Timing Your Flare

This video with Rod Machado deals with the essential element of landinging...transitioning to the level-off and judging the flare. This is a technique I personally use quite often: "Focus near and far and watch the change in runway shape" Although this is a bit mechanical the awareness it creates is essential...happy landings!

[@luisagustinbernal4863]

I had too many difficulties for mastering my touchdowns. Yesterday, I watched this video and today I've successfully completed my first solo-flight in my Cessna 172 following this technique. My instructor was so impressed. Thank you so much for the video!

[@eliyahkaz]

This has been the easiest and most precise technique. I'd about 40 landings before watching this video yesterday and not a single greaser - today I had 7 out of 10 "passable" touchdowns - thanks Rod!

[@jasonhallenborg1927]

This is the technique that I learned that solved my stall and drop in landings. I had the stabilized approach and approach speed. I had no idea when to roll out and flare. I guessed. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not. When I met Rod Machado, I told him how much this technique helped my landings. I discovered that this sudden expansion occurs over the aiming point and before the touchdown point. I also learned that if you can't see the end of the runway during the flare, you flared too much.

[@user-hc4vk2hy7g]

Jason Hallenborg If the runway width is less then this one, is this technic still work?

[@messianichebrewshawnkawcak1550]

Flare too much and you bounce bad, especially if you’re coming in to fast, from my experience using the flight gear flight simulator.

[@bka.k.abecca7189]

Sir your video is the best thing ever a student pilot could ever find. KZbin should recommend it. Keep sharing with us your art❤

[@Mirandorl]

Hey! Its Rod :) He taught me to fly in FSX. Thanks Rod!

[@flyerboy2594]

haha

[@thelowmein9143]

Me too! In fs9 though, I'm old lol

[@SiebAir]

+Mirandorl same here :D

[@Bendoverz34]

The Lowmein How old r u

[@axorex]

Me too XD

[@timothyayoola3244]

I used this in 2014 During my training as a student pilot. And here I am recommending it to a colleague. Thanks for a great video.

[@thatmauritianbitch]

Just went solo today! thank you this really helped!

[@dronegeeks]

Congrats

[@AddonCMerly-yq2hf]

Congratulations and blessed Career!

[@georgeb6909]

Congrats

[@YouNumba1]

Thanks...I think 90% of successful landing are the visual cues!

[@saketsagar2156]

I am about to start my flying school time …. So so so excited to finally say hello to the clouds

[@Swapmeet421]

Just stopping by to say this video single-handedly fixed my landing problem about a year ago prior to my solo

[@bythetimeyoufinishedreadin9083]

Give this man a fucking medal

[@shevetlevi2821]

I got my PPL in 1984 but left the country shortly after and stopped flying due to finances. When I decided to become current again in the late 1990s I used Rod's private pilot handbook. It was excellent in that it comprehensively covered everything I needed with great explanations and sense of humor. Comparing it to Gleim which was drier than dust Rod's book was very enjoyable to read.

[@AviatorMike777]

I can attest to this. I just started using this technique recently, and now I have more confidence when executing my landings. I've noticed that I've gotten better & better each time. Thanks, Rod!! :-)

[@BL-ii5sr]

males

[@antonove-1752]

malestock I

[@elgordo496]

Thanks SO much for this video. I did my first landing today after watching this. The landing went great and my instructor was impressed!

[@robolson9924]

This video changed everything! Every pilot should watch it!

[@james004a]

Had flown helicopter for last 30 years before that trainer Jets. Flew C172R this month. Flare was not coming at all despite great efforts and 2 hours dual. Actually was unable to visualize the correct perspective, the widening of runway, travel of noise etc. Progressional ego hurt... Then I came across this wonderful training video. All concepts cleared.. Saw it around 20 times and then cleared my solo very next sortie. Million thanks Rod! You are great in teaching... Forwarded to few more Young trainee pilots.. All benefiting. In fact all your videos are of great training value. Happy Landings

[@gregfaris6959]

Really interesting observation! Even though I have somewhat more experience than some contributors here, (400h), I am still not immune to judgement errors on flare. I have been looking at this in my flying over the past few days and I'm finding it to be very pertinent. Thanks Rod for this insightful tip!

[@DougBrossoitDDS]

Hi Rod, I have started using this technique, and it really helps, I recently soloed and it helped me feel more confident!, Thanks Again, Doug

[@SirRawtcha]

Extremely helpful! I am having a difficult time with my landings and plan on using this next flight.

[@654321825]

I'm gonna go try this out today. Looks like it works.

[@DuardoEh]

It looks more like the point that the runway STOPS expanding, the clue that it's time to flare. I soon figured out a similar technique when night flying, as most pilots probably do? Practicing for my (Cdn) night endorsement 45 yrs ago, when the 200 ft wide runway was as black as the sky, I noticed that the flare should be commenced as both sides of the runway-edge lights would seem to level out into a virtually straight horizon. It was pretty simple to anticipate and be set up in the flare. I don't remember ever miscalculating it as I knew that below that point there was no more air under the wheels, and the hole I felt I was descending into would get pretty hard right quick. I haven't flown in a long while so I have no idea how common center-line lighting is today. We didn't have it in Thunder Bay, Ont., in 1970.

