On Mar 5, 11:56 pm, Mxsmanic wrote:
writes:
If not aligned at the threshold in a real plane, you should go around.
You should strive to become aligned with the centerline soon after
turning onto final, and then hold it there. It can be done with
practice. Don't forget you'll need a crab angle to take care of
crosswind.

I'm pretty sure I've seen videos of real pilots (in small aircraft) turning to
align with the runway _after_ the threshold, but I suppose that just because
they do it doesn't make it a smart idea.

When we speak of aligning with the runway, we mean that the _flight
path_ should be straight down the centerline.

This does not necessarily mean (and often doesn't) that the airplane
axis is aligned down its center. Most often you have some kind of
crosswind, and many pilots hold a crab angle (to maintain the flight
path) down almost to the ground, and then "kick it out" (straighten
out) just before touchdown. This is the turning you've seen.

Kev