Sight picture at the 90?

[Diesel_Thunder]

On a Case 1, after the downwind and you are in the 190º turn to final, what does a pilot expect to see 90º into the turn as long as everything is normal?

 

When on the final turn, I don't look at the boat until after 90º, but I don't have the experience to know what to look for and if I need to steepen or shallow my turn, and I've never seen this explained anywhere either.

[Brun]

...I don't have the experience to know what to look for and if I need to steepen or shallow my turn.

 

That's the answer to your question.

[G B]

The approach turn is an instrument turn. Only peek outside at the 90. At the 90 you should feel high and tight, but you need to have faith that it will work out.

[Razor18]

Hi G B, if I make a very strict 30° bank angle turn all the way around starting abem about 1.1 NM lateral distance (not TACAN ship distance, as there is always a 0.1 NM difference), I always end up too tight, left of centerline. Should I still stick to 30° bank, and maybe put my downwind closer to the ship, or after the 90° , you can ease bank if deemed necessary, to arrive on centerline?

[G B]

Hi G B, if I make a very strict 30° bank angle turn all the way around starting abem about 1.1 NM lateral distance (not TACAN ship distance, as there is always a 0.1 NM difference), I always end up too tight, left of centerline. Should I still stick to 30° bank, and maybe put my downwind closer to the ship, or after the 90° , you can ease bank if deemed necessary, to arrive on centerline?

 

You’re supposed to use 27-30 AOB. Something I always tell people is of what they’re doing isn’t working, try something else. Adjust abeam distance, adjust AOB, adjust turn point. Keep adjusting until you find what works for you, within normal parameters.

[TonyG]

Here’s a pass I did with a 16 second groove length. Started 1.2 NM abeam, rolled in abeam the LSO platform. My turn was fairly consistent but I did steepen the bank based on my feel at the 90°. Probably a bit too much AOB as I wind up with a LUL call from the DCS LSO. I make a couple of glances at the platform starting about 3 mins in, maybe that can give you a bit of a sight picture.

 

GB, any comments on the pass are welcome.

 

I shoot for ~1.1-1.2nm from the carrier at 90° at 470’. I always work with TCN distance because it’s a consistent number. Aim to cross the wake around 0.9nm and 370’.

 

The other grading (and the groove time) comes from MOOSE Airboss

 

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Edited May 24, 2020 by TonyG

[Diesel_Thunder]

Hi G B, if I make a very strict 30° bank angle turn all the way around starting abem about 1.1 NM lateral distance (not TACAN ship distance, as there is always a 0.1 NM difference), I always end up too tight, left of centerline. Should I still stick to 30° bank, and maybe put my downwind closer to the ship, or after the 90° , you can ease bank if deemed necessary, to arrive on centerline?

 

I used turn too tight as well, until I learned that the bank scale at the bottom of the HUD is marked off in 15º increments, and not 10º like I thought (you have two little ones on either side of zero that indicate 5º). In essence I was turning at 45º, adding too much power to maintain altitude and getting to fast.

 

The approach turn is an instrument turn. Only peek outside at the 90. At the 90 you should feel high and tight, but you need to have faith that it will work out.

 

Got it, thanks. I guess this is something a pilot develops over time with practice. I think I was looking more for if when I do look at the 90, if I should see the boat at a certain point in relation to the canopy bow as a quick reference that I'm on the right track.

[G B]

I used turn too tight as well, until I learned that the bank scale at the bottom of the HUD is marked off in 15º increments, and not 10º like I thought (you have two little ones on either side of zero that indicate 5º). In essence I was turning at 45º, adding too much power to maintain altitude and getting to fast.

 

 

 

Got it, thanks. I guess this is something a pilot develops over time with practice. I think I was looking more for if when I do look at the 90, if I should see the boat at a certain point in relation to the canopy bow as a quick reference that I'm on the right track.

 

Nope. Do not reference a visual picture on the canopy or anything. It is an instrument turn. Instrument scan.

[Razor18]

I used turn too tight as well, until I learned that the bank scale at the bottom of the HUD is marked off in 15º increments, and not 10º like I thought (you have two little ones on either side of zero that indicate 5º). In essence I was turning at 45º, adding too much power to maintain altitude and getting to fast.

 

 

Trust me, I'm turning at 30° AOB. :smartass: