How to Navigate + Uses: Steep Turns
Prior to attempting steep turns, let's break the maneuver down into its key elements. As with most maneuvers, you will be required to meet certain standards in three main areas: Heading control, altitude control, and airspeed control. We will look at each of these areas individually before we bring them all together to perform the maneuver.
A steep turn consists of a 360 degree turn. That means that the heading you roll out on will be the same as what you rolled in on while performing the turn. You will also have to maintain a constant bank of 45 degrees. Here's what needs to be done to complete the turn within the standards prescribed for heading and bank control. Don't worry! It may sound scary but it is not!
First, select a prominent landmark near the horizon to use for rolling in and out of the maneuver and note the heading you are on. Bug the heading indicator if that will help you to keep track of your entry heading to begin this maneuver, roll into a 45 degree bank. Reference the attitude indicator to help establish the proper bank. You want to be smooth and deliberate with the roll in. Once you have established 45 degrees of bank, neutralize the ailerons while in the bank. Be aware that you may have to apply a slight amount of opposite aileron to counteract the plane's over banking tendency. Keep looking outside for traffic and maintain orientation to your entry heading. As you progress through the turn, you're not going to be able to see your outside heading reference until nearing the completion of the turn, so maintain orientation by tracking it on the heading indicator. As the landmark comes back into view, start thinking about rolling out the rollout should be started 20 to 25 degrees before the initial heading is reached. At that point, smoothly roll out the bank so as to arrive at wings level at the same time you reach the entry heading.
Use the rudder throughout the maneuver to maintain a zero yaw condition. This is accomplished by referencing the slip skid indicator. Because the plane's left turning tendencies will tend to cancel out most of the adverse yaw, you will need very little rudder when turning to the left. Turning to the right, however, will require some right rudder to counteract both adverse yaw and the plane's left turning tendencies. The greatest amount of rudder will be necessary when rolling into and out of the turns.
While in straighten level flight establish your visual reference for level flight and cross-check that with your attitude indicator. Since the maneuver is performed at a speed which is less than a normal cruise speed, the nose will be pitched up slightly higher than what you're used to. You should anticipate the horizon being about three inches above the tip of the nose. The attitude indicator should also show a slight nose up attitude. Start to roll into the bank, pivoting about a point on the horizon. As you pass through 30 degrees a bank, you will need to increase back pressure on the yoke, increasing the pitch one degree. Once your forty-five degree degree bank is established, you can trim the plane nose up to help maintain the necessary back pressure. Anticipate adding two turns on the trim wheel. While you are performing your turns, the bulk of your work will be spent on maintaining your altitude. A lot of the work towards this can be minimized by simply looking outside and keeping an eye on your visual cues. Everyone is going to have their own method of doing so, but the principles are all the same.
At around 330 degrees, be ready to roll out. Roll out by slowly decreasing the bank and maintaining level flight. As the bank is rolling out, release the extra back pressure, return the power to its initial setting and retrim the airplane after the first turn is completed, immediately roll into a turn in the opposite direction and perform the maneuver again at the conclusion of both turns, set cruise power, retrim the plane for your new speed and complete the cruise checklist. You have now done two steep turns.
End Goals:
-Establish the manufacturer's recommended speed roll into a coordinated 300 and 60 degree turn.
-Maintain a 45 degree bank.
-Perform the maneuver in the opposite direction as specified by the examiner.
-Maintain the entry altitude plus or -100 feet.
-Maintain entry airspeed plus or -10 knots.
-Maintain entry bank plus or -5 degrees.
-Roll out on entry heading plus or -10 degrees.
Prior to attempting steep turns, let's break the maneuver down into its key elements. As with most maneuvers, you will be required to meet certain standards in three main areas: Heading control, altitude control, and airspeed control. We will look at each of these areas individually before we bring them all together to perform the maneuver.
A steep turn consists of a 360 degree turn. That means that the heading you roll out on will be the same as what you rolled in on while performing the turn. You will also have to maintain a constant bank of 45 degrees. Here's what needs to be done to complete the turn within the standards prescribed for heading and bank control. Don't worry! It may sound scary but it is not!
First, select a prominent landmark near the horizon to use for rolling in and out of the maneuver and note the heading you are on. Bug the heading indicator if that will help you to keep track of your entry heading to begin this maneuver, roll into a 45 degree bank. Reference the attitude indicator to help establish the proper bank. You want to be smooth and deliberate with the roll in. Once you have established 45 degrees of bank, neutralize the ailerons while in the bank. Be aware that you may have to apply a slight amount of opposite aileron to counteract the plane's over banking tendency. Keep looking outside for traffic and maintain orientation to your entry heading. As you progress through the turn, you're not going to be able to see your outside heading reference until nearing the completion of the turn, so maintain orientation by tracking it on the heading indicator. As the landmark comes back into view, start thinking about rolling out the rollout should be started 20 to 25 degrees before the initial heading is reached. At that point, smoothly roll out the bank so as to arrive at wings level at the same time you reach the entry heading.
Use the rudder throughout the maneuver to maintain a zero yaw condition. This is accomplished by referencing the slip skid indicator. Because the plane's left turning tendencies will tend to cancel out most of the adverse yaw, you will need very little rudder when turning to the left. Turning to the right, however, will require some right rudder to counteract both adverse yaw and the plane's left turning tendencies. The greatest amount of rudder will be necessary when rolling into and out of the turns.
While in straighten level flight establish your visual reference for level flight and cross-check that with your attitude indicator. Since the maneuver is performed at a speed which is less than a normal cruise speed, the nose will be pitched up slightly higher than what you're used to. You should anticipate the horizon being about three inches above the tip of the nose. The attitude indicator should also show a slight nose up attitude. Start to roll into the bank, pivoting about a point on the horizon. As you pass through 30 degrees a bank, you will need to increase back pressure on the yoke, increasing the pitch one degree. Once your forty-five degree degree bank is established, you can trim the plane nose up to help maintain the necessary back pressure. Anticipate adding two turns on the trim wheel. While you are performing your turns, the bulk of your work will be spent on maintaining your altitude. A lot of the work towards this can be minimized by simply looking outside and keeping an eye on your visual cues. Everyone is going to have their own method of doing so, but the principles are all the same.
At around 330 degrees, be ready to roll out. Roll out by slowly decreasing the bank and maintaining level flight. As the bank is rolling out, release the extra back pressure, return the power to its initial setting and retrim the airplane after the first turn is completed, immediately roll into a turn in the opposite direction and perform the maneuver again at the conclusion of both turns, set cruise power, retrim the plane for your new speed and complete the cruise checklist. You have now done two steep turns.
End Goals:
-Establish the manufacturer's recommended speed roll into a coordinated 300 and 60 degree turn.
-Maintain a 45 degree bank.
-Perform the maneuver in the opposite direction as specified by the examiner.
-Maintain the entry altitude plus or -100 feet.
-Maintain entry airspeed plus or -10 knots.
-Maintain entry bank plus or -5 degrees.
-Roll out on entry heading plus or -10 degrees.