, lower the upwind wing so the airplane slips into the wind.
    5. Continue the slip as needed on base/final if still high.
    6. Adjust slip steepness with bank angle (steeper = more sink), up to the rudder-travel limit.
    7. As the roundout begins, remove the slip: level the wings, release rudder, readjust pitch, transition to a normal landing.
  • Go-around / rejected landing
    How this maneuver goes - Airplane Flying Handbook
    1. Recognize the condition and decide without delay.
    2. Apply full/maximum allowable power smoothly (carb heat off as applicable).
    3. Apply forward pressure for a safe pitch attitude against the nose-up tendency; right rudder for torque/P-factor.
    4. Rough-trim once a climb attitude and airspeed are established.
    5. Retract flaps in small increments (to takeoff position), letting the airplane accelerate.
    6. With a positive rate established, retract the gear.
    7. Account for ground effect on a low go-around — don't try to climb out prematurely.

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A flight instructor on the ramp pointing something out to a student pilot beside a parked aircraft.