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SeligSIM Assignment 3

15 points

Last edited 22 days ago by Clayton Brown.

Overview

In this simulator assignment, you will learn the basics of energy management to maintain a safe speed and altitude in a standard left traffic pattern. Target speeds will follow those of the Believer to mimic the flight characteristics. Students are encouraged to complete this assignment on their own PCs, but the PCs in COMP 101 have two main advantages: higher computer specs. and access to use the Believer DATX transmitter for flight training. DATX may not be checked out, but may be used in COMP 101.

Tasks

Simulator Setup Overview

Use the following images and settings to set up your simulator. Be sure to reference

Broken link⁠

and

Broken link⁠

for help with setup.

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Aircraft and environmental defaults

Aircraft and environmental defaults

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Aircraft: CUSTOMIZED Alpha 40, Scaled 60-size, 72-in Span (7-lb). See

Aircraft Setup⁠

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Transmitter: Orqa | Be sure to calibrate

Flying Site: Frasca Airport

Sun/Sky: Whiskey Uniform

Wind: Steady Winds: 0 mph at startup

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Flight screen must show transmitter and HUD.

Flight screen must show transmitter and HUD.

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Enable HUD: H

Enable Transmitter: E

Aircraft Setup

The aircraft in its current configuration is overpowered relative to the Believer. Please follow the guidance in

UAS Dispatch Internal · SeligSim⁠

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to set the aircraft output to 75% of current.

Screenshot

Take a screenshot of the updated motor/engine output.

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Convert and Define Speeds

The SeligSIM (at the time of writing) does not allow changing the airspeed units from miles per hour (mph). In this and all future SeligSIM assignments, we will follow and reference the Believer's airspeed settings.

Create a table (6-7 columns; 9 rows) below that shows the unit corrected speeds from the

Scaled Platform Checklist⁠

. The table must include columns for:

Parameter/condition Name

YOUR description of the parameter/condition

The description of each parameter may require some research into

Complete Parameter List — Plane documentation⁠

as well as some intuition.

V-speed (complete in

Speed Questions⁠

)

Speed (m/s)

Speed (kts) [unless you combine the speed column and write a more complex formula]

Speed (mph).

The conversion from m/s or kts to mph MUST be completed using a formula entered into Coda. You may use AI and the Coda help docs to build your formula. Type out your formula in the callout below.

thisRow.[Speed (kts)]*0.514444

thisRow.[Speed (kts)]*1.15078

thisRow.[Speed (kts)]*0.7

Scaled Speed (mph)

The simulator aircraft seems to work best using 70% Believer speeds. Use a formula to calculate this. =thisRow.[ColumnName]*0.7

Table:

Conversion Table

Conversion Table

Condition Name

Parameter / Condition

V-speed

Speed (m/s)

Speed (kts)

Speed (mph)

Scaled Speed

Maximum in-flight wind speed

WP_WIND_MAX

40kts

20.58

46.03

Maximum surface wind speed

WPNAV_SPEED_MAX

30kts

15.43

34.52

Maximum crosswind component

CROSSWIND_MAX

5kts

2.57

5.75

3.5

Never exceed speed (Vne)

ARSPD_CMND

50kts

25.72

57.54

Stall Speed

VSTALL

24kts

12.35

27.62

16.8

Normal Cruise speed

TRIM_ARSPD_CM

39kts

20.06

44.88

27.3

Maximum Battery Voltage

BATT_VOLT_MAX

25.2V

Minimum Battery Voltage

BATT_LOW_VOLT

22.2V

Maximum Flight Time

No direct parameter but can be calculated by BATT_CAPACITY + BATT_LOW_VOLT + consumption rates

100min

There are no rows in this table

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Conversion Table

Build and complete the required conversion table as a deliverable.

Formula:

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Scaled Platform Checklist

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Speed Questions

Reference

V-Speeds Explained (Vx, Vy, Va, Vs, Vfe, Vmc, Vno, Vne, etc) - Pilot Institute⁠

and explain what a V-speed is.

They depict the operational limits for an aircraft like Vne meaning Never Exceed Speed or Vso meaning like stall speed with flaps and landing gear down.

Add a column to the table above and include V-speed indicators. There may not be an exact match, so think critically about what the parameter “speed” represents.

Traffic Pattern Diagram

Throughout the Believer flight training, you will be expected to navigate and communicate using standardized aviation language. Positional information about the aircraft will be communicated in accordance with a standard traffic pattern. That is, if your instructor commands a left turn for base, you must know what that means and execute the maneuver expeditiously and confidently. Additionally, each leg of the traffic pattern may have a different speed requirement that must be followed for successful launch, cruise, and landing.

For this task, draw and label a standard left-hand traffic pattern for the simulated Frasca Airport. Assume that the aircraft is oriented to take off on runway 09. You must label the leg name in the traffic pattern AND the desired speed for each leg. If needed, you may justify your response in the footer of your drawing.

Drawing

Traffic pattern drawing required as a deliverable.

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Controls Check

Perform a controls check according to

Broken link⁠

and answer the following questions. Remember that a control check is required before each flight.

A full upward deflection of the right stick moves which control surface and in which direction?

Elevator in the down position

A full rightward deflection of the left stick (at throttle idle) causes which two controls to move? What rotational motion will result from this input? Refer to the

Airplane Handbook | Ch. 3⁠

for additional information.

Nose gear and rudder to move right.

Takeoff and Energy Management

Next, you will perform an aircraft takeoff while maintaining the proper takeoff speed through the system's energy management. The Believer (and any system with a stabilized mode) has a total energy control system (TECS) algorithm built in to continually monitor and adjust the aircraft to balance its kinetic and potential energy, maintaining sufficient lift at all times. When this system is well-tuned, entering a stall condition on the Believer is very difficult (though still possible). [Optional] You may read

Controller Diagrams | PX4 Guide (main)⁠

for more information on the algorithm architecture.

