The Piper Arrow is low wing.....thus it has a tendency to balloon close to the ground if your flaps and airspeed at not settled.
You have to set your "Approach Configuration" prior to entering the flight pattern....and then adjust it as you progress to landing.
You describe that the plane "fights you to the ground" and you have to "push it over hard to get it to descent"
This is a classic example of not having the plane trimmed for landing !!!!
If you do not know how to "TRIM" the plane...go back to the Training Section...and review that section.
When you take off....you have slight "UP" trim for correct climb....but then you have to
retrim for straight and level flight.....thus turn the trim down a little so it flies straight and level at
your chosen airspeed for level-cruise flight.
When you return to the arpt for landing...you change speeds to FLIGHT PATTERN...speeds and you RETRIM
for that speed in the pattern.....and every time you change flap settings....you have to slightly adjust the trim
again for that change of speed....and that is prob why you are fighting the controls on the landing.....cuz you
have not adjusted the trim for the new slower speed and the new flap settings
On downwind us 75 kts...one notch of flaps............TRIM THE PLANE !!!
On base us 70 kts.....two notch of flaps...........TRIM THE PLANE !!!
On final us 65-67 kts.....three notch of flaps.........TRIM THE PLANE !!!
Once you have full flaps...set the power for 65--67 kts and TRIM to hold that.
Then you use power to adjust approach angle...dont push pull on the yoke.....
If you are low.....add power........if you are high....reduce power....to maintain the airspeed.
if you push down on the yoke to reduce altitude....you will gain speed with the nose down !!!
That will cause you to gain altitude again !!! Defeats the purpose.
If you pull up on the yoke to gain altitude.....you will loose air speed with the nose up !!!
That will cause you to loose altitude again !!! Defeats the purpose.
SO.....select proper flaps for the flight pattern.....trim the airspeed for the flight pattern speed......
and on final.....INCREASE power to climb...REDUCE power to descent........and maintain final airspeed.
Dont push and pull the yoke up and down.....you will PORPOISE all down final and prob slam the
plane into the runway.......NOT COOL !!!!
When close to the ground....the PIPER WARRIOR will be flying in "GROUND EFFECT" and will balloon if
you are too fast. The Cessnas you have flown are HIGH WING....and do not have as strong "GROUND EFFECT"
as the Warrior. Its actually a nice part of PIPER LOW WINGS....lots of cushion when close to the ground.
To land smooth.....just hold the plane off....nose up 65-67 kts.......and let it settle to the runway on the mains.......
"SQUACK" IT ON !!!
ENJOY !!!!
