Sim Flight Training: PPL: Part 2 of 7

[Brett_Henderson]

I think my inner-stick-and-rudder pilot is in there helping the muzzle-loader in me work on target shooting...

[Mobius]

Sounding good so far.  I have to suggest Ultimate Terrain X for FSX is you want to be able to navigate by landmarks accurately.  It adds accurate roads, rivers, lakes, coasts, railroad tracks, towns, and more things that would make great real-world VFR checkpoints.

[BFMF]

But even so, it is still possible to fly in Flightsim using a sectional chart and navigate by visual landmarks with default scenery

[Mobius]

But even so, it is still possible to fly in Flightsim using a sectional chart and navigate by visual landmarks with default scenery

Very true.

[Brett_Henderson]

Absolutely  :)

It's very VERY accurate...

[beaky]

Absolutely  :)

It's very VERY accurate...

The only beef I have with FS9 is bodies of water, especially rivers. They usually are not quite right, or peter out in weird places.
But then again, sometimes the real life VFR charts are not terribly accurate, either... I was amazed at how different a certain lake in SoCal looked in reality, and it is not because of seasonal drought, either... there were buildings where the chart showed water! And yes, the chart was current...

[Brett_Henderson]

The only beef I have with FS9 is bodies of water, especially rivers.

I know what you mean... There are a few reservoirs near Columbus, that are pretty poorly replicated in FS9..

[Brett_Henderson]

On to pattern entry and we'll be just about done with Part 2.....

If you do not understand what a standard traffic pattern is (i.e.

[Brett_Henderson]

Flying the pattern, at least a leg or two, will give you a good feel for the wind... and a good reference for how much crab-angle you'll need on final. Touch-n-goes are good for stabilizing an approach, because you can immediately execute another approach with what went wrong, fresh in your mind.

The only way to learn this, is to practice, keeping the goal in mind... By the time you're established on final; your airspeed and rate-of-descent will be such that you just ride the plane to the touch-down point, almost as though

[Brett_Henderson]

My first instructor told me, that ALL landings are short-field landings. You'll always want to come over the numbers carrying the lowest groundspeed that is safe and reasonable. If you train that way; you'll have forced yourslef to experience the edge of the power-curve. A full-flap, no wind landing and complete stop, can be accomplished using up no more than 700' of runway, in a C172, easily.... If your landing instincts are develpoped with that in mind, it's like swinging a weighted bat. When you take the batting ring off.. the bat feels light, and easy to control.

My point in closing Part 2; is that there is no special technique to a short-field landing as far as student pilots are concerned.. it's the only way to learn to land an airplane. Expidited, and no-flap landings, are extensions of the basic skills... and will come to you naturally and more comfortably.. later on..

Practice goals for completion of Part 2: At a safe altitude (at least 3000agl), with the plane happy, trimmed and cruising level..

[Slotback]

Hey Brett, and Mobius. Fantastic guide!

One question however, I am not good at judging distance, but is this a good distance to position the downwind leg from the runway?

http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/2 ... -5-734.jpg

And two, my Marchetti slices the air so efficiently that it struggles to fly under 130 knots.

[Brett_Henderson]

[quote]Hey Brett, and Mobius. Fantastic guide!

One question however, I am not good at judging distance, but is this a good distance to position the downwind leg from the runway?

http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/2 ... -5-734.jpg

And two, my Marchetti slices the air so efficiently that it struggles to fly under 130 knots.

[Brett_Henderson]

and....................

That's one of the reason's I was taught (and teach) pilots to enter the pattern on whichever leg they're already flying (i.e. .. if you're north of a 9/27, left-hand pattern runway,,, go ahead and enter on the crosswind (as opposed to over-flying the field and entering 45 degrees into the downwing leg, potentially putting you in conflict with that KingAir at TPA+500')...

[Brett_Henderson]

** Bump  ( see thread:  "Putting it all together" ) **