DCS F/A-18C #3 - Understanding "On Speed" AoA

[@gort8203]

Sim pilots coming to the F-18 from other aircraft should be forewarned that the AOA indexer color coding is backwards compared to non-Navy aircraft, where green is good and red is bad. My first time trying to land the F-18 I was bewildered because I couldn't understand why I had the green donut with a slow speed and a high sink rate. Then I read the manual, and after my YGBSM reaction I forced myself to overcome years of ingrained habit and go for a yellow donut. Due to FCS programming the F-18 does not respond like other airplanes in the landing configuration, but again I understood it once I read the actual aircraft manual and forced myself to adapt. I'm just saying all this so you won't think you have lost it if you have strong habit patterns and are initially unsettled by these differences.

[@canyonh]

It is maybe the best video explaning on speed AOA, and the exercise introduced is really helpful. Thank you very much for the outstanding work!

[@holdintheaces7468]

This is by far the best explanation of AoA on youtube. You not only explain how to do it, but you explain wonderfully how to read all the indicators in the plane AND most importantly the why and the physics. Most videos glossed over over a lot of that and just talk through steps without explaining the why and usually without explaining the hud indicators.

[@RequiemsACTL]

Appreciate the feedback! It's just the pilot in me... of course it's important to know "how" to do something, but when you understand the "why" it helps other concepts click together and you can make connections you wouldn't have otherwise :-)

[@yoepdeligt682]

Great video. I already knew the 'how' when it comes to AoA, and what it is used for, but the technical 'why' knowhow really solidifies the concept. Curiously, more technical knowledge somehow made it more intuitive. As someone else mentioned, other videos either quickly glossed over it or skipped it all together. Thanks, I'll be watching the rest of your FA18 videos to see what else I can pick up.

[@radoslawbiernacki]

Finally!!! Someone clearly described to me the "reversed command" regime and AoA. Best video about AoA on KZbin!!

[@excel297]

Fantastic stuff, the first tutorial I’ve seen that says how to do this other than just keep ur FPM in the bracket

[@Vortex31415]

The Hornet is my favorite jet in DCS. I'm very excited to see you covering it in such detail with your videos. Hope you are able to dive into some of its more complicated systems too. Keep up the great work!

[@RequiemsACTL]

Thanks Echo, we'll see. It takes a long time for me to put these Hornet videos together as I have them all reviewed beforehand where I make changes as needed but I'm enjoying it.

[@Jerichoom]

This is great bud. Recently got into DCS and instead of overwhelm went for the Hornet to learn exclusively. Since the got carried away with cockpit building but... I digress. These vids are really useful as I found the built in tutorials very basic and I have a desire to fly the SIM properly. Appreciate the effort you put in here!

[@RequiemsACTL]

Thanks Jericho, just trying to approach these in the best way I can :-)

[@erfguuipo8084]

Smooth like hot knife on butter. By the way I was told by a commercial pilot who flies the national carrier that when I reduce thrust with idle+flaps down+gear down, that I should forward the joystick as the plane nose goes up and apply trim but do not touch the thrust at all until i got the on speed AOA. Because what I did was manipulating thrust and trim before catching the on speed aoa. I was doing straight line to the runway type landing, no rolls or anything like your video.

[@UbiquitousDIY]

Thank you for making this, so much easier to follow than any other. Appreciated!

[@azayomi]

Respect! Really good job with this video I am impressed. I love your side on examples in slow motion so we can see the difference with the hook. Really need to know how to do on speed AOA when you later move into CASE III and you have even more things going on. One of the most fun activities you can do with the F/A-18C. Love how you mentioned it only flashes when the hook is not down. This should help some people. Great video!

[@RequiemsACTL]

Thanks Azayomi, yeah I thought it was important to show that aspect of how it actually affects the hook to deck angle. You don't see it when flying obviously, but understanding why can help explain why you catch a wire or miss it and bolter.

