Seem to've forgotten how to fly...

[pipeline109]

I took a long break from FS, and lately I tried some flights to get re-used to it but I ran into problems: When I hit a certain altitude(somewhere around 27000 feet), The plane starts stalling like crazy. I panic and drop the nose and the throttle, then go up again. I try to keep the attitude direction indicator(I think that's what its called) below the 15 degree mark but it still started dropping when I got to that altitude. That isn't much help when you still have 16000 feet to climb. What am I doing wrong? It's pretty obvious that I've forgotten a lot... can someone help me?

We all live in a yellow 747...

[wsieffert]

What was the vertical speed you were using when you reached 27000? You usually can't use a constant vertical speed during climb. Try reducing the vertical speed to maintain a constant airspeed.

W. Sieffert

[TornadoWilkes]

The reason why this happens is covered in a PPL, but Im not sure that it is mentioned that much in the manual. Heres a summary:

DRAG. Many people feel that the faster that you travel, the more drag you have to deal with. This is true, however in an aircraft the opposite is also true, i.e. the slower you go the more drag you encounter.

Why? At slow speed the pilot has to raise the nose of the aircraft to maintain level flight. As the nose goes up, the wings angle upwards also and present a "thicker" profile to the airflow. This is similar to holding your hand palm down out of a car window at speed and then twisting it so that your palm faces the oncoming wind. Imagine how much force that you'd need to apply to prevent your arm from being blown backwards. On top of this, there are other factors that increase the drag at low speed such as an increase in wing tip vortices.

With this in mind and in answer to your question, as you climb, you must maintain a high enough airspeed that prevents the conditions described from building, but not so great that you suffer from "high speed" drag. If you fail to maintain the suggested airspeed, this effect will get progressively worse until finally the aircraft stalls. Allowing the airspeed to get too low, is definately a no-no, and may require very high throttle settings to get you out of the hole that you've dug yourself.

Regards

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cb0b64c5d480adb.jpg

[robbie1472]

Were you at full throttle?
Lower your angle of attack to 10deg. I assume you were flying a jet and not a carbeurated plane? Also check your altimeter, was it set for 29.9 or were you really at fl 700 without realising it?

[pipeline109]

I was at 98% N1 with a constant v-speed of 2000 fpm. The EGT was already way past the red mark and I was at around 145 kts. How can I control airspeed in a climb when it is constantly slowing?

[deaddonkey]

dont climb with full tanks and reduce your vspeed when you pass FL250

John

[dil52]

That happened to me once. I discovered I'd inadvertently saved a flight where the spoilers were deployed.

Check the throttle quadrant.....just a thought.

:-wave
Fred
http://www.flight-sim.net

[Vike]

Also, don't forget that 145 knots at FL260 is not the same as 145 knots at FL300. At these altitudes, keep to a modest mach speed instead (say .65 during climb) and alter your vertical speed to maintain that within the capabilities of your engines.

If you're full of fuel, you may want to reduce the VSI to as little as 500ft per min at higher altitudes - or even level off completely for 30 mins to reduce your fuel load before climbing again.

Adam
The FS2K2 Homepage
http://www.engberg.co.uk/fs

[TornadoWilkes]

You ask how to achieve climb speed, when your are already at full throttle and slowing.

In a sentence, drop the nose. Even if this temporarily results in a loss of altitude, accept this until you reach climb speed (as stated in the notes for your particular aircraft.) Once you've regained airspeed gently bring the nose back up until it is at such an angle against the horizon, such that your airspeed stabilzes at climb speed.

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cb0b64c5d480adb.jpg

[pipeline109]

OK Thank you all!