Manual approach

[Liam]

Are there any guides out there for manual approaches? Obviously there are quite a few for ILS which I have gotten the hang of now.

Not totally manual of course, like pushing the joystick downwards and hoping, but trim and speeds etc.

Cheers.  ;)

[kevin2003]

Hi Liam

If you are using a default FS9 aircraft then landing speeds are to be found in the flight notes in the Learning Centre.If its a third party addon then many will have the important data in the "Readme" notes.

Failing that,Jets will usually land between 135 and 145 Knots.Commuter twins at about 100-110 and single engined props at between 65-90 knots depending on size.I stress this is only a rough guide.

Make sure  that when you turn finals you have your approach speed nailed.With flaps full and gear down set power to give you a descent rate of about 400-500 fpm.Let the PAPI lights(see Learning Centre) be your indicator to the correct glidescope.

Save your flight just before you turn finals so you can go back and practice and practice and practice............

kevin

[beefhole]

The procedures for a manual, full visual approcah really aren't much different from an ILS apprcoah-the only big difference is that you need to be established and stabilized on the approach (gear down, speed set, flaps in landing config) by 500' AGL (as opposed to 1,000' AGL for ILS approaches)

[jknight8907]

I would suggest that you fly a few ILS approaches in good weather, so you can note the pitch attitude, the airspeed, sink rate, and what the view out the window looks like. Once you know that, you can use your joystick and throttle to make changes so that all these variables end up the same. This becomes natural with practice.

[gbwnab]

Save the flight just before final so that you can go back and re-try!!!!!

I never knew that could be done.....

Can someone let me know what to do?  I've never heard of that (only had the game a little while)

when I'm about to make final, what do I do in order to save the spot??  Just as important, how do I get back to that spot??

Sweet!

Thanks.

[beefhole]

To save a flight (while in-game)-Hit "alt", go to "flights", then click on "save flight". A quicker way would be to use the shortcut, which is ";".  Then, in order to load a flight, hit "alt", "flights", "select a flight".

That should do it

[gbwnab]

thanks A TON!

[beefhole]

np, it took me like 3 months to realize you could save a game on fs 2k2

[Nav]

gwb, best to save the flight farly early - maybe at five miles out.  The reason being that when you reload, the aeroplane sometimes takes time to regain the set speed, attitude etc. - and you may also find that some of the systems - GPS or even ILS - need to be switched back on!

Liam - jknight's advice is very good.  To add to it, first fly the landing a few times on full auto; then turn just the auto-throttle off, and get used to handling the power so the speed and rate of descent stay right.  When you've got that taped, turn the autopilot off as well and try a full 'visual' landing.

Also, don't hesitate to use the Visual Flight Path at first; 'Alt', 'Aircraft', 'Visual Flight Path').  It will show you the proper flight path all the way down to the runway.  'Rectangles' are best, IMO; just fly 'through' them.

Probably the most important single thing in landing is keeping the fore-and-aft trim right.  You shouldn't be in a position of having to hold the stick forward or back continuously to keep the nose at the right angle.  I have the top two buttons on the joystick (right under my thumb) assigned to elevator trim, 'up' and 'down'.  You can do the same, or use other keys, by going to 'Settings', then 'Assignments', and scrolling down to 'Elevator Trim'.

[Liam]

Good tips, thanks guys.

I guess looking at the settings when on Auto pilot was an obvious answer....I'm just always too busy making sure the runway doesn't move!  ;D

I like the idea with the joystick aswell, I have three buttons on top of mine, change view and I don't ever use the other two (can't remember what they do)...so I guess that could come in handy!

Thanks again.