DC-10/MD-11 pitch angle on approach
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DC-10/MD-11 pitch angle on approach
I was sitting in a hotel in Frankfurt a couple of days ago and was bored enough to watch the airliners come in.
Two of them really stood out as having high pitch angles compared to everything else, a DC-10 and an MD-11.
Is this part of the DLC thingy they have?
Two of them really stood out as having high pitch angles compared to everything else, a DC-10 and an MD-11.
Is this part of the DLC thingy they have?
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I believe that originally the DC10 was designed to have DLC (it would certainly have made flying an approach that required any levelling off points a lot easier)... but it never went into service. It was however still fitted to the Pan Am DC10 sim in Miami.
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It was my understanding that at the correct approach speed the approach pitch was about 3 degrees in the MD-11 and DC-10. Can any current pilots of either aircraft confirm?
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4 degrees eh? That's pretty steep!
Does LSAS trim the plane automatically for you when you're flying an approach without the autoflight or does the pilot still have to make inputs to the trim even with LSAS engaged?
What's the primary method for trimming? Do you guys in the MD-11 use the suitcase handle or is there a switch somewhere on the yoke?
Does LSAS trim the plane automatically for you when you're flying an approach without the autoflight or does the pilot still have to make inputs to the trim even with LSAS engaged?
What's the primary method for trimming? Do you guys in the MD-11 use the suitcase handle or is there a switch somewhere on the yoke?
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Switch is on the yoke. LSAS is a little slow, so one quick click on the yoke trim is a good pitch correction. If you actually move the yoke you are over controlling. Never have used the handle bars in flight. That would be a bad day.
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So when you're setting takeoff trim, and you're on the configuration synoptic page, you use the switch on the yoke to set the trim?
It seems to be then that the suitcase handle is indeed an auxiliary way to trim the stabilizer. During normal operations, do you ever touch it at all?
One more thing about the suitcase handle: When you move it forward or back, does it return to center, or does it stay where it was moved? If it returns to center what do you use to gauge stabilizer trim if you were to lose power to the CRTs? (Fascinating stuff!)
It seems to be then that the suitcase handle is indeed an auxiliary way to trim the stabilizer. During normal operations, do you ever touch it at all?
One more thing about the suitcase handle: When you move it forward or back, does it return to center, or does it stay where it was moved? If it returns to center what do you use to gauge stabilizer trim if you were to lose power to the CRTs? (Fascinating stuff!)
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Yep, we use the trim on the yoke to set takeoff stab trim. Except...the yoke trim switches are faster than the handle bars, so sometimes when trying to set an exact number (ie 6.2) you get 6.0, then 6.4, then 6.0, then 6.4... If I am feeling really anal I will reach over and use the handle bars. The handle bars are two seperate bars, side by side. You have to move them both simultaneously to get the trim to move. They are spring loaded to the center position and it requires a bit of force.
Lose power to the CRTs? All of them?? There is a built in priority system so if you lost a CRT it would transfer data to another CRT. Certification requires being able to land at any stab trim setting.
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Lose power to the CRTs? All of them?? There is a built in priority system so if you lost a CRT it would transfer data to another CRT. Certification requires being able to land at any stab trim setting.
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Oh, wow, cool!
So the handles move when you are setting trim and then return to center after the trim is set. They don't stay in a position for "6.2 ANU" after you used them, for example
So the handles move when you are setting trim and then return to center after the trim is set. They don't stay in a position for "6.2 ANU" after you used them, for example
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The handle bar trim are always centered and never move on their own. If you physically grabbed them and held them forward, they are springloaded to return to the centered position. BBB
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You're a wealth of information!
How often do you use dial-a-flap settings that aren't Flaps 15 and Flaps 25? Seems to be those are the most common settings. Do you often get some strange flap degree settings or do you primarily use those two?
How often do you use dial-a-flap settings that aren't Flaps 15 and Flaps 25? Seems to be those are the most common settings. Do you often get some strange flap degree settings or do you primarily use those two?
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We use a Performance software program named COMRAD. After inputting a lot of data it gives us the exact, best flap setting. Exact to the decimal. ie 16.7 degrees or 14.5 degrees etc. Basically the lighter we are the higher the flap setting. On repo flights is the only time I usually see Flaps 25 degrees.
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