Your Smoothest Landing Experienced?

rams777 · Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:36 pm

What landing sticks out in your mind to be probably the smoothest touch down you can remember?

I for one believe it was Cyprus Airways A320 landing in BEY!! So smooth not a sound on touch down!!!

Matt27 · Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:43 pm

It was back in 1999 on a Novair A320 at LPA. The smoothest landing ever.

antiuser · Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:46 pm

Either an IB MD-87 at VLC coming from LHR in March 2000 or an AA 777 at JFK coming from GIG in June 2004. Not much shaking going on.

[Edited 2005-04-26 09:47:53]

Doona · Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:50 pm

My smoothest was in an ERJ145 landing at CPH, coming in from MXP. After that landing my travelling companion was cured of his fear of flying Smile

Cheers
Mats

B727-100 · Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:51 pm

The one I did myself the day before yesterday on the F100... Smile

couldn't feel anything...
usually I experience the smoothest landings (as a passenger) on the BAE146 and the worst on the CRJ...
Cheers
neil

lehovec · Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:54 pm

Quoting B727-100 (Reply 4):
and the worst on the CRJ...

My best landing ever was on JP CRJ LJU-AMS. Really smooth.

LH526 · Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:21 pm

Lufthansa A343 into GRU ... I'm an experienced flyer, but that was fabulous: If I wouldn't had a window seat, it would have been hard to tell when we hit terra firma. It was fabulous ... no screetch, no "whomp", nothing. Only the reverse thrust showed us where we are Smile

Mario
LH526

B707Stu · Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:38 pm

AA, JFK-LAX, circa 1977, DC-10. We were just about at the gate before I realized we landed. Will never forget that.

More recently it's been CO EWR-MAN on a 777. I was over the wheels and barely felt them touch, was extremely impressed.

BCAL · Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:38 pm

Two landings immediately come to mind

A British Caledonian BAC 1-11 landing at AMS. I realised that the flight deck crew were all females so I was expecting a very hard landing, so I braced myself and closed the window blind fearing the worst. It seemed to take an eternity for the aircraft to land and I was taken aback when I realised that not only had we touched down but had already taxied to the ramp, and yet I had not felt anything or noticed any change in engine noise. Boy, those female pilots were brilliant!
The other landing was in a Wardair (Canada) DC10 at Montreal after flying from LGW. Beautiful, smooth approach and it felt that the DC10's impact with the runway was just like a feather dropping on a bed.

TomFoolery · Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:46 pm

I was on a NW A330 DTW-AMS, and I could swear there was more noise and vibrations from the landing gear deploying than upon landing. Considering the added number of tires on a widebody, I was rather impressed. Hats off!

Tom

mdsh00 · Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:39 pm

the best one was back in December 1999 on a VS flight from LAX-LHR. The 747 landing was so smooth, that I never felt the rear wheels making contact with the ground. It was a beautiful landing.

cfm-56 · Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:42 pm

June 2000 CDG-ARN on SAS MD-87 with all female crew! The smoothest landing ever!

CFM-56

cornish · Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:46 pm

May 2001 on an AC A340 into YVR from LHR.

Apart from the smoothest of landings, I was lucky enough to get the jumpseat for the experience - awesome views as we flew over the Rockies, hit the Pacific coast and then swung down to face Vancouver in the most stunning setting.

And then a landing as smooth as a baby's bottom Smile

Memorable indeed.

Paul · Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:12 pm

Lauda Air 777. VIE-KUL. Take- off and landing on this big beautiful bird were awesome. I did not feel one bump or drop throughout the whole flight.

Paul

Boeing73G · Tue Apr 26, 2005 11:03 pm

Numerous MD80 takeoffs landings. Didn't feel a thing.

Beany · Tue Apr 26, 2005 11:18 pm

The smoothest:
BA 744 into PHX in Jan this year - couldn't even tell you had hit the deck.

I can't really remember any more smooth landings although I remember two rough ones.

On a BA 742 into Bermuda, we hit so hard that all the oxygen masks came down. I didn't envy the person who would have to pack them all away!

Also, on a BA 767 into LGW. I was jumpseated and the F/O made a right hash of it. We slammed pretty hard onto 26L. After we had pulled onto the taxiway the captain started to rib him. Most amusing!

[Edited 2005-04-26 16:20:19]

fraspotter · Wed Apr 27, 2005 2:56 am

I was landing at FRA on an AA 777 from DFW in summer of '03 and I didn't even know we had landed until i saw aircraft outside my window.

flymia · Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:23 am

Amazingly it was on the oldest plane I ever flew. Gruman Millard 73 Chalks Ocean Airways. FLL 9R. Lots of sharp turns for Downwind and base but smooth landing.

