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Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 7:54 pm
by WebbPA
Nice aircraft, nice panel.   A little heavy on the framerates.

http://www.simviation.com/fs2004jets33.htm

I can't land the darned thing!  The readme tells me to keep it above 145 but at 150 it nosedives into the runway.  Anyone got any clues?

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:41 pm
by Meinas
make a fast approach
really fast probably around 250 will do it, make sure you use maximum braking , otherwise you might run out of runway fast ;)

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 11:12 pm
by nickle
A/C flies well.
Needs near idle power at low alt clean to keep speed under control.
Flaps everywhere.
Checked on two landings.
It will fly at 100 kts but is real sensitive to power.
Likely 110 - 120 will be ok.  Did see the 145 recommendation but it will fly well at much lower speeds and should given flaps and canard.
Does have AOA.  Didn't see high AOA at low airspeeds so don't know if it is correct.

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 12:24 pm
by WebbPA
Thanks.  I'll give your suggestions a try.

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:42 pm
by Moach
i had no problem landing it at 145 kts...
even though it is a bit sensitive to throttle

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 5:30 pm
by Staiduk
A nice, trim little bus - the maker put a lot of work into this plane. :)
Flies beautifully; while I wasn't overly enamoured of its high-speed behaviour (It's a little sharp on the elevator for my tastes; leading to some overstressing due to overcontrol ) it flies the circuit sweetly.
Tried several landings in all flap configurations.
(For testing; I set up at San Andreas - it's a tiny little dot of an island 120 mi. off the coast of Nicaragua. Belongs to Columbia. Great for testing - no scenery to hamper framerates; and besides, it's my fave real-world vacation spot. :) )
Anyhoo; tried several approaches; starting from 10 mi @ 3000 ft. with full-flap moving to clean. With full flaps; an approach of 150kias with light power put me straight down the PAPIS; final touchdown at 124kts.
Clean; just as sweet. Started at 250kias; power off the whole way; dropped the gear @ 200. Very clean; I used spoilers on the first flaps-up approach and none on the second - they're really not required unless short-fielding. Without spoilers, speed dropped slowly down the approach; AoA increasing appropriately untol 4 on the gauge ay 145kts. After this point; drag increased fairly rapidly; slowing the craft to 124kias, AoA 6 and increasing sink rate over the inner marker - a slight addition of power was needed to make the numbers; though the 'plane showed no sign of loss of control - flew sweetly the whole time. Drifted her over the runway; finally touched with an unrecoverable sink at about 30 deg. nose up @ 115kias.
I like this plane! The only drawbacks for me are (a) the visibility - not enough out front for me; (b) the elevators - though canards might work like this in real life (don't know - never flown a canard); I'd like to see a bit smoother control for them. acd (c) Throttle control is a bit sensetive; though I suspect this is due to the overpowered engines. Though it must be said; I suspect this craft is best used on AP for most of the flight; leaving it off only for landings and takeoffs.
Webb - something I thought of - If you were flying the 'plane manually at high speeds; likely your trim is set quite nose-down for the approach if you aren't adjusting as you go. That might've been the cause of the noseover. :)
Cheers!

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 6:13 pm
by nickle
The a/c flies very well.
I like the radar altimiter for ground clearance info.
The Ail Trim is actually pitch trim.  Use 8 degrees for TO.
For familiarization suggest TO from ILS runway to 3000 - 4000 ft full auto, 250kts, HDG.  Turn down wind to reciprical of ILS and out 20 miles then turn in to ILS course. NAV during the turn and APP when inside 20 miles.  Speed set to 120 around 15 miles; gear at 12; full flap (including trailing edge) prior GS intercept.  A/P off at GS and hand fly using A/Speed control for power precision.  Does require considerable eyepoint change and the visual glide slope looks steep.  Fly the ILS.  120 is good full fuel.  Should fly 110 no problem with 25 percent fuel.  It's a STOL.

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:24 pm
by WebbPA
I finally landed it at 180 KIA with 30 degrees flaps.  That was a little fast because I had one heck of a flare.  It could probably be done around 150-160 with full flaps but anything below 150 at the threshold won't generate enough lift for a flare.  Well, whatever works.

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:41 pm
by gw
For landings I have been handling it like a Lear Jet and landing at 135 to 140 kts and full flaps.  The aircraft.cfg file specifies a flaps up stall speed of 142 kts and a full flaps stall speed of 113 kts.  So I could actually land at 120 or 125 if I wanted to.

gw

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 7:07 pm
by Billerator
Yeah had no probs with it.
Landed at 120 kts with full flaps and no problem.

Though the touchdown was very rough ( the shock absorbers are a bit stiff ).

I think the spoilers are overpowered.

Try making an apporach with only one engine, its not easy.

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 7:23 pm
by WebbPA
I got it a little slower with full flaps - 155 at the threshold then kill the throttle.  I can probably do better.  It just takes practice.  My first 5 or 6 landings were't pretty but I think I got it.

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 7:30 pm
by nickle
Fly it with A/S control at 120.
Rate of descent M/B controlled with power.  It isn't a Piper Cub.
At touchdown, IAS off; spoilers.
Control sink with attitude with A/S engaged.
Otherwise you won't get CV qualified.

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 12:13 pm
by nickle
Minimum airspeed ILS approach 80 kts.
Full flap, 30 pct fuel, .4 AOA, 9 degrees nose up A/Gyro.
Full auto and also manual plus IAS.
70 kts too slow for adequate control.
A/C has spoilers which can result in wing walk and settling on approach.
Requires descent from FL550 and 2.25 225 - 250 nm from ILS OM or GPS transition waypoint.  Must request from ATC.  

Re: Can you land the Stratojet?

PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:20 pm
by f16pilot
:D You just land it like you land a concorde or a 747