The smoothest landing I ever experienced was on board SWA flight to El Paso. Approach was a very gentle angle, and I could not tell when we touched down.
You know, I think every pilot has that in them but it just depends on what you have had to deal with on the trip, whther you are ready to just get down or really concentrate on the landing.lol
On all but the longest runways On-Speed and On-Spot are more important than being the smoothest. Think Navy carrier landings. On-Spot and On-Speed could, perhaps, have avoided the SWA runway excursions at KBUR and KMDW.
Well, that or the 777's on that other link is how it ought to be done instead of a slam down or sticking it although somebody says here that that's how Airlines are training these days. They can do as they want but with a CEO riding, and a Maintenance chief watching, A greaser was expected. I would stick one if there was wx to get solid but not on a clear day.
Kevin: I believe you are right but there is a big difference in "sticking it" and some of the landings that I have experienced as a pax over the last few years. Clear skies, calm wind and dang near bouncing is just right much. I flew 135 big iron for 30 years+ and had the same pax all the time and faced the same maintenance chief everytime we came in. I was Director of Flight Ops and ran the whole show, but my maintenance chief generally met every flight as we came in. With him on the ground and the CEO on board, I had better grease it.
Runway 5R at Manchester, England, has nearly 9400' available landing distance, so I wouldn't fault the pilot for making a super smooth landing, and I would definitely fault him for making a carrier type landing. On speed and on spot may be the ticket for a short field landing, but passengers in anything from a C150 on up to the largest airliners are a lot more impressed with smoothness--and it's a whole lot easier on the equipment.
It is not at all easy for all pilots,but some one are smarter and reliable for sure.Like Grant Shui at Cams flight. I have been sitting next to him for few times. I know the difference.
There's a video posted by (I think it's) SpeedbirdHD that is of a handfull of 777's landing at LAX and all of them are just as smooth. I'll see if I can find it. Here we go www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTZIQ2e3rl0
Just to let everyone know. Greased landings is not the preferred procedure for large aircraft. In icy or wet conditions they can be down right dangerous due to skidding on ice or hydro planing on a wet runway. The auto land system will never land a plane that soft.
it was so smooth becuase the pilot didnt bring it down fast and hard but he came down so slow and gently put the main gear doen fisrt slowly and then the front gear. it all depends on how strong the wind is at the time and how fast the pilots put it down.
Well that may make some difference, but as evidenced by these(look at the 777 link), if you are PF, you need to know what is under you. As one of these comments did say too, some airlines are now training for pilots to stick it. I like smooth myself, at least with a clear day. I'll draw a line on wx.
Did you look at the other link up above showing 4-5 777's greasing just as good.lol No Malice intended and that's a close to an apology you'll get, you old goat.LOL