1. Minnesota Wing Aircrew Training: Tasks P-2016, P-2017, P-2018
Aircraft Familiarization
Aircraft Controls
Aircraft Instruments
Weight and Balance
Minnesota Wing Aircrew Training: Tasks P-2016, P-2017, P-2018

2. Aircraft Structure and Controls
Chapter 2 in Student Manual

3. Aircraft Familiarization
Why do I need to know this stuff anyway?
Terminology
Structure
Control surfaces
Instrumentation
Limitations
So you know when to feel comfortable and when to panic.
So you can be helpful and safe on the ground and in the air.

4. The Airplane CAP typically uses C172 and C182.
Cessna 172 (180 hp), Cessna 182 (230 hp) - 4-place, utility aircraft.
Aircraft may be equipped with HF and VHF radios, direction finding equipment, GPS, ILS and VOR/DME.
Aircraft-specific equipment should be listed in the aircraft publications under Special Equipment List (SEL).
Propeller (pilot’s fan), engine/cowling, wing, fuselage/empennage, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, landing gear, windows, fuel tanks, etc. Control surfaces on next slides.
Pilot controls: Yolk, rudder pedals, brakes, throttle, etc.
Three Axes: Longitudinal (roll - ailerons), Lateral (pitch - elevator), Vertical (yaw - rudder)

5. Aircraft Terminology
Cessna 172 (180 hp), Cessna 182 (230 hp) - 4-place, utility aircraft.
Aircraft may be equipped with HF and VHF radios, direction finding equipment, GPS, ILS and VOR/DME.
Aircraft-specific equipment should be listed in the aircraft publications under Special Equipment List (SEL).
Propeller (pilot’s fan), engine/cowling, wing, fuselage/empennage, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, landing gear, windows, fuel tanks, etc. Control surfaces on next slides.
Pilot controls: Yolk, rudder pedals, brakes, throttle, etc.
Three Axes: Longitudinal (roll - ailerons), Lateral (pitch - elevator), Vertical (yaw - rudder)

6. Ailerons provide roll control
Ailerons are on the trailing edge of wing near the tip, outboard of the flaps.
As yoke is turned right, the right aileron moves up and the left aileron moves down. The right wing drops and the left wing rises.
As yoke is turned left, the right aileron moves down and the left aileron moves up. The right wing rises and the left wing drops.
Ailerons control roll about the longitudinal axis. **
Flaps are on the trailing edge of the wing near the root.
Flaps increase the lift and drag.

7. Elevators provide pitch control
Elevator provides pitch control by creating lift to raise or lower the tail around the center of gravity, not by building up force and pushing the tail up or down. It becomes an increasingly cambered airfoil as control inputs are increased.
As yoke is pushed forward, elevator goes down, lift is increased and the tail rises.
As yoke is pulled back, elevator goes up, lift is decreased and the tail drops.
Elevator provides pitch about the lateral axis. **
Center of Gravity
Center of Gravity

8. The rudder controls yaw
Creates lift just like the elevator, but to one side or the other pulling the tail around the center of gravity, not pushing it.
Rudder controls yaw about the vertical axis.

9. Trim tabs neutralize control pressures
The trim tab moves in the opposite direction of the control surface and holds it in position. This neutralizes the force required to control the aircraft i.e. lessens the workload on the pilot’s muscles. Therefore, a plane may be trimmed wings level, in a turn, in a climb, or in a dive.

10. Aircraft Instruments
Chapter 2 in Student Manual

11. Instrument Panel
During run up, used for magneto check. Tach indication decreases when magnetos are tested.
Used to set power settings and to lean the engine at cruise.
Other instruments are: Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Vacuum, Temperature.

12. Flight Instruments Magnetic Compass Primarily a backup
Doesn’t require any power
Installation problems
Bank angles and speed changes can cause a compass to show the wrong heading
Section 2.2 in Student Manual
Points to MAGNETIC NORTH
Second line shows corrections for installation/instrument effects.

