Landing circuit

**Ski** · 26Aug14, 23:17

When approaching to land, is it always expected that a 360° circular pattern is performed? Or straight in approach? I live near MCAS Miaramar and their typical approach is a 360° circular approach. Thanks.

**Snoopy** · 26Aug14, 23:30

Varies by weather and other conditions. In good weather most fighters will perform the overhead break.

**Ashy** · 27Aug14, 03:43

Ski this is how the overhead break is generally preformed. How ever "we" The 476th(i say this lightly as i have not fully completed training yet) do things slightly different from the way it is preformed in this video. 250kts when entering the patch and you should line up over the center of the runway(if you are single ship) instead of offsetting you self like he did. But over all its a decent video to get you started for practicing. (snoopy,eddie, stuka correct me if im wrong.)

**Ashy** · 27Aug14, 04:01

Another good thing to practice as i like to do is just before touching down on the runway when your plane is in ground effect is i like to add just a small touch of power to ease the pressure off of the main gear and also holding a small amount of back pressure on the stick to keep the nose elevated a touch longer to do the same. in turn helps you slow down as well. This makes for a much smother (greasing or greased as we like to say in the real world) landing. but dont keep the nose up to long cause it could slam down.

**Ski** · 27Aug14, 05:49

Originally Posted by Ashy

Ski this is how the overhead break is generally preformed. How ever "we" The 476th(i say this lightly as i have not fully completed training yet) do things slightly different from the way it is preformed in this video. 250kts when entering the patch and you should line up over the center of the runway(if you are single ship) instead of offsetting you self like he did. But over all its a decent video to get you started for practicing. (snoopy,eddie, stuka correct me if im wrong.)

That was a great video demonstration. Thanks Ashy.

**Howie** · 27Aug14, 15:21

I find that extending the airbrakes just a little whilst in ground effect is a good way to lift the nose. Generally speaking, once the throttles come back to idle in the flare they should stay there (unless you're going around).

**Howie** · 03Nov14, 09:51

Just to add to this again, I did an accidental 'carrier landing' last week whilst doing circuits IRL and the jolt from slamming the aircraft down caused me to shove the throttle forwards and we ended up going around.

Obviously this wouldn't happen in DCS but it's something to be aware of. I guess in the Navy it's actually more of a help than a hindrance though, seeing as they go full throttle anyway in case they miss the wire!

**Amy** · 19Nov15, 00:37

So just by watching it looks like the bank angle is somewhere between sixty and ninety degrees at a 3G pull, is that correct? And what would be the bank angle for the turn on the approach? This is what I have the hardest time with when I try the break. I really need to get better at it with the Hornet coming out.

**Tex** · 19Nov15, 02:58

For an overhead, when breaking over the numbers its a 60-70 degree bank and 2-3 g pull. At 60 deg angle of bank, 2 g's is what is required for level flight, at 70 deg, it's roughly 3 g's. Really just focus on airspeed, bank angle, and altitude...the g's will take care of themselves. For the perch to final, it depends on how far offset you are, what the cross winds are, and your speed. Generally, 45 deg of bank, 10 degrees nose low will get you started on a good turn and descent to final. Then it's good ole visual pilotage from there.