Fixed Wing

[MartinM]

As a change I have made a plane kit to take me to my 'A' fixed wing test.

Getting on well after a week with the real thing and Phoenix is a good help to me.

However, trying the fig of 8 at about 150 feet I lose the view of the ground thus my cross over point, same for other flights. What is the best way with planes ? I use the compas to track the runway or should I turn off auto zoom but will I still see my little Irvine 40 trainer ???

Thanks

Martin

[DbyMA]

I'd turn the auto-zoom off and bring it down to 50'-75'. Select a point of reference on the ground for your cross over point in Phoenix. At the Patch, use the tip of your transmitter antenna to mark the point in the sky.

cheers,

Mac

[MartinM]

Hi Mac, thanks for the reply. I have just turned off the sim after another 2 hours of flying, I did try zoom off and I did try to keep it low but I managed to keep letting the plane go away from me ! I also think I was making the loops to tight, banking hard and not doing too well, If you can record a good set of 8's I would like to see how they should look, I will PM my address in it is mot here already !

Thanks

Martin

[warboysastro]

Fly lower! Your BMFA examiner will take a dim view of flying fig 8's at 150ft. Flying too high shows lack of confidence, their guidelines say.

Cheers - Rob

[3DJIM]

In Phoenix make sure that auto zoom is off and then use the manual zoom (scroll wheel on ya mouse) to make sure your zoomed right out.

Make sure that your flying the '8' in the right direction to , When you enter the crossover part of the '8' you should be flying away from yourself not toward . And try to keep your '8' at about 50 feet.

Keep at it m8


Jim Lacey
(Bmfa fixed wing Instructor)

[robgt]

Jim,
Out of curiosity, shouldn't one be able to fly the figure 8 both ways around?
i.e. Is there a reason that the crossover should be made going away from you?

Cheers,
Rob

[3DJIM]

Hi,

Is there a reason that the crossover should be made going away from you?

You never want the plane flying toward you or others on the flight line, If you fly the '8' the other way the plane is always coming at you or others!.



Jim.

[Janek]

You never want the plane flying toward you or others on the flight line, If you fly the '8' the other way the plane is always coming at you or others!.

Sorry, but that's taking "safety" to an unnecessary extreme

[robgt]

I get the point, but surely flying the 8 crossing away from you in the middle means it's flying towards you at the outside edges of the 8 instead?

It's got to turn towards you at some point...
Confused!

Cheers,
Rob

[Disc]

The Figure 8 cross over must be in front of you.

Do the figure 8 at around 50-80ft and it must be a Figure 8 not a lazy 8 as in helicopter 'A'.

[warboysastro]

I quite enjoy it at full scale airshows when you happen to get 70+ tonnes of metal directly pointing at you for a moment or two before they turn. However, I can see the day coming when all displays will have to be just back and forth, rolling off the top, and never facing the crowd at all.

Cheers - Rob

[kevinh]

according the BMFA the figure of eight should be flown left to right or right to left crossover point in front off you

just like the eight for helis

[3DJIM]

I get the point, but surely flying the 8 crossing away from you in the middle means it's flying towards you at the outside edges of the 8 instead?

Yes but for a much shorter time and further out, These are guidelines set by the bmfa for our safety, once you pass your test its up to you how you fly and how your club let you fly, you are responsible for your own safety.

Sorry, but that's taking "safety" to an unnecessary extreme

Wait till you get hit by a heli or a plane and say that

Jim

[Disc]

according the BMFA the figure of eight should be flown left to right or right to left crossover point in front off you

just like the eight for helis

Its a diffrent 8.

Helicopter 'A' its a LAZY 8

Plane 'A' a True figure 8 same as Helicopter 'B'

Recomend you look in the BMFA hand book.

And you must do it both ways because the examiner can ask you to do it both ways...

[kevinh]

Wasn't talking about the style of the eight it was the direction i was on about.