Discuss Items:
Preparation - In preparation for the first flight, read through the form
book, paying special attention to checkpoints and the order for the parade sequence,
that'll be big on the first flight. Also, make sure to check out any stan instructions
and special course rules for the block.
Hand signals (review in form book). Think about what it will
look like in the plane. A good tip is to rest your arm on the canopy rail when
passing signals (much better vision for the wingman).
- No acknowledgement for Head Signals, Level Off, Roll Out, Or Kiss Off.
- Wing must return Thumbs Up Torque and Lead Change signals.
- Everything else is acknowledged by Wing with Head Nod or Shake Off.
Aborted Takeoff, in accordance with the form brief found in
stan notes (maintain runway side, either can abort flight, if Wing aborts, wait
til Lead safely airborne, Lead return full stop).
Emergency Field Locations, in accordance with local course
rules (Central, big ones will be T.P., NGP, and Mustang) T.P. will be used for
your practice PEL's on fourth/fifth flight, Fields north of T.P. will be used
for HAPL/LAPL work (be on the lookout for the huge patch of red clay). HEFOE,
check hand signals for HEFOE signals.
Wing responsibilities (aviate, separate, communicate)
• Maintain flight integrity
• Comply with Lead signals, give timely responses
Lead responsibilities (aviate, communicate, separate)
• Keep flight clear of clouds and traffic
• Keep flight in working area
• Provide stable platform for Wing
• fee aware of Wing's position
4 Reasons to Underrun...
- Excessively acute
- Acute in close
- Excessive closure rate
- Whenever Wing is uncomfortable
(this will be big in the breakup and rendezvous, when it doesn't look right,
underrun. IP's will pull power in Lead aircraft so that the closure rate is
way fast, notice it...then react....LOWER, LEVEL, IDLE.
All other brief items are common sense, be ready for some random EP's. At the
end of the brief, LEAD will be responsible for giving the Form brief, but WING
should know the brief and be able to fill in anything LEAD forgets. And don't
forget to give LEAD and WING responsibilities in the event of an EP.
New Maneuvers for this event:
Ground Procedures
Once strapped in...
- Get your gear and aircraft number as usual, note partner's parking spot
and plan an area to rendezvous.
- Go through normal Prestart (turn NAV lights on bright)
- After Brake Checks get clearance to taxi to rendezvous area:
"Navy Corpus Ground, Ranger ___, taxi from _____ (location) to the
hot spot"
- Taxi to hotspot and wait for partner (continue Pretaxi checklist)
- Make sure you're on base freq (19)
Wingman / Lead arrives...
- Complete first 11 pt. check OUT LOUD over the ICS (Mnemonic is PEC-PET-FALLS...
"Okay....Prop out of feather, Engine cowlings are secure, Canopies
closed, Panels secure, Extension of struts look good, Tire inflation looks
good, Flaps are up, Antennas in place, no Leaks, Lights are on, Stabilizers
secure..")
- Wing initiates thumbs up
- Lead responds with thumbs up or down (be aware of tricky IP's!! canopy
not locked, prop out of feather, lights off, etc...)
- Lead conducts radio check-in with base:
• Lead: "Panther"
• Wing: "Two"
• Lead: "Ranger base, Ranger 7xx, LTx, ENSx,
Ranger 7yy, LTy, ENSy, F400x outbound"
• Lead: "Panther switch 3" (switch to ground)
• Wing: "Two" (switches to Ground)
• Lead: "Panther"
• Wing; "Two"
• Lead: "Navy Corpus Ground, Ranger 7xx, Ranger
7yy, flight of two, taxi from hotspot with information x"
(Any further calls with ground will be said with "Ranger 7xx and flight")
On the road to the Ground Run-Up...
- Taxi to Run-up, maintain adequate separation, about 1.5 plane lengths
- Conduct Run-up and Takeoff checklists and conduct a silent 11
pt. Check
• Wing initiates thumbs up, Lead responds
• Lead calls ground: "Navy Corpus Ground, Ranger
7xx and flight, further taxi
On the road to the hold-short...
- Taxi to hold short, 200' prior to hold short...