13. Flight Instruments Heading Indicator (Directional Gyro)
Gyro-driven heading indicator
Quick response to turns
Stable indications
Electrical or vacuum-driven
Will drift, requires periodic re-alignment

14. Flight Instruments Altimeter
Usually set to show pressure altitude above Mean Sea Level (MSL)
Accurate altitude is dependent on the altimeter setting.
Connected to the Static Port. Senses the differential between outside static air pressure and pressure in sealed aneroid inside instrument case.
Longest hand indicates hundreds of feet, second hand indicated thousands of feet, shortest hand indicates ten thousands of feet
QNH - most commonly used - altimeter shows altitude above mean sea level - DFW International Airport is at 603 feet. (true altitude)
QFE - used by airshow pilots - altimeter shows altitude above ground level - Set airport at 0 feet. (absolute altitude)
QNE - altimeter shows altitude above standard pressure datum, using setting of With this setting first flight level is FL 180. (pressure altitude)
Scanner/observer must understand that the altimeter is usually set to QNH and does not show absolute altitude above the ground. AGL must be calculated by subtracting known terrain elevation from altimeter reading.
You must set the current pressure reading in the window to get accurate MSL indications. **

15. Flight Instruments Turn Coordinator Really two instruments
Miniature aircraft shows turn rate only - does not show bank angle
Inclinometer shows quality of turn - Coordinated, slip, skid
A standard rate turn is 3 degrees per second. At 100 mph, approximately 15 degrees of bank will produce a standard rate turn.
If aircraft is not in coordinated flight, the ball will not be centered. The correction is to “step on the ball.”
A skid is to much rudder for the aileron input, and will be indicated by the ball displaced to the outside of the turn.
Conversely, a slip is not enough rudder for the aileron input, and will be indicated by the ball displaced to the inside of the turn.

16. Flight Instruments Attitude Indicator Provides a horizon reference
Hash marks indicate bank angle
Artificial Horizon. Indicates pitch and roll.
Keep the blue over the brown.
Dot is the propeller, two horizontal bars are the wings.
Hash marks indicate bank angles.

17. Flight Instruments Airspeed Knots or MPH Colored markings
Shows aircraft performance
Depends on both static port AND pitot tube.
“Knot” is a nautical mile per hour. Nautical miles are 15% greater than statute miles. (6008 ft vs ft)
White arc is flap extension speed.
Green arc is normal operating speed.
Yellow arc is caution area - smooth air only.
Red line shows “never exceed” speed (Vne).

18. Flight Instruments Vertical Speed Climb or descent rate
Has a lag due to design
Use with altimeter
Depends on static port.
Shows rate of climb or descent in feet per minute.

19. Engine Instruments Tachometer Markings — green arc Indicates power
During run up, used for magneto check. Tach indication decreases when magnetos are tested.
Used to set power settings and to lean the engine at cruise.
Other instruments are: Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Vacuum, Temperature.

20. Other Engine Instruments
Gauges
Fuel (accurate at empty)
Oil Temperature and Pressure
Vacuum and Generator
Exhaust Gas Temperature
Instruments vary from aircraft to aircraft
During run up, used for magneto check. Tach indication decreases when magnetos are tested.
Used to set power settings and to lean the engine at cruise.
Other instruments are: Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Vacuum, Temperature.

21. Navigation/Communication Radio
Comm, VOR and DME radios
Navigation/Communication Radio
Primary and Standby Frequencies
DME
Comm 1
Nav 1
Navigation/Communication Radio
Primary and Standby Frequencies
Communications
Navigation
Comm 2
Nav 2

22. Comm Antennas Normally mounted on top One for each radio
During run up, used for magneto check. Tach indication decreases when magnetos are tested.
Used to set power settings and to lean the engine at cruise.
Other instruments are: Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Vacuum, Temperature.
Normally mounted on top
One for each radio

23. Nav Antennas “Cat whisker” style One for each nav
During run up, used for magneto check. Tach indication decreases when magnetos are tested.
Used to set power settings and to lean the engine at cruise.
Other instruments are: Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Vacuum, Temperature.
“Cat whisker” style
One for each nav

24. Navigation Instruments
VOR
ADF
VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR-DME, VORTAC)
Indicates direction to/from ground transmitter relative to magnetic North
Automatic Direction Finder (NDB)
Direction toward ground transmitter relative to airplane nose
During run up, used for magneto check. Tach indication decreases when magnetos are tested.
Used to set power settings and to lean the engine at cruise.
Other instruments are: Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Vacuum, Temperature.

