Landing flare

{{Short description|Flying maneuver}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}

{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}

{{For|the pyrotechnic flare used to illuminate a runway|Flare (pyrotechnic)}}

File:Piper PA-28 Cherokee Landing 03.JPG flaring for landing]]

File:Easyjet A320 (G-EZUI) flaring Bristol 22.6.14 arp.jpg flares at Bristol Airport, England]]

The landing flare, also referred to as the round out,{{Cite book |author = Flight Standards Service |title = Airplane Flying Handbook |publisher = Federal Aviation Administration |year = 2016 |url = https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/ |pages = 8–6 |id = FAA-H-8083-3B }} is a maneuver or stage during the landing of an aircraft.{{cite book |author = Transport Canada |author-link = Transport Canada |title = Aeroplane Flight Training Manual |edition = 4th |page = 105 |publisher = Gage Educational Publishing |year = 1994 |isbn = 0-7715-5115-0 }}{{cite book |last = KaiserG |first = John W. |title = How to Fly Book: Cessna 150 |page = 33 |publisher = Victoria Flying Club |year = 1977 }}{{cite book |last = Reichman |first = Helmut |title = Flying Sailplanes |page = 51 |publisher = Thomson Publications |year = 1980 |lccn = 80-52798 }}

The flare follows the final approach phase and precedes the touchdown and roll-out phases of landing. In the flare, the nose of the plane is raised, slowing the descent rate and therefore creating a softer touchdown, and the proper attitude is set for touchdown. In the case of tailwheel landing gear-equipped aircraft, the attitude is set for touchdown on the main (front) landing gear first. In the case of tricycle gear-equipped aircraft, the attitude is set for touchdown on the main (rear) landing gear. In the case of monowheel gear-equipped gliders, the flare consists only of leveling the aircraft.

In parachuting, the flare is the part of the parachute landing fall preceding ground contact and is executed about {{convert|15|ft|m|0}} above ground.{{cite book |first1 = Dan |last1 = Poynter |first2 = Mike |last2 = Turoff |title = Parachuting: The Skydiver's Handbook |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=1jDqpK2HlxYC&pg=PA68 |year = 2003 |publisher = Para Publishing |isbn = 978-1-56860-087-1 |page = 68 |quote = Flare at 15', push both toggles down to pelvis... or blow the timing on the landing flare. |access-date = 2011-10-15 |via = Google Books }}

During a helicopter landing, a flare is used for reducing both vertical and horizontal speed thus allowing a near zero-speed touchdown.{{cite book |first = Simon |last = Newman |title = The Foundations of Helicopter Flight |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3LhTAAAAMAAJ |year = 1994 |publisher = Halsted Press |isbn = 978-0-470-23394-8 |quote = ...the final part of the autorotative manoeuvre. This is the landing flare prior to touchdown, which is necessary to arrest the vertical descent rate of the helicopter. |access-date = 2011-10-15 |via = Google Books }}