Bucking Bar should be along anytime now to explain just how many piloting skills are required to fly the Douglas on the SINCA STAR with a hold.

GF

 

The required skill level drops significantly if the FMS is on MEL.

 

This explanation applies to the MD88. The DC9, being officially 50 years old, requires finding a first printing of Fate is the Hunter, or something penned by Lindbergh. So, ... to start, the Douglas airplane has to know where it is. Douglas airplanes don't have GPS, but that is not a problem. Conceptually, the equipment, and hence the aircraft, knows where it is at all times. It knows this because it knows where it isn't. By subtracting where it is from where it isn't ( or where it isn't from where it is, depending on which is greater ), it obtains a difference or deviation. The inertial reference system uses deviations to generate corrective commands to fly the aircraft from a position where it is to a position where it isn't. The aircraft arrives at the position where it wasn't; consequently, the position where it was, is now the position where it isn't. In the event that the position where it is now, is not the same as the position where it originally wasn't, the system will acquire a variation. ( Variations are caused by external factors, and discussion of these factors is beyond the scope of this simple explanation.) . The variation is the difference between where the aircraft is and where the aircraft wasn't. If the variation is considered to be a significant factor, it too may be corrected by the IRS. The aircraft must now know where it was. The "Thought Process" of the equipment is as follows: because a variation has modified some of the navigational information which the aircraft acquired, it is not sure where it is. However, it is sure where it isn't and knows where it was. It now subtracts where it should be from where it wasn't ( or vice-versa ) and by differentiating this from the algebraic difference between where it shouldn't be and where it was, it is able to obtain the difference between its deviation and its variation; this difference being called error. Now, let us assume a streamline flow of liquid which has a density P.It passes through a pipe XY. Assume that the pressures are denoted as P1 and P2. The cross sectional areas of the pipe are a1 and a2. These cross sectional areas are at the point X and Y. Let v1 be the velocity of the liquid which enters the pipe through X and v2 be the velocity of the liquid which leaves the pipe through Y. In this case when the height of the Y is greater than X, the liquid is accelerated. This acceleration should be forced against the force of gravity. Hence the pressure P1 is greater than the pressure P2. At least that's the way it should work. Since the Doulgas only simulates the performance of a "wing," forget all of the preceding crap and just use Newton's first three laws. As far as holding goes, the the fuel efficiency and reliability of the 1952 Collier award winning engine the Douglas uses, you have neither the inclination, or fuel, for holding. ATC needs to understand Doulgas jets fly a ballistics profile. The only thing that matters is the direction they were pointed in then the force that got them initially airborne was applied.


Balancing this intelligible position, error and incalculable force a simple human with cat like reflexes can fly the Douglas on the SINCA STAR with a hold. To do so reliably local colloquial knowledge is a must. Knowing the 247 radial's approximate distance from Augusta National and that BELO is actually a fix over the parking lot of the BUY LO, not the Piggly Wiggly, never the Piggly Wiggly. Also, actually flying the SINCA is considered bad form from the South, since Macon V323 HUSKY cuts the corner and ignore the 200 knot restriction under the Class B shelf since your First Officer probably forgot the AUX HYD switch and the clean stall speed is only 4 knots less than MMO anyway. It is not impossible to fly a Douglas aircraft, just ill advised and more difficult than any other mode of transportation. If ATC has questions, just send them this photo of the MD80's simple and trouble free hydraulic system:


For proof it can be done, I submit a picture of someone performing the task. Now, go fly your mission!

 

Found a picture of me in my younger days, as a Douglas Post Production Line Flight Test Engineer.


(Actually true, the first MDD Flight Test Pilot in space was a chimp)

 

Final ATL based Douglas Reference for the night:

Sir Mix A Lot- My Hooptie - YouTube

It's a three-ton monster, econo-box stomper
Snatch your girly, if you don't I'll romp 'er
Dinosaur rush, lookin' like Shaft
Some get bold, but some get smashed
Cops say the car smokes, but I won't listen
It's a six-nine deuce, so the hell with emissions

 

The mind boggles....

GF

 

I think I need more coffee, and a shot of espresso

 

This might help -Underboob Trifecta!

 

With the way the list keeps shrinking, no one will be below 10,600 in short order.

 

I feel like I am listening to "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe".... No go and shove a fish in your ear!!!