CQ Notes from an old paddles

[nittany03]

Light bulb just went off . . . you weren't a Meridian instructor, were you, @taxi1? I never flew T-2s, but we had a sim instructor and USNR O-6 type there who had a background in T-2s, was an OCF guru, and had an . . . umm . . . larger-than-life personality.

 

[taxi1]

I have literally never been near Meridian, even to shoot a practice approach. Sorry!

 

[nittany03]

I have literally never been near Meridian, even to shoot a practice approach. Sorry!

Aside from the flying, you haven't missed much.

 

[wlawr005]

#3: High Coming Down, 90 to the 45

This one generated controversy in the ready room.

Geometrically speaking, the ideal pattern would lead you to have a high ball coming down as you come through the 90 - 45 degree position. To illustrate it, I’d ask the students to assume you can actually see the ball at the 180 and all the way around the pattern. Yes, it’s a magical ball. Assume you keep it centered all the way around. What would be the altitude you’d fly around the pattern, and what would be your descent rate at each point, 180, 135, 90, 45, in the groove? Particularly, what would be the altitude for a centered ball at the 180?

The gut answer is saying 800’ AGL at the 180, but the gut is wrong. In fact, you’d start at 0’ AGL at the 180, with a 500’ FPM climb rate, going up the glideslope, because you’re going away from the intended point of landing. At the 90, with a centered ball, you’d have to have a 0’ FPM descent rate, as you travel perpendicular to the glideslope. Then your descent rate would need to steadily increase until you are heading directly back downhill.

Since what you’d like is a nice, constant power setting and descent rate from the 180 to touchdown (with a short decrement to bleed off the speed when you roll wings level in the groove), then in order to not have a 0’ FPM descent rate at the 90, you need to see a high ball coming down there. How high? A ball high when you picked it up seemed to work.

This was some graduate level stuff for those who catch flies with chopsticks. It confused the average SNA who was better served just moving the controls to keep it in the middle once they picked it up, chasing the latest deviation caused by their response to the previous deviation. But for the ones ready to peel back the onion of knowledge, this was a wee step up the ladder.

Just for a fun fact, the T45 roll angle causes the ball to appear slightly low at the 90 and rise up to glide slope at and through the 45.

 

[taxi1]

Just for a fun fact, the T45 roll angle causes the ball to appear slightly low at the 90 and rise up to glide slope at and through the 45.

I would have died. ?

Never had to the chance to fly the IFLOLS. Understand it is pretty slick.

 

[Duc'-guy25]

Light bulb just went off . . . you weren't a Meridian instructor, were you, @taxi1? I never flew T-2s, but we had a sim instructor and USNR O-6 type there who had a background in T-2s, was an OCF guru, and had an . . . umm . . . larger-than-life personality.

Can’t imagine who that was...

 

[Python]

Can’t imagine who that was...

literally every jet dude ever from meridian on this board has figured it out within 3 seconds of reading.

 

[Python]

I would have died. ?

Never had to the chance to fly the IFLOLS. Understand it is pretty slick.

yes. It is. Flying the old FLOLS at bases that still have it makes me wonder how any of you guys lived.

 

[taxi1]

yes. It is. Flying the old FLOLS at bases that still have it makes me wonder how any of you guys lived.

 

[wlawr005]

yes. It is. Flying the old FLOLS at bases that still have it makes me wonder how any of you guys lived.

You're not wrong.

 

[nittany03]

yes. It is. Flying the old FLOLS at bases that still have it makes me wonder how any of you guys lived.

Pilot, to self: Did the ball just . . . aaah fuck!

Pilot: “Clara.”

Paddles: “You’re high.”

Pilot, to self: Yeah, no shit, Paddles, thanks . . .

?

 

[Farva01]

Just for a fun fact, the T45 roll angle causes the ball to appear slightly low at the 90 and rise up to glide slope at and through the 45.

Rhino as well. I start flying the ball at the 45...well I used to, now I just PLM that baby.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Rhino as well. I start flying the ball at the 45...well I used to, now I just PLM that baby.

that PLM is gooooood........came back to the fleet in perfect timing.......stopped having to think. Farvas old bones and mind were probably immediately at ease

 

[Swanee]

that PLM is gooooood........came back to the fleet in perfect timing.......stopped having to think. Farvas old bones and mind were probably immediately at ease

So when does PLM make it so guys like me don't atrite at the last minute (and at great expense?)

 

[Python]

So when does PLM make it so guys like me don't atrite at the last minute (and at great expense?)

Already been that way in the F-35. Will be that way soon in Rhino/Growler. Last I heard was within a year but that could’ve changed.