114 Primary Flight School 9.004 Crosswind Landings Crosswind landings are a little more difficult since the wind is pushing the aircraft across the runway. Turn slightly into the wind, keeping that wing dipped. Point the aircraft slightly off the side of the runway. Right before touchdown, level the wings and turn directly onto the runway. Alternatively, apply rudder toward the wind, flying at a constant sideslip. Many pilots find the second technique easier; however, in a strong crosswind, the sideslip angle may be prohibitive. hAvoid crosswind landings if the crosswind speed is greater than 30 knots.
Air Combat Basics 115 AIR COMBAT BASICS Strategy and Tactics Overview Modern technology has completely revolutionized the battlefield in less than a century. Aircraft, in particular, have advanced from little more than motor-powered kites to modern combat jets in just a few decades. Defense contractors and military officials often cite the strengths of their vehicles, but rarely mention the major shortcomings in public. Consequently, many people develop an opinion that aircraft (and other battlefield platforms) are more capable than they really are. The primary reason flight-simulator pilots get shot down is inappropriate usage of their platform. Keep in mind that surface-to-air defenses and enemy aircraft have made the same technological leaps. True, today’s aircraft are significantly more powerful and resilient than their WWII counterparts; at the same time, enemy gunfire is much more accurate, powerful, and able to fire at longer ranges. In short, the battlefield is a more dangerous place than ever before. Understanding Enemy Air Defenses Enemy air defenses, including surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery, are an integral part of the modern battlefield. Interlinked defense nets let defense sites across the battlefield communicate and share information. Pilots must possess a thorough knowledge of (and a strong respect for) such systems, or they’ll find themselves riding a parachute with alarming frequency. AAA In general, Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) is effective against low-flying targets and mainly serves for covering troops from enemy aircraft. Many armies have multibarreled mobile AAA systems fitted with radar and a fire-control system that provide effective operation in any meteorological conditions. In contrast to ground forces, ship-borne artillery usually has a multipurpose character, and fighting against airborne targets is just one of their several functions. An AAA shell consists of a warhead, an impact fuse that detonates at the moment of contact with the target, and a “time fuse,” which detonates after a particular flight time. The target is generally destroyed by the fragments produced by the warhead on detonation. Land-based systems, like the ZSU-23-4 Shilka (pronounced ‘shil-ka’) employ mutlibarreled cannons, off-road mobility, and high rate of fire. Usually equipped with its own radar, self-propelled AAA usually has some backup aiming method, such as an IR or optical seeker. To destroy low-flying airborne targets, combat ships use multipurpose guns that can also be used against enemy ships and coastal defense. For the most part, shipborne artillery is classed as 100 to 130mm guns (heavy caliber), 57 to 76mm guns (medium caliber), and 20 to 40mm guns (small caliber). All guns have a high degree of automation of aiming, loading, and firing. Automatic small-caliber (20- 40mm) anti-aircraft guns are mainly effective against low-flying aircraft and cruise missiles. Since SAMs normally have a substantial minimum range (within which airborne targets cannot be hit) ship-borne AAA is used as a short-ranged, point - defense weapon. Firing around 1,000 rpm per barrel, such weapons create a