Flaps on take-off and landing

Thomas Borchert writes:

No. But who cares - you're not flying, you're simming.

The whole idea of simulation is to approach real life, whence the
name.

For landing, you don't want to accidentally touch the wrong switch
while in a hurry on the runway (e.g. the gear switch - happens often).
Your primary concern is to get off the runway. After that, stop and
complete the after landing checklist, which includes flaps.

Do aircraft commonly have mechanisms to prevent gear retraction when
the wheels are touching ground, or is it usually up to the pilot not
to do anything unwise?

Your stall speed is reduced by the flaps by maybe 10 or 20 knots. If
the wind is blowing enough for your stall speed to be a factor - don't
fly.

I was under the impression that full flaps is a normal configuration
for landing; is this not true?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Squat switches of some type are common on all retractable
gear airplanes built since WWII. But they can fail for
several reasons.
Some airplanes have a squat switch on only one gear strut,
later models of the same aircraft often added a second squat
switch. A gentle landing with an over-inflated strut might
not compress the strut enough to activate the switch (open)
or a bump can allow the strut to re-extend.

Most gear up landings are just that, the pilot did not put
the gear down. But gear can be retracted while on the
ground if the airplane has the right combination of
"problems" such as over-inflated struts, shorted squat
switches, hydraulic problems, , etc.


"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
| Thomas Borchert writes:
|
| No. But who cares - you're not flying, you're simming.
|
| The whole idea of simulation is to approach real life,
whence the
| name.
|
| For landing, you don't want to accidentally touch the
wrong switch
| while in a hurry on the runway (e.g. the gear switch -
happens often).
| Your primary concern is to get off the runway. After
that, stop and
| complete the after landing checklist, which includes
flaps.
|
| Do aircraft commonly have mechanisms to prevent gear
retraction when
| the wheels are touching ground, or is it usually up to the
pilot not
| to do anything unwise?
|
| Your stall speed is reduced by the flaps by maybe 10 or
20 knots. If
| the wind is blowing enough for your stall speed to be a
factor - don't
| fly.
|
| I was under the impression that full flaps is a normal
configuration
| for landing; is this not true?
|
| --
| Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

In article ,
Mxsmanic wrote:

Thomas Borchert writes:

No. But who cares - you're not flying, you're simming.

The whole idea of simulation is to approach real life, whence the
name.

Do you guys do simulated ramp checks?

Roy Smith wrote:

In article ,
Mxsmanic wrote:

Thomas Borchert writes:

No. But who cares - you're not flying, you're simming.

The whole idea of simulation is to approach real life, whence the
name.

Do you guys do simulated ramp checks?

I have read of many sim pilots actually drinking alcohol while they fly,
too.

--
Peter

Peter R. wrote:

I have read of many sim pilots actually drinking alcohol while they fly,
too.


Count me as one. I damn near fell out of the chair after too many
Sierra Nevada Pale Ales while flying MSFS.

("B A R R Y" wrote)
I have read of many sim pilots actually drinking alcohol while they fly,
too.

Count me as one. I damn near fell out of the chair after too many Sierra
Nevada Pale Ales while flying MSFS.


Click on the "Fasten Seat Belt" switch, after your 4th SNPA, and that
wouldn't happen as often.


Montblack

Roy Smith writes:

Do you guys do simulated ramp checks?

All sim users are not identical, but it certainly would not surprise
me if some of them are simulating ramp checks, as well as many other
aspects of real-world bureaucracy. Different people are interested in
different aspects of real-world aviation, and simulation generally
allows them to concentrate on the aspects that interest them most,
while letting the rest slide. In theory just about anything can be
simulated.

I personally avoid the paperwork. Sim software itself often makes no
significant provision for paperwork, beyond things like checklists and
the like, so anyone wanting the paperwork side has to pretend on his
own. MSFS allows you to file a "flight plan" for IFR flights and
simulates ATC interaction based on the flight plan, but it doesn't go
much beyond that. Fortunately for me, that's about as far as I'm
interested in going myself. The simulated ATC is limited in what it
can handle and varies from reality in a number of ways, and it
sometimes makes stupid mistakes, but it still enhances realism a great
deal.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

Roy Smith wrote:

Do you guys do simulated ramp checks?


How about a simulated IMSAFE or bottle to throttle? G

I wonder if there's a simulated mile high club?

Simulator pilots can pretend to have a date! G

Mxsmanic wrote:
Thomas Borchert writes:


No. But who cares - you're not flying, you're simming.


The whole idea of simulation is to approach real life, whence the
name.


For landing, you don't want to accidentally touch the wrong switch
while in a hurry on the runway (e.g. the gear switch - happens often).
Your primary concern is to get off the runway. After that, stop and
complete the after landing checklist, which includes flaps.


Do aircraft commonly have mechanisms to prevent gear retraction when
the wheels are touching ground, or is it usually up to the pilot not
to do anything unwise?


Your stall speed is reduced by the flaps by maybe 10 or 20 knots. If
the wind is blowing enough for your stall speed to be a factor - don't
fly.


I was under the impression that full flaps is a normal configuration
for landing; is this not true?


My primary flight instructor had a great saying "Do whatever it takes".
If you are flying into a short field with minimal wind full flaps
would make sense. If you are flying into a long, high-speed runway
(like Dulles or something) a no flap landing can be used. If the wind
is really squirrly you might want partial flaps. Now, what flap setting
is "normal" full flaps. I flew a 172 with 40 degrees of flaps, so is
30 degrees "full flaps"? What if that's all your 172 has? The Navion
has more than 40 degrees, do I need all of that flap? It depends! (BTW
with the old engine take-off in the Navion was 0 flaps, with the new
engine it's half-flaps).

Margy

I have a great idea, why don't you get a few hours in a "real" airplane.