Games PC MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR 2000 : User Guide : Page 80

Flight Simulator

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2000

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Microsoft

Here’s What You’ve Learned

So far, you’ve learned how to fly the airplane at severalSo far, you’ve learned how to fly the airplane at several

So far, you’ve learned how to fly the airplane at several

different speeds. At this stage of your training, you’vedifferent speeds. At this stage of your training, you’ve

different speeds. At this stage of your training, you’ve

learned that the throttle is best used to maintain your altitudelearned that the throttle is best used to maintain your altitude

learned that the throttle is best used to maintain your altitude

or rate of descent. The airspeed is maintained by adjusting theor rate of descent. The airspeed is maintained by adjusting the

or rate of descent. The airspeed is maintained by adjusting the

airplane’s pitch attitude. But what about when you’re not trying to maintain aairplane’s pitch attitude. But what about when you’re not trying to maintain a

airplane’s pitch attitude. But what about when you’re not trying to maintain a

specific speed, such as in cruise flight? After all, in cruise flight, you don’tspecific speed, such as in cruise flight? After all, in cruise flight, you don’t

specific speed, such as in cruise flight? After all, in cruise flight, you don’t

maintain your altitude with throttle adjustments, do you? No, you don’t. Here’smaintain your altitude with throttle adjustments, do you? No, you don’t. Here’s

maintain your altitude with throttle adjustments, do you? No, you don’t. Here’s

why.why.

why.

In cruise flight, you typically set the throttle to a power setting that won’tIn cruise flight, you typically set the throttle to a power setting that won’t

In cruise flight, you typically set the throttle to a power setting that won’t

harm the engine (for simplicity in teaching we’ll assume that the application ofharm the engine (for simplicity in teaching we’ll assume that the application of

harm the engine (for simplicity in teaching we’ll assume that the application of

full throttle in any of our simulations won’t hurt the engine). Then, for thefull throttle in any of our simulations won’t hurt the engine). Then, for the

full throttle in any of our simulations won’t hurt the engine). Then, for the

most part, you leave the throttle alone. You’re not necessarily concerned withmost part, you leave the throttle alone. You’re not necessarily concerned with

most part, you leave the throttle alone. You’re not necessarily concerned with

maintaining a specific airspeed in cruise flight. In this case, power is maintaining a specific airspeed in cruise flight. In this case, power is

maintaining a specific airspeed in cruise flight. In this case, power is

fixedfixed

fixed

at at

at

a specific setting and you make slight adjustments in pitch attitude to hold ora specific setting and you make slight adjustments in pitch attitude to hold or

a specific setting and you make slight adjustments in pitch attitude to hold or

modify your altitude. In slow flight, however, you’ll use power to control yourmodify your altitude. In slow flight, however, you’ll use power to control your

modify your altitude. In slow flight, however, you’ll use power to control your

altitude, and pitch (joystick) to control your airspeed. This might be thealtitude, and pitch (joystick) to control your airspeed. This might be the

altitude, and pitch (joystick) to control your airspeed. This might be the

opposite of what you’d guess. But as you’ll soon see, this is the technique Iopposite of what you’d guess. But as you’ll soon see, this is the technique I

opposite of what you’d guess. But as you’ll soon see, this is the technique I

want you to use when landing an airplane.want you to use when landing an airplane.

want you to use when landing an airplane.

You’re On Your Own

Now I want you to practice slow flight with the autopilot completely disengaged. Your objective is to

maintain altitude and heading while trying to fly at various slow flight speeds of your choosing. At

first, you’ll find it a bit tricky to maintain airspeed and altitude while flying a precise heading. So

establish priorities with these items. First, adjust pitch to attain the desired airspeed. Then, while

maintaining that pitch attitude, make small adjustments in power to hold your altitude.

If you feel lucky, try slow flight in turns. But be careful in those turns. Remember from the second

tutorial that a slight increase in pitch attitude was necessary to maintain altitude in a turn. Now that

you know how to use the throttle, you’ll want to add a little bit of power (perhaps one or two inches

of MP) if necessary to help maintain altitude in a turn. The steeper the turn, the more power you’ll

need. Be generous with your use of trim in slow flight (although, it’s best not to trim in turns since

turns are transient conditions). This prevents the airplane slinking away from the desired pitch

attitude if your attention is diverted from the instrument panel.

Above all, have fun. And that’s what we’ll continue to do in our next tutorial which, by the way, is

about stalls.