I am fairly new to IF (6 months or so), and have been lurking in this forum for around the same time. Having taken a strong interest in all things aviation, more specifically commercial aircraft, I am looking for some answers to questions that I simply just cannot answer myself.
My knowledge of aircraft is basic at most, and although IF has helped me learn what various aviation/aircraft related terms mean, I still struggle with some things that seem like they should be “easy”.
I hope you all don’t mind me asking these questions, and if you could supply links to articles already on this forum that would help me, that would be amazing!
When taking off (Airbus A319 / Embraer E-170), I usually have my flaps set to “Flaps 1 or Flaps 2”. Sometimes the aircraft will veer off to the left or right during V1 (not sure if this is the correct term). Am I doing something wrong or is this due to a crosswind etc. Even if I keep my HDG set to the middle of the runway, it will still veer off to one side. This does not happen all the time.
When coming in to my approach (landing), I always seem to be slightly off with my altitude and direction towards the runway. Are there any tricks or tips in order for me to time these both perfectly. I know some people write about APPR or something, but I’m not sure what it does or how it can help me?
When talking to ATC, I can successfully navigate my way from the Apron/Gate to my chosen runway, but have never understood the difference between “Remaining in the pattern” and “Departing Straight Out / East” Etc. What are the difference and what should I be using?
Trim… What is Trim and should I be using it? I have around 40 hours of flight time and still use the Casual Server (too scared to move up) and have always landed and flown successfully without using Trim. I think it is to do with the nose of the aircraft but I am unable to see when I would use it.
Aircraft Speed. I have noticed that my aircraft speed at 32,000/34,000 ft (350 kts) is far greater than when I’m at 15,000 ft. Why is this?
Aircraft speed when landing. I know that below 10,000 ft there is a speed violation for anything over 250 kts. I am struggling sometimes to time my approach to get my speed down to an appropriate landing speed of around 170/190 kts. Are there any tips to do this?
Flaps when landing. Whenever I use full flaps, and try to up my speed slightly in order to reach the runway, when using the power bar on the left to increase speed, the aircraft gains around 500/1000 ft. Should I be using full flaps to land or less?
Once again, apologies for the long questions, I have wanted to ask these for a while and thought you guys could help me out. Also apologies for being so much of a newbie! Thanks guys, I look forward to your responses.
A lot, if not all of those can be answered in #tutorials. Feel free to search up! ;)
Edit: Or even the posts below
I would also take the time to welcome you to the forum. Feel free to look at these posts. Drop a DM to me, another regular or a Mod if you have any questions.
Welcome to Infinite Flight and enjoy your stay, if you need help pm a Moderator or a good regular for help. Check #tutorials for more help and assistance. And here is some forum assistance from me. :)
FLAPS: It all depends on your weight, wind, airspeed and taking into account amount of passengers, fuel and load. Look for MTOW, each aircraft model has a different one.
Veering off, use the rudder to keep it on the center line, yes, crosswinds is one of many factors and if you use a single prop airplane, that’s a whole another story(read about it).
Forget about the APPR for now, practice your approaches and landing, try using the AP to align yourself to the runway and disable it on short final, If you don;t have a visual yet of the runway (VFR), then try using the line(flightplan) on your map and keep the plane on top of it(That is of course if you filed a flighplan)<- There are better ways but for now,use this.
Remaining in the pattern means(Not all ATCs allow it, try not to go to a Bravo airspace for it and if you do and ATIS says " not allowed" don;t ask for it) flying within that same airspace of the airport you’re currently in, usually on departure ATC will give you radar vectors to join the traffic and land again. Departing straight out, west, east means LITERALLY that!!! lol.
TRIM is for adjusting the angle of attack of your airplane, or pitch. Careful with it, again, every aircraft handles it differently. Read about it, there’s a trim condition for takeoff, cruising and landing.
Can’t spoon-feed you this one, google it.
Again, TRIM is the main reason this is happening to you, you stated you are not using it. And of course, there’s spoilers, flaps, landing gear and reducing you airspeed depending on your profile or intentions.
Read answer #1.
This is pretty much a summary of everything you asked, however you should go to the tutorials and google certain things.I encourage you to learn all of this things and many more before going to the training server and obviously expert(read about violations, ghosting, etc…)
Gonna help you with number 5.
The main reason for this is winds if you check your HUD, you can see your Ground Speed and Air Speed Air speed is your speed in the air. Ground speed is the speed you would be traveling at if you were on the ground.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but most of the time, the reason your speed is higher at higher altitudes is due to pressure. I may be wrong so it’d be better to google it.
Great questions. It took me a lot longer than 6 months to even wonder about some of this stuff. The answers can be found in the tutorials and by searching forums. I watched the tutorials more than once and still missed stuff.
Yes it’s the crosswind is knocking you off course. It looks like you’re locking in your heading before you’re off the ground. The autopilot will attempt to bank the plane in to achieve the set heading which can cause a wing strike that close to the ground. How I do it is to wait until I have a “positive rate” then take my thumb off the rudder and bring up the gear and lock the heading in at the same time confirming I’m heading straight out from the runway. I’d advise going in to general, settings and disable “auto-coordination”. That will force you to use the rudder control when taxing too steer the plane. Graceful use of the rudder is the key to smooth crosswind landings and take offs.
I never use the APPR feature. It works if done just right but I find it difficult to gracefully engage and disengage. Once I intercept the localizer I hand fly the rest of the way down. I may lock in my speed once it’s where I want it. Think about this. As you slow down you’ll need less vertical speed as you get lower the winds will change and you’ll need a different heading for the same flight path. I focus on the localizer, glide path and flight path indicator in the HUD.
See tutorials
You’re right you rarely “need” to use trim. Trim will make takeoffs and landings easier. For Infinite Flight I use trim too increase my elevator authority. So adding positive trim will make the plane more responsive when you tilt your device back.
Indicated Air Speed is more about the quantity of air over your wings and control surfaces than it is about actual speed. It’s very important because not enough air and you stall too much and you break something.
Slow down sooner and 170/190 is way too fast to be landing. Landing an airliner should be closer to 140 give or take based on weight and flap settings. You should be at or below 200kts IAS when you enter the airport’s airspace. And you should be intercepting the localizer below the glide path.
Sounds like a symptom of coming in too fast. Lowering flaps will raise your nose but if it’s that dramatic it’s because you’re going way too fast for the flaps.
Adding trim will make the plane feel more under control at lower air speeds. I suspect coming in too fast and not using trim are related.
