Landing the Mustang: 'Fighter Approach'

[marcus4hire]

Hi All,

 

As I discover the realism in P-51 I come up with more questions and the desire to try things I have come across in all sorts of books, narratives, videos, and the like.

 

Currently, I am interested in the landing known as a 'fighter approach'. At least, that is what I know it as. In several places (gosh, I can't recall which) I have come across that term. All I know about it is that it exists and is different from the standard approach, used with warbirds and similar aircraft. When I have read about it is usually something like, ".......used a fighter approach when landing....." or, ".....practiced the fighter approach...."

 

Other than that, nothing. Do any of you have an idea what it entails exactly? Is it what is modeled in the sim tutorial or something completely different? Advantages/disadvantages? I am GUESSING that it is sharp turn into final with limited time in the last bit of the approach, culminating with a stall right at the edge of the runway. However, this is a total guess and what I have put together reading memoirs and the like from combat pilots, speaking of how hot shot pilots would do this when landing. But, I dunno if it is a fighter approach.

 

Curious to try it out and hear what you guys think....

[Telomere]

I haven't heard of a "fighter approach" specifically, but it may be something similar to the Overhead Break, which is a landing approach manoeuvre designed to limit the amount of time for which the aircraft is vulnerable (low & slow).

 

There's a video of someone demonstrating how it's done in the A-10C here:

[dok_rp]

I might add a little to the discussion too.

 

There's another kind of approach which the C-17 is very famous for. It's called Tactical Approach, and it involves coming straight for a very high final. At the last moment all engines are reversed and the aircraft simply plunges out of the sky.

 

It's extremely cool to watch.

 

Check this video out ==>

 

Cheers!! :pilotfly:

[Pman]

A fighter approach to my understanding and what we do is burn in straight and level over the runway about 100ft off the deck, pitch up to break and turn it into a 180 deg turn to put you on downwind.

 

Then as your pass the end of the intended touch down point turn base then curve into finals and touch almost as your wings go level to bring you onto runway heading.

 

The amount of time you spend on finals gliding to the runway is about 2-5 seconds on a good turn in and about 10 on a long one.

 

I can do a video if you want an example?

 

Pman

 

edit, found one I did a while back for a demo

 

Edited April 12, 2014 by Pman

[159th_Viper]

Do this, substituting the T-Toad for a Mustang:

 

dk7IbRseqbA

[marcus4hire]

Awesome gentlemen!!

 

So it turns out what I was thought a fighter approach might be and what it is is pretty much the same thing.

 

For some reason, I think that is just the neatest looking thing.

 

Generally speaking.......the Mustang loses lift (stalls) right when you roll wings level, in a perfect world??

 

Thanks for answering the question.

[Pman]

Awesome gentlemen!!

 

So it turns out what I was thought a fighter approach might be and what it is is pretty much the same thing.

 

For some reason, I think that is just the neatest looking thing.

 

Generally speaking.......the Mustang loses lift (stalls) right when you roll wings level, in a perfect world??

 

Thanks for answering the question.

 

Dont think its a case of stalling, more just a case of putting it on the deck, in my landing above I two wheel land it so I hadn't stalled but still a quick touch down :)

 

Pman

[Freelansir]

Have a look here also:

 

http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/combatlanding/combatlanding.htm

[marcus4hire]

Have a look here also:

 

http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/combatlanding/combatlanding.htm

 

 

That, and the above posts, are exactly what I was looking for! In particular, I came back to ask those exact questions about altitude, distance, power, etc.

 

Fooling around, I darn near had it (well, I did set it down0 on the first try. But, beginner's luck. Couldn't touch it after that.

 

I'll try it tomorrow. Done flying for the night. At 6 hours and 43 minutes into P-51 I logged my first Dora kill!! With full realism settings (is there really anything less?) Totally stoked!!

[SimFreak]

Never heard of that terminology. Usually it's called "initial" or "overhead"

 

http://www.cannonaviation.com/overhead_pattern.php

 

It can be done in any aircraft...nothing to do with "fighter".

[marcus4hire]

Never heard of that terminology. Usually it's called "initial" or "overhead"

 

http://www.cannonaviation.com/overhead_pattern.php

 

It can be done in any aircraft...nothing to do with "fighter".

 

 

That is a very interesting link. I'll have to study it as well.

 

I can say that the only times I have seen it referred to as 'the fighter approach' was in articles about current day pilots learning to fly war birds.

[marcus4hire]

Never heard of that terminology. Usually it's called "initial" or "overhead"

 

http://www.cannonaviation.com/overhead_pattern.php

 

It can be done in any aircraft...nothing to do with "fighter".

 

 

That is a very interesting link. I'll have to study it as well.

 

I can say that the only times I have seen it referred to as 'the fighter approach' was in articles about current day pilots learning to fly war birds.

[marcus4hire]

Never heard of that terminology. Usually it's called "initial" or "overhead"

 

http://www.cannonaviation.com/overhead_pattern.php

 

It can be done in any aircraft...nothing to do with "fighter".

 

That is a very interesting link. I'll have to study it as well.

 

I can say that the only times I have seen it referred to as 'the fighter approach' was in articles about current day pilots learning to fly war birds.

[mslechta]

P-51D landing pattern at IwoJima in 1945.

 

[[DBS]TH0R]

Also known as the "overhead break" maneuver.

 

The landing part of it, so called "combat version", is similar to the curved carrier approach developed by Royal Navy for corsair carrier operation.

 

Edited April 27, 2014 by T}{OR

[marcus4hire]

Whoa!!

 

Guess I know where all those posts went. Apologies for the triple taps!

 

Good stuff, BTW.

[marcus4hire]

P-51D landing pattern at IwoJima in 1945.

 

 

That would be cool to try with three others.