Yoke Head

Hey all, I just passed my stage 3 at a part 141 school. The only thing I have left is the checkride. The same flight instructor who did my stage 3 is the same one doing my checkride. He recommended doing one more practice flight with my regular flight instructor to go over soft field takeoff and landings. He said it was just a suggestion and not mandatory.
I'm not that confident in my flight instructor. She's very experienced but not the best at teaching..(short tempered and moody) So I'm leaning towards just going for it.
Can someone just give me some pointers on soft field landing and takeoffs? My problem with the takeoff is figuring out when exactly I'm flying in ground effect.
My problems with the soft field landings is either not landing soft enough or landing softly but without keeping the front wheel off the ground.

Walkeraviator

The things you mentioned are just discipline things. The only way to fix them is repetitive practice til you get it right. There is no "trick" to keeping the nose wheel up.. just remember to keep the nosewheel up. No real trick to landing soft except doing it over and over til you get teh feel for it. I would say one more flight with a short tempered instructor would just be a waste of money. However, if teh school will allow you to go up with another instructor, it may worth the time and money as you would get a different persepctive. My guess is that this guy wont fail you on a soft field procedure, they need you moving on to yoru instrument training so the flight school can keep making money.

NoyGonnaDoIt

I agree with Walker. It's discipline and practice.

One of the problems I encounter is that soft-field techniques on a paved runway are somewhat artificial. The way I get around it with my students is to point out that soft fields are not the only place that you'll use the technique. You might, for example, use both the takeoff and landing techniques on snowy and slushy hard runways. A modified soft-field takeoff technique is sometimes used for very high density altitude takeoffs (to get wheel friction the runway out of the picture). And a soft field landing technique would be used if you had concerns about your nosewheel or tire.

Sometimes giving it a different outlook helps with working on the technique. I try to make it a game - can you to a touch & go without having the nosewheel touch at all?

Sorry I can't be more specific about what to do - without seeing you in flight, can't really tell where your difficulty lies.

Grumble

+1 to the above. It's artifical on pavement. The soft field take off is more so that you understand the mechanics of what you are doing and why. To get the airplane off of grass or dirt (which is draggy and lengthens the takeoff roll) and accelerate in ground effect. On a no kidding grass strip you'll know when you're in ground effect because the ride will smooth out, then you can gradually lower the nose as you accelerate, then raise the flaps.

For the landings, the goal is just to hold the nose off for as long as possible, and eventually slow to a roll with full back stick (or yoke) to keep as much weight on the mains as possible. On a soggy or thick grass field, dumping the nose on landing can bury it and possibly lead to a nose over.

If you can find a grass strip to use and an instructor that doesn't suck to fly with, have them go take you out for a few laps, it's a lot of fun!

N9373M

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Cubdriver

I never realized what soft field technique was good for until one day I had been flying too many hours and had to pee like a race horse. Found an attractive looking dirt strip and lined up for the approach. Was starting to feel pretty good about my impending urination when suddenly met the fact this field was soaked like an Amazon rain forest. I firewalled the engine to keep the nose out of the mud and barely managed to get airborne going the other direction. Soft field training is for getting yourself out of stupid situations.

USMCFLYR

Climb

What's the matter 73M? Never heard of a low transition?
I was never a fan of SOFT FIELD takeoffs and landings.
I liked short field better. Maybe that is why I ended up in Naval Aviation

USMCFLYR

N9373M

You probably had a little more thrust available to overcome the slight sink when the flaps come up than I did.

Trying to avoid this: http://www.neptunuslex.com/2011/01/19/low-transitions/

Yoke Head

I appreciate the advice, guys. I'll let you know how it turns out when it turns out.

PearlPilot

I would fly with another instructor and do some actual soft field take offs and landings. Good luck on your checkride!