T6Harvard wrote:
>
> Tbh, I haven't looked to the side. Not sure I have the capacity to do that
> without it all going to pot
>
Just glances. Not fixating.
I have no idea if what follows is right, so take it with a pinch of salt - all I know is what I do.
But I've never understood this "look all the way down the runway" thing. I can't perceive my height above the ground where I am by looking at a point hundreds of yards away. And I can't rely on the picture from my peripheral vision until I've done it right so many times that the picture becomes subconsciously available.
And even then I approach at all sorts of angles, to all sorts of runway lengths and widths, so the peripheral vision picture is different every time, so how can it ever work like that? I find myself looking in lots of places - just glances, but down the runway, off to the side, back down the runway again. It's not conscious, but I can feel the picture building up as I look around.
I also think it's about paying attention. All my worst landings are on runway 25 at White Waltham, which is home base and the runway I use most. Everywhere else, even at fields I've never been to before, I almost always land well though I says it myself
. Familiarity breeds lack of focus, I think. Maybe you should go to Halfpenny Green and do a few circuits there, just for a change. It would get you out of the circuit for a bit, possibly a good thing in any case.
The other thing I always recommend is practising slow level flight. At a decent height, obviously, start from cruise speed, and gradually reduce power. But stay level as you slow down. Don't lose or gain height. Once the stall warner is on, notice how high the nose is, and once you've flown level like that for a bit, add power gradually and speed up again. Repeat that cycle several times. It really builds familiarity with the nose-high attitude and low airspeed you're looking for in the last few seconds before touchdown. It was getting an ex-GF to do this that enabled her to land my Cheetah after three actual instructors at Biggin had given up on her.
Anyway, just some random thoughts. Take from them anything or nothing.