If you want to fly a plane safely (and legally), you will need a pilot's license. But if you ever have to be in an emergency, or are just curious, knowing how to fly an airplane can come in handy. This is not an easy task, and a manual on how to do it would be hundreds of pages large. Immerse yourself in the guide below to whet your appetite.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Familiarize yourself with the Cockpit
Step 1. Locate the controls to speed up
They are usually located between the two seats in the cabin. They are black levers. In civil aviation, there are only knobs to push or pull.
- The control rod is called the "control yoke". It's like a steering wheel in cars: it controls the up and down tilt of the tip of the plane and the angle of the wings. Try to feel it. Push to go down, pull to go up and move it left and right to obviously veer left and right. Don't use too much force while flying - you don't need it to control the plane.
- Thrust is also controlled by the accelerator. It is in the same area as the flap controls, used for landing and taking off.
Step 2. Locate the flight instruments
These show, among other things, the altitude, direction, speed. Find the altitude indicator, often called the "artificial horizon". It is a dial that shows a small airplane, indicating the direction and angle at that time.
- Also find the two speed indicators. One is called ASI (airspeed indicator) and measures your airspeed in knots. The other is the Ground Speed Indicator, or GSI, which always measures the speed of the aircraft on the ground in knots.
- Another important dial is the altitude indicator, which measures height in feet. The ideal cruising altitude for each specific aircraft should be indicated.
Step 3. Locate the landing controls
The placement varies in the many airplane models but usually has a white rubber handle. You will need to use it when you want to take off, land and park the plane. Among its tasks, the control activates the wheels, skis, skates or floats placed under the plane.
Some planes have two wheels, others three. The standards to be respected are related to the ease of landing
Step 4. Put your feet on the rudder pedals
This is a series of pedals at your feet, used to control the rudder (y-axis). The series is connected to a vertical stabilizer. When you want to make small adjustments by tacking left or right on the vertical axis, you will need to use the rudder pedals. They are not used to spin the plane as many believe. It is the turn that allows the plane to turn.
Using the rudder, you can make one wing move farther than the other. This will not make the plane spin, but it will produce a swaying effect
Part 2 of 4: Take off
Step 1. Bring the flaps down
The flaps, when down, create more lift at low speed. Pull the flap lever to level one to lower the flaps on the wings; you should be able to see them from the cabin.
- Make sure the aircraft is aligned approximately 45 degrees to the runway and in the direction of the wind. Adjust the elevation level to the neutral point. Most gauges need to be at the neutral point.
- You will need to control the steering (turning on the vertical axis) with the rudder pedals. If the plane starts to turn, control the maneuver with the pedals.
Step 2. Push the throttle forward as far as possible
This will generate a thrust and the plane will start moving. If you stop going straight, the pedals can correct this maneuver.
If there is crosswind, keep control of the wheels. Be active in steering
Step 3. Gain speed
To take off in the air, the plane needs to reach a certain speed in order to create adequate lift. Get the engine up to 2200 rpm and you're almost ready to go. The GSI (ground speed indicator) will tell you when you are fast enough to get up.
When the plane reaches the right lift, you will notice that the tip rises from the ground. Slowly pull back the wheel controls to facilitate this
Step 4. At this point, pull back the control yoke
This will cause the plane to go up completely. Many planes have a tendency to go left once in the air, so work with the right pedal.
Return the flaps to the neutral position to eliminate friction. You can do this when the ASI indicator is about 300 feet per minute
Part 3 of 4: Flight Management
Step 1. Now comes the simplest part; let the plane go
If and when you find turbulence, it is important not to correct too much. There will be a little slowdown in the controls and correcting too much could put you in danger.
- Another important issue is that of warming. Turn on carburetor heating for short periods of time, about ten minutes, especially if there are high levels of humidity causing ice.
- Don't lose focus. You will always have to scan for other planes and take a look at the dials.
Step 2. Adjust the artificial horizon, or altitude indicator
This will keep the plane at the right level. If you fall below the artificial horizon, pull the controls back to raise the tip of the plane. Always be calm when maneuvering. You don't need a lot of strength.
If the plane's wings are over the horizon, push the control yoke forward. In this situation, however, take a look at the altitude to make sure the plane doesn't stall. If this happens, you will need more thrust to get the plane to continue flying
Step 3. Turn the plane
Technically, the maneuver is called a turn. If you have a wheel in front of you (the yoke), turn it. If it's a lever, pull it to the right or left. To do this smoothly, work with the rudder pedals, so as to turn in a wide arc.
- Ailerons control the angle and rate of turn. Obviously they will have to work together with the other controls. When turning, coordinate the rudder with the ailerons to keep the tail aligned with the tip. Use the gauge to assess altitude loss.
- To your knowledge, the ailerons work in opposite directions. The lower one gives lift and friction, for example.
Step 4. Activate cruise control
Once you have reached constant speed, you can think about activating the automatic cruise control. At this point, reduce the power by 75%. 2450 revolutions per minute is a good speed.
- This is called buoyancy preparation. This is a small area on the edge of the rudder. It can be folded to control forces at cruising speed. Maintains a certain altitude and a predefined speed. It's automatic control.
- There are different types of assets. Some are wheels, levers or cranks for pulling a cable or stick attached to the surface. Others are made from battens. Still others are electrical systems (easier to use). The attitude has a corresponding speed that the aircraft will respect. It depends on the weight, the design of the aircraft, the center of gravity and the weight of the cargo or passengers.
Part 4 of 4: Landing
Step 1. Slow down the plane
To do this, lower the flaps to level two and pull the throttle lever back. Do it calmly to avoid stalling. Stabilize your speed and begin to descend by applying pressure to the control wheel. Knowing if you're doing it right is part of the practice.
Use the rudder to prevent the plane from turning. It begins to give the effect of earth, slowing down more and more the speed, in a constant and regular way
Step 2. Find the right angle and speed for the descent
Do this through a throttle and yoke control. Once you've found the runway, you'll need to locate the exact landing spot. This is the hardest part when flying a plane.
A general rule of thumb is that the best approach speed is 1.3 times the stall speed of the airplane. This must be indicated by the ASI. However, take into account the wind speed as well
Step 3. Lower the tip and look at the numbers on the track
They are there for a reason: they tell the pilot if he is coming long or short on landing. Lower the tip, keeping the numbers on your horizon.
- If the numbers start disappearing under the tip of the plane, you're coming along.
- If the numbers are far from the tip, you are landing short.
Step 4. Level the plane and land slowly
Make sure you keep control of the throttle every time. Once close to the ground, raise the tip by pulling the yoke back and leveling the plane. Reduce your speed until the wheels touch the ground. At this point, pull back the throttle and slow down the plane until it stops.
As you land, lower the flaps to reduce stall speed and allow the aircraft to go slower (without stalling). These will work as an air brake and get you on the track as planned
Advice
If you have a pilot friend, ask him to show you the controls of his plane. It will help you if you ever find yourself in an emergency situation
Warnings
- If you find yourself in an emergency situation, where the pilot cannot fly and there is a licensed pilot, let him work. Do not fly without a license unless absolutely necessary.
- An unlicensed person should only fly an aircraft in extreme emergency situations. Piloting in other situations can lead to fines or arrest.
