In any reply to subjects such as this, I always agonize over whether I'm likely to confuse people rather than perhaps donate a glimmer of a helpful idea. I'll desperately hope for the latter.
For each aircraft I fly, I put together what I call a "Flight Data Card" or FDC. Once I've pretty-well decided that an aircraft's going to be in my permanent "Stable", I get all the facts and figures together and produce the FDC in MS Word. As time goes by, these data can change, of course, as I learn more about that particular plane.
The identifying title's at the top -- comes in handy when you amass twenty or thirty of these sheets.
First section covers take-off, listing V1, VR speeds, flap setting, and trim setting.
Next section prominently displays the standard cruise speed for this particular plane..
The last -- and biggest -- section deals with landing. Most of the planes I fly are in the GA, Bush, or just plain Low-and-Slow category. So I begin slowing-down at 12nm from destination, 1600ft. (Some planes, like the Beaver, start at 8nm from dest.)
Next decrement (flaps, speed), is at 8nm.
Further decrement at 6nm, with gear.
Further decrement at around 4.5nm, as I "tip-over" and descend.
"Fence" speed.
Landing speed.
Don't get the idea that I sit there reading this stuff off, as I land. These data are merely an "aide memoire" to help me get into the groove, when I fly an aircraft I haven't flown for a few weeks/months.
So when I'm in a "strange" aircraft again, I give the FDC for that plane a quick eye-over prior to first flight, and before landing. Then I can get an idea of what features and pointers I should keep in mind, during the landing phase.
I realize that this is definitely one of those "works for me" things, but y'never know. Maybe there's another OCD type out there who may think the concept has merit. :mixedsmi:
Example attached.
-Jon
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