Jeff Skiles' recent article in Sport Aviation magazine about wheel landings in Alaska's bush country prompted me to reflect upon my own wheel landing proficiency, or lack thereof. My three-pointers are, for the most part, pretty good. There are a few clunkers here and there, but they are straight (mostly) and in the touchdown zone. To be honest, I don't care as much about the touchdown as I do about the approach. A well planned approach usually ends with a decent touchdown. It works in the airliner; it works in the Luscombe; it works in the Hatz, usually---and the proficient/prudent pilot knows the approach isn't finished until the airplane is parked at the gate! My wheel landings are just so-so---and since wheel landings are all about the touchdown, I really do care!
Two weeks ago I managed to cajole Brother Baker into riding along while I practiced wheel landings down at Lancaster, South Carolina. Out of seven attempts, only two were respectable---the first; which I'd say was a seven, on a scale of one to ten; and another, equally unremarkable. I also had one bounce to a go-around---the result of a poor approach, understandably. Brother Baker's wheel landings (from the right seat) were flawless! Well; one was a little weird, but nothing embarrassing. The guy in the Mooney waiting to depart on Runway Six certainly couldn't tell anything was amiss! They say practice makes perfect. I'm not there---yet. I still need more practice.
Other News:
Jellystone Air Park neighbor, Ray Bluhm, has just finished a six month project upgrading the avionics in his 2001 Vans Aircraft RV-4. Original steam gage flight instruments have been replaced with a new Garmin single panel flight display that really looks sharp. An autopilot was also added. Ray's craftsmanship is outstanding. Two Six Foxtrot Bravo is a serious travelin' machine. . .
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