- Lead secures NAVs
- Lead and Wing switch to tower freq (CH
4)
- Wing secures NAVs
Once at the hold-short...
- Lead: "Panther"
- Wing: "Two"
- Lead: 'Navy Corpus Tower, Ranger 7xx, flight of two,
takeoff
(Any further calls with tower will be said with "Ranger 7xx and flight")
* Listen for winds, Lead pulls onto downwind side of runway, right side
if calm or down the pipe, Wing pulls onto opposite side, lines up leading
edge of wing with Lead's horizontal stab
- Make sure to finish last four of takeoff checklist (Lead squawk ALT,
Wing squawk STBY)
On the runway...
- Lead: Power 500 ft-lbs., check instruments, "instruments
checked" look at wing for thumbs up...
- Wing: (same), then return thumbs up.
- Lead: Heels to deck, 1015 ft-lbs.
- Wing: Count quickly 5-4-3-2-1, Heels to deck, 1015 ft-lbs.
Departure...
- Lead Check fuel caps, retract gear "Fuel caps secure,
3 up and locked"
- Maintain heading
- Climb at 120 kts to 500'
- At 500', level, pull power to 850 ft-lbs., Accelerate to 150 kts, then
bring power to 650 ft-lbs. or as needed for airspeed
- Wing: Retract gear AFTER Lead retracts "Fuel
caps secure, 3 up and locked".
- Use radius of turn and power to 1015 ft-lbs., 170 knots to close on
Lead
- Place him at 11 o'clock position (exhaust stack buried).
- Maneuver to Stbd parade with 20' stepdown (exhaust stack tangent)
- Stabilize Move up to Stbd parade (use power)
- Lead: Terminate with tower...
"Navy Corpus Tower, Ranger 7xx and flight terminate" ... "Panther
switch 8"
- Wing: "Two" (Both Switch CH 8)
- Lead: "Panther"
- Wing: "Two"
- Lead: "Corpus Departure, Ranger 7xx, flight of two,
off Navy Corpus, 500', working Central" ...
At High Bridge...
- Lead: POWER-UP signal "Wingman in position, area clear,
power up signal, ready pass (3 head nods), no reply"
...On 3rd head nod, power to 850, maintain a 150 kts climb...
Turn to 105° at beach line or 2500' (whichever comes first, it'll be beach
line)...
- Lead: CLIMB signal "Wingman in position, area clear,
climb signal, ready pass (3 hand signals), ready look, acknowledged"
- Wing: nod
- Lead: Climb at 120 knots and 850 ft-lbs.
- Wing use power as needed to stay in parade position
*NOTE.. .when you are Wing in parade position, when stabilized with cutout
on ventral and with prop on midpoint, make a mental note of where Lead is
in a little portion of your canopy windscreen. Always work to keep him right
in that position on the wind screen and then use power or aileron for closeness.
This will save you a lot of trouble with oscillations and jerky motions, make
small "floating corrections" never jerk the controls, fingertip
controls and always lead with opposite inputs to stop corrections. "Fingertip"
corrections are actually a graded item on each event!
- Lead: Continue climb and turn to parallel beach line around
10 DME (20° AOB)
At about 3200', Lead terminate with departure...
- Lead: "Corpus Departure, Ranger 7xx and flight, terminate"
... "Panther switch 18"
- Wing: "Two" (Both Switch CH 18)
- Lead: "Panther"
- Wing: "Two"
- Lead: "Corpus Approach, Ranger 7xx, flight of two,
passing 3500', what's available Central?"
(leave 6500' for solos, unless it's the only altitude available)
- Lead: "Corpus Approach, Ranger 7xx and flight, claims
xxxx"'
- Continue climb to altitude, keeping power at 850 ft-lbs. & 120 kts,
until wing is over Mustang...
- Turn 20° AOB into Central area (level off may occur before turn
into area)
- 500' prior to level off altitude, give LEVEL OFF signal:
"Wingman in position, area clear, level off signal, ready pass (3
motions, mirror to mirror), no reply"
- Nose down, level off on altitude, accelerate to 150 kts a few kts prior
to reaching airspeed, give POWER BACK signal:
"Wingman in position, area clear, power back signal, ready pass (3
head nods), no reply"
- Fly straight and level and get trimmed up on 150, give wing approx.
