Hi all,

 

A couple of weeks ago I finally decided to (try to) master the NGX's HGS. I found a detailed manual of a similar model and read it through and, with some practice, I must say I'm impressed. 

 

However I'm having the airspeed part. I've handflying, doing short hops with no AP/AT and, after reducing N1 to climb power, then cruise, then to idle for initial approach, I'm having trouble controlling my airspeed with the HUD (setting speeds via either the MCP or FMC). I set an N1 "by feel" and following the vector does keep my airspeed in check for the most part. I'm wondering if there's a symbol I'm missing, like a clear designator that shows where the throttles should be, ora table etc. I've read the part on airspeed control a dozen times but it's just not clicking for me, it's a bit vague.

 

Any help please?

 

BTW Links to HGS tutorials would be most welcome

 

Thanks in advance! =)

 

Matt Harris

There is no thing like "put throttles here diamond" or whatever - not to my knowledge.

 

You can use A/T if you wish, but usually you would just fly... as in, control pitch and power in order to get the desired outcome in form of speed and rate.

 

 

I'm wondering if there's a symbol I'm missing, like a clear designator that shows where the throttles should be, ora table etc. I've read the part on airspeed control a dozen times but it's just not clicking for me, it's a bit vague.

 

There is no indication of where the throttles should be.  You could certainly let the AT handle the throttles for you, but you might as well learn yourself.

 

On the left side of the flight path vector - which looks like this:  _/O\_  - you'll find a bar that will extend above or below the symbol.  This tells you if you're above or below your selected speed (which you set in the speed window of the MCP).  If it is above the symbol, then you're fast.  If it's below the symbol, then you're slow.  If you're fast, reduce the throttle setting in small increments until you see the bar decrease.  You will probably need to add throttle when the bar disappears (when you're "on speed").  If you're slow, increase the throttle setting in small increments until you see the bar increase.  You will probably need to decrease the throttle setting slightly when you're "on speed."

 

Practice - Evaluate - Learn - Repeat

 

 

I'm wondering if there's a symbol I'm missing, like a clear designator that shows where the throttles should be

To the left of the vertical bar, that Kyle mentioned, you should also see a horizontal caret pointing right towards the flight path vector. This caret is your energy (thrust, drag and kinetic). If the vertical bar is above the FPV, then your speed is fast. Simply adjust pitch attitude and/or thrust to move the carat to about the same deviation but vertically opposite and the speed will gently come back. As the vertical bar retracts, simply adjust your energy to center the caret.

 

This is how it works in real life. However, I recall NGX's implementation didn't respond quite like the real thing, but is still pretty darn good.

 

This real world video is great. Note how he keeps the caret below the line and how the caret drops suddenly when they extend the gear.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opiqvfrMGuc. Only small thrust lever movements are needed to adjust the caret.

 

 

Only small thrust lever movements are needed to adjust the caret.

 

134 hours combined in the B737 and 738 (simulated, of course - not sure how much I have in the other two), and I never paid attention to that carat.  Thanks for pointing that out.  That's pretty cool.