Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Career Builder > Flight Schools and Training
Steep Sprials - Why increase pitch when in shallow bank and vise versa in a steep >

Steep Sprials - Why increase pitch when in shallow bank and vise versa in a steep

Notices
Flight Schools and Training Ratings, building hours, airmanship, CFI topics

Steep Sprials - Why increase pitch when in shallow bank and vise versa in a steep

Old 05-23-2007, 04:22 PM
  #1  
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
 
oldveedubs's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: pǝʇɹǝʌuı
Posts: 228
Default Steep Sprials - Why increase pitch when in shallow bank and vise versa in a steep

I'm in the process of doing a presentation for a group on steep spirals. My question is as follows.

Through various resources (AFH, Google, Instructors, etc) the common knowledge item is to decrease pitch on the downward side of the maneuver (steep bank) and to increase pitch on the upward side (shallow bank) to maintain airspeed. For the life of me I can't think of the physics behind it...in fact I think it is opposite...

From my experience, in a steeper bank the plane wants to accelerate because you are loosing more altitude...so why would decrease the pitch to accelerate the airplane even more?

Very confused...but I appreciate any help.

-Ryan
oldveedubs is offline  
Old 05-23-2007, 04:31 PM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Bri85's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Posts: 606
Default

Think about where the winds are *hint, your point of reference as to why you need a steeper bank to a shallow one
Bri85 is offline  
Old 05-23-2007, 04:51 PM
  #3  
On Reserve
 
ScoutFlyer's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: CFI
Posts: 16
Default

Like Bri said, it is all has to do with the wind, just like Turns Around A Point, or S-Turns across a road
ScoutFlyer is offline  
Old 05-23-2007, 06:37 PM
  #4  
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
 
oldveedubs's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: pǝʇɹǝʌuı
Posts: 228
Default

I understand the need for a higher/slower groundspeed. I'm talking about the literal idea of needing to push the nose down in a steep turn. I think I've figured it out tho...

In a regular steep turn you bump in some power passing through 30 degrees to help maintain airspeed which helps maintain altitude.

In a steep spiral the engine is effectively useless so the only thing you can do to maintain airspeed is pitch the nose down. You have to pitch the nose down more in the turn because you are using some of the airspeed to turn the airplane.

All is well, thanks for the help!
oldveedubs is offline  
Old 05-23-2007, 06:40 PM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Planespotta's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: Dream within a dream
Posts: 1,306
Default

Originally Posted by oldveedubs View Post
I'm in the process of doing a presentation for a group on steep spirals. My question is as follows.

Through various resources (AFH, Google, Instructors, etc) the common knowledge item is to decrease pitch on the downward side of the maneuver (steep bank) and to increase pitch on the upward side (shallow bank) to maintain airspeed. For the life of me I can't think of the physics behind it...in fact I think it is opposite...

From my experience, in a steeper bank the plane wants to accelerate because you are loosing more altitude...so why would decrease the pitch to accelerate the airplane even more?

Very confused...but I appreciate any help.

-Ryan
If you decrease your pitch (point up) when you're going down, you will negate the loss of lift caused by the steep bank. If you increase your pitch (point down) on a shallow bank, the opposite effect ensues. You're just being confused by a wording issue. No worries
Planespotta is offline  
Old 05-23-2007, 08:05 PM
  #6  
Flying Farmer
 
Ewfflyer's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Turbo-props' and John Deere's
Posts: 3,160
Default

They got it, and for me, this was one of my favorite commercial manuevers
Ewfflyer is offline  
Old 09-19-2011, 03:15 PM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
stealth114's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2009
Position: CFI - SEL
Posts: 179
Default

Thanks so much for answering this question guys.. I had the identical issue because the books and vids I viewed used decrease and increase pitch in such a vague way that it didnt make any sense from what you need to do in the practical realm of things while performing this maneuver !!!

Planespotta, just kindly explain again what you said there...
stealth114 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices