BECKY TRAINING SORTIE TUTORIAL
BECKY training sortie is loosely based on a real flight plan published in various books.
The purpose of this tutorial is to guide you through what may be your first full flight
in the SR-71 model. Based out of Beale Air Force Base (KBAB) the flight is ideal for
teaching and practicing all the skills needed to perform a complex mission.
You should practice some take offs and landings before flying this mission.
This tutorial assumes you are an experienced FS pilot with the skills:
o FS UI (keyboard, menus, panels)
o Radio tuning and navigation
o View options and controls
o Flight Dynamics and controls
o Loading saved flights
o Loading online weather
o Fuel Load menu
o GPS view and waypoint control
o How to use the kneepad
o Knowledge of the aircraft specifications and limitations in the provided flight manual
If you do not have the paid version of FSUIPC, you might find flying this aircraft
in real world weather more difficult. The pay features of wind and altimiter
smoothing greatly reduce the extreme weather disturbances Jeppeson online weather data
would otherwise provide. If you have Active Sky, you may not need FSUIPC payware.
Be aware ASE does not work well at the time of this writing for build 647.
Features of the flight plan:
o One Hour, fifty minutes minimum flight time.
o Take off and land Beale AFB
o Large oval flight path similar to race track in shape covering seven
US states
o Rugged mountains and expansive plains from both high and low altitude
o Exercise high speed navigation skills
o High speed straits and low speed precision turns
o Dipsey Doodle acceleration
o Mach 3+ decent into landing
o highly variable weather
If this is your very first flight in the SR71, it is very important you have
a reasonable amount of skill flying other high speed two engine aircraft
similar to Lear, F18, or Concorde. Unlike 99% of other FS aircraft, the SR-71
lands at very high pitch which requires the pilot to have experience adjusting
the cockpit views and seat position for a clear view of the runway on approach.
In the 2D pit, this is accomplished using the Control-Q and Shift-Q view pitch
controls. If you are not used to adjusting your view angle, you should spend
some time trying this technique to the point it becomes second nature. In the
3D view (which I prefer) best viewing is by adjusting the seat position using the
keys:
Shift-Enter (up)
Shift-Backspace (down)
Control-Enter (Forward)
Control-Backspace (back)
Shift-Control-Enter (right)
Shift-Control-Backspace (left)
I like to position the seat so I can just see the pitot probe to the left of
the center window frame and the radar altimeter near the bottom of the panel.
I first adjust the seat left to see the pitot, use the hat switch down so I can
just see the area around the landing site, then moce the seat back to encompass
the radar altimeter. then, some small height adjustment so I can still see the pitot.
It could be discouraging to navigate your way through a two hour flight
and crash on landing. There are saved FSX flights in the EXTRAS portion of
this distribution. The saved flight positioned on BEALE Rny 15 is a GREAT
way to practice your take off over and over until you are confident.
There is a saved flight for KBAB final approach rny 15 at normal landing weight
of 10K lbs fuel. Practice this landing until you are confident. For both these
scenarios bring up the Take Off, Approach, and Landing sections of the kneepad
checklist to help you set up all the important panel settings.
----------- The BECKY flight (overview) -----------
Load the saved FSX flight on Beale Runway 15. Alternatively, if you want to
practice your startup and taxi procedures also, load the SR at Beal saved flight
where the SR is parked cold and off. Correct fuel, radio settings, and
flight plan loaded into GPS is already done for you. Review the kneepad checklist
as you prepare yourself mentally for the flight. Your first goal after take off
will be to turn toward the first waypoint on the plan and climb to 35K ft at Mach 0.95
for the "Dipsey Doodle" Mach acceleration and climb. The steps outlined in the following
procedure are also in the kneepad checklist. You can following the checklist and
accomplish the same things. You will climb through the first two turns accelerating
to Mach three and will hold that speed until passing beyond the third turn DBS (which is nearly
90 degrees) at 74 thousand feet and Mach 3. As the turn straightens out, climb to 80 thousand feet with
a IAS hold of 425. This will cause a gradual acceleration toward Mach 3.2 as you climb.
When reaching 80K ft, set IAS speed hold for 400 KIAS. The Mach speed you obtain at any
point in the flight is dependent on weather and current altitude while not exceeding 427C
on the CIT gauge.
After turning over the next waypoint (HBU) descend and slow for the next turn (OHM) which
is sharper than 90 degrees so is again done near mach 3 at 76K ft.
As before, when straitening out from the long-slow turn, set 425 on the IAS and climb to
79K ft (for the direction of travel.) As the aircraft settles into cruise altitude,
set 400 KIAS in the AP and monitor the flight until descent.
