Panel at Go Around: Full throttles, Retract flaps to one-quarter, don't raise gear until 1000 ft. AGL, then go to slow-flight configuration.

There's very little reconfiguring of the aircraft needed on a Go Around, which is as it should be. The pilot's total focus should be on flying the aircraft and safely gaining some altitude.

On a go around responsively, but smoothly, shove the throttles forward to full power—48 in. MP. (Pressing the F-4 Key will do that). The props were already moved into the high RPM position during approach in preparation of a go-around, if necessary. Stop the descent; raise the flaps up to the first notch, one-quarter, but leave the gear down for the moment. Don't let the aircraft sink as the flaps bleed off.

You might wonder, as I did, why raise the flaps before the gear on a go-around? Here's the wonderfully succinct answer I got from one DC-3 captain when I raised this question on a forum. I thought a pilot would want to "first eliminate the horrible drag of the landing gear."

"If you were to sink towards the runway on a go-around, would you rather have flaps or gear? The split flaps on the DC-3 create more drag than lift, and the drag from the gear is not horrible.
In a single or twin, it's never gear up until a positive rate of climb is established, and that is difficult if not impossible with full flaps."
Another DC-3 Captain justified raising flaps first this way:

"It´s pretty simple, DC-3 has split flaps. At full flaps it generates approximately 200% drag and 35% lift."
Don't be in a hurry to gain too much altitude. Continue to bleed off the flaps, climb out at 90 kts and 300 fpm. Once a positive rate of climb has been established, reduce the power to climb, 36" MP, 2350 RPM, and raise the gear. At 1000 ft. AGL reduce the throttles and props to the slow-flight configuration for another try or to enter the holding pattern.

If circumstances force you to another destination, then stay in the climb configuration and go to the assigned altitude and be on your way.

Testing Your Go-Around Skills - The Short Field Landing, Flight 1200-0B8

Here is a fun-flight to practice your go-around skills. It takes only 15 to 20 minutes and starts on Runway 23 of Quonset State Airport, KOQU, in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The destination airport is Elizabeth Field on Fishers Island, NY, 35 NM to the southwest. Its airport ID is 0B8.

Again, click here to download 1200.zip for the FSNavigator flight plan if necessary. You will use 1200-0b8.fsn for this flight.

Elizabeth Field has two runways ... you will be landing straight in on Rwy 25, 1790 ft in length and 75 ft. wide.

• Set weather to unlimited visibility, scattered clouds and zero wind.
• Depart Runway 23 of KOQU
• Turn right to heading 245° for Westerly Airport, about 21 NM distant.
• Climb to 3000 feet.
• At Westerly Airport, turn right to 255° and begin descent.
• Set up for a straight-in approach to Runway 25, Elizabeth Field. The field is at the far end of Fishers Island and you should see the Island on passing Westerly Airport.
• Lower landing gear and flaps, slow to 85 kts.
• At 1500 ft go to full flaps, slow to 75 kts approach speed.
• At 200 ft altitude, exercise the Go-Around procedures. (F-4 Key for full throttle.)
• Climb to 1000 ft.
• Return and enter a left-traffic pattern to land on Runway 25.
• Approach speed on final should be 75 kts with full flaps.
• Submit your time for this flight on the PIREP form ... Flight No. is 1200-0B8.

NOTE: Be forewarned, Elizabeth Field’s Runway 25 is too short for a DC-3 to take-off from. Use Rwy 12/30 for take-offs. It is 2324 ft in length.

This is a favorite "take-a-break" flight for me. Short, easy, but challenging on the approach and landing. Plus you get to exercise all nine segments of a flight. You're likely to put it in the same "favorite" category.