Navy Pilot 3-D Cues

[P3D <ocanna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Last Friday Paul Kline mentioned the auto-landing system for Navy jets and
how the pilots did not care for it.  No doubt "jiggling" the plane right and
left on the approach did help judge the "goodness" of their line.  

I spoke to a Blue Angels pilot at that time and his complaint was that due
to the pitching of the carrier and cross winds the plane did could not follow 
a striaght glide path.  As it neared the carrier the autopilot would make 
periodic and fairly large corrections.  A human pilot's corrections would be 
smoother and more moderate.  He said it took more courage to watch his plane 
drift to the edge of the "pipe" and wait for the computer to yank him back 
on course than to dog fight the MIG's.  He said as he neared the ship it 
became harder and harder to resist taking control as the system's drift and 
correction loop seemed to be porportionaly greater.  

He did mention closing his eyes a few times.  
		Perhaps if he had only closed ONE eye ...

	Dan O'Canna [ocanna@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]  Lexington, KY


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