325 miles from landing (according to the flight plan waypoints- not direct line of sight)
Follow the standard descent profile outlined in the manual or kneepad to cross waypoint RBL
at 20K ft while holding 400 KIAS.
Turn and descend toward runway to hold 4000 ft, 183 knots (or calculated approach speed)
20 miles from runway. Land KBAB 163 KIAS or calculated threshold speed per weight.
Taxi and shut down.
- Weather Option:
The static weather loaded into the saved flight is relatively calm and ideal for the SR-71
with temperatures set to typical real world values. if you don't want to be overwhelmed
by variations in weather for your early flights, do not load online weather. If you are ready
to be challenged and have Internet access, try loading the Jeppeson online weather by selecting:
Options -> Weather -> Real World Weather from the simulation menu.
If you don't want to load the saved flight, position the aircraft at KBAB runway 15 with 66K lbs
standard fuel load. The kneepad pre-flight section is helpful for doing this. Be aware however,
the FS pre-configured weather setups do not provide correct weather for high altitude, high speed
flight.
PROCEDURE ----------
o Take off Checklist.
- Take off:
o Completed all checklist items up until Take Off
o Follow Take OFF checklist items and when complete,
o Turn toward first waypoint climbing to 35K ft, Mach 0.90.
If using the GPS, switch the NAV/GPS switch under the HSI to "GPS" and
engage NAV hold on the AP.
- Dipsey Doodle Prep:
o Climb Checklist.
o Crossing 28K ft, set Mach speed to 0.95 reducing climb to cross 34K ft at
1000 ft/minute.
- Dipsey Doodle:
o Crossing 34K ft, set AP Altitude Hold for 32K ft and -2000 ft/minute dive.
o Set AP IAS bug to 470.
o As Indicated Airspeed crosses 400 KIAS, set AP VS to -1000 (start to pull out of
dive gradually.)
o As airspeed crosses 420 IAS, set AP Altitude hold for 74K ft (will set climb rate
to +1000 ft/min automatically.)
o Set AP climb rate (VS) to +2500 ft/min.
o Observe Triple gauge KEAS carefully. When indicating 400 KEAS without blinking,
engage KEAS HOLD from the refueling section of the main panel.
o When KEAS hold is properly engaged, set climb rate to +3500 ft/min
Dipsey Doodle Complete.
- Mach Climb:
o Mach Climb checklist.
o Monitor flight path and systems for correct performance according to supplied operation
manual.
o Engage DERICH switch if not already.
o Passing 61K ft, gradually reduce climb to cross 73K ft no more than +1000 ft/min
- First Turns:
o The first two turns over RIO and BOI are relatively shallow. Aircraft should
still be in climb between Mach 2.5 and Mach 3.0.
- Initial Cruise and DBS turn:
o Cruise Checklist.
o Target Mach 3.05 74K ft prior to DBS.
o 45 miles from DBS, manually advance GPS flight plan waypoint (FPL page) to DBS
Note: it's important to cross DBS in the middle of the turn
and no faster than Mach 3.05 for a minimum over-shoot turn.
- First high speed strait way:
o As aircraft straightens out toward HBU, set IAS bug for 425 KIAS and
set AP Altitude hold for 80K ft (for direction of travel.)
o Crossing 80K ft, set AP IAS hold to 400 KIAS.
o Monitor speed and temperature limits.
- HBU high speed turn:
o 20 miles from HBU, advance the GPS for the next waypoint ONM.
o Monitor limits.
Note: When using real world weather, it's not unusual for large
weather disturbances in this area of the United States. Monitor
aircraft systems carefully.
- ONM turn prep:
o 160 miles from ONM, set Altitude hold for 76K ft while holding 400 KIAS.
Note: the goal is to make the ONM high angle turn at Mach 3 and 76K ft.
If using real world weather, monitor systems carefully. Disturbances
usually become more extreme through this area. Monitor CIT gauge carefully
and adjust IAS bug as necessary. Keep KEAS over 350 and avoid altitude
drops greater than -1500 ft/min.
- ONM low speed Turn:
o 50 miles prior to ONM, advance GPS to waypoint DRK at Mach 3.05 and 76K ft.
Note: In Real world weather, disturbances may still be strong in this area.
The slower speed and lower altitude not only helps reduce the turn radius,
but also helps survive the potential of large temperature and pressure changes.
- Second high speed strait way:
o As turn straitens out, set 425 IAS in AP speed hold and set altitude target
for 79K ft (for direction of travel.)
Note: Real world weather disturbances are still strong though this area.
Monitor CIT gauge carefully and adjust IAS bug as necessary.
o Crossing 79K ft, set 400 KIAS in the AP speed hold.
