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X-Plane Assignment 1

15 points

Last edited 21 days ago by Clayton Brown.

Overview

Generated by Coda AI

This assignment requires students to answer questions about interpreting METAR information, runway usage, and the effects of headwind and crosswind during flight. They must set up a flight simulator, then record and upload screen recordings of two stabilized circuits with headwind and four with crosswind at varying speeds for runway 28. Tips for flying in these conditions are provided. Deliverables include a completed PDF of the document uploaded to Brightspace, along with the recordings from specified tasks, which should be titled appropriately and uploaded to the same platform.

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Tasks

Task 0 - Questions

Answer the following questions. Some questions can be answered after completing the assignment.

General

KLAF 100213Z AUTO 27005KT 10SM SCT027 OVC031 18/15 A2982 RMK AO2 T01830150

When reading the winds in the METAR above, what is the wind direction and speed?

270 at 5knots

If you are standing with your back to the west, on which side of your body will you feel the wind given in the above METAR?

Your back

Which runway at KLAF should we use?

Headwind

When flying into a headwind (relative to calm conditions), what considerations do I need to make for:

Turn to base:

Lower Ground speed

Delay turning to base slightly, mainly because if you turn at usual point then you could overshoot runway

Turn to final:

Further reduce ground speed to make the radius tighter

Expect a steeper visual approach angle due to the fact we are going to be moving slower

Is landing with a headwind easier than in calm conditions? Why?

Yes, because it can be easier to correct the glide slope, flare, and center line alignment.

In a short paragraph, compare landing with a 5 kts vs 20 kts headwind. Be sure to discuss airspeed, ground speed, descent angle, power input, and landing roll distance.

Landing in a stronger headwind is easier in my opinion because you can have greater airspeed, ground speed, descent angle, power input, but less roll distance. The slower wind is the exact opposite, and these are good things to keep in mind when conducting a pattern and preparing to land.

Crosswind

Define these techniques:

Side Slip: Eliminates lateral drift and aligns airplane with the runway by applying opposite aileron and rudder.

Crab: Points A/C nose into the wind to counteract the opposing drift to remain level. Usually enacted by applying opposite rudder with possible aileron if things are really bad.

When flying into a left-quartering crosswind and using the crab method:

Which single control input (and direction) do I use to align the aircraft's nose with the centerline?

Apply Right rudder

What happens to the aircraft if all other control inputs are null? Include direction.

Drifts to the left in the downwind direction because there is no more counteracting inputs. The result is the airplane being pushed sideways towards the left.

What control (and direction) will counteract the movement described above?

Apply Right Aileron and bank into the wind

In crosswind flight training, your instructor will ask if it's a “sticks in” or a “sticks out” kind of day. What the heck does that mean?!

Sticks in (to the wind)

Headwind or cross wind

Sticks out (From the wind)

Tailwind