FLIGHT TRAINING INSTRUCTION T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE - Cnatra

T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE CHAPTER EIGHT
Figure 8-10 Causes of a Steep ISP
Again, the first variable we’ll address is Altitude. If you begin your roll-in above your planned
roll-in altitude, at the correct ACD, this puts you above the “wire”. This is common early on in
the Sims and it occurs due to poor basic airwork in the pattern. Most common error of altitude is
in the approach turn while looking at the target/run-in line and pulling to the Attack Cone, the
aircraft begins to climb. Instead of rolling in at 8,000’ agl, the roll-in occurs at 8,200’ agl. This
will lead you to a steep. You NEED to be looking out the window at the target in the approach
turn, but you also need to be referencing your altitude while in the turn. Be on altitude and keep
the Velocity Vector level “on the horizon” in the turn.
Second is the Roll-in Technique. If you don’t over-bank enough, place the lift vector well above
the target, or float the pull-down (not enough AOA), you are pulling the aircraft above the
“wire”, leading to a steep. Over-bank; place the standby compass on the target and pull. Avoid
letting the Velocity Vector go more than 5 degrees above the target upon initial roll-out. You
should strive to roll-out with the Velocity Vector 3 degrees above the target.
And finally we have the Attack Cone Distance (ACD). If we are on our altitude and our roll-in
maneuver performed correctly, rolling-in too close to the target it will result in a steep ISP.
To best way to fix the steep ISP is understand what caused the steep in the first place. Just like
in the landing pattern, we don’t want to fly the whole hop getting “high ball starts”. You NEED
to fix it on follow-on passes. If we keep our pattern altitude consistent and our roll-in consistent,
then the only other variable which remains is to roll-in farther away from the target. This will
get you to the good ISP on the next pass.
DELIVERY PROCEDURES AND TRACKING TECHNIQUES 8-11