Simviation Forums

SimV Private Pilot:

1-Plan a flight of 50nm or more, accounting for winds aloft and their affect on heading and ground-speed. Calculate the minimum fuel needed (including reserves) and the maximum payload at that fuel level.

2-Fly the planned flight holding heading (+/- 10 degrees) and altitude (+/- 100 feet); enter the traffic pattern safely; execute a touch-and-go and fly one complete lap around the pattern and then execute a full-stop, short-field landing.

3-Execute a short-field takeoff.

4-Execute a constant-airspeed, climbing turn.

5-Track a VOR radial and fly to an NDB.

6-Execute a 360 degree, steep turn (greater than 45 degrees bank) holding altitude +/- 100 feet and rolling out on heading +/- 10 degrees.

7-Execute a no-flap landing.

Our "Instant Airline Captains", who think they can pilot big jets, are most likely making heading/altitude changes that would have their passengers spooked, airsick and gulping down their liquid sedatives.

My instructor used to have me practice standard coordinated turns while timing them. As a private pilot, i'm not sure how often timed turns like that are important, atleast not untill you start getting into instrument flying, holding patterns, ect

Maybe I missed something, but when would timed turns really have a practical use for a private pilot? I'm not questioning it, but I am curious

During my instrument training we did "vertical-S's", where you would start in straight and level flight at 4000 feet and start a standard rate turn to the right while starting a 500 fpm descent at the same time, then after two minutes, you would (hopefully) be at your initial heading at 3000 feet, and you would immediately start a standard rate turn to the left and start climbing at 500 fpm so after exactly four minutes of maneuvering, you would be on your initial heading, at your initial altitude.  It was really good for practicing adjusting your turns to keep them standard rate, maintaining a constant climb/descent rate, rolling into and out of turns on your desired heading, and leveling off at your desired altitude.  It was everything all in one.  

A standard rate turn is 20*, which, in a C172, gives you a 180* turn in one minute at a 20* bank.

270-90=180=1 minute standard turn at 20*