Question about autopilot heading

No, there isn't. As standard, the aircraft will make a 30 degree angle of bank. If you look at the attitude indicator, it should line up with the 3rd line around the perimeter (third line from the straight vertical line). Like this:

Thats what a 30 degree bank angle looks like. If it banks more than that then you have a problem 😛

Cheers

Yeah thats where its banks 30 degrees. I suppose its perfectly normal, but just gives the impression of being steep.

in smaller aircraft it seems bigger to me. but whne flying larger aircraft the bank seems less so.

99jolegg, i've often wondered about this myself. Is 30deg the norm for an airliner? The reason i ask is, i was watching Flying Heavy Metal and in one episode Bruce put an Airbus into a turn like this and said if he did it in his Boeing his passengers would have a fit! I know it was probably steeper but 30degrees still seems a bit steep especially if you're sat having a No2!

Welshflyer wrote:

99jolegg, i've often wondered about this myself. Is 30deg the norm for an airliner? The reason i ask is, i was watching Flying Heavy Metal and in one episode Bruce put an Airbus into a turn like this and said if he did it in his Boeing his passengers would have a fit! I know it was probably steeper but 30degrees still seems a bit steep especially if you're sat having a No2!

Ah sorry I didn't explain myself. Yes, airliners use 30 degrees of bank when turning, but that will only be at low altitude when the seat belt sign is illuminated. When you fly in one, and are looking out the window, in a 30 degree bank, you'll more than likely be seeing just sky or just ground depending on which side you are sitting. Those sort of turns will be used in the final phases of the flight plan and the approach. Of course, a 30 degree bank of turn isn't always needed, but if it is, then it is perfectly viable and doesn't cause discomfort. Even in a little Cessna 150, 30 degrees of bank isn't uncomfortable.

At altitude it changes. Some aircraft have GPS systems (only long haul I believe) and if you watch it, at cruise altitude, you can see your prospective flight plan ahead. The layout of waypoints means you have to turn at an intersection, but if you sit there and try and feel that turn, you'll be hard pushed. Similarly, your cruise altitude goes from FL290 to FL350 without you even noticing because the climb gradient is shallow - just like the bank angle, so people having No2's would notice a thing 😉

99joleg is right. it kinda docks the realism stuff a bit at higher altitudes, but for what it's worth, it's not too bad.

In bigger jets like 747 you can select the maximum angle of turn or keep it on auto for the autopilot to best choose the degree of turn...

if only they had a variety though. They don't have a whole lot of bank angles to get to. Get something like PMDG or Level-D, as they are the top in their class

When I was flying from London-Dublin last week on a 737-800, I noticed that you cant really feel the banks of the aircraft when turning, if you dont look out the window you dont really know you are banking (you may have a slight idea if you are expecting it)

Weird eh, and when looking out the window it does look like a 30' bank turn

that's because you're banking at such a speed that gravity itself is holding you in your place. I've noticed that too, and it's pretty neat! 😂

Welshflyer wrote:

99jolegg, i've often wondered about this myself. Is 30deg the norm for an airliner? The reason i ask is, i was watching Flying Heavy Metal and in one episode Bruce put an Airbus into a turn like this and said if he did it in his Boeing his passengers would have a fit! I know it was probably steeper but 30degrees still seems a bit steep especially if you're sat having a No2!

Reminds me of Aloha Airlines flight back into Honolulu from the Big Island a couple of years ago. (Real life here). Normally (I think) airliners from the east fly south of the entire south shore of O'hau then turn 180* (don't know the back angle but it wasn't dramatic) back to line up for final on RW 8R. I watched such approaches a bunch of times while snorkling at the lagoons at Koolina on the SW corner of the island.

So, coming back from the Big Island that evening, the Aloha 737 flew west south of Koko Head, then Diamond Head, then the city, then there was the airport..... and I just figured the pilot would continue on to the west like normal. But boy howdy! I'll bet he didn't go more than 2 miles (if even that) before he cranked it into a HARD right turn. The rooftops of the houses at 'Ewa Beach looked mighty close as I looked at them down over the length of the right wing. It mighta been only 30 degrees but it was without a doubt the steepest turn I've ever experienced in a fixed wing aircraft in real life. It definitely got my attention!

I wonder if the Aloha pilots make that landing so often they get tired of making that lingering long approach that the other airliners do. Actually I swam at Ewa Beach and also at Hickam AFB's beach and watch a lot of planes land at Honolulu but never noticed any others making that short turn to RW8R.

I might have to try it myself with a sim 737 one of these days.