In this section examine some basic flight skills required to pilot an aircraft. These are: Taking Off, Climbing, Descent and Diving, Turning and Landing.
Cockpit Instruments
In order to fly your aircraft, you must first know how to read some basic flight instruments that provide you with critical information. Instruments in each aircraft are laid out in a slightly different manner, but all include the following:
1.Altimeter - Your height above the sea-level. NOT above the ground, as the ground (mountains) may be well above the ground.
2.Speed - Your IAS (Indicated Air Speed) in MPH (Miles Per Hour).
3.Flaps Setting - The position of your flaps. Depending on your aircraft, this may have one or more settings.
4.Engine Power - Also know as throttle setting in percentage. Full power being 100%, and idle being 0%. If your aircraft has WEP (War Emergency Power), when this is engaged would give you 120% power.
5.Rate of Climb - Also know as Climb Indicator, in thousands of feet per minute (x1000/min). Above horizontal is climbing, below is diving or sinking.
6.Fuel - In percentage of fuel left in your fuel tank. At this time, drop tanks are not modeled in many sims, so this only indicates what your internal fuel tank carries.
There are also some additional signal lights on the instrument panel you should keep a watch on, especially during combat, and/or after sustaining damage. They are: Landing Gear, Hydraulic Failure, Engine Failure (Oil level low), Fuel Low and BEACON. The BEACON indicates the quality of your internet connection with the game host server. Green is good, yellow is poor, red is BAD (Could be disconnected, may be temporary). Additionally, there are also indicators for remaining ammo.
Taking Off
1.Altimeter - Your height above the sea-level. NOT above the ground, as the ground (mountains) may be well above the ground. 2.Speed - Your IAS (Indicated Air Speed) in MPH (Miles Per Hour). 3.Flaps Setting - The position of your flaps. Depending on your aircraft, this may have one or more settings. 4.Engine Power - Also know as throttle setting in percentage. Full power being 100%, and idle being 0%. If your aircraft has WEP (War Emergency Power), when this is engaged would give you 120% power. 5.Rate of Climb - Also know as Climb Indicator, in thousands of feet per minute (x1000/min). Above horizontal is climbing, below is diving or sinking. 6.Fuel - In percentage of fuel left in your fuel tank. At this time, drop tanks are not modeled yet, this only indicate what your internal fuel tank carries.
There are also some additional signal lights on the instrument panel you should keep a watch out for, especially during combat, and/or after sustaining damage. They are: Landing Gear, Hydraulic Failure, Engine Failure (Oil level low), Fuel Low and BEACON. The BEACON indicates the quality of your internet connection with the game host server. Green is good, yellow is poor, red is BAD (Could be disconnected, may be temporary). Additionally, there are also indicators on ammo left for your weapons.
Propeller engines produce torque. Just as in the real world, it is the pilot's job to compensate for this. On the runway, you'll need to work to keep the planes moving in a straight path until flying speed is reached. The best way to do this is to hold full back on the stick, to lock the tail wheel (push forward stick in the P-38 and P-39 which have nose wheels) until your speed reaches 50 Knots. At this point, ease the stick to the neutral position, and use your rudder to keep the planes moving straight down the runway. Once your Indicated Air Speed (IAS) is above 100 MPH or so, ease back on the stick to lift off (this is commonly called rotating). Once airborne, retract your landing gear and try to move your stick as gently as possible, until you have attained sufficiently air-speed. The torque effect will still be prevalent after lift off, you may find yourself reacting to the plane wanting to roll to one side. To correct this, trim your aircraft out for level flight once you have achieved enough air-speed. (Hit the X key)
Climbing
To initiate a climb, increase your throttle and trim your aircraft to climb (Shift X for trim to climb at a set speed, which can be set by typing: .speed xxx where xxx is desired speed. Of trim to climb at a set angle, set aircraft to nose up and hit Control X.) The resultant increase in THRUST (higher throttle setting) and Angle of Acttack (Nose Up) will generate more lift. Take care not to bring the nose up too far, or you will staill. The best sustained climb rate is usually full throttle, with your aircraft's nose about 20 degrees above the horizon.
Descent and Diving
To descend without gaining speed, decrease your throttle setting. The reducting in air-speed will generate less lift, and your airplane will gradually lose altitude. The rate of descent is also commonly known as Sink Rate, this is displayed on your instrutment panel as Thousands of Feet per Minute. To put your aircraft into a rapid descent pattern or DIVE, push the stick forward to nose the airplane down into a dive. In a Dive, your plane will gain air-speed very quickly, and lose altitude rapidly. The resultant high speed may cause compressibility and/or damage your airframe.
Turns
An aircraft is turned when it enters into a Bank. When this occurs, part of the aircraft's lift causes it to side-slip. When it starts to side-slip, the verticle stabilizer will cause the aircraft to change heading. In order to perform a coordinated turn, roll the aircraft in the direction of the desired turn, pull back gentle on the stick to apply a slight back pressure. At the same time, apply slight rudder pressure and increase throttle. Since turning will bleed of speed, and lose lift, try to keep the aircraft's nose just above the horizon to maintain AOA.
Landing
Commonly considered the most difficult aspect of flight, and rightly so. The key to a good landing is setting up a good approach to the runway. Start your final approach from aboutn 3-5 miles out, at an altitude of 1000 to 1500 feet, airspeed of about 150 Knots. On commencing your final approach, drop your landing gear and lower your flaps. Approach the runway in a shallow descent. It is a common error amoung rookie pilot to control your descending altitude (or sink rate) using your elevators. The correct method is to use your throttle to control your elevation or sink rate; and use your aircraft's pitch attitude, or elevator, to control your speed. If your approach is set up properly, very little elevator input is required. When you cross the threshold of the runway, you should be at a very low altitude at just over 100 MPH of airspeed. Just before you touch down, raise the nose of the aircraft slightly, to flare out. This will decrease your airspeed further and touch you down onto the runway. At this point, your throttle setting should be just about at idle. Once on the runway, throttle all the way back and apply wheel brakes (SpaceBar), and bring the aircraft to a complete stop.
Main
Last Updated August 30th, 1997
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