T-6A Training Flight

Intro
In this flight we will guide you through a flight from Corpus Christi NAS (KNGP) to
Randolph AFB (KRND) using GPS “Direct To” navigation to an Initial Fix (IF)
Once at the AF you will switch HSI modes and fly an ILS approach to landing
The total flight distance is ~ 160 air miles and will take < 1 hour to complete
During the flight you will learn trim the airplane in response to power & airspeed
changes and see how the Trim Aid Device (TAD) works
You will also practice slow flight referencing angle of attack (AOA) in preparation
for your approach
Before you start we suggest that you either print or arrange for electronic viewing
of the User Guide topic titled “AOA Gauge & Indexer”. You should have it
available for reference during your flight
Flight Setup
Start your flight at Corpus Christi NAS 31L with engines running. Fuel tanks
half fuel is more than enough to complete the flight with adequate reserves
Zoom your view in on the GPS unit and use the right knob to scroll to page
23/100. This is page 1 of 2 for KRND, You can see that the IF for Randolph
runway 15R is “WAXEL”
To enter the IF into the aircraft’s navigation system, press the right CRSR
button on the GPS radio face to pop up a G1000 Multi Function Display
On the right side of the G1000 press the Direct To (D with an arrow) key
Using the inner knob on the FMS rotary control, scroll down or click counter-
clock wise to move the cursor to the IDENT, FACILITY, CITY box
Using the inner knob on the FMS rotary control enter the letter “W” on the
highlighted “cursor” line
Click the outer knob on the FMS rotary control to move the cursor to the next
character, then use the inner knob to enter the second letter: “A”
Repeat to enter the remaining characters. You should see “WAXEL, US
SOUTH in the IDENT, FACILITY, CITY box
Press the ENT button on the G1000. The “ACTIVATE” selection is highlighted.
Press ENT again to activate the flight plan
Press the DCLTR button along the bottom of the G1000 to de-clutter the
display to your preference.
Close the G1000 window

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 T-6A Training Flight
Radio Management Unit (RMU)
Press the square key on the left edge of the RMU to select the NAV radio. A
box indicating it can be tuned surrounds the standby frequency
Tune the Randolph AFB VORTAC frequency 112.30 (NAV ID: INGP)
Press the diamond key on the right side of the RMU to "flip" the standby and
active frequencies
Scroll to page 24/100. This is page 2 of 2 for Randolph AFB. These are the
ILS frequencies for KRND
Tune the Randolph 15R ILS frequency
With the left knob on the GPS control unit, scroll back to the GPS HOME
page.
The GPS should show WAXEL at 136 nm
Using the left knob on the GPS control unit, scroll 1 page forward to AWAY.
Hide the stick by:
If R2c is OFF then press the default “Y” key OR clicking on the hot spot on
the stick column
If R2c is ON then toggle to 2D view
On the EFIS control panel, center console, below the standby instruments,
click on the NAV button 3 times. The HSI should display “GPS” along the left
side in blue with distance, ground speed, and time to go in the upper left corner
Adjust the HDG knob to the Desired Track (DTK) value shown in the upper
right corner of the HSI. The amber colored heading bug should align with the
blue GPS arrow.

Final prep and takeoff

Look at the trim indicators on the left forward console ("Trim Panel") and make
a mental note of the aileron and elevator trim settings needed for take off and
climb at full power
Turn Probes Anti-Ice switch ON (right forward console)
Release the parking brake T-handle and tap the B key or pump your brakes
Hold brakes and power with the PCL (Power Control Lever) until torque is
about 30% and wait for Propeller speed (Np) to reach 100%

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 T-6A Training Flight
Release the brakes and smoothly push the PCL forward. Once you are rolling
and have good airflow over the rudder click Nose Wheel Steering (NWS) OFF
(white thumb button at the base of the control stick)
Rotate at 80-85 knots
Raise gear and flaps before reaching 150 knots