[@msag6033]

Care to elaborate on "both sides of the runway-edge lights would seem to level out into a virtually straight horizon" ? Thanks

[@NeonsStyleHD]

I was always taught to watch for the runway flattening out as the moment to begin the flaire. Once I was told that, it all became much easier. This seems to be a variation of the same effect. Very useful tips.

[@ryanmcgowan3061]

Definitely going to use this. I can land in my sleep in the day, but have terrible perception at night. Can't wait to try it out.

[@smokeyupahead]

The best tip. Thanks

[@coriscotupi]

Good tutorial, thanks for sharing. I recall reading a number of articles back in the 70s in *Flying Magazine* that called this the "perspective break" method. Those were great articles back in the day, but they are no match for actual presentations, live graphics, video.

[@dronegeeks]

Great video thanks for sharing very helpful as I'm doing my ppl

[@AddyRyan66]

this really helped..got my solo today :D

[@GamePlayWithNolan]

+Adrian Wallace (Simplly Addy) Congrats

[@AR-uo3jr]

This is the best video I have seen on landings

[@yaktel]

amazing! Genius!

[@dude_whats_even_happening]

I can't wait to become a pilot ,its always nice to see people succeed and make their dreams come true.

[@DaveFRyannn]

I have been using the Johnston's technique for many years with this technique on the left hand side of the runway with the hold off focused on the far end of threshold. This version would make it easier when doing a conversion on a newer type. The more one fly's a single type, the more set patterns of that types handling set in and changing to an other type with different features, is a learning blockage.

[@thelowmein9143]

Video not meant for flight simmers, but it’s a great technique for us. Depth perception is difficult on a screen, especially with no peripheral vision.

[@Fa7733]

Amazing video! So simple and i really understood it.

[@YouNumba1]

This simple technique has helped many of our students land with fewer hours and a lot less stress. I suspect that most CFIs do not really know how to teach landings (from the incompetent pilots I have met). We will all be safer thanks to Rod!

[@user-qc3xd9gc5t]

Just went solo today! thank you this really helped!. Just went solo today! thank you this really helped!.

[@ajajoya2784]

Really helpful! Thanks!

[@marioweiler5]

Thanks you Rob, it just works this technuiqe is so easy that I almost can't belive it :)

[@mytech6779]

The explanation during the visual example was great, really the whole video was good, though I would like to see this with both narrow and wide runways while using the same basic airplane for demonstration.(50ft and 150ft wide) I am going to give this a try tomorrow.

[@jtflypegasus]

Thanks Rod!

[@saltydogtube]

Will try this afternoon.

[@JawadKhan-ec9ez]

Brilliant video

[@Jaden48108]

You're talking about a transition phase in landing in which flaring has nothing to do with anything. After the round out you let the airplane fly straight down the runway keeping your eyes towards the end of the runway, while flying the plane a foot or less off the ground. As power is cut and the speed bleeds off the main gear will touch down. Anytime you flare and lose sight of the end of the runway don't expect good results. It's one way of getting off center line. I suppose this method can work for some people. If you don't have normal depth perception you shouldn't be flying.

[@kingmcbrian]

Thank you rod mochado!!! :D

[@ReinForce007879]

Damn, this is really helpful.

[@shugox3]

I don't know about you guys but after this video I did the softest landing I've ever done in my life

[@YouNumba1]

Good to hear, landings are largely visual and Rod is a MASTER!!

[@myrahxavieryakop4523]

Damn, i always screw the FLARE thing..... thanks for the video.

[@Neptune8]

My first day of landing training i didn’t know what I was doing but they were perfect. 4 lands touched down pretty smooth for a first timer. Second day of landing training all horrible, third day all drop ins , horrible. The thing I did differently was study how to land and I think my knowledge ended up killing my innate ability to trust the plan. Last night was my first day of night landings and 8 landing two were acceptable (to me , my instructor says I’m not the worst student he’s trained) , next time I attempt my landings I’m going to try this.

[@YouNumba1]

Landing is a tough part of training (and if you pressure yourself you make it worse obviously). Try to relax a bit and breathe so you can feel the plane. Scanning near and far often gives the best awareness of how high you are above the runway and how fast you are settling (the critical/necessary ingredient in landing) Good luck!

[@abbieamavi]

great video Rod, I solo today!!

[@andrewmurphy6979]

Taking in this info and will apply it to my next session on Wednesday. At 20+ hours and still working on landings, very frustrating

[@asmaamoustafa2188]

Perfect 👍

[@aramelmi1020]

Great video and very practical helpful tip! It seems that the graph is not totally accurate as the rate of runway expansion should decrease after its peak back down to zero at time of landing.

[@currentbatches6205]

When a student, I put the plane almost on the runway and my instructor simply said 'fly it until it won't fly' Never had a problem; perhaps I was seeing the geometry without consciously doing so (visual geometry is not a mystery to me). "Fly it, fly it, fly it", clunk....

