Bush Strips

[wkent 3]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered. And yes I am doing the tutorials in FSX and elsewhere.

Anyhow, live in Anchorage Alaska where there are more airstrips than people, never let the truth get in the way of a good story

New to FSX and can manage to land at airports with PAPI, not brilliant but definitely walking away. My problem is I can figure out what the "sight picture" should be for an unmarked bush strip and landings are "horrific" Little help please.

[RaptyrOne 1,456]

One option is to fly many approaches at an airfield with PAPI or other approach guidance lighting or ILS/VOR and use that as a benchmark for the "sight picture" you should be aiming to achieve. Even at a bush strip, the approach angle will be the same unless otherwise specified due to obstacle clearances etc. Many default FSX bush strips have trees (autogen) placed ridiculously close the runway threshold. This is not in anyway realistic and can mean you have to dive down over the trees to land. This might be causing some of your problems? Real world pilots and many FSX'ers have an additional aid in the form of Jeppesen manuals or similar which provide info on circuit entry procedures and altitudes. Arriving overhead the airfield at the right altitude makes the approach a lot easier.

 

The other thing to do is aim to keep the runway threshold / touchdown point in the same position in the windshield all the way down More or less the top of the lower third. On a well setup approach (right airspeed for the approach and aircraft config/trim, work towards managing this by making small adjustments to throttle, not elevators. If the runway 'rises up' the windscreen, your rate of decent is too high/nose attitude too low, add a little throttle to arrest the decent. Aim for -500 to -700 feet/minute decent on approach. Keep in mind that long/short/narrow/wide runways can all play havoc with one's visual perception of position relative to the runway (a factor in real life too). Knowing the details of the runway can help prevent surprises.

 

This is rather generic advice and each aircraft type will require it's own procedures as published by the manufacturer. But hopefully this should help. 

[wkent 3]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated

[rservice 4]

You might get some better rendition of Alaska bush strips with payware scenery.

Ron