CanadianDC10 · Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:18 am

Any of the landings in a CRJ that I've experienced have been really smooth.

TedTAce · Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:54 am

I made a couple when I was training with 152's/172's, BUT the best overall (everything considered) was as PAX ATL-MIA on a UA 727. (see thread on why retire the 72..)
Rain showers had just cleared, and on final the Capt announced to the FA's prepare for a smooth landing, sure enough he glassed it on!!!.

edoca · Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:05 am

Last december, MD11 flight with KLM from AUA landing in AMS. Beautiful winter weather, and the captain was flying his last flight, and he surely showed his skill. No way to tell of course but I think that if there were any spotters around, they probably didn't see any smoke when the wheels touched the runway...

fbgdavidson · Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:47 am

Some kind soul even managed to video it for me Smile

Brooklyn787 · Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:55 am

Last October, B767-400 flight with CO (EWR-FRA). We landed for the first time on Runway 07L (Out of 24 landings in FRA, most were on 25R or 25L, a couple of times on 36). It was mostly sunny and about 37F.

So smooth that the purser made the announcement right after landing that we should thank the Capt. for the smooth landing.

However on the return flight, when we landed in EWR, the touchdown was a little hard. The ceiling was real low that day (I didn't see the ground until we passed over I-78) and I read somewhere that in those situations, the automatic pilot lands the plane.

[Edited 2005-04-27 00:00:33]

airtrainer · Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:11 am

Back in 2001, BRU-JFK on a SN A330. Not a single turbulence during the whole flight, wonderful Smile

BNE · Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:47 pm

I would have to say British Airways 4 flights all very gentle landings. I have only taken 4 flights with British Airways but they stick in the mind.

freedomtofly · Sat Apr 30, 2005 8:46 am

Actually last friday (4/22), we made an absolutely beautiful landing at SFO from IAD on a UA 757. Kudos to the captain for that one.

~Aaron

RCS763AV · Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:07 am

Avianca MD-83 in CTG (Cartagena, Colombia) we were coming from BOG and I fell into a shallow sleep, I was only waken up by the FAs announcement of arrival, it was back in 2001.

USAFHummer · Sun May 01, 2005 4:53 am

Two...a US A330 landing in PIT, which was doubly impressive cause on takeoff that thing shook and rattled like no other takeoff I had experienced, so the last thing I had expected was a smooth landing...also a US A319 landing in PHL at night, I never felt us touch the ground or lower the nose...only the reversers coming on signaled that we were fully on the runway, quite amazing!

Greg

777ER · Sun May 01, 2005 7:56 am

Last year while flying AKL-WLG with NZ (B733), it was that smooth that I didn't even noticed that we had touched down, intill the brakes were on.

Palladium · Sun May 01, 2005 11:25 am

EVA AIR B747-400 TPE - SEA
Summer 2004, it was smooth and perfect. Smile

sanjet · Sun May 01, 2005 12:06 pm

Flew on a KLM 747-400 flight from Amsterdam to Mumbai. Softest landing I've ever felt, didnt actually realised we touched down until the reverse thrust was engaged.

Fbgdavidson, I sat in the rear section on that flight, maybe we saw eachother!

BAViscount · Tue May 03, 2005 8:29 am

Just last Friday on a Flybe BAe146 from GCI to LGW - we literally kissed that runway with great tenderness at LGW!! I was flying with a friend/colleague who has her PPL, and when we touched down we both looked at each other with that "now that's what you CALL a smooth landing" kinda look.

ZKSUJ · Tue May 03, 2005 6:44 pm

Either on an NZ 733 2 years back on WLG-AKL, or in the Piper Cherokee.

babybus · Thu May 12, 2005 7:43 am

It was a Dan-Air B733 on a misty dawn arrival at LGW from Izmir. The capt said it was going to be smooth and it was. Didn't feel a thing, not even the brakes deploying.

Never had one like it since.

burnsie28 · Fri May 13, 2005 12:36 pm

NW DEN-MEM, A320 back in September, didnt even know we landed.

ZKSUJ · Fri May 13, 2005 8:32 pm

On an NZ 733 landing at AKL from WLG, no noticing of the touchdown. Also a few in the Piper Cherokee were very smooth

fubar37 · Fri May 13, 2005 10:03 pm

Flying into Loreto, Baja California. It was night time and looking out the window all you could see was blackness. I knew we were getting close to the airport but I had no idea how close. Next thing I knew I heard and felt the thrust reverser kick in and the plane started breaking. I never felt the plane touch the ground. That was like 15 years ago and it still impresses me to this day.

andz · Sun May 15, 2005 11:38 pm

I have had a couple of landings into LHR and JNB on SAA 744s where there was no indication at all of touchdown, absolute "greasers" enhanced by the lack of reverse thrust. Having flown a 747 classic simulator and pounded it into the ground over and over I appreciate the skill of those pilots!

