| Of all the possible landing techniques, only two seem to be the most taught at model fields today. We’ll cover the easiest to fly, and most useful, here in Part One. This first landing technique follows the full-size landing pattern. Part Two will cover the “Great Circle” Approach that is harder to fly and less useful, but has good visual appeal.
The standard pattern approach (Fig. 1) has been finalized during the last 75 years of full-size flying. It is useful in several ways. One is easy traffic separation at busy airports. While good for full-size, traffic separation is rarely critical at RC model fields where the pilots are standing within a few feet of each other. In addition, most RC pilots have truly impressive vocabulary tools they employ when another plane comes too close to theirs!
But the traditional full-size pattern approach has other major advantages for the RC pilot. A normal landing requires the pilot to manage several important aircraft parameters such as speed control, descent rate, attitude (the plane’s, not the pilot’s), wind correction, approach position and touchdown point. Managing these tasks while the plane is close to the ground and in the short time available before landing is sometimes difficult.
The traditional landing pattern separates these piloting tasks into single, discrete operations. This pattern also provides the pilot extra time in which to plan and adjust the approach as it develops. To see how this happens, we’ll break each major section of the landing pattern into its component parts. For now, consider there is no wind and the plane is a standard 40-60 size trainer. Take a look at Fig. 1:
The first part is the pattern entry into the pattern’s first section, or “Downwind Leg”. While shown at a 45 deg. angle in the diagram, entry position is not as critical for RC. Entry can be made from almost any safe angle, even from the runway side (a “crosswind entry”). The plane should complete the entry at about an altitude of 200 feet, at half throttle and located 1-200 feet to the pilot’s right (or left side if the approach is flown from the opposite end, a “Right Hand” pattern). The pilot flies the first part of the Downwind while maintaining straight, level flight. With no wind, the Downwind leg should be about 200 feet out from the runway.
No other piloting task is required during this section, just straight, level flight. When the plane reaches a point opposite the runway end, the Key Point, the pilot reduces throttle to 2-3 “notches” above idle. The plane’s nose will drop some and the plane will begin to descend. The pilot adjusts the descent angle by holding some “up” elevator while the plane is still flying straight. No other task is required at this time except to achieve the proper descent attitude. (Your instructor will help you achieve this attitude the first few times). Again only a single piloting task is required.
The pilot has 150 feet of straight flight to achieve the proper descent attitude. Usually, the fuselage is just slightly pointing downwards in most trainers. If the plane is at the proper attitude, but is descending faster than you would wish, add a notch or two of throttle. Do not raise the nose. Always remember, at any approach airspeed, throttle controls descent rate, elevators control airspeed. Raising the nose will only slow the airplane’s speed due to increased drag and then the plane will descend MUCH FASTER. In fact, it may stall and then really descend faster.
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