2 minutes to stabilize in parade with no relative motion
- Wing: Stabilize as quickly as possible to get Thumbs-Up-Torque.
Very important you are stabilized here. Having a bad Torque setting will mess
up the rest of the flight.
THUMBS-UP-TORQUE
- Lead: THUMBS-UP-TORQUE signal "Wingman in position,
area clear, thumbs-up-torque signal, ready pass (thumbs up), ready look, acknowledged"
- Wing: acknowledge with a Thumbs-Up, elbow on the canopy.
*NOTE...Wing, make sure all relative motion is stopped before returning thumbs
up, shake off until then. This will save you both a lot of headaches in the
B&R's.
- Lead: Keep the flight in the area no matter what, use longer
turns or up to 20° AOB turns at any time to maintain area.
- Wing: Fly the checkpoints.
PARADE SEQUENCE:
GAS CHECK
- Lead: "Wingman in position, area clear, gas check
signal, ready pass (drink, head back), ready look, acknowledged"
Report normal IGP to instructor (give Wing time to give reports, it'll take
him a little longer)
- Wing: Acknowledge signal (nod)
Report IGB, with ball centered.
*Between each report, look at Lead to maintain position, if you give them
all at once, you'll get out of position
4 TURNS
- Lead: "Wingman in position, area clear, turn away
signal (or into as needed), ready pass (3 head nods), no reply"
3rd head nod... Slowly roll 30° AOB for 180° heading change (minimum)
- Wing:
(turns away).. ...turn about own axis, add power (wingtip on horizon,
ventral point over cutout)
(turns into).. ...turn about lead's axis, reduce power (same checkpoints as
parade position)
NOTE.. .as with starboard parade position, during the turns, see where Lead
is on your glass. Get him in the ballpark first, then if he starts to move
out of that position, make the tiny corrections to stop movement, then focus
on the checkpoints for precision.
- Lead: Continue turns to set up in area, give a long straightaway
for crossunder...
ROLLOUT signal (Start cadence early enough to rollout on desired course)
"Wingman in position, area dear, rollout signal, ready pass (3 forward
chops), no reply"
CROSSUNDER
- Lead: "Wingman in postion, area clear, crossunder
signal, ready pass (fist), ready look, acknowledged"
Maintain straight and level flight - CRITICAL
- Wing: Acknowledge signal (nod)
- Slight nose down, slight power off, get 20' stepdown (exhaust stack
tangent to wing), stabilize 2-3 seconds.
- Slight wing flash then level, slight power on to crossunder... (drive
exhaust stacks ABOVE the top of the canopy rail from wing to opposite
exhaust stack on opposite wing and lead the stop of the movement when
ventral point is nearing cutout., stabilize 2-3 seconds.
- Slight nose up, and power to move up into port parade, watch the canopy
for the next signal.
4 TURNS
- Lead: "Wingman in position, area clear, turn away
signal (or into as needed), ready pass (3 head nods), no reply"
3rd head nod... Slowly roll 30° AOB for 180° heading change (minimum)
- Wing:
(turns away).. ...turn about own axis, add power (wingtip on horizon,
ventral point over cutout)
(turns into).. ...turn about lead's axis, reduce power (same checkpoints as
parade position)
NOTE.. .as with starboard parade position, during the turns, see where Lead
is on your glass. Get him in the ballpark first, then if he starts to move
out of that position, make the tiny corrections to stop movement, then focus
on the checkpoints for precision.
- Lead: Continue turns to set up in area, give a long straightaway
for crossunder...
ROLLOUT signal (Start cadence early enough to rollout on desired course)
"Wingman in position, area dear, rollout signal, ready pass (3 forward
chops), no reply"
GAS CHECK
- Lead: "Wingman in position, area clear, gas check
signal, ready pass (drink, head back), ready look, acknowledged"
Report normal IGP to instructor (give Wing time to give reports, it'll take
him a little longer)
- Wing: Acknowledge signal (nod)
Report IGB, with ball centered.
