| > For flying jets though (assuming this is what the GP means when mentioning the respect for airline pilots), you'll have some higher numbers, and you'll use the thrust for speed rather than the "counter intuitive" approach you'd use in a smaller aircraft. Minor point - fairly certain power applications are used regardless of the size of aircraft to control the rate of descent. Pitch + Power = Performance You're essentially trying to get back on your landing descent profile. Too low? Add power, pitch up slightly to maintain speed, reduce rate of descent.
Too high? Remove power, pitch down slightly to maintain speed, increase rate of descent. It is somewhat counter intuitive, but power does not have a "direct" relation with speed, but certainly impacts it. Even if you fly straight and level, and start adding power - the increase airflow over the wings/elevators will cause a pitch up / lift, your speed will decrease which will need counteracting by a slight downwards pitch to maintain straight / level, and only then would you see a speed increase. There will always be a point where the aircraft just settles into a given configuration of power and pitch/attitude, giving you a specific horizontal/vertical speed. You yourself mention pointing the aircraft down (pitch), thus gaining speed (without touching the power), which is exactly the counter-intuitive approach to power/speed. I may not be explaining it well but here's a decent article: http://txtopaviation.com/pitch-power-performance/ And you'll find quite a few more if you go searching. I also highly recommend looking up the pilot owner manuals, they give you performance tables for given configurations (rpm, power, density, altitude, fuel, temp etc), and of course what power settings to use and numbers to hit for various stages of flight. I do concur with all your other points though, it's an absolute blast - especially in VR. And of course, I can't encourage folks enough to try out the real thing, I find it easier than driving a car! :) |