S-Turns
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What did you think about the S-Turns Episode? What did you learn? How can we improve this tutorial? Please comment!
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Nicely done Chris. You know I have been flying FS since ver 1 on an Apple lle. Never have I practiced S-turns with an instructor beside me. There is a lot to think about in a simple S-turn. I just took up the Archer ll and gave it a whirl.
When I first saw this episode my thought was, “oh S-turns again” Then I went up and tried it. It is not easy to maintain an airspeed and altitude while trying to get those wings to level out over a road. I picked Route 95S just south of Boston MA and made a few passes trying to coordinate my turns and stay at 2000 Ft. Finally I hit a couple, but even 7 Knots of wind throws you off.
OK time to practice…I might try a high wing first.
Tom
Yeah, that’s kinda what I did when I saw this episode coming up. I rolled my eyes a bit. But, after getting in the sim and trying to get the maneuver down, it proved to be much more difficult than I had expected! The altitude part isn’t the easiest, either. But, like I said toward the end of the video, once you start getting the hang of it things get a lot better.
I’m glad you enjoyed this one, Tom. Have you done S Turns in real life with an instructor?
No I have not. I have spent quite a bit of time with a CFI, a friend so not lessons just fun flying. All of my sim stuff is just books and self taught. My first SIM instruction was with a Great guy, Charlie Gulick who wrote the first group of books about Flight Sim, “40 Great flight Simulator Adventures” etc.
So, I am loving these videos.
Tom
Very cool! Sounds like you’ve been out in the real world enough to know it’s a ton of fun. I’ve never heard of that book but I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the info, Tom. We are a lot alike
I’ve never ever done S-turns in Flight Sim. I’ll be sure to do some. If you’re doing a 2 minute turn, how does this affect keeping it timed? Basically, is this compensation to keep it at 2 minutes even with wind?
You actually don’t need to worry about the timing in this case. Just worry about doing a nice smooth turn to intercept and be perpendicular to the road. I was actually doing GREATER than standard rate during the maneuver.
By the way, if you DO time it, this will be a 1 minute turn each time you cross the road. It would be extra challenging to do this, along with more with, and along with crossing the road correctly. Worth a shot but that sound difficult to me as well!
May I ask the point of S turns?
The purpose is to be smooth with the turns, keep them consistent, and predictable, and most of all learn about wind compensation (these really are a LOT harder with more wind!). Had you heard about S Turns before this, Dave?
Hi Chris,
I’ve just spent an enjoyable 45 minutes of pattern work and s-turns inspired by the last few episodes. They’re great discipline builders, so thank you! Keep it up!
Mark
Wow, thanks Mark! I notice myself being more disciplined as well since I started doing all this stuff. I’m certainly learning a lot too. In fact, one of the biggest things for me was teaching the landing episode and the ‘point target’ method I came up with. It has really helped me out a lot.
Glad you’re enjoying it! Throttle On!
No Chris,
I had never heard of S Turns before….
Thoroughly enjoying the series…Even find myself joining in with “Throttle on” lol…
Dave
Very cool! It’s great to know that you’ve learned something useful, Dave. It’s great to have you around. Hope to see more of you.
Until we share replies again, Throttle On
Hi Chris,
Until now and since “Flight Unlimited 2″ which was a great program (a pity they never made a follow up), that was then when I used to do S-turns. Not easy at all maybe because it’s hard to see exactly where you want to see in one move, with the pan button in my joystick it is hard, it is left or right and then up or down, what makes me ask you: what is your hardware setup?, I mean for the controls. I was thinking of getting a Flight Sim Yoke from CH Products and the Matrox’s Triplehead2go. Are these what you use?
Thanks Chris for an educative episode.
Hey Carlos,
My setup is pretty simple. I just LOVE the Saitek stuff. I have the yoke, the throttle (a throttle comes with the yoke) and the rudder pedals. I had CH stuff for years, but the Saitek quality is definetly MUCH better.
Also, I use TrackIR for the head movement stuff, which is the only thing that allows me to do these maneuvers. Otherwise, I’d be hosed.
TripleHead2Go is a pretty sweet deal, although I do not have it. I basically need to keep things in the widescreen video size for the videos, so it’s a bit pointles.
Hope this helps! Feel free to ask any follow up questions.
Hello Chris,
Track IR 4 Pro or Track IR 5 ?
I have 4 with the 5 software, which the software always stays compatible with older versions.
Hey Chris, I don’t know if I missed it but how much wind did you add? Your vids are very helpful and really immersive,that FTX PNW scenery is just Fantastic!! I’m off to practice S-turns!!
Throttle On!!!
It was real weather, but I’m pretty sure it was light, less than 10 knots. Get above that and you REALLY start to notice.
Thanks for the compliments. Throttle on Man!
Another great lesson, Chris! The area you chose for a practice zone looks remarkably like the area east of Portland where I did a whole bunch of real-world S-turns. Spooky!
The only criticism I have is that I would have liked a quick explanation of exactly how wind speed and direction affects this maneuver. You had that lovely top-down graphic at the beginning, which would have been an ideal place to discuss it.
It’s a shame that with most a/c in FSX, you can’t judge losing altitude by hearing the prop speed up. That was one of my favorite audible cues that I was inadvertently descending. Anyway, good job!
Yeah, I think there could be a bit more explanation on with there. I’m really struggling with how to animate this, though. I could take anyone up in real life and show how it works, but this really has me stumped. Anyway, I’ll think something up.
That’s awesome you did your S-turns in this area. I took off near the Dalles and flew out here, found a nice straight road, and it was perfect. I just love PNW.
I also hear ya on the prop speed one. That could have REALLY helped in episode 16 as well. Bummer.
A tip from a glider pilot here when turning in stead of monitoring your Altimeter a lot, you use the horizon and it’s travel past the glare shield kind of like a conveyor and pick a point where the average of the horizon passes and you aren’t sinking or climbing, you can then keep an eye on this in your periphery while turning across the road. this will allow you to concentrate on what your drift rate is like. in glider’s you will often turn slightly uncordinated to kept the turns flatter this of course could be used with powered flight to.
Thanks for the info, Maurie. Always great to have another perspective.