Ex. 7 - Climbing
Ex. 7 - Climbing
OBJECTIVE
What you will learn:


How to climb at a variety of attitudes and
airspeeds, taking into account:

obstacle clearance

visibility

engine cooling

ATC instructions

passenger comfort
How to accurately level off at desired altitude
and establish cruise.
Ex. 7 - Climbing
MOTIVATION
Why learn this?

Many factors need to be considered and
accounted for when climbing

Learn to execute appropriate type of climb
for a variety of scenarios
! no one type of climb will work for all situations!
Ex. 7 - Climbing
LINKS
Links
You already have understanding of:

attitudes and movements


power control
mixture and carburetor heat control
Today we put all these tools together to
make the plane go up.
Ex. 7 - Climbing
BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Let’s see how much you already know:
Q
What mixture setting should be used for climbs?
Why?
Q
What should be carb heat position in a climb?
Why?
Q
What effect does adding power have on yaw?
Q
How does one control yaw?
Q
What other movement can yaw induce if not
controlled?
Ex. 7 - Climbing
THEORIES & DEFINITIONS
Theories and Definitions

Best Angle of Climb (Vx)

Best Rate of Climb (Vy)

Normal Climb

Enroute Climb

Instruments in a Climb.
Ex. 7 - Climbing
THEORIES & DEFINITIONS
Best Angle of Climb (Vx)
Easy to remember:
lots of angles!
Greatest altitude gain in a given distance
What is Vx for your plane?
When is this useful?
Shortest distance to gain given altitude
DISADVANTAGES of Vx
 poor forward visibility
 engine may overheat!
Ex. 7 - Climbing
THEORIES & DEFINITIONS
Best Rate of Climb (Vy)
Greatest altitude gain in a given time
What is Vy for your plane?
When is this useful?
Shortest time to gain given altitude
Ex. 7 - Climbing
THEORIES & DEFINITIONS
Vx vs Vy
Which climb is best rate
and which is best angle?
What would happen if you tried
to pitch even higher and go
even slower than Vx?
best rate = Vy
best angle = Vx
Ex. 7 - Climbing
THEORIES & DEFINITIONS
Normal Climb
Find it in the POH
Somewhat higher speed than best-rate.
Optimal combination of:
 climb performance
 visibility
 engine cooling
Ex. 7 - Climbing
THEORIES & DEFINITIONS
Vx vs Vy vs Normal Climb
best rate = Vy
best angle = Vx
normal climb
Ex. 7 - Climbing
THEORIES & DEFINITIONS
Enroute Climb
Between normal climb and normal cruise speed
Use when in no hurry to get to altitude
Best for:
 forward visibility
 engine cooling
 passenger comfort
Ex. 7 - Climbing
Instruments in Climb
THEORIES &
DEFINITIONS
What instruments are moving
during a steady climb?
Ex. 7 - Climbing
PROCEDURES
Procedures

Climb

Entry from Cruise

During

Leveling Out.
Ex. 7 - Climbing
PROCEDURES
Climb: Entry from Cruise
Cockpit check: oil T+P in the green, carb heat cold, mixture rich
Look-out!
Attitude
• pull back on the yoke
to set nose-up attitude
How will power affect yaw?
Power
Trim
• full power
• check airspeed at
correct value
Go up to your APT
• retrim airplane
Ex. 7 - Climbing
PROCEDURES
Climb: During

Lower the nose every 500 ft for look-out

Maintain coordinated flight with rudder

Maintain straight flight with ailerons

Cross-check airspeed indicator to
maintain appropriate climb speed
Ex. 7 - Climbing
PROCEDURES
Climb: Leveling Out
Begin leveling out at 10% of rate of climb
Attitude
• push yoke forward to
return to cruise attitude
• allow plane accelerate to
cruise speed
Power
• power back to normal
cruise setting
If climbing up to 4500 feet
at 500 feet per minute,
begin leveling out at…
How will this affect yaw?
Trim
• retrim airplane
• lean mixture as appropriate
Ex. 7 - Climbing
CONSIDERATIONS
Considerations

Air Density

Other Factors

Weight

Carb Heat

Flaps

Landing Gear.
Ex. 7 - Climbing
CONSIDERATIONS
Air Density: Effect on Climb
The 3 Deadly H’s
! HEIGHT
! HEAT
What effect to they have on air density?
What effect does low air density have on climb performance?
! HUMIDITY
Ex. 7 - Climbing
CONSIDERATIONS
Other Factors: Effect on Climb

Weight
more work to bring
heavier plane up
Why?


Carb heat
Flaps
mixture too rich
add lift, but also drag
What else increases drag?

Landing
Gear
adds drag
DECREASED CLIMB
PERFORMANCE
Where can you look up
climb performance?
Can we always count on
getting POH numbers?
Ex. 7 - Climbing
SAFETY
SAFETY
!
Cockpit check before all climbs
!
Look-out before and during climb
 lower nose every 500 feet to check for traffic
!
Avoid excessive pitching up, especially near the ground
 may lead to a stall
!
Avoid climbs at Vx for long periods of time
 inadequate engine cooling
Ex. 7 - Climbing
REVIEW
Review:
Q
What is the difference between best rate of climb, best
angle of climb, and normal climb?
Should be memorized!
Q
What are your plane’s airspeeds for those climbs?
Q
What is the procedure for entering a climb from cruise?
Q
What is the procedure for leveling out?
Q
Why do we keep full power for several seconds after
leveling out?
Ex. 7 - Climbing
CONCLUSION
Conclusion

You now understand how climbing works, and how to climb
to desired altitude using the right tool (type of climb) for the
job

Next lesson: Ex. 8 - Descending
Ex. 7 - Climbing