X-Plane 11 | The Traffic Pattern

[@jimle22]

This was good. I needed this.

[@dixielandfarm]

This absolutely helped me out - I'm still pretty bad at doing circuits - I've been working on it, though.

[@clayviation]

So glad it helped, dixielandfarm! Keep working at it - it’ll get easier with time.

[@4steroid]

5 years late but this video was most helpful! I'm finally getting the hang of traffic patterns in X-Plane 12!

[@Dave-jd9qn]

I am practicing landings just to get skilled at controlling the aircraft. This is most helpful as you go through power and flaps settings not to mention the protocols of the traffic pattern.

[@d6cutu6e]

For setting up views I find a simple stand along number pad, programmed with views per number (simple to do in xplane) and stuck on top of the yoke box gives a really easy access to a range of set views without having to go away from the yoke to a keyboard. You also have additional keys through having num lock on or off. And only costs about £10.

[@AntonieBeens]

Hi, I've been watching some of your video's, and I wanted to say that I really like and enjoy your style of showing the viewer around in simulation flying. As I am practising a lot on flight simulator, some day I want to fly 'the real thing' as well. I like the way you point out where simulation differs from real flying. Oddly enough I learned more from the routine of pattern flying when you for example said that you should have contacted the tower rather than when everything was smooth and right on spot. Also, you make flying moves a sort of natural, while I always feel some sort of rush. By this video you showed that it can be relaxed at some point, which means experience, I guess... ;-) Excellent explainations, please do keep up the good work!

[@clayviation]

Hi Antoine! Thanks for flying along! It's true - rushing things just makes you miss stuff. I highly recommend you go take a discovery flight at your local airport. It makes a great gift ;) just for the flight, and there is no obligation to start or continue training. I think you'll find once you've tasted flight, you'll think about it differently, pursue it differently, and save for it differently. Enjoy your flying!

[@davidhaystacks4153]

Great tutorials sir, perfect pace and level of detail, gained a sub here 👍

[@clayviation]

Thanks, Feech! Glad to have you along!

[@douglyons7772]

Clay...a few questions... 1). What is the measure of "air speed alive" call-out? What indicates that? When would you not say it? 2). In a pattern, how do you determine for a GA C172SP-type plane, how wide it should be? Or put another way...how long do you fly the cross and base...1 mile, 1/2 mile...and what do you use to determine the downwind leg is far enough away from the runway leg (fly-out and final)? 3). Where have you been? What are you working on? Haven't seen a new X-plane vid from you in about a year. Thx, Doug, Vero Beach, FL

[@clayviation]

Hi Doug! You’re absolutely right - it has been a while. It’s been a hugely busy time for both work and family, but I have some videos in the works, so keep an eye out. The airspeed alive call out is a response to seeing the airspeed indicator needle start to move, or come alive. It’s an indication that the instrument is working (and that the pitot tube isn’t blocked). If the airspeed never came alive, you’d want to abort the takeoff. For the pattern, the downwind leg is usually about a half mile to a mile from the runway. Keep in mind, the traffic pattern is a very visual maneuver, so while there are instruments referenced, you’re typically relying on visual reference. If you don’t leave much time to fly the crosswind, then you won’t have much time to fly the base and make a visual decision to turn to final. Typically, a turn from downwind to base happens when the landing end of the runway is 45 degrees a behind you. Remember, the primary function of the bass to downwind to final portion is for you to establish a consistent, stabilized approach. Thanks for watching and if you’re in flight training, be sure to run these convos through your instructor before taking anything you learn to the airplane.

[@hoss150]

Glad you have some upcoming videos. You teach Aviation very well! Are you a CFI? Do you fly out of Georgia? Keep the good content coming man!

[@clayviation]

Thanks, Jeremy. I am a pilot out of Georgia and just love to explore aviation concepts on the sim. New series in the works!

[@BrucevanZyl]

Thanks!

[@clayviation]

You’re welcome, Bruce!

[@mrwilson.1]

What does "we are looking to be abeam the numbers" mean?

[@clayviation]

In line with the numbers. Basically they would be just off your wing.

