FLIGHT TRAINING INSTRUCTION T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE - Cnatra

CHAPTER SEVEN T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE
The Approach Turn Arc
7-18 TARGET AREA PROCEDURES
Figure 7-14 The Turn Point
The Approach Turn Arc is 0.4 – 0.5 nm outside of the Attack Cone Distance or Roll-in Point.
The angle of bank will need to be varied in order to maintain the proper approach turn arc
distance. For the 30-degree and 10-degree patterns, this would equate to 2.7 – 2.8 nm from the
target. The 20-degree pattern is 3.0 – 3.1 nm. Common errors are to over-bank too much
resulting in a “tight” approaching position or not over-bank enough resulting in a “deep”
approaching position.
Strive to make this a visual turn, placing the target on your inside shoulder and reference the
HUD waypoint distance. Ground gouge for the roll-in point will aid in developing a consistent
approach turn.
The Approaching Turn Corrections
You should strive to achieve a good, consistent Approach Turn. If you find the approach turn to
be off the planned numbers due to pilot error, the Approach Turn needs to be adjusted. To adjust
for a pattern deviation:
1. If the approach turn is too tight (2.5 – 2.6 nm): Wings level away from the target, drive
out, then hard pull to the run-in line/roll-in point.
2. If the approach turn is too deep (2.9 – 3.1): Hard pull towards the roll-in point initially,
drive wings level to run-in line/roll-in point.
Remember, the overall pattern objective is to arrive at the run-in line roughly 30° off the run-in
heading at the Attack Cone / Roll-in Point. Anything more or less than roughly 30°, you will be
hurting yourself by either losing sight of the target initially (roll-ahead) or lose tracking time
(bringing your nose to the target), rolling out lower in the dive.