Initial Conditions:
Mission 6: Minimum Altitude Split S
Use the Split S maneuver to simultaneously change your heading by 180° and descend to a lower altitude. In the three preceding training missions, we turned the jet in a horizontal plane; in other words, we stayed level with the horizon while turning. The Split S maneuver is the first of a series of three training missions in which you will practice maneuvering the jet in the vertical plane. The vertical plane extends above and below the aircraft's current altitude.
Since air combat is a three-dimensional affair, it is important to master turning the jet in both the horizontal and vertical planes.
A big difference between the two different maneuvering planes is the effect of gravity on the jet. If
you are turning the jet straight across the horizon in the horizontal plane, then gravity has relatively little
Mission 6: Minimum Altitude Split S
Figure 6-1
affect on your turn performance. When you pull the nose up or down in the vertical, however, gravity becomes a player.
Figure 6-3 illustrates "GR," which stands for radial G (the G that the aircraft is actually adding to the turn rate and radius equation). In Figure 6-3, the cockpit G at the start of the pull is 5 Gs. Cockpit G is the G being felt and read out on the G meter in the cockpit.
At the point the jet is pulling straight up, however, so the effective G or radial G is only 4 Gs. As the jet gets to 90°
straight up or down, the radial Gs go to 5 Gs to match cockpit G. Figure 6-3 shows that cockpit G is not equal to radial or turning G when maneuvering in the vertical. Remember that 2° per second is a significant turning
advantage. The extra G you can get by placing your nose below the horizon when you turn can give you at least 2°
per second turn advantage. Most of the time 1 GR equates to 3°-4° per second.
You can see the concept of radial G even more clearly in Figure 6-4, in which both fighters are pulling the TR with LV same cockpit G. Notice that the fighter below horizon with his lift vector below the horizon is turning more
tightly. (Lift vector is an imaginary arrow that is projected from TR with LV the top of the jet
perpendicular to the above horizon aircraft's wings.) What is not so obvious is that the fighter turning toward the ground is also moving, or rating, the nose faster.
Figure 6-2
Figure 6-3
Figure 6-4
In this mission, you will practice flying a Split S maneuver from 7,000 feet.
z Airspeed: 400 knots
z Altitude: 7,000 AGL (Above Ground Level)
z Throttle Setting: Mid-range
z Configuration: Clean
Use this maneuver to descend quickly to low altitude. To execute the maneuver, perform the following steps:
Training Mission Overview
Initial Conditions
Mission Description
Figure 6-5
1. Load training mission
06 Min Altitude Split S
from the Training section.2. Press
F
to record your flight using the ACMI feature.3. At 7,000 feet, adjust the throttle to maintain 400 knots. Do not accelerate.
4. Roll the jet inverted. Figure 6-5 shows this inverted position.
5. Pull full back on the stick to command the maximum G possible. As the Gs increase during your dive, pull the throttle back slightly to maintain 400 knots. If you are still going too fast, extend the speed brakes by pressing
B
. Don't forget to retract them when you get to the proper airspeed.The maneuver is complete when the jet is in level flight heading in the opposite direction, as shown in Figure 6-6.
6. Press
F
to stop the ACMI recording.7. Press
ESC
and then selectEnd Mission
to end the training mission.This maneuver is easy to do if you control your airspeed. The common mistake made during a Split S is to ease up on the Gs and accelerate. If the airspeed builds, so will the turn radius--causing you to impact the ground.
Figure 6-6
7,000 feet is the lowest altitude from which you can comfortably perform a Split S at 400 knots. It can be done from as low as 5,000 feet, but you must be perfect or you will plant yourself into the terrain.
After successfully completing the Split S maneuver from 7,000 and 400 knots, enter the training mission again and fly down to 5,000 feet and try it from this lower altitude. In addition to experimenting at lower altitudes, you can also vary the airspeed from which you enter the Split S. For example, you should be able to Split S from 4,000 AGL at 300 knots, because you have a tighter turn radius at this airspeed than you do at 400 knots.
Select ACMI from the main menu on the left. Review the mission you just flew by clicking on the last tape in the list and then clicking on the Load button. After your ACMI tape loads, try the following ACMI option settings:
z Camera: Isometric
z Labels: Name, Airspeed and Altitude
z Altitude Poles On
z Wing Trails: Maximum
z Vehicle Magnification: x8
Use the view controls to view the turn from an isometric angle or a side view of the jet.
ACMI Debrief
In this mission, you will practice maneuvering over the top or up in the vertical. This training mission and the one that follows will help you gain more confidence and control when climbing in the jet.
Variations of this maneuver are used often in air combat, and it is important to note your entry and exit airspeed and the altitude that you gain during the maneuver.