Normal Flight
Familiarization
TECHNIQUES
When properly performed, your AOB should remain constant throughout each turn. However, if you
experience a high rate of descent during the 60-degree AOB turn, you may have to decrease AOB in order
to reestablish the proper nose attitude prior to reestablishing the proper AOB.
Your primary visual cues should come from outside the cockpit, but also cross-check the altimeter, VSI,
and airspeed indicator (T-45A), or the MFD altitude, HUD, VSI, and airspeed readout (T-45C) to ensure
proper performance. Prior to entering the turn pattern and when established on altitude and airspeed, note
where the horizon transects the windscreen and where your power is set by monitoring the fuel flow
indicator and rpm. These are the 250 KIAS level flight attitude and power reference points that you should
use for attitude and the power adjustments during the turn pattern.
If you need to correct for improper attitude, make a definite pitch correction in relation to the outside
horizon and hold it. Cross-check your altimeter and VSI and HUD (T-45C) to see if the desired
performance is attained. If it isn’t, make another correction in the same manner.
NOTE: Do not chase the altimeter with the nose of the aircraft. The VSI will give the first indication of an
impending change in altitude; use it as a trend indicator.
The same technique applies to airspeed errors. Make a specific power correction and then check your
airspeed to see if the desired performance is attained. Remember that both for pitch and power
corrections, a re-correction will be required to maintain the pattern altitude and airspeed. Also modify your
technique to correct for reversal pattern errors—e.g., if you’re low, don’t lower the nose as much during the
reversal.
ACCELS AND DECELS
You will perform accelerations and decelerations to familiarize yourself with the trim and pitch changes
required to maintain level flight as airspeed changes.
PROCEDURES
To accelerate, go to MRT, verify that your speed brakes are retracted, maintain altitude by adjusting pitch,
and trim to relieve stick pressure. Approximately 5 KIAS prior to reaching desired airspeed, adjust the
power to the appropriate setting.
To decelerate by more than 25 KIAS, reduce the power to idle, extend the speed brakes, adjust pitch, and
trim as necessary. Five KIAS prior to desired airspeed, retract the speed brakes and adjust the power as
required to maintain airspeed. Maintain altitude by setting an attitude and trimming out stick pressures.
NOTE: The speed brakes can be operated without restrictions throughout the entire flight envelope;
however, they will not fully extend above 340 KIAS.
To reduce airspeed by less than 25 KIAS, reduce the power to the appropriate setting, adjust pitch, and
trim as necessary to maintain level flight. Adjust the power as necessary to maintain desired airspeed.
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