Landing flare

For the pyrotechnic flare used to illuminate a runway, see Flare (pyrotechnic).
Piper PA-28 Cherokee flaring for landing
An easyJet Airbus A320 flares at Bristol Airport, England

The landing flare, also referred to as the round out,[1] is a maneuver or stage during the landing of an aircraft.[2][3][4]

The flare follows the final approach phase and precedes the touchdown and roll-out phases of landing. In the flare, the nose of the plane is raised, slowing the descent rate and therefore creating a softer touchdown, and the proper attitude is set for touchdown. In the case of tailwheel landing gear-equipped aircraft, the attitude is set for touchdown on the main (front) landing gear first. In the case of tricycle gear-equipped aircraft, the attitude is set for touchdown on the main (rear) landing gear. In the case of monowheel gear-equipped gliders, the flare consists only of leveling the aircraft.[2][3][4]

In parachuting, the flare is the part of the parachute landing fall preceding ground contact and is executed about 15 feet (5 m) above ground.[5]

During a helicopter landing, a flare is used for reducing both vertical and horizontal speed thus allowing a near zero-speed touchdown.[6]

  1. ^ Flight Standards Service (2016). Airplane Flying Handbook. Federal Aviation Administration. pp. 8–6. FAA-H-8083-3B.
  2. ^ a b Transport Canada (1994). Aeroplane Flight Training Manual (4th ed.). Gage Educational Publishing. p. 105. ISBN 0-7715-5115-0.
  3. ^ a b KaiserG, John W. (1977). How to Fly Book: Cessna 150. Victoria Flying Club. p. 33.
  4. ^ a b Reichman, Helmut (1980). Flying Sailplanes. Thomson Publications. p. 51. LCCN 80-52798.
  5. ^ Poynter, Dan; Turoff, Mike (2003). Parachuting: The Skydiver's Handbook. Para Publishing. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-56860-087-1. Retrieved 15 October 2011 – via Google Books. Flare at 15', push both toggles down to pelvis... or blow the timing on the landing flare.
  6. ^ Newman, Simon (1994). The Foundations of Helicopter Flight. Halsted Press. ISBN 978-0-470-23394-8. Retrieved 15 October 2011 – via Google Books. ...the final part of the autorotative manoeuvre. This is the landing flare prior to touchdown, which is necessary to arrest the vertical descent rate of the helicopter.