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Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 8:03 pm
by tazin river
In a Cessna 180?

Just curious to know what you guys use?

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 9:25 pm
by Big Pistons Forever
On 2870’s I prefer flap 30

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Thu May 14, 2020 10:55 pm
by sunk
I use 40 degrees on my 185 for all landings except for glassy water.

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 6:43 am
by tazin river
Thank you

What do you use for glassy water landing?

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 8:01 am
by jnoon
I usually 20 for most, 30 for shorter lakes

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 8:21 am
by valleyboy
There is always someone like me that works the flap handle on landing and t/o - half flap for glassy water but any other time set the power you want for landing and yes even for the dead stick and then work the flaps in the flare to compensate for gusts in the flare or during final touchdown (you will touch down with flaps from zero to forty depending on wind and speed). On takeoff just work the flaps (starting at 20 flap) to get airborne - it's a little difficult to explain in writing because it is intuitive. If nothing else using in windy and gusty conditions find the biggest cat's paw just as you enter it and chop the power and with controlled flap manipulation. Once you get onto that even in ugly winds a landing can become a beautiful thing. This works great for 180/185 I have no experience doing this in any other a/c and yes some might think I'm just a crazy old man but it worked for me -- :mrgreen:

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 11:11 am
by BGH
Flaps 40 for every landing be it floats or wheels.Cessna A185E with cap 3000D & 600x6 wheels & sportsman stol cuff.

Daryl

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 4:29 pm
by sunk
See so many guys only use 20 degrees and beat the crap out the 185. Get proficient using full flaps.

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Fri May 15, 2020 5:47 pm
by TrilliumFlt
Full flaps on every landing; wheels, skis or floats, I prefer to "hit" the Earth going as slow as possible :wink:

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 4:08 am
by PilotDAR
I use full flaps for every landing, I've never had a problem with that....

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 2:11 pm
by ruddersup?
Full flaps on a Beaver, hmmmmm.

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Sat May 16, 2020 4:23 pm
by valleyboy
Full flaps on a Beaver, hmmmmm.
nope

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Sun May 17, 2020 4:36 am
by PilotDAR
Full flaps on a Beaver, hmmmmm
Yeah, fair enough, for my few landings in a Beaver, I've selected "Landing" flap. Similarly, when I was being checked out on the Twin Otter, I was limited [by the check pilot] to 20 flap until I'd demonstrated my awareness of the effects of 40 flap. My statement was in the context of Cessnas, as being discussed...

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 5:52 am
by DHC2eater
The c185 with a Robertson STOL droops the ailerons in the same or similar fashion as the DHC2-3-6 ......during gusty winds,rough air conditions,or Xwinds....Roll control is compromised....

I'd suggest that flap 40 may not be in ones best interest when landing in the above mentioned conditions!

Eater

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 7:11 pm
by New Antique Pilot
By always using full flaps on a 180 or 185 are you putting a lot of unnecessary stress on flap tracks, rollers, bushings, cables, etc?

NAP

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 8:59 pm
by PilotDAR
By always using full flaps on a 180 or 185 are you putting a lot of unnecessary stress on flap tracks, rollers, bushings, cables, etc?
By not using full flaps, you are possibly landing faster, and putting more stress on the whole rest of the airframe during landings, particularly rough water landings. The flaps were designed to be used. Like the entire airframe, sometimes maintenance will be required.
The c185 with a Robertson STOL droops the ailerons in the same or similar fashion as the DHC2-3-6 ......during gusty winds,rough air conditions,or Xwinds....Roll control is compromised....
The drooping of the ailerons with a Robertson STOL kit is not exactly like a DHC2-3-6. Yes, they droop with flap extension, though their greatest droop is with 30 flap, and they begin to return to lesser droop when 40 flap is extended to assure roll control is optimum. If you are slowing down into the slow side of approach speed with more than 20 flap extended in a Roberston STOL Cessna, you already have satisfied yourself that full roll control will not be needed. If conditions are such that you may need full roll control (gusty conditions, or unpracticed pilot) you should avoid getting too slow. RSTOL Cessnas do not lack for roll control, though careful coordination of the rudder is vital.

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 5:50 am
by DHC2eater
Yes...as I mentioned similar to DeHav...

I own and fly a Robertson STOL equiped unit....the STC and the way the ailerons droop or retract are in the manual and operate as you mentioned....rudder or no rudder,roll control is compromised to various degrees depending on conditions...how can it not be when you consider airflow and aileron positioning.

Your comments on roll control and/or "rudder recovery" would work in a perfect world! its not perfect!

Some commercial company's operating Beavers instruct pilots not to use full landing flap.....poor aileron control perhaps...how slow do you need to go??

Flaps brakes etc are all there to be used.....so are the fuel tanks but do we fill them up every flight????

Cessna put various degrees of operating ranges on their flaps......use what works best for you under the daily varying conditions as per the manual!

Eater

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 6:19 am
by DHC2eater
I think we are thread drifting.....sorry Tazin....!!

The use of flap varies with conditions and pilot abilities....that's one reason for the different available setting.....

Absorb the info being offered and discard hard line or radical opinions!

Don't forget that the POH has good info!!

I intend to be in the Tazin River late June .......are you in that area??

Eater

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 1:10 pm
by tazin river
Thanks folks

All very helpful.

The Tazin river is my old moose hunting area when I used to live in Ft Smith.
I moved back to Yellowknife in 2005 and no longer fly in that area but it is still one of my favorite hunting spot.

Re: Degrees of flap of landing on floats

Posted: Wed May 20, 2020 2:12 pm
by DHC2eater
Did you spend time in the Tazin River down stream from the Dam or east of Tazin Lake