Flight Training - December 2012 - 46

TECHNIQUE

SOFT-FIELD TAKEOFF
Squishy does it
» By Jill W. Tallman
ILLUSTRATION BY CHARLES FLOYD

NOT EVERY RUNWAY is sealed smooth and black with asphalt. Some are paved but covered with slippery snow or wheel-clogging mud; some are dirt; some are grass; some are simply in poor shape with holes and cracks. Now you’ve got to take off, and your objective is to minimize the drag on your airplane’s wheels and get off the ground as quickly as possible.

PLUS Watch a video demonstration.

1. Set flaps according to the recommendation in the pilot’s operating handbook for your airplane if needed. The flaps increase lift and help to transfer as much of the airplane’s weight as possible from the wheels to the wings.

3. As the airplane accelerates, place the nose 2. Taxi onto the runway, but do not
stop—use enough power to employ a rolling takeoff. As you bring the power up, hold the wheel back. at the proper attitude and lift off as soon as possible—this will be slower than your normal rotation speed. Keep control movements subtle; no yanking the yoke or stick.

» PRACTICAL TEST STANDARDS
To determine that the applicant:

4. Clears the area; taxies onto the

1. Utilizes procedures before taxiing
onto the runway or takeoff area to ensure runway incursion avoidance. Verify ATC clearance/no aircraft on final at nontowered airports before entering the runway, and ensure that the aircraft is on the correct takeoff runway.

2. Exhibits satisfactory knowledge of
the elements related to a soft-field takeoff and climb.

takeoff surface at a speed consistent with safety and aligns the airplane without stopping while advancing the throttle smoothly to takeoff power.

6. Rotates and lifts off at the lowest
possible airspeed and remains in ground effect while accelerating to VX or VY, as appropriate.

7. Establishes a pitch attitude for VX

3. Positions the flight controls for

5. Establishes and maintains a pitch
attitude that will transfer the weight of the airplane from the wheels to the wings as rapidly as possible.

existing wind conditions and to maximize lift as quickly as possible.

or VY, as appropriate, and maintains selected airspeed plus 10/ minus 5 knots during the climb.

8. Retracts the landing gear, if

appropriate, and flaps after clear of any obstacles or as recommended by the manufacturer.

46 /

FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

http://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

Flight Training - December 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - December 2012

Flight Training - December 2012
Contents
President’s Perspective
Right Seat
Letters
Working for a Living
How It Works
News
Success Story
AOPA Action ASI News
Member Products AOPA Action
After the Checkride
Since You Asked
Training Products
Final Exam
Accident Report
Flight Lesson
Flying Carpet
Remote Control
College Directory
Under Pressure
Listening In
Technique
Weather
Checkrides and Failures
Career Advisor
Tech Talk
Nurture That Dream
One Simple Objective
Wrong Way Around
Advertiser Index
Debrief
Flight Training - December 2012 - Flight Training - December 2012
Flight Training - December 2012 - Cover2
Flight Training - December 2012 - 1
Flight Training - December 2012 - Contents
Flight Training - December 2012 - 3
Flight Training - December 2012 - President’s Perspective
Flight Training - December 2012 - 5
Flight Training - December 2012 - Right Seat
Flight Training - December 2012 - 7
Flight Training - December 2012 - Letters
Flight Training - December 2012 - 9
Flight Training - December 2012 - Working for a Living
Flight Training - December 2012 - 11
Flight Training - December 2012 - How It Works
Flight Training - December 2012 - News
Flight Training - December 2012 - Success Story
Flight Training - December 2012 - AOPA Action ASI News
Flight Training - December 2012 - Member Products AOPA Action
Flight Training - December 2012 - After the Checkride
Flight Training - December 2012 - Since You Asked
Flight Training - December 2012 - 19
Flight Training - December 2012 - Training Products
Flight Training - December 2012 - Final Exam
Flight Training - December 2012 - Accident Report
Flight Training - December 2012 - Flight Lesson
Flight Training - December 2012 - Flying Carpet
Flight Training - December 2012 - 25
Flight Training - December 2012 - Remote Control
Flight Training - December 2012 - 27
Flight Training - December 2012 - 28
Flight Training - December 2012 - 29
Flight Training - December 2012 - 30
Flight Training - December 2012 - 31
Flight Training - December 2012 - College Directory
Flight Training - December 2012 - 33
Flight Training - December 2012 - 34
Flight Training - December 2012 - 35
Flight Training - December 2012 - 36
Flight Training - December 2012 - 37
Flight Training - December 2012 - Under Pressure
Flight Training - December 2012 - 39
Flight Training - December 2012 - 40
Flight Training - December 2012 - 41
Flight Training - December 2012 - Listening In
Flight Training - December 2012 - 43
Flight Training - December 2012 - 44
Flight Training - December 2012 - 45
Flight Training - December 2012 - Technique
Flight Training - December 2012 - 47
Flight Training - December 2012 - Weather
Flight Training - December 2012 - 49
Flight Training - December 2012 - 50
Flight Training - December 2012 - Checkrides and Failures
Flight Training - December 2012 - Career Advisor
Flight Training - December 2012 - 53
Flight Training - December 2012 - Tech Talk
Flight Training - December 2012 - Nurture That Dream
Flight Training - December 2012 - One Simple Objective
Flight Training - December 2012 - Wrong Way Around
Flight Training - December 2012 - 58
Flight Training - December 2012 - Advertiser Index
Flight Training - December 2012 - 60
Flight Training - December 2012 - 61
Flight Training - December 2012 - 62
Flight Training - December 2012 - 63
Flight Training - December 2012 - 64
Flight Training - December 2012 - 65
Flight Training - December 2012 - 66
Flight Training - December 2012 - 67
Flight Training - December 2012 - 68
Flight Training - December 2012 - 69
Flight Training - December 2012 - 70
Flight Training - December 2012 - 71
Flight Training - December 2012 - Debrief
Flight Training - December 2012 - Cover3
Flight Training - December 2012 - Cover4
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