Games PC FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2000 : User Guide : Page 67

Learning To Fly with Rod Machado

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So what’s the airplane doing with its extra thrust? It’s allowing you to climb at a few hundred feet per

minute. In fact, excess (unused) thrust is the reason an airplane climbs in the first place. Let’s make

our airplane climb at a greater rate on the VSI.

1. Press P to reactivate the simulation.

Remember, we have a lot of thrust we haven’t even used. So let’s develop maximum thrust by

applying full throttle while keeping the airplane at precisely the same attitude as before. In other

words, keep the top of the instrument panel on the distant horizon. This represents an

approximate 10-degree nose-up pitch attitude as shown in Figure 5.

2. Give the airplane some nose-down trim to

keep the attitude constant and observe what

happens to the airspeed and rate of climb.

3. When the airplane is stabilized at its new

settings, press P to pause the simulation.

Figure 5 shows your airplane climbing at 85 knots

and 500 feet per minute. The extra thrust allows

you to climb at a faster airspeed and a larger rate

of climb. This explains why pilots usually climb

with full throttle. After all, it makes sense to get the

airplane up in the air as fast as is reasonable, to

take advantage of favorable winds (among other

reasons).

You’re on Your Way Up

Engineers (not the kind that drive trains) tell us that efficient climbs are conducted at specific

airspeeds. In fact, these same engineers discovered that your Cessna 182S climbs most efficiently at

80 knots. Since you’re at 85 knots, how do you get the airplane slowed down to 80 knots while

continuing to climb at full power?

Think of the airplane as a car climbing a hill. If you have the “pedalThink of the airplane as a car climbing a hill. If you have the “pedal

Think of the airplane as a car climbing a hill. If you have the “pedal

to the metal” (full throttle), the car’s speed is determined by theto the metal” (full throttle), the car’s speed is determined by the

to the metal” (full throttle), the car’s speed is determined by the

steepnesssteepness

steepness

of the hill. If the hill suddenly becomes steeper, the car of the hill. If the hill suddenly becomes steeper, the car

of the hill. If the hill suddenly becomes steeper, the car

slows down; shallower, the car speeds up. It works the same forslows down; shallower, the car speeds up. It works the same for

slows down; shallower, the car speeds up. It works the same for

airplanes. But you have an advantage over car drivers: you get to choose howairplanes. But you have an advantage over car drivers: you get to choose how

airplanes. But you have an advantage over car drivers: you get to choose how

steep your hill is. All you have to do is adjust the size of the hill you’resteep your hill is. All you have to do is adjust the size of the hill you’re

steep your hill is. All you have to do is adjust the size of the hill you’re

climbing by changing your pitch to obtain the climb airspeed desired.climbing by changing your pitch to obtain the climb airspeed desired.

climbing by changing your pitch to obtain the climb airspeed desired.

Figure 5