Well 80 kts is a pretty fast for a C172. You want to be down to about 65 [even less for a short-field] by the time you are on final. If it were me I would probably be trimmed for about 70kts. If you have to hold the nose down to stay on the glidepath you want than your doing wrong. That said, I think your first instructor was probably concerned with you with trimming WHILE in the turn. Base-to-final stall/spin accidents are the leading cause of student pilot fatalities. Trim while your wings are level at least. Your second instructor was probably commenting on the fact that 80kts is too fast for final. If your approach is good, your pointed for the numbers, at a decent altitude for your distance [on the correct glidepath], but your fast - than you need to pull back on throttle. That's what he means by controlling the power.
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Should say (
italics and bold are mine
)
Well 80 kts is a pretty fast for a C172. You want to be down to about 65 [even less for a short-field] by the time you are on final. If it were me I would probably be trimmed for about 70kts. If you have to hold the nose down to stay on the glidepath you want than your doing wrong. That said, I think your first instructor was probably concerned with you with trimming WHILE in the turn. Base-to-final stall/spin accidents are one of the leading cause of pilot fatalities. Trim while your wings are level at least. Your second instructor was probably commenting on the fact that 80kts is too fast for final. If your approach is good, your pointed for the numbers, at a decent altitude for your distance [on the correct glidepath], but your fast - than you need to pull back on throttle. That's what he means by controlling the power.
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Try this technique and see if it works for you:
Enter pattern at 2200 rpm, trim for straight and level
Establish downwind, speed stabilized
Abeam the threshold, 1500 rpm, 10deg flaps, hold altitude until 80kts then decend at 80kts, trim to relieve pressure at that attitude
Turn base at 45 degree angle-off, roll wings level 20degrees flaps, slow to 70kts
Turn final, roll wings level 30 degrees flaps 60 kts (you will not stall, contrary to Old Wives Tales).
Short final (runway is assured) reduce power to idle (don't slam throttle shut)
Maintain your idle-power glide
Level off and hover just above the runway
As plane decends, begin the flare (you should hear the stall horn by now), nice steady pressure on the yoke (remember a teensy teensy bit of right rudder), easy touch on the yoke for ....3-2-1, touchdown.