Anyone else genuinely struggle to land this plane smooth recently? I haven't flown it really in awhile since the Fenix A321 and PMDG 777 came out but I've noticed my approaches are fine but the landing it's self can be rather difficult. at the moment I only use a fly by wire joystick by thrustmaster and i'm either coming down too hard and not having enough time to flare or i'm gently flaring the plane and floating down the runway. at the moment I keep AT on during landings if that means anything. Does anyone here have any good tips on how to properly land the 747-8? preferable when to flare etc I'd like my landings to be below 200FPM and close to 1g as possible. I don't seem to have these landing difficulties with any other big aircraft, only the 74. 

 

Thanks. 

I've only ever used the PMDG 747, but I think auto throttle is supposed to be off for landing on the 747.

30 minutes ago, Captainsheepdog said:

Anyone else genuinely struggle to land this plane smooth recently? I haven't flown it really in awhile since the Fenix A321 and PMDG 777 came out but I've noticed my approaches are fine but the landing it's self can be rather difficult. at the moment I only use a fly by wire joystick by thrustmaster and i'm either coming down too hard and not having enough time to flare or i'm gently flaring the plane and floating down the runway. at the moment I keep AT on during landings if that means anything. Does anyone here have any good tips on how to properly land the 747-8? preferable when to flare etc I'd like my landings to be below 200FPM and close to 1g as possible. I don't seem to have these landing difficulties with any other big aircraft, only the 74. 

 

Thanks. 

The 747 is a very easy and predictable airplane to land. Now, the 748 is a bit different with respect to a system called Flare Assist. In short, the real one at about 25 ft RA will slowly lower the nose to prevent floating and a tail strike situation. I don't know if "Salty" managed to emulate that. For this characteristic, like in the old 747, we start the flare at 30 ft and reduce power at the same time to be at idle by the time we touch down. In the 748, if you follow that technique and if you don't anticipate the flare assist, harsher landings will be observed. It takes a few landings to get used to. We don't chase 200 FT/MIN ROD at touchdown; we just aim to land in the touchdown zone. However, while doing an autoland and touchdown at 300 FT/MIN or more, it will require a writeup in the logbook, and further investigation is required by MX. About the AT, it can also be used for manual landings; there are no restrictions there.

Edited December 5, 20241 yr by LRBS

10 minutes ago, LRBS said:

The 747 is a very easy and predictable airplane to land. Now, the 748 is a bit different with respect to a system called Flare Assist. In short, the real one at about 25 ft RA will slowly lower the nose to prevent floating and a tail strike situation. I don't know if "Salty" managed to emulate that. For this characteristic, like in the old 747, we start the flare at 30 ft and reduce power at the same time to be at idle by the time we touch down. In the 748, if you follow that technique and if you don't anticipate the flare assist, harsher landings will be observed. It takes a few landings to get used to. We don't chase 200 FT/MIN ROD at touchdown; we just aim to land in the touchdown zone. However, while doing an autoland and touchdown at 300 FT/MIN or more, it will require a writeup in the logbook, and further investigation is required by MX. About the AT, it can also be used for manual landings; there are no restrictions there.

When initiating the flare at 30ft. Do you slighty pull back on the joystick or use a bit more pressure. This might depend on joystick sensitivity obviously. I've noticed as I pull back the plane will continue to fall hard to the ground at times and slam. Even with a decent approach on the runway. It's like the weight of the plane just comes down hard, i'm having a hard time explaining it haha. 

Edited December 5, 20241 yr by Captainsheepdog

6 minutes ago, Captainsheepdog said:

 It's like the weight of the plane just comes down hard, i'm having a hard time explaining it haha. 

Just light back pressure, assuming the airplane is properly trimmed. When you disconnect the AP, the airplane is trimmed, and it should not require any changes. It should fly steadily; try not to pull the power quickly to idle. Is it doing the same on autoland? What kind of weights, flaps, and speed are you at?

5 minutes ago, LRBS said:

Just light back pressure, assuming the airplane is properly trimmed. When you disconnect the AP, the airplane is trimmed, and it should not require any changes. It should fly steadily; try not to pull the power quickly to idle. Is it doing the same on autoland? What kind of weights, flaps, and speed are you at?

My last actual salty sim 74 flight was a long haul from Vegas to Frankfurt and when I land I usually have it at flaps 30 and the speed depends on the autofactors from simbrief but it's usually anywhere from 150kts to 155kts I believe 

Try an empty airplane with only 30 T of fuel at a big airport and do some touch-and-go, initially autolanding and then manual. You should get an idea.

What version of the Salty are you using? As it was incorporated and then some into the default B748 about a year and a half ago. 

The rate of descent on touchdown on the -400 was dependent on the speed the power was reduced in the flare.

I’ve not flown the -8, nor landed a -400 with the auto throttle engaged, other than autolands obviously, so don’t know about that behaviour.

If you’re slamming it in, provided you’ve got the flare ok I’d try landing with manual throttle and slowly retard the power, like wise if floating try bringing the power back a bit quicker.