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Hitting the Bull’s Eye

Ken Babione
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Master spot landings by understanding that pitch controls airspeed and throttle controls the rate of descent, a fundamental principle for stabilized approaches.
  • Identify your aiming point on the runway as the stationary spot in the windscreen, noting that you must aim *before* your desired touchdown point to account for float during the flare.
  • For alignment, place the centerline stripes directly between your feet on final approach, and prioritize safety by never banking beyond 30 degrees in the pattern and executing 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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