2011 Spot Landing Contest 

September 17, 2011, EAA Chapter 691 put on their annual Spot landing contest.  While the contest is a lot
of fun and the pilots all take a good ribbing over their landings, the main reason we hold this annual contest is
to get the pilots to all go practice power off approaches and landings, which forces them to learn the performance
of their aircraft in case of engine failure.  While we hope this never happens to any of us, this practice could be
a life saver.

The rules here are intended to simulate landing in a short field following an engine failure.  The airport runway
is at 7171'.  From the downwind leg at a minimum of 8200', the pilot has to pull the throttle to idle no later than
abeam the fixed distance markers.  The target is the fixed distance markers.  Short of the fixed distance markers
is a scratch as you just piled your plane into the simulated ditch.  The distance is measured from the beginning
of the fixed distance markers.

The awards were as follows:
1st Plase    -     James Shinas     -    Sonex
2nd Place    -    Will Fox            -    Beech Bonanza
3rd Place    -    Wayne Bongionni    -    Grumman Tiger

Style - Three way tied between the same top three finishers.


It's a nice morning, the judges and observers are ready, and the first flight of planes is getting ready to go.


The style judges are still discussing how to award the style points.  This is always controversial as there are
no rules for style points.  They either like your landing, or they don't.


Momo V.  (Last year's winner with a newly minted pilot certificate) looks a bit short on his approach this time.


Wayne Bongionni approaches in his Grumman Tiger.


Judge Amy Ross marks the spot.  The style judges appear to be a bit confused.


James Shinas looks like he's right on the spot with his newly finished Sonex.


Jeff Scott slips his newly finished SuperCub down, but overshoots the mark.


Yep...  Floated right by the fixed distance markers.


Kerry Habiger has a great looking approach in his Mooney.


Just short.  This picture caused a lot of controversy and some questions as to the chief judge's eye sight and
heritage, but the picture shows the left main to be just short of the line.  IT'S A SCRATCH Kerry!!!  But,
in an act of sportsmanship, the chief judge present Kerry with an award for the worst loser at the Barbecue
and Awards Ceremony.


Dane Knowlton is looking a bit short on this approach.


At least he did make the runway... Barely.  All that practice....


Will Fox approaches in his Bonanza.


Roger Smith was also marking the spots.  Here is looks like he's about to run for his life, but this was the
winning landing by James Shinas.


Actually, this was the winning landing.  We  almost had a picture of it.  Next year, all the observers need to
stay behind the barrier.  It's for your safety as well as making for nice photos.


Jeff Scott approaches again in the Cub.


And comes up short.  Since I write the web page, I get to make excuses.  Note the windows and doors are
open this time.  The Cub is incredibly draggy with the windows and doors open. 


Rob Heineman  has a great looking approach in his Turbo 210.


But floated down the runway before finding the ground.


Another of the judges marks the spot.


                                 Hot Dog Pictures


With an audience, no pilot can resist showing off their plane a bit on the way outbound.  We'll call these the
hot dog pictures.  James Shinas shows off the rate of climb of his 120 HP Jabaru powered Sonex.


Jeff demonstrates the rate of climb of the 160 SuperCub.  You could have gone out for a cup of coffee and
been back in time to see him still climbing over the runway.


Yep.  He's still there.


Rob Heineman shows his Turbo 210's rate of climb.


Kerry doing a low departure in his Mooney.


Dane does a fly by in his Cirrus.




Will Fox does a low departure in his Bonanza.


Now there's that climb.  

Come back for more next year.  This competition is open to everyone, so all pilots are invited.  If we can get
enough slow planes, we'll start a STOL class.  Lots of pilots show up to watch, but not many are willing to
demonstrate just how badly their skills have deteriorated since the days when the instructor used to pull the
throttle when you were half way around the pattern.