- Descent prep:
o In the GPS FPL page, advance the list all the way to the bottom so the
landing runway KBAB is displayed and monitor the distance to the runway.
Note: real world weather usually has fewer extreme changes apprx 150 miles
from NFL waypointm onward. Descent into KBAB runway 15 will usually start apprx
85 miles from NFL.
- Descent:
o Descent Checklist.
o 325 miles from KBAB (according to flight plan (not line of sight) set a
low altitude target (around 10K ft) in ALT bug. Set IAS bug for 370 KIAS. Set initial
descent rate to -4500 ft/minute. If current speed is over 365 KEAS, slow to this
speed. Typically, a normal flight according to these instructions will provide
a speed slightly slower than 365 KEAS. Monitor the Triple KEAS speed carefully
with the mouse hovering over the refuel section KEAS hold button. DO NOT LET THE
KEAS SPEED GET UNDER 350.
o As the KEAS crossing 365 without blinking, click KEAS hold and increase the
descent rate to -5600 ft/minute.
o DOT NOT use descent rates greater than -1500 if KEAS is under 350.
o Monitor descent targets in the kneepad checklist and adjust descent rate as necessary.
Keep descent rate under -6400 ft/minute to avoid cabin pressure warnings
until mach speed is under 1.5.
If you miss a target or two, no problem. Simply keep adjusting, letting the targets
guide you to how close you are to the ideal descent profile. Try to get close to the
next target.
o When KEAS hold can no longer maintain 365 KEAS, click Mach hold, then IAS hold.
Set 388 IAS. The goal at this time is to hold 400 to 410 KIAS.
o As you cross the last two decent altitude targets, modify your descent rate
gradually to around -2000 ft./minute to cross RBL around 18-20K ft.
o Under Mach 1.0 Pump Fuel forward to obtain 5500 lbs in tank 2 or COG of 21.5%
Fuel Low warning may come on as weight transitions between tanks 4 and 2 until
#2 contains the correct quantity.
- Approach:
o Approach checklist.
o Switch Nav/GPS to NAV and switch to HDG hold and 115 degrees.
o On a heading of apprx 115 degrees after crossing RBL, descend to 4000 ft.
Crossing 18K ft, set IAS bug to 340 KIAS.
Crossing 16K ft, set IAS to 320 KIAS.
Crossing 14K ft, set 280 KIAS.
Crossing 12K ft, set 240 KIAS. The target speed is 250 KIAS terminal restriction
at 10K ft.
o Turn toward OVE on the GPS map display to cross with a heading of 145 degrees and
and altitude of 4000ft. Speed should be apprx 183 knots (or calculated approach speed
per fuel weight.)
o Apprx 20 miles from the runway, the glideslope marker should appear on the Sandel HSI.
Engage AP APP mode.
Note: Do not engage APP mode until the glideslope marker appears or the AP will not
capture the GS.
o Apprx 13-14 miles from runway, glideslope should capture.
Lower gear and arm auto chute deploy (G and shift-/ keys.)
o Apprx 8.5 miles from runway, set IAS bug to 173.
o Apprx 7.0 miles from runway, set IAS bug to 163 (or calculated threshold speed per
fuel weight.)
- Landing:
o Landing Checklist.
o Adjust 2D or 3D views for unobstructed view of runway. Pitch should be 8-10 degrees.
o 500 feet AGL on radar altimeter, disable AP (Z key) and manually adjust flight
path for visual alignment and apprx -1000 ft/minute descent.
o 500 ft AGL on the Radar Altimeter, disable IAS hold (contrl-R)
o 5 feet AGL, throttle idle (F1.)
o Gradually lower nose to contact 100 KIAS.
o Slowing below 165 Knots apply breaking (with anti-skid engaged.)
o Advance throttle slightly and back to idle to cause chute to auto-jetteson while pulling off
onto taxiway 20 knots ground speed or less.
- Taxi:
o After Landing checklist.
o Pull to side of taxiway and allow tires to cool so yellow "TIRE" warning
extinguishes.
o Taxi to parking using moderate breaking keeping speed under 35 knots.
- Park and shutdown:
o Parking checklist.
o Engage Parking Break (Control-period)
o When wheels are cooled to safe limits, ground crew will attach EPU.
Engage EPU (shift-8 panel) When engaged, Master Warning will light.
o Shut down engines
o Open Canopy
o Shut down lights, electrical systems and battery.
o Shut down EPU.
TUTORIAL COMPLETE
When you can complete this flight without loss of control or engine failures, you are
considered fully trained and capable of complex missions. Nice work Habu!