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SeligSIM Assignment 3

15 points
Nathan Tyler Rose
Last edited 45 days ago by Mason Cole Cramer.

Overview

Tasks

Simulator Setup Overview

Use the following images and settings to set up your simulator. Be sure to reference
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and
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for help with setup.
Screenshot 2026-02-09 165406.png
Aircraft and environmental defaults
Aircraft: CUSTOMIZED Alpha 40, Scaled 60-size, 72-in Span (7-lb). See
Transmitter: Orqa | Be sure to calibrate
Flying Site: Frasca Airport
Sun/Sky: Whiskey Uniform
Wind: Steady Winds: 0 mph at startup
Screenshot 2026-02-09 171059.png
Flight screen must show transmitter and HUD.
Enable HUD: H
Enable Transmitter: E

Aircraft Setup

The aircraft in it’s current configuration is overpowered relative to the Believer. Please follow the guidance in by
@Ryan Andrew Shurtleff
to set the aircraft output to 75% of current.
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Screenshot

Take a screenshot of the updated motor/engine output.
IMG_6713.jpeg

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.
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Conversion Table

Build and complete the required conversion table as a deliverable.
Formula:
Table 2
Parameter / Condition Name
Description (in your words)
Speed (m/s)
Speed (mph)
Closest V-Speed
AIRSPEED_CRUISE
Normal speed used during steady, level flight missions.
20
44.74
Vc (Cruise Speed)
AIRSPEED_APPR
Slower speed used when approaching for landing.
15
33.55
Vapp (Approach Speed)
AIRSPEED_MAX
Maximum commanded airspeed allowed in flight planning.
38
85.00
Vno (Max Operating Normal Operating Speed)
AIRSPEED_MIN
Minimum safe airspeed to maintain controlled flight.
16
35.79
Vs (Stall Speed)
AIRSPEED_MIN_LND
Lowest allowed speed during landing phase.
12
26.84
Vso (Stall Speed in Landing process)
AIRSPEED_TKOFF
Speed target used during takeoff climb.
20
44.74
Vy (Rate of Climb Speed)
Stall Speed
Speed where the wing can no longer produce enough lift.
10.97
24 kts = 27.62 mph
Vs (Stall Speed)
Normal Cruise (kts)
Operational cruise speed listed in limitations.
17.99
39 kts = 44.88 mph
Vc (Normal Cruise Speed)
Vne (Never Exceed)
Maximum structural speed limit of the aircraft.
25.72
50 kts = 57.54 mph
Vne (Never Exceed Speed)
There are no rows in this table

Scaled Platform Checklist

Speed Questions

A V-speed is just a specific airspeed that has a name and meaning. Basically, V-speeds are important reference speeds that help keep the aircraft safe and performing correctly during different parts of flight.
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.
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Drawing

Traffic pattern drawing required as a deliverable.
IMG_0008.jpeg

Controls Check

Perform a controls check according to
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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?
Moves the elevators to point downward, forcing the nose of the aircraft to pitch 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 for additional information.
It causes the elevator to move and the front landing gear to turn right as well. Moving the rudder affects the yaw of the aircraft.

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 for more information on the algorithm architecture.
Before your first recorded takeoff, answer the following. Many of these questions can be answered from the .
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 an asymmetric thrust condition during high power and climb that causes the airplane to yaw left. It is corrected with right rudder input.
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?
I would use elevator to set and maintain my takeoff speed.
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?
As I reach cruise my altitude, I slowly lower the nose to level off, allow airspeed to increase, reduce power to cruise setting.
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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
Level off at a cruise altitude of 200 ft AGL.

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 .
What throttle input is used during takeoff (in percentage)?
100 Percent throttle
What throttle input is used during cruise (in percentage)?
65-75 percent throttle
Describe the aileron input(s) required to achieve and maintain a 20° bank.
It will start with adding aileron in the direction you want to turn, you will use rudder to stay coordinated, and once the bank angle has been reached, you will use elevator to execute the turn.
In the 20° bank above, what will happen to the altitude of the aircraft if neither the throttle nor the pitch is adjusted?
You will lose altitude
Using the two questions above, what inputs are required to complete a turn from departure to crosswind?
To turn from departure to crosswind, I apply aileron and rudder in the direction of the turn, keeping full takeoff power, and add slight pull on the elevator to maintain altitude during the 20° bank.
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Screen Recording

Record the turning maneuver described below.
Now, combine the procedure in 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 as needed.
What speed (in mph) should you target for your landing approach according to the ?
I should target approximately 33–34 mph on my landing approach, since AIRSPEED_APPR is 15 m/s according to the Believer checklist
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?
As the aircraft approaches, it should look stable. The nose should stay aligned with the centerline, and the aircraft should appear to be coming straight toward the touchdown point at a constant descent angle. It should not look like it is drifting or changing height
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?
If the aircraft looks like it is getting lower too quickly, I should add a small amount of throttle to reduce the descent rate. Power helps control how fast I am descending
What is a flare, and what is the purpose of this maneuver?
A flare is when the PIC slowly raises the nose just before touchdown. The purpose of the flare is to reduce the descent rate and speed to allow the aircraft to land smoothly instead of hitting the runway hard
At what point in the landing operation should you target the AIRSPEED_MIN_LND?
I should target AIRSPEED_MIN_LND during the flare and just before touchdown, when I am transitioning from descent to landing
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?
To transition from cruise into a descent, I would reduce throttle and slightly lower the nose. Reducing power starts the descent, and lowering pitch helps establish the proper descent angle while maintaining approach speed
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Screen Recording

Record the landing approach maneuver described below.
Now, combine the procedures in , , 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 )
Before the front wheel touches, perform a go-around as the aircraft passes you by, applying full throttle and targeting the takeoff speed.

Deliverables

Upload a completed copy of this document (as a PDF) to brightspace by the due date listed in the
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.
See
to add this page to your own doc.
See
to create a PDF of your doc for submission.
Screenshot of updated motor/engine output from .
Inline or attached to Brightspace submission.
Traffic pattern drawing from
Inline or attached to Brightspace submission.
Conversion table from .
Inline or attached to Brightspace submission.
Recording from
Recording from
Recording from

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