[@richardmehalick9076]

I’m really struggling on when to turn on final. I am trying to get better views setup but so far I either turn early or late. What’s worse is all the concentration on that turn is messing up my airspeed, etc. Do you have any other tips?

[@clayviation]

Judging that turn is pretty tough in the sim. It’s one of the few things I feel are a little easier in the real airplane because you can turn your head freely and faster than view controls in the sim. My advice for you in the sim specifically is to fly a slightly wider traffic pattern. If your downwind leg is a little further from the runway, then once you turn base, you’ll have more time on base to check your views and make a call on that turn to final. A few times with a wider pattern and I’ll bet you could tighten it back up when you get that judgment down. With that, I’d suggest playing with your view controls to have the best control. If you look at the command assignments in the settings, there are varying levels of speed of the view changes. Try assigning some of the “non-standard” view controls to keys to see if you have better control. Happy flying!

[@davidhaystacks4153]

Fully recommend some form of head-tracking, i'm still not the best but to be able to naturally glance over to your left/right for a quick visual check helped me immensely. I know it's not a new suggestion for Clayviation here, the TrackHat Clip is a great option at 30% of the price of TrackIR 5, I used it for about 1 year until recently getting a VR headset (which is the ultimate way to do GA/heli flying for me in X Plane, absolutely love it!)

[@richardmehalick9076]

I solved my problem with base turns by adding two monitors. Now I see around me a lot better.

[@SpaceJelly45]

Track IR is awesome for flight sims. You need x-camera (free plugin) to make it work correctly in x-plane 11 but it's well worth the trouble. Once you fly with it you will wonder how you ever managed with the old static views.

[@clayviation]

Thanks for the great info. I used Track IR with Microsoft Flight Sim way back in the day (when the sim needed to be hand propped :) but haven't explored the joys of modern technology yet. I'm intrigued by track hat (trackhat.com) and plan to give it a try and work it in to my content calendar. Is there one you personally prefer?

[@SpaceJelly45]

TrackIR with the trackclip pro seems to be the proper way to do head tracking and that's what I use. It is possible to duct tape an old iphone to your head and do it that way, but that just doesn't seem right to me. Once the resolution of VR improves that will definitely be the way to go.

[@clayviation]

That's great advice, Datek - I'll probably pick up a TrackIR and check out the new features, although I find the mental image of duct taping a phone to my head hilarious. I can see the duct tape wrapped sloppily around the phone and head, Rambo style. Might have to turn a camera back on me for that one and have that view down in the corner :).

[@earlglover6091]

i was hoping to learn more about the turns but as soon as you make a turn you look outside and i loose the panel i don't want a tour just education.

[@clayviation]

Thanks for the input, Earl.

[@jrsmoots]

How to know I've gone far enough on first leg of the pattern? You mentioned 700 feet - how did you know? Thanks!

[@clayviation]

Take a look at your altimeter when you are on the ground to note the field elevation. Then just add 700 to it for your turn and 1000 for pattern altitude. Have fun!

[@brandon5058]

It is like a standard altitude to memorize. Upwind is 500 ft, then make your turn to crosswind and when on final also around 500. But you can ofcourse use 700 ft too.

[@ElTcheko]

Why do you think that “landings in a simulator lack the reality” more than any other aspect of simulator flying?

[@clayviation]

Tex-Twil there is a lot about a simulator landing that can be considered helpful, such as learning the relationship between pitch and power on final (the back end of the power curve where pitch controls airspeed and power controls descent). If a pilot was looking to sharpen up on their landings, I'm not sure that practicing on a home simulator would help that. Learning the sight picture in a given airplane is important, and the feel of landing, particularly in the final moments before touchdown, just feel very different on the simulator than when I fly. It doesn't mean there is no value there, but I wouldn't drill landings on the simulator and then expect any improvement when I head out to the airfield.

[@MoreRudder_FBW]

For realism it's best to have force feedback for sim landings, unless you're in a fly-by-wire plane.

[@Reidiculousboy]

Love you dad

[@clayviation]

Love you too, buddy