Heads-Up Display Modes 35 - Metaboli

112 Primary Flight School
PRIMARY FLIGHT SCHOOL
Air combat accounts for very little of a pilot’s total flight time. Taking off,
navigating to the target, navigating back home again, and landing occupy most
of a pilot’s flight.
hIf you can’t find your way to the target, or can’t find your way back
home, you’ll have a very short career as a fighter pilot!
9.001 Navigating with the HSI
Modern combat aircraft provide excellent steering and navigational cues on the
HUD. But what happens if the HUD is damaged? The Horizontal Situation Indicator
(HSI) provides an integrated backup solution. Russian and U.S. HSI’s differ
somewhat, but both provide the same basic information:
• A pointer to the next steer point.
• The range to the next steer point.
• The aircraft’s current heading.
• U.S. HSIs include a flight path deviation needle, which shows deviation from
the desired flight path.
• Russian HSIs include ILS needles within the center.
• Russian HSIs include a wide needle which points to the desired flight path.
The pointer to the next steer point indicates the direct path from the aircraft’s
present position to the steer point. However, the programmed course may be
designed to avoid enemy troops, SAM batteries, or AAA sites. In that case, it is
better to use the course deviation indicators to find the desired flight path, and
then use the steer point needle to proceed to the next steer point.
9.002 Landings
Landings distinguish good pilots from mediocre pilots and are the most critical
part of flying.
hThe secret to all good landings is the approach.
During landings, generally fly a constant AOA until flaring just before touchdown.
The AOA indexer, usually located near the HUD, provides a graphic indication of
the required AOA. If the top light illuminates, the aircraft is too slow or the AOA is
too high. If the bottom light illuminates, the aircraft is too fast or the AOA is too
low. The middle light indicates a proper approach AOA.
hMove the stick as little and as smoothly as possible.
During landings, proper procedure “reverses” the controls. The throttle, normally
used to control airspeed, is now used to control altitude. Likewise, the control
stick, normally used to change altitude, is used to control airspeed. Flying the
approach, first establish the appropriate AOA. Then, if the aircraft accelerates too
much, pull back on the stick and increase the pitch angle. This bleeds speed and
slows the aircraft. If the aircraft slows down, drop the nose a little to pick up
speed. Meanwhile, if the altitude drops too fast, increase throttle. If the altitude
climbs, reduce throttle.