*Between each report, look at Lead to maintain position, if you give them
all at once, you'll get out of position
BREAK UP & RENDEZVOUS (4)
- Lead: Give BREAK UP & RENDEVOUS signal... "Wingman
in position, area clear, breakup and rendezvous signal, ready pass (3 finger
circles), ready look, acknowledged"
- Wing: Nod
- Lead: (still looking at Wing after the acknowledgement),
start next signal...
"Wingman in position, area clear, kiss off signal, ready pass" (kiss
and backhand canopy)
- BREAK, quck and crisp to 45° AOB left turn for 180° (min) *
Must maintain altitude in turn, to help out Wing. Plan rollout to keep
flight in area...minimum of 180° for that turn.
- Rollout, quck and crisp to wings level
- Time for 20 seconds (check airspeed, if slow, power to 850# for airspeed,
then power back to thumbs up torque)
- After 20 seconds elapse... FLASH 30° AOB, then back off to 20°
AOB
- Hold the 20° AOB until Wing in stbd parade (get comfy, it'll be
a few minutes.. .make sure you hold 20° and hold altitude, must to
help Wing in joinup)
- Wing: When Lead slaps canopy and breaks, IMMEDIATELY come
back inside cockpit
- Reset Thumbs-Up-Torque setting and level on the gyro / horizon
- Count 2 seconds or when past abeam, go get him...
- BREAK 45° AOB when he's abeam
- Work up to 60° to put Lead at 11 o'clock on or slighty below horizon.
*NOTE: Keep Lead just outside your prop arc as you turn, that won't be
hard, but work hard to keep him on or slightly below the horizon.
- When Lead rolls level, put him at 12 o'clock on or slightly below horizon
(don't let him balloon up over the horizon)
- When Lead flashes, turn immediately to 30° AOB and work for the
bearing lines
- When the tail is at 1/2 wingtip (when only orange is showing), level
wings until tail is on glareshield and starts to move away again, then
start to match Lead's AOB to keep tail tip on glareshield.
- Throughout the entire procedure, keep Lead on or slightly below horizon
*NOTE.. .a good technique is to put Lead in the lower right portion of
the windscreen to get him in the ballpark. Don't let that picture change,
don't try to look around the canopy from the back to see him, if you have
to, you are off- keep that sight picture on the glass until the next step.
- Keep pulling Lead in until he's 1 Wingspan away, then start join-up.
- Slight nose down and slight power off to stabilize w/ 20' stepdown (exhaust
stack tangent, pitot-static tube between your legs)
- Pull back for 20' nose-to-tail ("VY" or "NES" underlined),
then stabilize
- Smooth cross beneath and up into turn away position (1 motion... Lead
wingtip slightly above horizon)
- Lead: Check wingman in position and not jockeying around.
- Give "Rollout" signal, be aware of position in area to setup
for next manuever if last B&R:
" Wingman in position, area clear, rollout signal, ready pass (3
hand chops), no reply"
- Roll gently back to wings level.
- Wing: Stabilize in Parade.
UNDER-RUN
Immediately...
- Wing: Lower, Level, Idle (Lower attitude way down, level
wings, Power to idle all in ONE motion)
"Panther Two, underrun"
- Lead: Check Wing's position, keep him in sight if possible.
"Panther Two, reset thumbs up torque"
- Wing: Once safe, recover position in Starboard parade 20°
AOB turn away position
LEAD CHANGE
- Lead: Give LEAD CHANGE signal:
"Wingman in position, area clear, lead change signal, ready pass... (helmet/point),
ready look, acknowledged"
DON'T LOOK AWAY AFTER HE TAKES LEAD!
- Slight dip away for 20' wingtip separation (lead the correction to stop
movement away early enough)
- Slight nose down, slight power off to slide down and back (slide pilot
lube along the engine cowling.. .very easy to see)
- Lead correction wilh power on to stabilize in position (AOA probe on prop
arc, exhaust stack tangenl, "V" above cutout)
- Commence a Normal crossunder
- Wing: Acknowledge and return signal...(helmet/point forward)
IMMEDIATELY...you are LEAD, manage area, maintain thumbs up torque and your
altitude.
