Take a screenshot of the updated motor/engine output.
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 below that shows the unit corrected speeds from the
. The table must include four columns: 1. Parameter/condition Name, 2. YOUR description of the parameter/condition, 3. Speed (m/s), 4. and Speed (mph). The description of each parameter may require some research into
as well as some intuition. There should be 9 rows in your table. 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.
Corrected Speeds
Parameter/Conditoin
Personal Description
Speed (m/s)
Speed (mph)
V-speed indicator
Parameter/Conditoin
Personal Description
Speed (m/s)
Speed (mph)
V-speed indicator
AIRSPEED_CRUISE
This is the value of speed that the aircraft will cruise at while in level flight.
20 m/s
44.74 mph
VC
AIRSPEED_APPR
This is the value of speed that the aircraft will be at while in approach to land.
15 m/s
33.55 mph
VA
AIRSPEED_MAX
This is the maximum airspeed that the aircraft may achieve.
38 m/s
85.00 mph
VNE
AIRSPEED_MIN
This is the minimum speed that the aircraft may go.
16 m/s
35.79 mph
VA
AIRSPEED_MIN_LAND
This is the minimum speed the aircraft is allowed to go when landing.
12 m/s
26.84 mph
VLE
AIRSPEED_TKOFF
This is the airspeed the aircraft will have during takeoff.
20 m/s
44.74 mph
VFTO
Stall Speed
This is the speed that the aircraft will stall at.
20 kts (
23.02 mph
VS
Max in-flight windspeed
The maximum windspeed that the aircraft may fly in.
40 kts (
46.03 mph
VH
Max cross wind speed
The maximum cross wind speed allowed to take off.
5 kts (
5.75 mph
VB
There are no rows in this table
Conversion Table
Build and complete the required conversion table as a deliverable.
A V-speed is a specific airspeed that are used for operational reasons such as maneuvers and limitations of an aircraft.
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.
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?
Elevators down
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
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
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.
P-factor is when the thrust created from the propellors moves to the tips of the props as they rotate causing a left yawing motion and the aircraft to roll right. To counter act it you must use right rudder and left aileron control.
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
. What control input should you use to set your speed?
Right stick for throttle
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
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
What throttle input is used during takeoff (in percentage)?
100%
What throttle input is used during cruise (in percentage)?
40%
Describe the aileron input(s) required to achieve and maintain a 20° bank.
Slight left aileron to roll into bank, as it approaches 20 degrees gradually return ailerons to neutral to stop the roll and maintain bank angle. Use small aileron inputs as needed to hold 20 degrees.
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 start to lose altitude.
Using the two questions above, what inputs are required to complete a turn from departure to crosswind?
Aileron in direction of turn to roll into bank, elevator back to maintain altitude, throttle as needed to maintain airspeed and help with altitude, and neutralizing ailerons when bank is reached and small corrections to hold until rollout to crosswind.
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)
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
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?
Stable and centered with wings and fuselage pointed at you with the size steadily increasing. It’s position within your reference frame should not be moving up, down, left, or right.
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?
Pitch down slightly and reduce throttle is needed.
What is a flare, and what is the purpose of this maneuver?
A maneuver just before touchdown to raise the nose and reduce the descent rate so that the aircraft touches down smoothly.
At what point in the landing operation should you target the AIRSPEED_MIN_LND?
During the flare and just before touchdown
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 to around 20%, lower pitch to desired descent rate and airspeed.
Screen Recording
Record the landing approach maneuver described below.
, 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