25. Other Antennas
Loop
(directional)
ADF
Marker
Beacon

26. UHF Antenna Blade type (may be spike) Transponder & DME
[If mounted up front, may interfere with DF]

27. Global Positioning System
Satellite based navigation
Apollo GX55
Can provide search pattern course guidance and lat and long of target
During run up, used for magneto check. Tach indication decreases when magnetos are tested.
Used to set power settings and to lean the engine at cruise.
Other instruments are: Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Vacuum, Temperature.

28. GPS Antenna Line of sight, so mounted at the very top
Comm antennas can interfere with the weak signals, so they are tested for interference

29. Direction Finding Receiver
Used for electronic ELT searches
During run up, used for magneto check. Tach indication decreases when magnetos are tested.
Used to set power settings and to lean the engine at cruise.
Other instruments are: Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Vacuum, Temperature.

30. CAP FM Transceiver
During run up, used for magneto check. Tach indication decreases when magnetos are tested.
Used to set power settings and to lean the engine at cruise.
Other instruments are: Oil Pressure, Ammeter, Vacuum, Temperature.

31. Audio Panel
Check this carefully, and don’t push buttons or move the switch without the PIC knowing.

32. Transponder
Same comments as for the audio panel. When you reposition the numbers, do not pass thru the “7xxx” series.

33. Static “wicks” Mitigate buildup of static electricity
Also look for continuity of the associated grounding straps during the walk around.
Mitigate buildup of static electricity
(interferes with comm)
Wings, elevators, vertical stabilizer
Take care when walking around

34. Weight and Balance and Operations
The Aircrew is a TEAM.
Each has a job to perform.
They must work together to be effective.

35. Weight and Balance The wings generate a limited amount of lift
Maximum weight for an aircraft is set by the manufacturer
Pitch stability is affected by the location of the center of gravity
The pilot computes weight and balance and controls it by loading the aircraft correctly
-If incorrectly loaded:
the pilot may not be able to raise the nose during take off or
the aircraft may be unstable and difficult or impossible to control in the air
Refer to 2.3 of Student manual
Weight management is critical to safe flying
Accurate estimate of your weight and the weight of your flight equipment is essential since the amount of weight the aircraft can carry is limited

36. Weight and Balance Excessive weight adversely impacts performance:
Longer take off and landing distance
Reduced climb performance
Reduced ability to withstand turbulence and wind shear forces
Out of Forward C.G. limits can cause:
Reduced up-elevator authority (ability to raise the nose)
Can eliminate the ability to flare for landing
Out of Rear C.G. limits can cause:
Reduced down-elevator authority (ability to lower the nose)
Can make stall recovery difficult or impossible
2.3.1 & 2.3.2
Objective 2.4 – Discuss the consequences of exceeding the gross weight limit.
Objective 2.5 – Discuss the importance of maintaining proper balance (c.g.), and factors in computing W&B.

37. Mission Aircraft Operations
A CAPF84 or CAPF104 must be completed
Altimeter settings will be from a source within 50 NM or the closest source available and updated hourly.
Airspeed will be no lower than 1.3 times aircraft stall at zero flaps and 30 degrees of bank.
Primary responsibility - Visual Search; allows the pilot to fly safely and accurately.
You are the Eyes and Ears of the Mission Coordinator (MC).
Expanded list cited at beginning of Chapter 1 of the student text.
Briefings include: Mission, safety, comm, preflight/aircrew, passenger/crew and debrief
CAPF 60 (Emergency Notification Form)
CAPF 103 (Sign In Rosters)
CAPF 121 (Aircraft and Vehicle Sign In Rosters)
CAPF 104 (Flight Plan / Mission Briefing/Debriefing Form)
Observer’s Log

38. Mission Aircraft Operations
Search altitudes are limited to no lower than 500 feet above the surface (except for counter drug vessel identification).
Search aircraft on missions over water must plan to be over a suitable airfield with at least 90 minutes of fuel on board at normal cruise speed.
Primary responsibility - Visual Search; allows the pilot to fly safely and accurately.
You are the Eyes and Ears of the Mission Coordinator (MC).
Expanded list cited at beginning of Chapter 1 of the student text.
Briefings include: Mission, safety, comm, preflight/aircrew, passenger/crew and debrief
CAPF 60 (Emergency Notification Form)
CAPF 103 (Sign In Rosters)
CAPF 121 (Aircraft and Vehicle Sign In Rosters)
CAPF 104 (Flight Plan / Mission Briefing/Debriefing Form)
Observer’s Log