In any small aircraft like the 152/172 on landing I use full flaps, Im just a little unsure at what stage I should deploy them, should it be when Im on the straight and have runway in sight, or is there a certain distance I should deploy?
Thanks
Flaps 1 is usually set when you’re on downwind abeam the threshold. Deploy full flaps after the turn to final.
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Is there a certain distance on turn to final to deploy full flaps, or doesn’t it matter.
I don’t know of any such rule. The final leg on GA traffic circuits is usually not very long, so it makes sense to deploy full flaps immediately when you’re established on final. When you’re flying straight in or direct to base approaches, I think it’s more or less pilots discretion. I think other factors like how fast/high you are and other traffic in the circuit is more important than distance.
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I like to be fully stabilised on a straight-in final at about 4 miles - wheels down, flaps set, speed set, descent rate/angle set roughly. On traffic circuits flaps stage 1 is usually at the end of the downwind leg, speed set on base and landing flaps as soon as i turn to final.
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You normally start your baseleg turn when the threshold (on a low wing plane) is behind the wing. In this setting you can set full flaps as soon as you are on final.
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Airspeed is the thing to watch. Each aircraft has a speed at which the flaps must be retracted, so once you reach that speed it is safe to extend them. You can land just fine without flaps, but your airspeed will remain high and you may take more runway to come to a full stop. Flaps have the affect of reducing airspeed and creating more lift. If you find your airspeed is high on approach deploy your flaps. The more flaps you deploy, the more your airspeed will diminish. Retract your flaps once you are on the ground to put the weight of the aircraft back on the wheels for added control on the ground.
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