AoA : default or addon ?

[Dominique_K 10,152]

Watching backcountry videos, I see that some pilots set up a small transparent HUD on their glare shield indicating the AoA (like this one). It looks like a nifty addition for these fields where you have to land at very low speed over high trees on final approach.

If Asobo doesn’t supply one, I hope they would for the Caravan for instance,  here is an addon I’d be interested to get.

[GlideBy 324]

Some of the early feedback from the community was people asking for AoA.  And it seems like after that we started seeing AoA's in screenshots.

I wonder if they will have modules that you can use to modify planes.  Like add the AoA you mentioned to any cockpit.  Or add a simulated iPad tablet to any cockpit.

Another option, instead of modeling it, they could just add the 2D display to any cockpit or external view.  It could float like a heads up display.  This would allow them to take any built in display, and use it on any plane.  So you could have the Icon A5 AoA on the Caravan.

[188AHC 2,141]

There is no real need for an AOA in a single. You have the HSI. When the jets are released perhaps so, 

[FDEdev 955]

1 hour ago, 188AHC said:

There is no real need for an AOA in a single. You have the HSI.

Don't understand the relationship between AoA and HSI?  

[Dominique_K 10,152]

I saw it recently on the Backcountry182 videos, the Costa Rica guy who flies a lot in the PNW (and Costa Rica), and does extra short landings on strips, sandbars etc. He is closer to stall than in a normal landing and that may help him.

[FDEdev 955]

4 minutes ago, domkle said:

 He is closer to stall than in a normal landing and that may help him.

The reason is that stall speeds are usually given only for MTOW, and in case of a C185 the stall speed at minimum weight is a noticeable less, so with an AoA gauge you can optimize your approach speed.

 

[Dominique_K 10,152]

Just now, FDEdev said:

The reason is that stall speeds are usually given only for MTOW, and in case of a C185 the stall speed at minimum weight is a noticeable less, so with an AoA gauge you can optimize your approach speed.

 

Thanks. This is what I suspected.

[GlideBy 324]

3 hours ago, 188AHC said:

There is no real need for an AOA in a single. You have the HSI.

Not sure what Angle of Attack has to do with Horizontal Situation Indicator.  But AoA is very important for a small, single engine plane.  This Icon A5 ad explains it 

 

Edited March 2, 2020 by GlideBy

[Dominique_K 10,152]

Some Asobo's external view pics show the AoA. Designing the visual shouldn't be a problem (easy to say, I know…).

[FDEdev 955]

55 minutes ago, GlideBy said:

But AoA is very important for a small, single engine plane. 

It might be a nice-to-have feature for most pilots, but it could be an important safety feature for low hour and/or inexperienced pilots.  

If you stall your aircraft in the final turn because you severely overshot the centerline and you are only looking at the runway instead of the ASI and you are disregarding the stall warning, the same will happen if you don't look at the AoA gauge.  

Edited March 2, 2020 by FDEdev

[LHookins 3,117]

I've always had an AoA display of some kind in all my sim aircraft.  It was the first gauge I designed.  I've currently got it on the Shift-Z text.  I've found it very useful.

When I saw the AoA gauge in Microsoft Flight's Icon I loved it immediately.  I wouldn't mind having something similar in all aircraft I fly.

The Cessna 172 I've flown in recently a few times has the horizontal lights AoA gauge.  I guess the owner likes knowing his angle of attack as well.

Hook

Edited March 2, 2020 by LHookins

[Dominique_K 10,152]

Could we say that such a gauge in a sim, is the closest thing to simulate the unreachable seat of the pant sensation of flying ?

[FDEdev 955]

4 minutes ago, domkle said:

Could we say that such a gauge in a sim, is the closest thing to simulate the unreachable seat of the pant sensation of flying ?

It will most for sure enhance immersion since it helps 'visualize' e.g. the vertical acceleration in turbulence, increase in g-load in turns etc.

Edited March 2, 2020 by FDEdev

[vortex681 806]

On 3/2/2020 at 8:07 AM, FDEdev said:

It will most for sure enhance immersion since it helps 'visualize' e.g. the vertical acceleration in turbulence

Sorry but I’m struggling to see how an angle-of-attack gauge will show you vertical acceleration. You can be in level flight with a low AoA or a high AoA.

[martin-w 3,276]

Forget it. Let's have a full on HUD Asobo!