Steep Turns

BobDDuck

BobDDuck

Island Bus Driver
Silly question but....

I was wondering what most people do during steep turns (and for that matter any roll at all). Do you twist your head/torso so the horizon remains level or do you move with the angle of bank so the horizon rolls? I find myself sitting up and leaning into the turn as well as twisting my head to keep the horizon line level. Is this normal/good procedure?

Ethan
 
Nope. Sit up straight in your seat, and don't lean your body. Move your head as necessary to clear the area of traffic, but don't cock it from side to side with the horizon. You'll get a more accurate sight picture that way.
 
If you are leaning your body one way or the other, you are likely flying uncoordinated. Ask your CFI about this next time.

Leaning out of a steep turn, or any turn in a plane can be thought of by most people in riding a bike. When you turn left, you also lean left, with the bike. You should do the same thing, and follow the plane in turns.

HTH,
Josh
 
Yup, pretty much an echo of has been said so far. From my experience, trying to keep your head level with the horizon can make you quite disoriented during the turn and cause you to lose a lot of altitude. It so much easier for me to keep my straight-up posture to be able to sense the attitude of the airplane and make the very small corrections as needed to maintain bank angle and altitude.
 
Cool beans... I'll give it a try next time I get up (which may be a while with this stupid WX.... 22518G28kt... BLAH)

Ethan
 
I turn with the plane. Keeping my head level with the horizon totally screws up my visual. Take that row of screws on the cowling (which way you turn depends on which row of screws) and keep it a TAD above the horizon. WIth the right power setting and one complete spin of nose up trim, you might lose or gain about 5 feet of alt. That worked for my ppl, and after I put in the power, trim and got the plane set on the AI, it worked for the instrument as well. I'm very proud of my steep turns, and I like to show them off.
smile.gif
 
Head level, of course.
Now, how to get your student to also sit up straight? Some want to lean, and some want to wander.
Ever watch motorcycle drivers? some do each, and passengers too.
 
I lean into them, but I also look ahead into the turn (ie look up a little) and glance occasionally to the VSI and Altimeter.
 
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