Repeat the sequence with Wing as Lead.
* Remember Wing is now lead and has the Comms if necessary
(i.e., going into the maintenance area?)
RECOVERY PHASE
While Wing is getting into parade position, Lead gets gets ATIS...
- Lead: switch CH 1 and get ATIS Info, winds, altimeter,
and runways then switch back to channel 18.
"Panther, standby to copy ATIS"
- Wing: "Two"
- Lead: "Info x, winds ___, altimeter ___, landing
runway ____"
- Wing: "Two copies'" (dial in winds in the CDI,
dial in altimeter in the Kohlsman window, just remember the runway and the
information code.)
GAS CHECK
- Lead: "Wingman in position, area clear, gas check
signal, ready pass (drink, head back), ready look, acknowledged"
Report normal IGP to instructor (give Wing time to give reports, it'll take
him a little longer)
- Wing: Acknowledge signal (nod)
Report IGB, with ball centered.
*Between each report, look at Lead to maintain position, if you give them
all at once, you'll get out of position
COMING HOME
- Lead: "Corpus Approach, Ranger 7xx and flight, complete
xxxx', course rules to Point Shamrock" ... "Panther switch 8"
- Wing: "Two" (Switch CH 8)
- Lead: "Corpus Approach, Ranger 7xx, flight of two,
descending from xxxx', course rules to Point Shamrock with information x"
...
Give DESCEND signal "Wingman in position, area clear, descend signal,
ready pass (3 hand signals), ready look, acknowledged"
***Descend only when clear of Beach line traffic and maneuver as necessary
to avoid clouds. Usually, you'll track out towards the boundary and make a
20° AOB turn back in towards Shamrock, depending on how much altitude
you need to lose.
- Lead: Nose over and accelerate to 200 kts, 5 kts prior...
POWER BACK signal...
"Wingman in position, area clear, power back signal, ready pass (3 head
nods), no reply"
...on 3rd head nod, set power to 400 ft-lb., maintaining 200 kts.
- At 1500' give LEVEL OFF signal...
"Wingman in position, area clear, level off signal, ready pass (3 chops),
no reply"
...Smoothly level off on 1000', as airspeed bleeds to 180 kts, give POWER
ON signal...
"Wingman in position, area clear, power on signal, ready pass (3 head
nods), no reply"
...on 3 head nod, set power to 750 ft-lbs. or as needed for 170 kts pointing
directly at Point Shamrock (don't worry about going between condos)
Approaching Shamrock...
- Lead: "Corpus Approach, Ranger 7xx and flight, Point
Shamrock, terminate" ... "Panther switch 4"
- Wing: "Two" (Switch CH 4)
- Lead: "Panther"
- Wing: "Two"
- Lead: "Navy Corpus Tower, Ranger 7xx, flight of two,
Point Shamrock, full-stop"
ENTERING THE PATTERN
- Lead: "Navy Corpus Tower, Ranger 7xx and flight, Initial
runway ____"
...start 20° AOB turn towards position for break, takes a little while
to get around, plan ahead!
"Navy Corpus Tower, Ranger 7xx and flight, numbers far the break"
When cleared for break...
"Wingman in position, area clear, kiss off signal, ready pass" (kiss,
slap canopy)
BREAK 45° AOB as normal landing (NO FLAPS)
- Wing: Check instruments briefly, give Lead time to get
interval, once a little behind abeam, normal break for FULL FLAP landing
Lead at 180....
- Lead: "Navy Corpus Tower, Ranger 7xx and flight,
(left/right) 180, 3 down and locked, full stop"
Tower: "Cleared to land in order"
- Wing: "Dash-2, 3 down and locked" (You're cleared
to land, they just want to know your gear is down.
- Lead lands on taxi side of runway
- Wing lands opposite side
SAFELY LANDED
When clear of active runway...
- Both aircraft switch CH 3 & perform post landing checklist
- Wing: Initiates Thumbs-Up
- Lead: Returns Thumbs-Up, calls...
"Navy Corpus Ground, Ranger 7xx, flight of two, on Alpha, taxi to my
line"
Aircraft can individually or as a flight call base on CH 19
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