Wing Walk
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Airshow fan
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:02 pm
- Location: Evansville, IN USA
Wing Walk
Did the Thunderbirds use the wing walk in 2005? It seems that it was replaced by the high-alpha.
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Airshow fan
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:02 pm
- Location: Evansville, IN USA
Of course!!! 
Slow down to about 150 knots using idle and brakes and then go brakes up and start spooling up, all while maintaining level flight (velocity vector on the zero pitch line). Once you reach 120 knots you should be powered up to about 88-90% rpm and then just keep the AoA steady using pitch (fwd pressure) and power to maintain altitude. You may end up with the nose steep enough that the velocity vector disappears and becomes "hidden" since the zero degree pitch line is "below" the visible part of the HUD while in that High Alpha state. We aim for 104 knots, straight and level, no airbrakes, full flaps and ballpark power around 92%-97% once established. Give it enough power to maintain altitude and stick input to maintain AoA and be real ginger on the controls.
The exit profile goes as follows: Smoke off, Full AB, brisk but gradual pitch up to maintain 100-120 knots as the nose is coming up while in Full AB until reaching 70 degrees nose up attitude. Hold until 3,000ft and roll 90 degrees left and let the nose and airplane drift down (no input) to nose level. You'll end up perpendicular to the show line accelerating once you reach the horizon and roll wings level.
LD
Slow down to about 150 knots using idle and brakes and then go brakes up and start spooling up, all while maintaining level flight (velocity vector on the zero pitch line). Once you reach 120 knots you should be powered up to about 88-90% rpm and then just keep the AoA steady using pitch (fwd pressure) and power to maintain altitude. You may end up with the nose steep enough that the velocity vector disappears and becomes "hidden" since the zero degree pitch line is "below" the visible part of the HUD while in that High Alpha state. We aim for 104 knots, straight and level, no airbrakes, full flaps and ballpark power around 92%-97% once established. Give it enough power to maintain altitude and stick input to maintain AoA and be real ginger on the controls. The exit profile goes as follows: Smoke off, Full AB, brisk but gradual pitch up to maintain 100-120 knots as the nose is coming up while in Full AB until reaching 70 degrees nose up attitude. Hold until 3,000ft and roll 90 degrees left and let the nose and airplane drift down (no input) to nose level. You'll end up perpendicular to the show line accelerating once you reach the horizon and roll wings level.
LD
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Airshow fan
- Posts: 282
- Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:02 pm
- Location: Evansville, IN USA
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STRIKER
- Virtual Thunderbird Alumnus
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- Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:02 am
- Location: Amarillo, TX
Just to piggyback what LD said,
Also check your Altimeter or (Rad Alt) as well as your AOA. The three things I stress once you have achived your a/s and ptich angle is THROTTLE/ALTITUDE/AOA. Thats pretty much what you are dealing with once you establish the maneuver. Gotta go, and good luck!
Flying the Friendly,
Also check your Altimeter or (Rad Alt) as well as your AOA. The three things I stress once you have achived your a/s and ptich angle is THROTTLE/ALTITUDE/AOA. Thats pretty much what you are dealing with once you establish the maneuver. Gotta go, and good luck!
Flying the Friendly,
