Pitching and Turning
This section covers the importance of pitch control during turns and how understanding control feedback from the airplane helps maintain safe flying practices.
Importance of Pitch Control in Turns:
- Maintaining altitude during turns:
- Increase back pressure on the elevator control when banking beyond a shallow angle.
- Apply opposite aileron to prevent the bank from increasing.
Effects of Increasing Bank Angle:
- Changes in airplane stability:
- In straight and level flight, the airplane is stable when properly trimmed.
- During turns, stability remains but control inputs change.
- Reduction of control margins:
- Requiring more up elevator and opposite aileron indicates reduced control margins.
- Excessive bank angles can lead to loss of control if margins are exceeded.
Understanding Airplane Feedback:
- Airplane communicates through control pressures:
- Increased elevator and aileron pressures signal approaching control limits.
- Pay attention to control feedback to maintain safe operations.
- Recognizing when margins are diminishing:
- Running out of up elevator and opposite aileron indicates imminent loss of control.
- Prevent this by adjusting pitch and bank angle.
Managing Turns Safely:
- Avoiding excessive control inputs:
- If control inputs feel excessive, lower the nose and reduce the bank angle.
- Do this before reaching the limits of control travel.
- Maintaining safe bank angles:
- Limit bank angle to 30 degrees in normal flying.
- This prevents substantial compromise of control margins.
Flying Smoothly for Passenger Comfort:
- Importance of smooth flight transitions:
- Passengers notice how smoothly pilots level off after climbs or descents.
- Smooth roll-ins and roll-outs of turns enhance passenger experience.
- Aspiring to be both safe and smooth:
- Safe piloting includes providing a comfortable ride for passengers.
- Strive to make control changes unnoticeable.
Remember, understanding and responding to the airplane's control feedback is key to maintaining control and ensuring a safe and pleasant flight experience.