Basic Instrument Maneuvers
Instrument Flight
NORMAL TURNS
For turns of less than 30 degrees of heading change, use a bank angle that equals that change. For
example, if a heading change from 020 degrees to 045 degrees were required (a 25-degree change), you
would use a bank angle of 25 degrees. If the heading change is 30 degrees or greater, use a bank angle
of 30 degrees.
Prior to entering the turn, you should be in straight and level flight with trim properly set. As you roll into
the turn, you will lose some of the vertical component of lift, so you’ll have to add power and aft stick (trim)
to compensate.
Use a lead point of approximately one-third of the angle of bank for initiating your roll-out. As you roll out
of the turn, the vertical component of lift will increase and the aircraft will have a tendency to climb. To
counteract this, lower the nose attitude back to level flight reference and reduce power to the pre-turn
setting. Any aft stick or trim added during the turn will have to come out when the turn is complete.
Heading change of 30 degrees or more: 30 degrees AOB
Heading change of less than 30 degrees: AOB equal to heading change
Throttle: Increase as needed to maintain airspeed
Pitch: As required to maintain level flight
Lead point for roll-out: 1/3 of the AOB
TURN PATTERN
Consisting of two pairs of left and right turns, the turn pattern gives you practice in smoothly performing a
series of linked turns at a constant altitude and airspeed.
To begin the maneuver, make a 30-degree AOB turn for 60 degrees of heading change. Reverse into a
30-degree AOB turn to the original heading. Perform the final pair of reversing turns at 45 degrees AOB
for a heading change of 90 degrees each. Execute the turn reversals smoothly, with no straight and level
legs. At the end of the maneuver recover wings level on original heading.
Throughout the maneuver, maintain altitude and 250 KIAS, adding more aft stick and more power for each
set of turns. When reversing turns, ease the back stick as you apply reverse aileron in order to avoid
gaining altitude.
If you get ahead of the turn schedule, reduce AOB so to arrive on the heading on time. Always begin the
turn reversal with the descent on the clock.
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