Climb and Cruise

Turn to the blue Desired Track (DTK) heading shown at the top right of the
HSI. This should be 330 deg. Keep the blue GPS bearing pointer ==> aimed at
the white compass lubber mark and amber heading “bug”
Climb at 160-180 knots to 20,000 feet with an initial climb rate of about 3,000
fpm. Your climb rate will average about 3,000 fpm
Level off at 20,000 feet and reduce power to ~ 70% torque after reaching your
200 knots cruising airspeed
At 200 knots your aileron and elevator trim indicators should be right on the
green marks
Note: Inputs to the Trim Aid Device (TAD) are airspeed and engine torque. As
you change either of these parameters, the TAD changes rudder trim. Manual
yaw trim is available and should be used as needed.
You have some time to play with trim settings and changing power levels so
you can get a feel for the airplane. You will need to learn how to hold altitude,
heading and airspeed to stay on course without an autopilot because the T-6A
has no autopilot
Hold the GPS DTK heading
Keep your head up most of the time watching the horizon and its relationship
to the windshield rivets and AOA indexer. Scan you instruments periodically
Be patient and expect to make very small, gentle, almost imperceptible, but
frequent adjustments with the stick
Get to know the airplane a bit
Note: The distance, ground speed, and time to go are shown in the top left of the
HSI. The GPS panel AWAY page shows you en-route information including Miles
Per Pound of fuel, range, and Estimated Time Enroute
Note: In the next steps you will learn to fly to a target angle of attack at a safe
altitude. This will familiarize you with the skills you need for a smooth approach

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100 nm out from WAXEL, reduce PCL to ~ 20% torque and hold the airplane
at 20,000 ft. If you use the speed brake to slow down it will automatically retract
when you add full power to accelerate or climb
Slow the airplane to ~ 140 kts while maintaining 20,000 feet altitude. Adjust
pitch trim for hands free flight and maintain heading
Adjust power to fly with the AOA needle pointing to the white diamond at about
8.5 units
If the AOA needle is below the white diamond in level flight, then reduce
power without changing pitch attitude to bring the needle up to the mark
If the AOA needle is above the diamond in level flight then add power without
changing pitch attitude to bring the needle down to the mark
When you are ready lower the gear and flaps and reduce the PCL to
establish a -500 fpm decent rate. Hold the DTK heading, AOA on the green
mark and a lit ball in the AOA indexer.
Note: If the speed brake is still out it will retract automatically when you lower
the flaps.
While holding pitch attitude constant add and reduce power to see how it
affects your rate of descent. You will use this technique on final approach
When you are done studying retract the gear and flaps and climb back to
altitude at max PCL, level off at 20,000 feet and reestablish your 200 knots
cruise power and trim settings
Approaching Randolph AFB, you want to stay ~ 14 nm east of the base. This
means steering a few degrees right of the white VOR and blue GPS bearing
pointers which are practically over laying each other
Decent
As you get closer to the base the white VOR bearing pointer will start to split
from the blue GPS bearing pointer. This is where you want to start your descent
from 20,000 to 4,000 ft
Reduce power and establish a 4,000 ft fpm descent rate while maintaining
your 200 knot indicated airspeed
During the descent you will see the VOR bearing pointer track the Randolph
VORTAC as you pass east of the base. You want to be 14 nm away and
maintain that 14 nm distance in a gentle left turn toward WAXEL
Level off at 4,000 ft
Using the GPS control panel right knob scroll to page 23/100. Note the
runway diagram on the right side of the screen. Your runway is highlighted in

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white. You will be approaching from the north. The diagram is oriented top =
north
As you approach WAXEL change HSI modes
Hide the stick and click the NAV button twice. The HSI mode will show as a
green VOR along the left side of the display. The distance to Randolph AFB is
in the top left corner. Turn to follow the white VOR bearing pointer to Randolph.
On the RMU, press the DME Hold key “DMEH” so that you will have distance
information when you switch the NAV radio to the 15R ILS frequency.
On the RMU press the white diamond key along the right side of the RMU to
"flip" the runway 15R ILS frequency to active. Glide slope and localizer
information will appear on the ADI and glide slope will also display on the HSI
Approach and Landing Randolph 15R
Slow to < 150 knots before lowering gear and set flaps to TO (take off)
Adjust pitch trim so that only fingertip pressure is needed to maintain pitch
attitude and intercept the glide slope
Once on glide slope adjust power to slow the aircraft until the AOA needle
points to the green band and the AOA indexer ball illuminated, just like you
practiced at altitude
Locate the fixed area of your forward view out the windscreen; the area that
does not appear to move vertically as you approach the runway
Place that area over the touchdown bars located ~ 1,000 ft from the approach
end of the runway and ignore airspeed
Fly AOA only, adjusting power to keep the needle on the green mark and the
ball illuminated in the AOA indexer
Note: The military does not fly civilian style "power off glide to landing"
approaches. They fly "power on" approaches referencing AOA
Once you are on the runway allow the airplane to decelerate without braking
until you slow to < 80 knots
Engage NSW with white control stick button when below 60 knots
Taxi to parking and shut down

Steve De
David Austin