Flight Question Managing AOA and Heat shields on the Shuttle fleet

[Wrangler]

Hello Folks,

I have been trying to fly reentries manually using David413's Shuttle fleet 4.8. Since i learned my reentries on the DGIV (using Grover's brilliant guide) I am missing a couple of tools from that ship, and was wondering how to get similar info on the Fleet.

Firstly, I am using the glideslopeMFD to manage my AOA. Though, frankly the GlideslopeMFD is very similar to the SPEC105 program on the DGIV. So I am not actually managing the AOA. That creates disputes between me and the AP, cause prefer to hold the high AOA to reduce as much speed as I can until I hit 40KM altitude. I then start reducing the AOA to manage the approach during TAEM. The GlideslopeMFD starts dropping the AOA at higher altitudes, cause it thinks I have burned off to much speed. How do I get around this problem? Is there an attitude management system, similar to the SPEC104 program on the DGIV?

Secondly, I have been observing the AutoFCS, and it deorbits the Shuttle to an EI of 0.68degrees entry angle, with ~45degrees of anticipation at 90KM of Altitude. With those parameters, the Shuttle hardly generates a plasma trail. So to push things to a more realistic range, I am experimenting with increasing the Entry and anticipation angles. However, 1degree enter angle generated quite a fireworks show, along with an audible alarm. Now I assume that the shuttle was either warning me about coming in too fast or the shields getting too hot (or both). Is there some way to gauge the shield temperature during reentries on the Shuttle fleet (like the D3 menu on the DGIV). I could not find anything in the GPC, but I could have skimmed over it (as usual)

 

[Cras]

Well, first off the Shuttle fleet does not simulate damage, thus there is no way to say burn the thing up on re-entry.

Two, if you de-orbit the Shuttle properly in Orbiter, due to the way that the re-entry flames are calculated, you will never see any sort of flames during your descent.

Three, the key to deorbiting the Shuttle is to maintain a fixed AoA, and manage your energy by means of rolling the Shuttle on to its side. You do want to lower the AoA as you get near the end, and Glideslope does have displays that will help you with it.

Glideslopes "steering" autopilot not only holds AoA, but dampens the roll commands, so it makes the rolls much easier to command, and then it will hold that position when you cease the control inputs. Utilise this behaviour to performe the roll reversals and keep the orbiter on the de-orbit trajectory.

Or use Auto FCS.