Problems landing the Jabiru 230

[JohnSim]

I have been flying GA for fifty years mainly light twins and heavy singles. When I land the Piper lance I normally hold a trickle of power until the wheels touch and I make consistently good landings. I am looking at buying a Jabiru 230 and before buying decided to do a few circuits with an instructor. He told me not to use a trickle of power during the flare but to power off completely before the flare. When I did this the aircraft sank rapidly and all my landings were hard and inconsistent. In the past I have always carried a trickle of power through the flare and had no problems.

 

I have been told so many different things I am not sure what is the correct method.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Cooda]

It’s been a few years since I last flew a Jabiru 230 but I would just start the flare before completely closing the throttle and found the landings to be pretty smooth. (At least my passengers consistently expressed happiness with them.)

 

My takeoffs on the other hand………….

[CT9000]

I suspect that the problem is that you are used to a fair bit of inertia which light stuff does not have. Light slippery aircraft require accuracy and comparatively quicker reflexes. 

[facthunter]

Just keep the weight off the Nosewheel. Even a higher than normal engine idle speed will Make a J 230 float. You don't want to use up extra runway. Maybe your flare height is a bit low. Do some slow speed flying at Height to get a better feel how it feels when slow. It's a Plane that needs to be flown very precisely but will handle gusts etc well when you are used to it.. Again, Keep the weight off the Nosewheel especially on take offs. Fly accurate airspeeds.  Allow a bit more when you are Heavy, or it's Gusty. Nev 

[skippydiesel]

For what its worth;

 

I have done most of my BFR's in a Jab. Their landing characteristic's are (to me) a challenge

My early transitional training from PPL to RAA Cert emphasised a glide approach. This seems to have been ditched in favour of a powered Final.

If memory serves, carry power according to your GA training, ie use it, on Final, to adjust attitude. Have your "trickle" of power as long as you wish, even to Flair & Touch Down

I have always perceive Jab landings to be fast.

 

😈

[JohnSim]

32 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

For what its worth;

 

I have done most of my BFR's in a Jab. Their landing characteristic's are (to me) a challenge

My early transitional training from PPL to RAA Cert emphasised a glide approach. This seems to have been ditched in favour of a powered Final.

If memory serves, carry power according to your GA training, ie use it, on Final, to adjust attitude. Have your "trickle" of power as long as you wish, even to Flair & Touch Down

I have always perceive Jab landings to be fast.

 

😈

Yes,I agree. I have always used a trickle of power in landing with GA aircraft and have managed to do consistently good landings. However, some have been more firm than others.  I watched this video by Ian Mcdonald from Gawler and he teaches some power throughout the flare. A glide approach has not worked for me. 

 

[sfGnome]

I learned on a 160 (some years ago), and was taught to cut to idle when I was guaranteed to make the field. When I did a check flight in a 160 earlier this year (because it was the cheapest aircraft to hire), I dumped it on the ground for the first few landings. Turns out that it drops like a stone when you get too slow. The issue wasn’t that I was gliding; it was that I was letting the speed bleed off too soon (ie I was flaring too soon). That’s the fun of a high wing - no cushion of air between the wing and the ground - and flying low wing had got me into being a bit lazy.