Forum: F-16 Procedures

I know that in order to make a nice and smooth landing on a Viper the FPM goes at the edge of the runway till the very moment before touchdown when we go flare and the airspeed on the final approach should be arround 150 knots or less. But what's about mentioned 'AoA staple'? How it works &.. what's that for actually? If anyone would be that nice to explain me this thing I would be really grateful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJdL5hrmN0A

Greeets from Poland
Norbert
Thanks

in advance.

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Last edited by LinkF16SimDude on Sep 05, 2010 - 02:27 AM; edited 1 time in total

The AoA staple lets you monitor the AoA during the approach without going heads-down. The top horizontal mark on the staple is 11 degrees, the midpoint of the vertical bar is 13 degrees, and the bottom horizontal mark is 17 or 18 degrees (can't recall which). This corresponds to the yellow, green and red areas of the AoA tape and also the yellow/green/red lights in the AoA indexer next to the HUD glass. The higher the AoA, the farther down the staple the Flight Path Marker (FPM) moves.

Ideally for approach and landing, you establish a (typically) 3 degree descent angle with 11 degrees AoA and flare to 13 for touchdown. So you fly the jet to a point that puts the end of the runway 2.5 to 3 degrees down in the HUD (reference the pitch ladder), then use the stick to put the FPM at the end of the runway while at the same time adjust power to bring the top of the staple up to the FPM. Adjust power and pitch ever so slightly to keep that picture until it's time to flare. During the flare, power goes to idle and a slight tug on the stick brings the FPM close to the horizon line (and consequently the 13 degree area of the staple) until touchdown. Anything above 13 and you risk scraping the tail, so timing is important.

Clear as mud? Wink

It's actually quite easy once you do it several dozen times.

Now.. thst's simple! Never scrap the brakes again! Good for the taxpayers.. (joke) Thx Man!

test post

Hi all.. 1st attempted post

the lower bracket is 15 degrees AoA

Aim for landing is put the 2.5 pitch bar lined up with 11AoA lined up with the FPM at threshold for touchdown at 13AoA 500' down the runway Wink

at 15 you get the low speed horn and the possibility of scraping the ventral fins and tailstrike ..

@LinkF16SimDude

"So you fly the jet to a point that puts the end of the runway 2.5 to 3 degrees down in the HUD (reference the pitch ladder), then use the stick to put the FPM at the end of the runway...."

when u say end of runway d you mean threshold point (which is start of runway)?

Watch this youtube vid of a Greek Viper landing and you'll get the idea. When he rolls out before touchdown, that's pretty much the picture you should see (but try to flare better than he did! Laughing

). Every driver has his or her own technique but they all have the same outcome. You're not trying to put your head thru a 3 foot box coming aboard a carrier. You just wanna get it down cleanly and in a way that won't get the crew chief miffed at ya. Wink

Forum: F-16 Procedures

AoA staple while landing