Return To TradeIP.Com | FAQs and Tutorials Page Tutorial: How to Fly Circuits in a Light Aircraft Getting more out of Flight Sim Intro / Disclaimer: This is a very basic outline of what to do if you want to fly VFR circuits in FS98. I am not a real pilot. This material does not translate to real-world procedures. Do not try this in a real airplane. If you do, and make a big, smoking hole in the ground, please don't complain to me. If you someday want to become a real pilot, then it is up to you to avoid acquiring bad habits that may carry over to your training. If you already know how to fly a circuit, feel free to skip this brief tutorial... The Circuit: A really good way to become familiar with FS98 is by flying circuits. Flying FS98 circuits is also a good way to get the feel of a new airplane, a nice way to relax when you want to fly but don't have anything special in mind, and a good way to get better at flying more precisely. What is it?  A FS98 circuit is a box-shaped pattern around an airport. Here's how to fly one in a Cessna. Remember, this is very basic:
Click for larger view If you go too far downwind, other aircraft behind you in the circuit may cut in, not realizing you are staying in the pattern, and you tend to lose your perspective on where the airport is. A mile to a mile and a half past the runway threshold is good, no more than a minute's flying at 100 kt. Try turning when you are abeam the last of the buildings along the shoreline (with scenery detail at very dense). You can turn in closer, but things will happen faster, so be ready for that. Try to do it the same way every time so you can get used to the way the airport looks. Check to see where other aircraft are in the pattern, and don't cut somebody off. 
Click for larger view Note that in the real world, patterns are often flown at 1,000 feet above ground level, which would equal about 1,600 feet at Meigs in FS98. In Flight Sim, I really recommend an extra few hundred feet of altitude - it lets you get a better view of the airport. Also, in the real world, descents are usually started when abeam the runway threshold. Not really recommended with Flight Sim, see below. Can't see over the panel? Depending on what panel you are using, you still may have to slide the panel down a bit by dragging it down with your mouse. It's better than panning your view down (shift-enter), although panning down briefly is sometimes useful. If you still can't see the runway over the top of the panel, you may be flying at an angle of attack that is preventing this - the nose of your airplane is too high relative to your flight path. Why might your angle of attack be too great? You may be flying too slowly for the type of airplane you are flying, or for the way your airplane is configured. For example, you may not be using the proper flap setting for landing - not enough flap and the aircraft will need a higher approach speed than normal. If instead you fly the approach at a slower airspeed, you will need to keep the nose well up to stay in the air, at an angle of attack that is approaching the stall. In this condition, it is naturally going to be hard to see over the panel. Remember that in some aircraft, a full flap setting produces excess drag and could make the aircraft difficult to handle during a missed approach - try a setting of less than full flaps and see how it handles. Remember also that many aircraft have a maximum landing weight, and are actually over that limit when full of gas. Trying to land an aircraft in Flight Sim that is full, or nearly full of fuel, is more difficult, because at heavier weights, airplanes use higher approach speeds. Basically, if you are flying at an approach speed that is too slow for the way the aircraft is configured, it can make it harder to see over the panel. Try flying the approach a little hotter and see if that helps... To summarize, don't fly the approach too slow, don't descend too early, and don't fly a flat approach. Try an approach that seems steep to you, it will probably be about right. If you still can't see over the panel, just get a different one. A friend who has about 500 hours on Cessnas, and flies FS98 regularly, says he only has this problem in the simulator, not in the real plane. 
Click for larger view The Approach If you are stable in the approach at the proper airspeed, it is easy to use power to adjust your rate of descent. If you are not stable, save the flight a mile or more back from the runway and practice getting stable. But don't do it in Multiplayer, please... Use pitch to get the airplane at the proper airspeed, and the nose where you want it. Then adjust power to keep it there. Fly the descent at 80 kt. Rate of descent should be around 700 feet per minute. As above, keep the runway visible at the top of the panel. If the button of the runway (the threshold) disappears below the panel, you may be high on the approach. Reduce power somewhat, then add a bit. Lower the nose if you want, but it is best to avoid playing with pitch too much once you are established. If the runway slides up the screen, you may be getting low on the approach. Add some power, but avoid flattening out the approach. It is very difficult to salvage a FS98 approach where you are low, too slow, and flat. Catch deviations early. If you have trouble with approaches, try saving a stable approach, then experiment with power, hands-off the stick. Bring it up to full throttle and see what it does. Cut power and watch what happens. You will learn faster that way, and you can't damage the engine on a simulator. Don't fly long, straight-in approaches VFR (Visual Flight Rules). It's too hard to judge perspective, distance and altitude that way. Remember, you shouldn't be looking at the dials and gauges when you are VFR, but should be looking out the window most of the time. It is possible to fly a nice, long approach power-off, right down to the runway, but on a real airplane that could cause the engine to get too cool, which would cause damage. That type of approach is just not recommended for VFR flight. Landing |
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