GDMUBI15-1G
Version 0030
16
5.3.3
Flight Techniques
Taxiing:
Avoid turning sharply as this generates large amounts of torque and hence wear,
transmitted to the pylon, hang point and keel. Always try to keep the wing aligned with
the trike when turning by bracing the control bar. Turning circle is very small, but
beware – wing tips and tip fins stick out and can move around their arc very fast!
Take-off and landing techniques:
Take-off is conventional. Keep the aircraft straight using the nose wheel steering. Allow
the bar to float in the neutral position in pitch and keep the wings level. Let the control
bar move forwards to obtain takeoff rotation. As the aircraft rotates, allow the control bar
to move back smoothly and allow airspeed to build.
If taking off in calm conditions or from a soft field or from a field with long grass, the
minimum take-off roll distance is reached by increasing rpm to full power with brake,
then releasing the brake and pushing the control bar fully forward. The control bar should
be brought backwards immediately once the wheels are in the air to obtain a climbing
speed ranging from 75 km/h to 80 km/h (47 mph to 50 mph) according to the load. If a
performance take-off is not required then once the aircraft has rotated allow the bar to
move back smoothly, adopt a shallow climb attitude and allow the airspeed to build to a
safer low-level climbing speed of around 85 km/h (53 mph).
The landing is conventional. Maintain the approach speed until 8-10 foot height, then
flare out to make a smooth touchdown. Braking may be used once all wheels are on the
ground. A short landing requires a slow approach speed ranging from 75 km/h to 80 km/h
(47 mph to 50 mph). Raise the nose a few meters from the ground, in order to touch down
at stalling speed. Brake and pull the control bar to the maximum in order to obtain more
aerodynamic braking once the rear wheels have touched ground. If conditions are gusty or
a strong wind gradient is suspected, use a higher approach speed value.
Turning:
The BioniX wing is very well-balanced in the turn and is capable of high rates of roll with
modest control forces. Roll rate is proportional to both airspeed and wing loading. Fastest
roll rates will be achieved at light weights and high airspeed. Conversely when flying at
high weight and low speed, maneuverability is reduced. Ensure that the runway is long
enough for take-off and that no sudden maneuvering is required to avoid obstacles early
in the climb, when speed may be low. Proper usage of the CORSET system allows to
reduce in large part the variation in roll rate as a function of speed, variation inherent in
flexwings (see 5.3.2).
Turns at bank angles up to 60 degrees are permitted. To balance the turn at this bank
angle, forward bar movement is necessary to generate the required lift for level flight and
increased power is required to overcome drag and maintain airspeed. Under these
conditions substantial wake turbulence is produced. For turns of over 45 degrees of bank
it is recommended that a heading change of no greater than 270 degrees is used, in order
to avoid entry into the wake turbulence and a possible excursion outside the permitted
flight envelope. The BioniX has neutral spiral stability at high cruise speed and thus will
remain balanced in a turn without any roll control pressure required. With a high loading
