Private Pilot licence checkride

[Lech]

Hi everyone,
I am relitively new to FS2002. I am having great difficuilty gaining my private pilots licence.
My instructor asks me to leave the runway, climb to 2,000 feet, turn 90 degrees left (i can do this fine). Then she tells me to do a steep 360 degree turn to the left - I always get referred by to Rod- no matter how carful I am, eg. speed, heading altitude etc.
Am I being too heavy handed? Please help.

[Whitey]

OK, I was trying this just before I came online.

I was sure that steep turn was impossible before, but now I can do it every time I try.  It's all about practice.  Look at your attitude indicator.  You will notice two diagonal lines on the bottom half.  In a steep turn you should be aiming to keep the needle on the steeper one of the two.  You get something like 10 seconda above this and 5 below...not quite sure now.  After you make the steep turn, the rest is easy.  Just be careful once you've turned onto the downwind leg, becasue after that the instructor doesn't give any more instructions.  It's all up to you until you land.

Here's a site with a guide, but remember, it can't do the flying for you.  http://members.chello.at/matthias.holzer/checkride.html

It took me ages to get my PPL in FS2002.  There's some real pilots on here that complain it's far too hard to get.  Dont worry about it.

[Lech]

Hi once again,
I've just read your suggestions and am about to give it a try.
I'll let you know how I've performed.
Many thanks for you prompt reply.
Lech

[FSTipster]

You might also find the following three tips useful:

From falstaffpac:

As the instructor's lovely voice tells you, take off and climb to 2000 ft. Set to full throttle and climb at 80-85 kts. At 1900 ft, reduce throttle to 2200 rpm. Continue climbing and level off at 2000. As instructed, turn to 090. Recheck tach for 2200 rpm. Maintain 2000 ft, airspeed should increase to about 95 kts. Level out at 090. As instructed, look right and left for aircraft (don't know if the program checks to see that you do this, but I looked each time).
Now the tricky part! Left turn to 45 degrees, quickly but smoothly (on AI, Left wing on second solid white line). Increase throttle to 3/4 (about 2350 rpm) and ease back on the elevator. Ease into left full rudder. Watch your airspeed and VSI closely! Airspeed should be steady at 100 kts. VSI will bob a little, but should be close to 0. Maintain 45 degree bank.
To reiterate, if you've entered into the steep turn well, you are maintaining 45 degree bank, at about 2350 rpm, 100 kts, full left rudder, no change on VSI. You need to roll out at 090. I started roll out at 110. Watch your altitude as your plane will want to pitch up. Ease off rudder and decrease throttle. Level at 090. YOu should get the green light from the bitc.. er a instructor.
Now to give you a heads up on the second half of the flight. You will be instructed to turn to heading 120 for the Tacoma Narrows Airport. You are to enter a Left Downwind approach. The airport can be spotted around DME 15 (I didn't check to see what VOR we are tuned). You will see a bridge pop up on the right, the airport is directly in front of that. At about DME 14.5, I changed heading to 150; for some reason the instructor has been quiet unless I make this small heading change. I also began reducing altitude to about 1500 ft. The instructor will come alive about DME 14 and tell you to turn to a heading of 180 and descend to 1300 ft. Your almost there.
Level at 1300 ft, turn downwind and enter a standard traffic pattern to RWY 35. The instructor won't say a word! Land, come to a complete stop. Congratulations!
This might not be the only way to do it, but it sure is one of the few ways to do it!

From Capt CRJ:
Re: "The only specific question I have is what downwind left refers to?"
It refers to the direction of the turn. A left hand pattern means to fly all the turns to the left. (In a left hand pattern it is easier to keep the airport in sight for the pilot in the left seat as well).

So during the checkride when she orders you to turn to 180deg you are already in a LEFT downwind. Just extend it past the airport and fly 2 more left turns for base and final.

From Sal:
If you get past the steep turn, she tells you to turn to heading 120 towards Tacoma Narrows airport. Stay on this heading at 2000' until she instructs you to turn to 180. Turn, then descend to 1300' When you are at 1300' ASL you can turn to heading 170 which is the correct heading for the downwind leg. Fly past the airport, turn base, final, and land. Put on the brakes, but don't stop on the runway, instead turn right onto the taxiway. The certificate should appear as soon as you make the turn. At least this is how I was able to pass the checkride. Hope this will help relieve some frustration