For this exercise, select the Alpha 40, Scaled 60-size, 72-in Span (7-lb) aircraft. This is a trainer aircraft with forgiving controls and, importantly, tricycle gear (for taxi training).
, you connected and set up the Orqa FPV transmitter to work with your SeligSIM installation. You should not need to reattach this transmitter; however, it is recommended that you recalibrate, as you may not be using the same transmitter as before.
From the main menu in SeligSIM, open the transmitter selection window.
Select Calibrate and perform the calibration by following the on-screen prompts.
SeligSIM transmitter calibration.
Environmental Settings
Flying Site: Frasca Airport
Sun/Sky: Whiskey Uniform
Wind: Steady Winds: 0 mph at startup
Flight View Settings
Enter the simulator by clicking the “Fly” button and the aircraft will appear situated on the runway.
of the user manual and set the following to replicate the screenshot below. These must be in the view of your screen recording.
Enable transmitter view
Enable HUD
Enable Compass
SeligSIM simulator overlay screens.
Controls Check
Recall from the SeligSIM training videos the importance of performing a control check prior to flying any aircraft. Check the controls and answer the questions inline.
After setting up the simulator above, flight “Fly” to enter the simulator.
Check ailerons:
Which stick and motion is used?
right stick lateral motion
Explain how the ailerons move to make the aircraft maneuver.
The ailerons control the aircraft’s roll
Check elevator:
Which stick and motion is used?
The right stick and vertical motion
Explain how the elevator moves to make the aircraft maneuver.
The elevator deflects up and down to adjust pitch
Check rudder:
Which stick and motion is used?
The left stick with lateral motion
What else is controlled with the rudder input?
The nose gear
About what axis does the rudder control the aircraft?
Yaw (but sometimes roll)
Check throttle:
The throttle should initially be pinned (held with your thumb) to 0%.
In real flight, we would complete additional checklist steps prior to a power check, but not for this exercise.
Announce that you will be starting the propellers by yelling (as appropriate) CLEAR PROP, then briefly apply a small percentage of throttle to verify that the propeller spins up. This will be a required step when launching the believers, so get comfortable with it early.
Aerodynamics Exploration
In this assignment, it is important that the aircraft does not fly since this is strictly ground manuevering. Using the simulator, test the following.
Methotically test the take off speed of the aircraft using ONLY the left slick (i.e. no elevator inputs) and answer the following:
At what speed does the aircraft takeoff in zero wind conditions (include units)?
30mph
At approximately what throttle percentage does the aircraft takeoff in zero wind conditions?
With the take off speed in mind, you will perform centerline control using only the rudder and throttle starting out at a very low speed working up to a fast taxi speed just below the takeoff speed. Use the video above as a reference (note that your video should include the HUD).
Recording Required
As a heads up, you will need to use the built in screen recorder (Snipping Tool) to record your full screen once you are happy with your centerline performance.
Use only the left stick to taxi the aircraft back and forth along the centerline towards the east and west. Gradually increase your speed while maintaining centerline disipline until you achieve a fast taxi similar to the video above.
As you complete this task answer the following:
How do your control inputs change as the aircraft reaches the edge of your vision limits (the few seconds before you turn around)?
Describe your control inputs required to maintain centerline for the following scenarios using cardinal direction to describe the aircraft’s position. For example, if you are standing directly behind the aircraft that is heading north, left rudder moves the aircraft west, right rudder moves the aircraft east.
The aircraft is facing away from you and taxing to the east.
The right rudder moves the aircraft south, the left moves it north
The aircraft is facing you and taxing to the east.
The left rudder moves the aircraft south, and the right moves it north
Once you are happy with your centerline disipline, record your screen and perform at least one out and back in both directions.
It’s considerable rare to fly in zero or runway aligned wind conditions, so it’s important to train for a crosswind and learn the control inputs to counter the forces.
Setting Wind
From the Main menu, open the Wind Selection menu and set the winds to Steady Winds: 6 mph from South according to the screenshow below.
SeligSIM Wind Selection
Taxi Training
Recording Required
As a heads up, you will need to use the built in screen recorder (Snipping Tool) to record your full screen once you are happy with your centerline performance.
Enter the flight simulator and perform the following scenarios and answer the corresponding questions.
Perform one out and back taxi using only the rudder
Use cardinal directions to describe one taxi scenario (i.e. taxing away from me toward the east) and the rudder inputs to maintain centerline. How does this differ from the zero wind scenario?
This is different from the zero wind scenario as you need much more input to go straight, and relatively constant correction to stay on the centerline.
Why is the rudder input different?
The wind direction is not in line with the aircraft, and thus, the rudder corrections are reversed when you return towards yourself.
With the aircraft facing away from you and taxing to the east, answer the following:
In addition to the rudder, what other control (and direction) could you use to maintain stability and prevent the
As a heads up, you will need to use the built in screen recorder (Snipping Tool) to record your full screen once you are happy with your centerline performance.
Use the steps above to set a headwind and perform the taxi sequence then answer the questions below:
What wind speed and direction did you choose?
I chose wind speed 6mph and direction east - I didn’t realize until answering this question that I wasn’t reqired to do 6mph. That would explain the strange turning issues I had in my taxi test.
What did you notice about the throttle input?
The throttle input is much higher into the wind, and lower away from it.
Can you achieve the same perceived ground speed as you did in the