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Re: 1700' strip and ES

Mark,

Don't plan on using speed brakes during landing-they are not meant to give you
short field capability--they would more likely give you a tombstone
capability.  They cause your airplane to slow down and lose altitude-fast.
Landing is a very controlled bleeding-off of altitude and speed.

The factory has been very conservative about landing speeds--the want to err
on the side of a safety margin to avoid lawsuits. On the other hand, a 65 hour
pilot would be taking an enormous risk trying to land on 1700'.  When you
reach the point of flying the plane (three or four years), you should have 200
hours or more, and then you should get factory instructors to teach you, and
then, also, you should practice 50-100 landings on a standard length runway
before attempting short fields.

To be on the safe side, mark off a long turf field with red flags at the 1700'
point, and practice landings-you will have a safety margin, and you will gain
much skill in handling your plane.

David Jones, Pecatonica, Illinois