Before your first recorded takeoff, answer the following. Many of these questions can be answered from the

Airplane Handbook | Ch. 3⁠

Under high power (i.e., during takeoff), the aircraft will experience an asymmetric condition called “P-factor.” Define P-factor and describe the control inputs required to counteract it.

The AOA has a descending prop speed and the thrust component is transferred right so the way to counteract this is through right rudder pressure.

During the takeoff climb, power must be “pinned” fully open (i.e., throttle control stick full upward deflection) until you reach your cruise altitude and “level off.” You must maintain your takeoff speed according to your values from

Convert and Define Speeds⁠

. What control input should you use to set your speed?

27.3

As you reach cruise altitude (say, 200 ft AGL), how will you need to adjust the controls to level the aircraft at 200 ft AGL while maintaining cruise speed?

Screen Recording

Record the takeoff maneuver described below.

Now, perform a takeoff maneuver and achieve the following (you do not need to turn or land - you can press the ESC key to respawn at launch):

Counteract P-factor.

Control speed according to the converted values from the

Scaled Platform Checklist⁠

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Level off at a cruise altitude of 200 ft AGL.

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Loading video: Screen Recording 2026-02-16 172305.mp4...

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Turns and Energy Management

After a successful takeoff, depending on the aircraft's performance before or after reaching cruise altitude, you will need to turn crosswind. There are several special considerations when turning in a fixed-wing aircraft. Answer the following questions to guide your understanding before entering a turn in the simulator. Again, many of these questions can be answered from the

Airplane Handbook | Ch. 3⁠

What throttle input is used during takeoff (in percentage)?

100% throttle (full power)

What throttle input is used during cruise (in percentage)?

Typically 55–65% throttle

Describe the aileron input(s) required to achieve and maintain a 20° bank.

Smooth aileron input into the turn, then neutral ailerons to maintain the bank

In the 20° bank above, what will happen to the altitude of the aircraft if neither the throttle nor the pitch is adjusted?

The aircraft will begin to descend.

Using the two questions above, what inputs are required to complete a turn from departure to crosswind?

Apply aileron to establish the bank, add up elevator, and increase throttle slightly to maintain altitude.

Screen Recording

Record the turning maneuver described below.

Now, combine the procedure in

Takeoff and Energy Management⁠

and add in turns to achieve the following (you do not need to turn or land - you can press the ESC key to respawn at launch as needed):

Level off at a cruise altitude of 200 ft AGL.

Maintain cruise speed (±5 mph)

Perform all turns in the traffic pattern without gaining or losing altitude (± 25 ft)

Complete the traffic pattern two times (do not set up for landing - fly the runway at cruise altitude)

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Loading video: Screen Recording 2026-02-16 222107.mp4...

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Landing Approach and Go Arounds

Now that you have mastered the takeoff, turns, and the traffic pattern, it’s time to start the landing approach. As you might have guessed, this part is also about energy management. In this case, we are looking to shed energy. In this task, you will not land, but instead complete low pass approaches to the runway while maintaining centerline AND altitude discipline before performing a go-around and reentering the pattern. Answer the following questions regarding the landing approach. Refer to the

Airplane Handbook | Ch. 9⁠

as needed.

What speed (in mph) should you target for your landing approach according to the

Scaled Platform Checklist⁠

Approximately 30 mph.

Imagine the aircraft is aligned on the centerline, and you have hit the target altitude by the final turn. Describe the shape of the aircraft as it approaches you/the touchdown point?

The aircraft should appear to maintain a constant shape and size so it would neither rising nor sinking in your visual frame.

If you notice that, as the aircraft is approaching you, it appears to be moving lower within your reference frame, what input should you provide to stop the ascent?

You can add a small amount of throttle and, or raise the pitch slightly.

What is a flare, and what is the purpose of this maneuver?

The flare is a gentle pitch‑up just before touching the runway that reduces the descent rate and prepares the aircraft for landing.

At what point in the landing operation should you target the AIRSPEED_MIN_LND?

Just before touching the ground, or during the final moments of flare.

The descent requires the opposite inputs from the ascent. Describe the throttle and pitch inputs needed to transition from straight and level flight in cruise into a descent?

Reduce throttle and apply slight forward pitch to slow the speed and reduce altitude.

Screen Recording

Record the landing approach maneuver described below.

Now, combine the procedures in

Takeoff and Energy Management⁠

Turns and Energy Management⁠

, and add in the landing approach to achieve the following (you do not need to turn or land - you can press the ESC key to respawn at launch as needed):

Level off at a cruise altitude of 200 ft AGL early in the downwind leg.

Maintain cruise speed (±5 mph)

Begin descent and target approach speed as you turn base.

Continue descent through base and target ~75-100 ft AGL as your turn final.

Continue descent, maintaining glide slope (ensure the aircraft does not move up or down in the reference frame).

As you approach the runway, stop the ascent at eye level by adding throttle.

Maintain centerline and eye level as the aircraft flies past your location.

Perform a go-around as the aircraft passes you by, applying full throttle and targeting the takeoff speed.

If you have mastered the lowpass, perform a touch and go by pulling throttle to idle, and begin rounding out (flare) until the rear wheels touch the runway (reference figure 9-10 in

Airplane Handbook | Ch. 9⁠

)

Before the front wheel touches, perform a go-around as the aircraft passes you by, applying full throttle and targeting the takeoff speed.

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Loading video: Screen Recording 2026-02-16 230224.mp4...