My first unpowered landing

[TMac3000]

In an XR-5. And at night, too Not technically a successful landing, since I was watching the wrong number on the Surface MFD and broke the gear. But I managed not to kill myself or my crew. Back to the refining process

 

[Napalm42]

Nice job!:thumbup:

I could've probably done one by now, but I'm too impatient to glide down slow.:lol:

 

[TMac3000]

Update: just this minute did it without breaking the gear:woohoo:

Maybe I'll try a shuttle landing someday

 

[Jarvitä]

Quiding a falling brick halfway around the Earth and hitting a runway is quite an accomplishment.

Next up: Qualify for the KSC - Wideawake race. :hello:

 

[Fabri91]

Congrats! If you want to try a Shuttle, be sure to check out David413's Shuttle Fleet, which has an autopilot to keep the angle of attack stable.

 

[RisingFury]

The first thing I learned when I download Orbiter - except for the basic controls - was how to land a DGIV. I kept taking off and landing on one and the other runway at Cape Canaveral. At first, every attempt broke the gear, but some 30 minutes later, I was able to land without problems.

 

[Jarvitä]

The first thing I learned when I download Orbiter - except for the basic controls - was how to land a DGIV. I kept taking off and landing on one and the other runway at Cape Canaveral. At first, every attempt broke the gear, but some 30 minutes later, I was able to land without problems.

Landing from atmospheric cruise is easy. The real problem is de-orbiting and hitting the speck of dirt in the middle of an ocean - although Basesync and Aerobrake MFDs simplify that a lot as well.

 

[TMac3000]

Landing from atmospheric cruise is easy. The real problem is de-orbiting and hitting the speck of dirt in the middle of an ocean - although Basesync and Aerobrake MFDs simplify that a lot as well.

Aerobrake MFD in particular. I don't use Basesync, as I like to have as few extra MFDs as I can get by with. But I think making an accurate reentry without it is damn near impossible. I don't know how in hell the Shuttle nailed it every time.

 

[mojoey]

Aerobrake MFD in particular. I don't use Basesync, as I like to have as few extra MFDs as I can get by with. But I think making an accurate reentry without it is damn near impossible. I don't know how in hell the Shuttle nailed it every time.

'Oh lord, please dont let me bork this up' sound familiar? A bunch of computers and crossed fingers is how

 

[Codz]

'Oh lord, please dont let me bork this up' sound familiar? A bunch of computers and crossed fingers is how

Misquote. It was "Don't up, Shepard..."

 

[mojoey]

Misquote. It was "Don't up, Shepard..."

i made it family friendly...

 

[TMac3000]

'Oh lord, please dont let me bork this up' sound familiar? A bunch of computers and crossed fingers is how

I have all my fingers crossed during a typical reentry, but only one computer. That's it! I just need more computers:lol:

 

[mojoey]

I have all my fingers crossed during a typical reentry, but only one computer. That's it! I just need more computers:lol:

and for gods sakes, dont put any magnets on them!

 

[Tommy]

Aerobrake MFD in particular. I don't use Basesync, as I like to have as few extra MFDs as I can get by with. But I think making an accurate reentry without it is damn near impossible. I don't know how in hell the Shuttle nailed it every time.

Not impossible, but certainly VERY difficult! Without AerobrakeMFD, my success rate would be around 10%, maybe less.

As to the shuttle, they have tools of their own - as well as a Mission Control Center that helps with the energy management.

Nice job, BTW. I've always found the gear on the XR series to be a bit on the fragile side and have broken many a strut myself!

 

[ADSWNJ]

I've yet to do a completely unpowered XR5 landing from LEO. I usually get to 30-50km away then cheat it in on say a 200 kts airspeed hold.

Do you guys null out the BaseSync to a zero offset (i.e. so the AeroBrake track goes right over the base)? I'm thinking that an intentional 20-30km displacement makes sense to give space for a final turn onto runway heading. E.g. coming from south of the equator into Wideawake RWY330, aim to miss right and then do a left turn in.

So then the next point is how many squares of spare energy do you leave on the AeroBrake zoomed in view? 2 or 3? The whole width of the view, etc? I'd love to see a tutorial on how to execute the power management to get to do a really well controlled HAC turn at say 20 km altitude, doing say 2-3 turns to finals at Wideawake.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I do my best to line the base up (AIA anyway) while I'm approaching from the NW. That way I just need to tweak a bit on final. If I can't, and am approaching from the SW, I'll use the target in AerobrakeMFD to aim past the island, so that as I pass over I'm around 20K or so of altitude, and I'll do an over-field break. With a long, portside gliding turn to line up. I think winds up being a square and a half (or so). By that time I'm not using aerobrake anymore, but flying seat-of-the-pants.

 

[Cras]

You can use Glideslope MFD to fly a path to the HAC and line up with the runway. It displays some very useful information for this.

 

[ADSWNJ]

If I can't, and am approaching from the SW, I'll use the target in AerobrakeMFD to aim past the island, so that as I pass over I'm around 20K or so of altitude, and I'll do an over-field break.

Hmm interesting. Like a teardrop turn. I'll give that a go.

---------- Post added at 11:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:27 AM ----------

You can use Glideslope MFD to fly a path to the HAC and line up with the runway. It displays some very useful information for this.

Glideslope is a bit of a tease, I think. I'm sure it has some great data, but I'm constantly thinking that it's calibrated for the shuttle, so I don't know what to trust! If there were a GlideslopeXR MFD calibrated for the XR family, then it would all be different!

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Hmm interesting. Like a teardrop turn.

Exactly. It usually works out I break transonic somewhere along the base turn. There is no particular formula I follow, just instinct from many years of flight sims.

 

[ADSWNJ]

I did some XR-5 runs coming across Wideawake at around 30km altitude / 3000 kts at about a 90 degree angle to the runway. (So it's more a cloverleaf to land, than a teardrop.) The interesting thing is how hard you roll it and how much you pull the nose up as you make the turns. Do it too aggressively (e.g. 60 degree turn / nose flat) and you bleed off all the speed (and probably black out from the G's!). Do it gently (e.g. 30 degree / nose down 5-10 degrees) and you can roll 20 km out from the base and then need some thrust to get back. I need to get the right balance!

Also - circle to land versus line up 10-20 km out! Ex military guys would presumably say circle to land every time .