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Old 7th August 2002 | 13:19
  #16 (permalink)  
Blue Hauler
 
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 134
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From: YBBN
I have to disagree with the ‘point and power’ (gun-barrel or ballistic) approach technique, particularly at ab-initio stage. And I do fly jets!

The technique sets the student up for disaster in short-field approaches. If at 1.3 Vs the student recognises that he/she is falling below the approach path and attempts to recover by back pressure, speed will rapidly reduce as induced drag takes over. At this point the student should have corrected with power.

In a jet aircraft the situation is different. Because of the low drag profile a change of attitude will have little effect on speed, but a major diversion from the flight path. Therefore elevators are extremely effective to recover to the flight path without upsetting the speed. Small adjustments of Ng are very effective at maintaining air speed.

The technique will work on many of the performance twins and I guess that transitioning during multi-engine conversion or instrument rating training is valid.
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