REFLECTOR: Re: Glide Ratio

[Chuck Harbert]

Having survived a no engine emergency landing, I do remember that the plane 
glides very well with the gear up, but sinks like a rock when you open those 
gear doors (probably 6:1). The other thing that is surprising is how long it 
takes to lower the main gear (the nose comes down and locks quickly). If you 
really want to practice this, time how long it takes to get the mains to 
lock, then go out and try to estimate when you need to start them down. It's 
way more time than you think. Probably better to put them down at a higher 
altitude and circle to land to get the feel of the sink rate before you have 
to land.

The engine quit when I turned crosswind shortly after takeoff, and I just 
made it back to the field, but too little time to lock the mains, so I 
skidded in on the backside of the plane. Fortunately, no fire and damage was 
not too much due to an iVO composite prop. I was very lucky.