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!

[luisagustinbernal]

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!

[jasonhallenborg]

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.

[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!

[Swapmeet]

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

[bka.k.abecca]

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

[pilotalex]

This video is 10 years old but the content still actual. I will do this technique on a grass field where markers and runway signs are much less numerous. Thanks for the tip Rod

[AviatorMike]

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!! :-)

[aviatortrucker]

Most students are coming in too high and too fast. If you slow the airplane to the recommended 1.3 times VSO, for a C-172 it’s about 54 kts with full flaps. I use 60 over the threshold. I look down the runway and imagining you in a car going down a small hill, you will normally have the sight picture of near the bottom of the hill. I leave a small amount of power to increase rudder and elevator effectiveness. As soon as I’m flat, the airspeed will bleed off as you begin pulling power to idle. Then gently increase back pressure to about a takeoff attitude. You’ll touchdown mains first, soft and will have the nose up like the way an F-15 lands. Works well on low wing too. Don’t forget to look out of the Lindbergh reference for the lower corner of the front windscreen and look at your distance from the edge of the runway. This will help keep you from drifting. If you start to drift, use your rudder to keep nose straight and a little aileron toward the upwind side to minimize drift. Remember this, if you watch an airliner come in they don’t round out in flare. They maintain a specific attitude and slightly raise the nose more before touchdown. Kind of like the way you see a duck land on the pond.

[shevetlevi]

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.

[jamesa]

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

[Mirandorl]

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

[timothyayoola]

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.

[elgordo]

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

[thatmauritianbitch]

Just went solo today! thank you this really helped!

[robolson]

This video changed everything! Every pilot should watch it!

[gregfaris]

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!

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.