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Hitting the Bull’s Eye

Ken Babione
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Master the relationship between pitch (airspeed control) and throttle (descent rate control) for stabilized approaches and effective spot landings.
  • Identify your aiming point (the stationary spot in the windscreen) *before* your desired touchdown location to account for the aircraft's float during the flare.
  • Maintain centerline alignment, adhere to a maximum 30-degree bank angle in the pattern, and always be prepared to execute a go-around if the approach is not stabilized.
See a mistake? Contact us.

The next time you’re practicing in the pattern, try these basic tips to help you win that next spot landing contest — or at least touch down in the correct zip code.

First, you’ll need to buy in to the premise that, on approach, pitch really does control airspeed and throttle the rate of decent. This isn’t just some aerodynamicist’s egghead theory — it’s a key ingredient to every stabilized approach and will help you better control where you set down. Once you understand this principle, spot landings suddenly become much easier to master.

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