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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/REQUEST OF EXPLANATIONS ABOUT WORDS AND PHRASE TAKEN FROM THE BOOK "BORN TO FLY", by Michael French

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Expert: - 10/21/2007


Question
Could you please explain me in details what does the phrase "GIVE ME A SHALLOW THREE-SIXTY,FIVE-DEGREE BANK ANGLE,TO THE RIGHT" mean exactly in this context? Could you be so kind to describe me in details the maneuver that Lieutenant Nelson ordered?

I found the phrase above in the text below:


"GIVE ME A SHALLOW THREE-SIXTY,FIVE DEGREE BANK ANGLE,TO THE RIGHT," LIEUTENANT NELSON ORDERED. I NERVOUSLY EASED THE STICK RIGHT WHILE NEITHER PUSHING FORWARD NOR PULLING BACK SO THAT THE NOSE DID NOT RISE OR FALL. BUT I DIDN'T SUCCEED. LIEUTENANT NELSON'S HAND WAS ON HIS STICK,ABRUPTLY CORRECTING MY MISTAKE: I'D LET THE RIGHT WING DROP BELOW 5 DEGREES AND THE NOSE DIP. WE HAD LOST 50 FEET OF ALTITUDE."

                                   Thank you.
                                   Take care.
                                   Giuliano  

Answer
Greetings again, Guiliano -

It's been a while since I have heard from you ... it looks like you are enjoying the book.

During pilot training, students are required to show their proficiency performing various flight maneuvers.  One of the maneuvers the instructor was asking of the student in this excerpt was to make a full-circle turn to the right (three-hundred sixty degree turn) without exceeding five degrees of bank (right wing lower then the left).

Requirements for the maneuver are to also maintain speed and altitude.  It is common for students to either climb or descend while concentrating on speed and bank.  This student failed the maneuver because his bank exceeded the requisite five degrees, and his altitude dropped fifty feet.

I hope this helped you.

Sincerely,
James Bell

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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James Bell

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I am a retired MSgt (2004) with 24 years experience in the aircrew career field, both as a loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1) and flight engineer (AFSC 1A1x1). I have been to every continent at one time or another, and regularly flew 300 to 500 hours a year. I have been involved in the operations in Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I can answer most questions you may have about enlisted Air Force life in general, assignments, benefits, and enlisted aircrew operations. NOTE: If you have specific recruiting and/or medical questions about how to get into this career field as a civilian, they have changed since my time, so that is best answered by a recruiter or MEPS. I can answer questions about military personnel wanting to RETRAIN. If you are asking about being an Air Force pilot, please be advised my area of expertise is ENLISTED aircrew operations, NOT OFFICERS.

Experience

Loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1): 7 years - 2,000 hours - C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Flight Engineer (AFSC 1A1x1C): 7 years - 2,500 hours - C-141B Starlifter cargo plane, 10 years - 3,800 hours - KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Served as aircrew Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator and Training Manager

Education/Credentials
Aircraft Loadmaster Initial Qualification - 1980. Mission Qualification (C-5A) - 1981. Fixed Wing Aircraft Performance Course - 1987. Initial Flight Engineer Qualification (C-141B) - 1987. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1988. KC-10 Initial Qualification Course - 1994. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1995. Instructor Qualficiation (KC-10A) - 1997. Evaluator Qualification (KC-10A) - 2000.

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