Most of you have probably seen this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2iU_VdHD3M
Its a handy prep video for flying the B-47 (and the B-52), basically any of the "flat fliers".
Things to remember-
-Stall speed is
always dependent on gross weight. It pays to make your own speed vs weight graph and keep it handy. * Don't forget to set your trim for take off and landing, this setting will depend on gross weight. You don't want to use trim to compensate for a bad approach, rather set the trim first and THEN "fly into" your approach.
-NEVER land on the front wheels first. The B-47 does best when the forward and rear main gear touch at the same time. For the B-52, try to touch the rears down one or two seconds before the fronts. This is why IT IS CRITICAL to center the pitch and bank display (ie, "the ball" ) on David and Mick's B-47 prior to take off.
-Memorizing weights, speeds, and procedures is great BUT it doesn't replace a good "seat of the pants" feel for the plane. The only way to get there is to build experience over time. This is even more critical when flying Alphasim's B-52 and the B-47 is a great "intro" plane. Once you build that level of experience, you'll want to maintain it and these types of aircraft make for a fun time if you want to try flying in "career mode".**
-ALWAYS take off and land using full flaps.
-You really want to use a Real Weather program for these aircraft. Minot AFB (the home of the Variable Crosswinds) might be bleak but it WILL make you into a better pilot.
*- I can show you how to make your own Speed VS Weight (and Trim) graph using a ruler and a 3X5 index card. There is NO WAY you will be able to memorize what speed you need to take off and land at a given weight. The graph makes this a LOT easier, just keep it near your controllers and remember to USE it.
**- You'll want to fly a full training mission (including Flight Planning) each week unless you're on Alert Duty which is a whole 'nother barrel of fish. Alert Duty may be a lot more than you thought it was. There's more to it than just being locked up in the alert shack for a week.
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