57AZ · Mon May 16, 2005 4:38 pm

I've had so many smooth landings that one does not stand out against the others. That said, in certain conditions a smooth landing is not always a safe landing. In wet conditions, it may be better for the PF to firmly plant the mains on the runway to avoid hydroplaning. That being the case, I'll take a firm safe landing over a smooth one in wet conditions anyday.

PMN · Tue May 17, 2005 1:06 am

Two come to mind for me.

British Midland A321 landing at AGP in 1999. Couldn't feel a thing as we touched the runway.

BA 777-200 landing at LHR earlier this year. Hardly felt a thing, and no reverse thrust so it was very quiet as well.

Paul

jumppilot · Tue May 17, 2005 7:13 pm

Best: Delta 767 San Juan to Miami couldn't even feel it!
Worst: Good ol' SWA 737-200 about 5 years ago in Phoenix to Kansas City during a thunderstorm! It was an arrival!!!

pilotaydin · Tue May 17, 2005 10:52 pm

back in the 90s, Salt Lake city, Delta 727, i didnt feel a damn thing.....

airxliban · Wed May 18, 2005 11:38 am

I have had exceptionally smooth landings on every single MEA flight that I have been on (and I have been on many). Brilliant.

By contrast, 3 of the 4 Qantas flights that I flew on in March (LAX-AKL, AKL-BNE and BNE-SYD) had exceptionally rough landings...not sure why.

ValkyrieRamp · Wed May 18, 2005 11:46 pm

Saab 340b going into DAY. The pilot looked like she was about 12 but it was hard to tell when flight ended and the rolling began.

Conversly the flight back to MDW was on the same aircraft flown by a "more experienced" pilot who had a hard time finding the ground on the first two bounces.

wunala · Thu May 19, 2005 4:55 pm

Last year, QFSYDPER. Me and the other half were talking away, and didnt even notice that we were taxiing to the terminal. We thought we were still decending.

Its great.

CV990 · Thu May 19, 2005 6:09 pm

Hi!

The most smooth landing I had was on my way from STL to LHR. We started flying from STL to PHL on USExpress, it was the last time I saw TWA alive ( I'll never forget that.... ) and we flew in a ERJ145 ( N285SK ). When we arrived to PHL we had a transit of about 4 hours so we took a train and went to PHL down town. It was a great experience and it was good to relax a bit before we returned back to PHL airport. Then we boarded our BA flight to LHR, this time a 747-400 G-BYGG. We had the most wonderfull ride over the Ocean and when we arrived to LHR it was the most beautifull summer day I ever experienced in London, hot, blue sky, sunny.... and over that I got the most outstanding, smooth landing in all my 100 flights I did over the last 25 years! Just magic!!!!
Hereunder goes then photo of my plane in the same day I landed at LHR.

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Chris Sheldon

Details

Date: 2001/07/27 ( arrived on the 28th. July )
Airline: BA
Airplane: B. 747-400
Registration: G-BYGG

regards

ANITIX87 · Sun May 22, 2005 2:54 am

FbgDavidson -

You really like sparking things don't you? HAHA, j/k...first that picture from the magazine cover and now this classic video?

My smoothest landing was by far on a TWA 747 JFK-ATH (on the plane that went down as TWA800 exactly 2 days before the crash). We came in 35 minutes early in perfect weather and I had seat 36A. We landed, the thrust reverse came on, and nobody clapped because they thought we were still in the air! Finally, when the plane came to a complete stop and turned off the runway did it hit people that we had arrived. My mom asked me how long ago we'd hit the tarmac and when I told her it'd been about a minute she was speechless. It was the most incredible thing I've ever experienced. Now, most other landings seem rough as anything to me. Guess I was spoiled.

TIS

Airlinerfreak · Sun May 22, 2005 3:06 am

I was on an AA 777 from LAX-DFW on October 8, 2004 on flight 2446 and I could not feel anything at all, it was immaculate.

globetrekker · Sun May 22, 2005 5:56 pm

KLM 747-400 in CUR 2 months ago. I was busy filming the landing and started wondering when we were actually going to hit the ground when I saw the spoilers come up. Only then I realized we touched down.

Globe Trekker

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