[@benchen7925]

Pretty cool

[@lorenzogarcia5784]

Bro this helped me out. I soloed today and I sucked at the landing and I didn’t understand the “sight picture “

[@rishabhbirla3448]

Thanks sir

[@MahendraShah-V6SigPLCX]

Rod please use-split screen as you describe theory-and graphs That helps to-memoriezeand integrate theory-to action

[@cq7415]

Thanks.

[@yashkem5421]

So when you say 1.3 times the stall speed of the aircraft, does it mean the clean stall speed or the landing configuration stall speed?

[@Mikerohren]

Recommended to this from another CFI, will certainly show it to all my students!!! Excellent way to look at timing the flare!!! *Is this by chance KSNA? Looks surprisingly familiar...

[@YouNumba1]

We (obviously) grabbed this from AOPA since we found it so valuable...not sure where they shot it. I guess the ultimate point is it does not matter. Learning to land with parallax cues is "non contextual and should work anywhere (though out of luck on a grass field!) Thanks.

[@tomzeng3062]

thats helpful

[@tylerdruskoff9689]

Going soloing tomorrow. Thank you

[@YouNumba1]

Great! Best of luck (a day you will never forget!)

[@bEEBO178]

Top tip: NEVER push the control column forward when landing. Constant back pressure, squeek in a bit of power if are too high and dropping like a stone.

[@canconservative8976]

The decent rate plays a big role in this... if you are on glideslope, it's easy.. if you are above glideslope (more common with GA) then that transition to level flight is 10x more difficult.

[@YouNumba1]

I actually have always taught VFR approaches at a steeper angle; it makes landing quite a bit easier (counter-intuitive I know). The three degree glidpath is for IFR...

[@canconservative8976]

@@YouNumba1 If you are on short final at 500' AGL vs 100' and your VSI is -500 compared to -150... I think it's obvious what is the more consistent secure and soft landing... the only rationale to the steep approach is to be always within glide distance of the runway while in the circuit... not to mention turning a GA aircraft into a glider doesn't work well on windy days!... unless I'm missing something here... I was taught both, and putting one red light on the PAPI is the easier landing, and better when you have to put it on the numbers, if it's a small runway.

[@Bendoverz34]

I only did 2 super soft landings that I wanna do all the time

[@sixeyes2859]

It’s one of the toughest things for student pilots to get the HANG OF

[@pcbondart]

I like when I can see the airplane's shadow next to me on the ground which I can watch!

[@paulmallery6719]

Sink stall touchdown. Ho many times have buzzers been screaming on final flair

[@DavidDyck]

How would you apply this to Seaplane landings?

[@YouNumba1]

This specific technique (with side lines) does not work well for grass, skis of water landing. It is *very* helpful to still look near and far (especially to the horizon). When I added my commercial seaplane I was initially unable to judge height above the water until I used "near and far" scan...you *cannot* fixate in any landing!

[@robingermon4071]

Timing to flare is different in every aircraft. The real aim is to fly from flight into ground effect.ie., wing span length vertical. The formula tells it all ie., CL.HAFEROW.V.SQUARED.S

[@allhailalona]

the intro reminds me of the opening of the song "Faith" by george Michael

[@mikefrancesco3904]

Looking forward to trying this tomorrow, is it applicable for short/soft field?

[@emmo__93]

sure is you just don't have centre lines but there are gable markers to assist you ensure you are between them by 400 feet otherwise go around

[@cpuwolf]

expansion. thanks

[@mamfouda]

I like it but it won't be easy to apply when landing on grass

[@emmo__93]

Use the white gable markers to assist you. Ensure you are center between them at 400 feet

[@andrewpaulson2877]

theoretical in some aircraft the yoke pull in not linear,

[@tomzeng3062]

hope it's useful

[@marryson123]

my airport has runway center line widening device.

[@YouNumba1]

We all could use one of those...

[@xiaowu3231]

Aiming point moves i think, who can help me with the short field landing

[@bityote]

I can see this method and video being quintessential to learning a proper and solid foundation for a good flare. It is proving to be a rather tricky thing. Thank you. In Jesus' name you're healed. Ask the Holy Spirit into your heart and walk with the lead of a loving, Divine Father.

[@adamweaver8533]

Who else is here in 2020 for FSX

[@bk-nr2mq]

2:45

[@jeanyvesberric1036]

Yess the american are the best!!!

[@billhart8729]

Looked like 4 white PAPI. Why so far above standard approach path? That is wasting the first part of the runway.

[@Ninkjeboi]

This got patched.

[@CraigLumpyLemke]

FSX pilots, please watch this. Try and not focus on Rob's hands, it's distracting. Content is good. Thanks - Lumpy

[@kirstinetermansen3426]

Town stalkers. Better listning tights

[@Dub4Yah]

Jesus is coming back soon!

[@gregturkington6330]

deez guyz r hut

[@hunterpruett5455]

lol fsx