Which of these is cheating?

OTOH, jet pilots pitch to the glideslope, power to the airspeed...the way
the autopilot (with speed control) does it. There is a difference between
high drag/low power available and low drag/high power available.

Bob Gardner

"John Gaquin" wrote in message
. ..

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message

For example, lately I've had a tendency to adjust climb or descent
rates (and altitude to a lesser extent) by making thrust adjustments,
rather than changes in pitch. I seem to recall someone telling me
that this was legitimate, but now I can't find the reference.

In general, you're on the right track. Power is altitude; pitch is
airspeed.

I don't understand what you mean by "cheating".
In real life there is no "cheating". It's a question of flying safely and
with the appropriate amount of stress on the various components of your
airplane to balance the results (eg: most efficient flying to save money on
gas, or fastest possible flight without reducing engine life, etc).


Mxsmanic wrote in
:

Lately I have modified my flying methods in the sim in ways that seem
to produce better results, but I don't know if I'm learning to do
things correctly or simply acquiring bad habits. I want to make sure
that I don't "cheat" too much when flying.

Power is altitude and pitch is airspeed is not always true but the
grain of truth is this. Come down at 60, with power to give VSI of
200fpm. Now increase power and leave pitch alone. Your VSI decreases.

Conversly, pitch down, and your airspeed increases.

So for approaches its sorta true, although of course both power and
pitch influence both altitude and airspeed. It's all interelated.

Judah writes:

I don't understand what you mean by "cheating".

By "cheating," I mean doing something that either would not be
possible in real life (but can be done in simulation), or doing
somethign that seems to work but actually isn't the best way to
accomplish the goal, usually because of some hidden drawbacks that
only become obvious in certain situations.

An example would be using the rudder inappropriately to turn the
plane. In some cases, you may get away with it, but in other cases,
it may have sudden unpleasant consequences that you could avoid by
always turning the aircraft in a different, more generally applicable
way.

In real life there is no "cheating". It's a question of flying safely and
with the appropriate amount of stress on the various components of your
airplane to balance the results (eg: most efficient flying to save money on
gas, or fastest possible flight without reducing engine life, etc).

Some people still cheat in real life. If they are lucky, they get
away with it indefinitely. If they are not, they get stuck in a
situation where their cheat method doesn't work quite right, and then
they die.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote in
:

By "cheating," I mean doing something that either would not be
possible in real life (but can be done in simulation), or doing
somethign that seems to work but actually isn't the best way to
accomplish the goal, usually because of some hidden drawbacks that
only become obvious in certain situations.

An example would be using the rudder inappropriately to turn the
plane. In some cases, you may get away with it, but in other cases,
it may have sudden unpleasant consequences that you could avoid by
always turning the aircraft in a different, more generally applicable
way.

What do you mean? What sudden unpleasant consequences are you referring to?

Some people still cheat in real life. If they are lucky, they get
away with it indefinitely. If they are not, they get stuck in a
situation where their cheat method doesn't work quite right, and then
they die.

Are you claiming that turning a plane using only the rudder kills?

Judah writes:

What do you mean? What sudden unpleasant consequences are you referring to?

A departure from controlled flight, such as a stall or spin, or in
some cases simply slips or other uncoordinated movements that may make
passengers queasy.

Are you claiming that turning a plane using only the rudder kills?

Apparently so, in some cases, based on what I've read. The stuff I'm
reading claims that it's a common mistake in phases such as landings,
and sometimes it kills the pilot.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Mxsmanic wrote in
:

A departure from controlled flight, such as a stall or spin, or in
some cases simply slips or other uncoordinated movements that may make
passengers queasy.

Slips and uncoordinated flight are not caused by turning the plane with only
the rudder, unless perhaps done very sharply. Aileron input is required in
order to maintain a slip or uncoordinate flight. Without aileron input the
plane will bank by itself during the turn. There are aerodynamic reasons for
this phenonmenon that I will let you look up online somewhere.

Apparently so, in some cases, based on what I've read. The stuff I'm
reading claims that it's a common mistake in phases such as landings,
and sometimes it kills the pilot.

No. This is inaccurate. Stalls and spins are not caused by the turning of the
plane with the only the rudder. Incorrect coordination of rudder and ailerons
can turn a stall into a spin, but that doesn't cause the stall.

"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
Judah writes:

I don't understand what you mean by "cheating".

By "cheating," I mean doing something that either would not be
possible in real life (but can be done in simulation), or doing
somethign that seems to work but actually isn't the best way to
accomplish the goal, usually because of some hidden drawbacks that
only become obvious in certain situations.

An example would be using the rudder inappropriately to turn the
plane. In some cases, you may get away with it, but in other cases,
it may have sudden unpleasant consequences that you could avoid by
always turning the aircraft in a different, more generally applicable
way.

In real life there is no "cheating". It's a question of flying safely
and
with the appropriate amount of stress on the various components of your
airplane to balance the results (eg: most efficient flying to save money
on
gas, or fastest possible flight without reducing engine life, etc).

Some people still cheat in real life. If they are lucky, they get
away with it indefinitely. If they are not, they get stuck in a
situation where their cheat method doesn't work quite right, and then
they die.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

You can fly most airplanes with rudder and throttle, and/or rudder and
elevator, and it won't harm the airplane or cause you to crash. However, a
more smoothly coordinated approach is preferred in most situations; so you
"won't get no respect" and passengers may be unwilling to fly with you.

If you've ever ridden in a car with a driver who is less than smooth, then
you know the feeling.

Peter

Peter Dohm writes:

If you've ever ridden in a car with a driver who is less than smooth, then
you know the feeling.

There's a certain type of auto driver who is constantly pressing and
releasing the accelerator, even on smooth, uninterrupted highway, and
after a while that can make me queasy. Surely it cannot be that
difficult to find a set speed and maintain it.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

I've had a tendency to adjust climb or descent
rates (and altitude to a lesser extent) by making thrust adjustments,
rather than changes in pitch.

I've been using the throttle to adjust descent rate rather than pitch...

That is the way the U.S. Navy teaches it.

vince norris