Games PC MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2000 : User Guide : Page 68

Flight Simulator

20002000

2000

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Microsoft

Give it a try.

1. Press P to reactivate the simulation.

2. Raise the airplane’s nose (increase the steepness of the hill you’re climbing) to a slightly higher

climb attitude. Hold it there, and watch the response on the airspeed indicator.

3. Adjust the pitch up or down slightly until the airspeed indicator shows 80 knots. Be patient.

Airplanes have inertia and take a moment or two to settle into a new speed once the pitch is

changed.

4. Once you’re established at this speed, press P to pause the simulation.

To maintain an 80-knot climb speed, you should show a pitch of approximately 13 degrees on the

attitude indicator (for now we’ll use the attitude indicator for our bank and pitch reference since it’s

difficult to see the real horizon over the instrument panel). The little lines on the attitude indicator

are worth five degrees each, so you read them (from bottom to top) 5, 10, 15, and 20 degrees of

pitch. 13 degrees of pitch would be just below the third line up.

Of course, the pitch for a climb varies a little from day to day, depending on several variables like

airplane weight, configuration, or engine power, to name a few. All that matters is that you find the

proper pitch that gives you the climb airspeed desired.

Care to Waltz?Care to Waltz?

Care to Waltz?

Now you know the secret to climbing an airplane. The next time you wantNow you know the secret to climbing an airplane. The next time you want

Now you know the secret to climbing an airplane. The next time you want

to climb, raise the nose to to climb, raise the nose to

to climb, raise the nose to

approximatelyapproximately

approximately

13 degrees pitch-up on the 13 degrees pitch-up on the

13 degrees pitch-up on the

attitude indicator, add full throttle, and trim the airplane to maintain thisattitude indicator, add full throttle, and trim the airplane to maintain this

attitude indicator, add full throttle, and trim the airplane to maintain this

attitude. It’s as simple as that. Then adjust the pitch slightly (perhaps only aattitude. It’s as simple as that. Then adjust the pitch slightly (perhaps only a

attitude. It’s as simple as that. Then adjust the pitch slightly (perhaps only a

degree or two) to give you the airspeed desired. Think of entering a climb as adegree or two) to give you the airspeed desired. Think of entering a climb as a

degree or two) to give you the airspeed desired. Think of entering a climb as a

three-step waltz. Think: three-step waltz. Think:

three-step waltz. Think:

one—two—three, one—two—threeone—two—three, one—two—three

one—two—three, one—two—three

, or, or

, or

attitude—power—trim attitude—power—trim

attitude—power—trim

..

.

Change the Change the

Change the

attitudeattitude

attitude

, change the , change the

, change the

power,power,

power,

and then and then

and then

trimtrim

trim

the airplane once it’s the airplane once it’s

the airplane once it’s

stabilized at its new attitude.stabilized at its new attitude.

stabilized at its new attitude.

Of course, you may elect to climb at a slightly faster speed. Sometimes I preferOf course, you may elect to climb at a slightly faster speed. Sometimes I prefer

Of course, you may elect to climb at a slightly faster speed. Sometimes I prefer

climbing at 90 knots simply because it makes it easier to look over theclimbing at 90 knots simply because it makes it easier to look over the

climbing at 90 knots simply because it makes it easier to look over the

instrument panel (so I can watch for other airplanes and see pretty things).instrument panel (so I can watch for other airplanes and see pretty things).

instrument panel (so I can watch for other airplanes and see pretty things).

When a rapid, efficient climb to altitude isn’t necessary, find the airspeedWhen a rapid, efficient climb to altitude isn’t necessary, find the airspeed

When a rapid, efficient climb to altitude isn’t necessary, find the airspeed

that gives you both a good climb rate and a reasonable view over the panel.that gives you both a good climb rate and a reasonable view over the panel.

that gives you both a good climb rate and a reasonable view over the panel.

What Goes Up…

Now that we’ve almost climbed out of our atmosphere (just kidding), we should talk about coming

back down. This is a good time to show you a neat little trick about how airplanes fly.

1. Press P to reactivate the simulation.

2. Keeping in mind that the wing leveler is on, slowly reduce the throttle to flight idle (throttle all