[@eaglethedigger]

Awwwwwesome! Best explanation ever. You give reason and show the examples. Thank you so much for your work! 💪💪💪

[@tonyascaso6254]

Excellent as always! This is from NATOPS.; "NOTE Flaps HALF or FULL may be used for landing provided the minimum wind-over-deck (WOD) requirements of the Aircraft Recovery Bulletin (ARB) are met. As WOD increases above 30 kt, handling qualities in flaps HALF are slightly improved over flaps FULL and are recommended to avoid ″settle at the ramp″ situations. To assist in achieving the desired abeam distance of 1.1 to 1.3 nm: select the 10 nm scale on the HSI display, select ship’s TCN, and adjust the course line to the BRC. On downwind fly to place the wingtip of the HSI airplane symbol on the course line. Ensure the ground track pointer is on the exact reciprocal of the BRC. Select ILS if desired and available."

[@RequiemsACTL]

Thanks Tony, I think you'll like my landing videos :-)

[@FD1CE]

Incredibly useful lessons. Thanks a million for providing such knowledge and training

[@RequiemsACTL]

Quite often by understanding a concept like this helps you apply it to your flying so you can recognise where/when you're doing something wrong. Without it there could be a lot of trial and error to figure out a problem!

[@FD1CE]

@@RequiemsACTL That's very very true 👌

[@haedubabaganush]

Really excellent explanation. I hope you continue to do such work as you delve more into the hornet systems. I'm new to the hornet and this video really helped me to understand the AoA. Practicing as you did at altitude is a really good idea to get used to the fine control needed. Thank you for your work.

[@RequiemsACTL]

Appreciate that it's helped you out and that you found the exercise useful as it's good to practice slow flight in any airplane you're trying to learn. I'll try and go into depth on some systems but I'd rather approach doing so as being inclusive of a video topic to show something in use rather than just cover a system to cover it, so we'll see how it goes.

[@sailwesterly5444]

Thank you. I finally get it. That Reversal of Controls explained beautifully.

[@RequiemsACTL]

Appeciate it! Great to hear you understand it now as it can really be a confusing aspect for many people

[@BingoSim]

Fantastic video. Great explanation and demonstration of region of reversed command. Best I've seen!

[@RequiemsACTL]

Thanks Bingo. Reversed command is a counterintuitive concept for some people, but I've had to teach it to plenty of students in RL so I've had some practice at it :-)

[@thunderace4588]

Thank you for making this informative tutorial video for us.

[@ericlawrence9729]

Great video, awesome content keep up the great work.

[@sovetskiyberkut9806]

interesting video and this video actually spark more question than answers, because of the nature of science. How does F-18C AoA sensors work? because of your video, it sparks an idea in my head for my university work regarding the mechatronics of AoA sensor. Who said games doesn't spark science and curiosity? currently I had submitted the journal paper of the way AoA sensors work and hopefully get through into the presentation in the lecturer class. ;) Hopefully I can write down more paper regarding AoA sensor and their alpha implementation for other aerodynamics objects including variable pitch wind turbine

[@NotEvenDeathCanSaveU]

I cant take any of these as seriously as I did since I saw the keyboard guy doing all these things with ease... ON A KEYBoARD! .. some guy on the GR channel they had there, even beating them in dogfights and shit :D

[@RequiemsACTL]

Yeah I've heard of them but I've never watched any Grim Reapers stuff. It would be easier to beat someone using a keyboard in these modern jets compared to warbirds. Avionics and radar make things easier where precise airplane control isn't an issue lol

[@Gruby7C1h]

This is serious (a good thing) :)

[@serginiopaca709]

Thanks for this interesting video. After seeing it, I want to ask one question: How fly in the same way with ATC?

[@1draigon]

Im new to DCS and have a weird problem with this (I think?) I for the love of god can’t get optimal AOA and always stay on „fast“ even when I’m with landing gear down and flaps on full at 140 (I think knots?) without high stick control landing is basically impossible.. What am I doing wrong lol

[@RequiemsACTL]

Trim trim trim. You must use pitch trim after you're configured for landing to get on speed. After that on a good approach all you'll use is aileron for bank and power to control your altitude

[@stang46l]

Do you have the F-86. I know it’s meant to be a fighter, but I wish there was a decent video on bombing ground targets with it.

[@RequiemsACTL]

Yep I have the F-86. That's on my to-do list for cockpit workflows

[@stang46l]

@@RequiemsACTL k cool.

[@nickbruno1363]

Imo hornet is so easy if not the easiest plane to land.

[@RequiemsACTL]

Once someone understands how being on speed works life is easy, plus not even needing to flare is a bonus!