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> Any tips on landing the DC-3 nicely? I keep crashing it!
> I'm using the Flight Notes from the Learning Center, but it doesn't say
> how far AGL you should be on the downwind leg...any suggestions?
>
> Thanks.
>

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> Each airport will be a little different depending on circumstances. One
> sure fire way is to find an approach plate or even an airport directory.
> They will have the "Pattern Altitude" listed. That is the altitude you
> fly at any point within a certain distance of the airport and on your
> downwind leg. At the point of your turn to base...if everything is
> perfect...you begin your descent at a steady rate (commonly 300-500 fpm).
> This should continue until touchdown with a decrease in speed on the final
> form the downwind leg and then decreasing to recommended touchdown speed
> on final. This is of course the simplified version but I hope this helps.
>
> Mr. Steve
>

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>
> Actually, the better source for pattern altitude information are the
> Airport and Facility Directories (A/FD) that are available for each of six
> regions covering the US and are available at just about any FBO....
>.... You can also get airport elevation info from airnav.com but you might
>find some discrepencies between airnav and the A/FDs....

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> "Mr. Steve" <surveyorsteve@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:CPwOe.31137$Ji4.25013@fed1read03...
fpm).[vbcol=seagreen]
final[vbcol=seagreen]
helps.[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Actually, the better source for pattern altitude information are the

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> and Facility Directories (A/FD) that are available for each of six regions
> covering the US and are available at just about any FBO.
>
> (The next edition [at least for the SW region...] is due out on 2
> September...you might be able to get an expired one free or at least

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> cheap if you catch the FBO swapping out old for new...) If you have to

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> the real deal and want them to be current, consider subscribing for them

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> Sporty's Pilot Shop. That's how I get mine and the new ones usually come

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> week before the current one expires.
>
> These are considered the official source of airport information. You can
> also get airport elevation info from airnav.com but you might find some
> discrepencies between airnav and the A/FDs.
>
> As a pilot IRL, the A/FD is the final word and meets the requirement that

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> pilot gather all information regarding a flight before undertaking said
> flight.
>
> Jay Beckman
> PP-ASEL (Sim Pilot Too)
> Chandler, AZ
>
>

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> One thing to keep in mind is that the reason the AF/D is published every
> eight weeks is because, in the real world, things change, but in the FS
> world, they do not.
>
> So, the information in a current AF/D may not exactly correspond with that
> in the two-year-old +/- FS9...
>

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> "Lakeview Bill" <bdentonchi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:JXDOe.792$u_6.614@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...
that[vbcol=seagreen]
>
> Hence my suggestion to try and pick up an *expired* A/FD.
>
> JB
>
>

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> There's a great tutorial on flying the Gooney Bird at DC-3 Airways
> http://www.dc3airways.com/train_top_2004.html

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> news:IZtOe.4124$WO2.1944@fe06.lga...

"Mr. Steve" <surveyorsteve@cox.net> wrote in message
news:CPwOe.31137$Ji4.25013@fed1read03...[vbcol=seagreen]
> Each airport will be a little different depending on circumstances. One
> sure fire way is to find an approach plate or even an airport directory.
> They will have the "Pattern Altitude" listed. That is the altitude you
> fly at any point within a certain distance of the airport and on your
> downwind leg...

quote:

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>
>"Mr. Steve" <surveyorsteve@cox.net> wrote in message
>news:CPwOe.31137$Ji4.25013@fed1read03...
>
>Thanks for the advice, I've been flying mostly the GA aircraft, so haven't
>used any complex approach techniques. Could the given "Pattern Altitude"
>really be applicable to any aircraft, like a DC-3 or a B747 or a Cessna 172?