PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Energy management on final differences question
Old 10th Feb 2013, 01:14
  #4 (permalink)  
Capn Bloggs
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Seat 1A
Posts: 8,578
Received 77 Likes on 45 Posts
Basic, SE prop driven aircraft, flown under VFR conditions will normally be flown with pitch=speed and power=path(descent rate).
Using the secondary effects of controls to "control" the aeroplane. If they relied on the primary effects of controls, then all aeroplanes would be flown in similar fashion. Many arguments in the aeroclub bar about that one.

I suppose it ultimately depends on where the new flyer is headed; for bigger and better things? Train them to fly like aeroplanes are supposed to be flown: pitch controls flight path and power controls speed. Staying a lighty pilot? Do whatever suits.

Gliders are a totally different kettle of fish: they haver no power so much use pitch for speed control.

They are unusual jet operators in that they don't practice 'point and power'. The reason for this is that when landing on carriers the aircraft must be at exactly the right airspeed, with exactly the right AoA on touchdown or the arrester hook will miss the wires.
Always wondered about this. The correct airspeed will always give you the correct AoA (provided you are on slope). Does it matter how you get there? Would a carrier automatic landing system use power to control glidepath?

Last edited by Capn Bloggs; 10th Feb 2013 at 01:19.
Capn Bloggs is offline