F/A-18C Basic Course (DCS)

For practicing, the Mission Place round starts.

Standard Placement Round

The aerodrome circuit is a standardised procedure for the approach and departure of aircraft under visual flight rules (VFR visual flight rules).

The aerodrome circuit and the approach with the F/A-18C is described in the following

Initial

The circuit begins at the initial point 3-5 nm before the runway. At this point you should have a height of 800 feet AGL (above ground level) and 350 knots. You fly with this height and speed slightly offset to the right towards the runway.

Upwind

With the upwind you fly right offset to the runway on 800 feet AGL past the airport. You will have a look at the airport to get an overview of the surroundings.

Break

As soon as we have passed the airport by about 1 nm, we initiate the break (180° curve to the crosswind). We take the thrust back completely and fly a left turn with 1% of the airspeed as turn acceleration, i.e. at 350 knots with 3.5 G. As we slow down, we also reduce the G-acceleration. At 300 knots, 3 G, and so on.

Crosswind

In crosswind (after about 90°) the landing gear and flaps are extended when we are below 250 knots. Meanwhile the turn is continued until we fly opposite to the landing direction (180°) in the downwind.

Downwind

Arriving in the downwind we reduce the altitude to 600 feet AGL and the speed for the appropriate AOA (Onspeed). We also go through the landing checklist and trim the aircraft for landing.

Base

When we pass the runway and have the landing threshold at our 7-8 o'clock position, we turn left again. This time with 30° bank angle and Onspeed AOA, i.e. landing speed and 7.4° to 8.8° angle of attack. During the lateral approach we keep an eye on the runway to be able to correct something if necessary so that we approach the runway accurately.

Final

After we have left the base leg, we are on final approach. We enter the descent, check our glide path (3°) and improve it if necessary. The remaining final approach is identical to the chapter "Normal Landing".

Touch-and-Go

If you want to practice the landing approach several times in a row, then use the touch-and-go method. In this case you give full thrust again immediately after touchdown and start climbing. You climb to 800 feet and turn left again into the downwind. From there the landing approach is repeated.

Here is a video of the process.