NIGHTFLITE

To load the program, start tape at beginning, enter LOAD "" on your Spectrum
then wait, the program loads in two parts - on completion the computer will
display a menu of options - switch off tape.



SCENARIO

You are the pilot of a light aircraft on a flight from an airfield at night,
with a runway running East-West (Heading 270). Select mode 6 - map. The runway
is shown along with the VOR (v), the NDB (n), and a range of hills which extend
the entire width of the screen up to an altitude of 1650 feet, with one small
valley to the west of the runway. The lower half of the screen shows a profile
view of the area (when you complete a run of your route will be shown in plan
and profile).

The airspace above this area is very congested, if you should climb above 2200
ft there is a high risk of collision.

Your initial posit ion depends upon the Mode selected, if nothing is selected
within 30 sees the program will run Mode 0 - Demo. After selection of Modes 1-4
you will be prompted to input the wind strength. Input wind strength desired
followed by enter. Wind direction is random.


MODE 0 - DEMO

This shows the last 2.5 miles of a successful approach (in this case flown on
auto pilot). The graphics are a view of the runway, some scattered lights and a
village at night, this comes into view at 2 miles. If you can see all of the
lights on both sides of the runway then you are in line with the runway. If you
cannot see both tides or can see nothing at all then you are not in line. After
landing the menu will return.


MODE 1 - FINAL

You are 9 miles from touchdown at 2000 ft. somewhere near the centre line
heading West (270). You must use the instruments available to find the runway
and land successfully.

INSTRUMENTS

A/H (Artificial Hoizon) - This shows the nose up/down pitch and angle of bank,
the horizon is represented by the white line behind the aircraft shape, i.e. if
the horizon line is below the aircraft then the nose is pitched up, if the
hosirzon slopes from high on the left to low on the right the aircraft's left
wing is below the horizon and in a left turn (and vice versa).

ILS (Instrument Landing System) - This instrument interprets two radio beams
sent out from the runway, one in line with the centreline (heading 270), the
second shows a safe glide slope. The bars on the instruments represent the
position of the radio beams relative to the aircraft i.e. if the vertical bar is
right of centre then you must fly 'right' to get to it, if the horizontal bar is
above the centre, then you are below the glide slope and so on. IMPORTANT - If
you are heading away from the airfield then the indicator appears reversed.

ASI (Air Speed Indicator) in MPH.

ALT (Altitude) in feet above the runway.

HOG (Heading) - In compass degrees e.g. 360 = North, 090 = East, 245 = South
West

VSI (Vertical Speed Indicator) - This shows rate of climb or descent in feet per
minute (minus figures are descent).

FUEL, reduces faster with higher RPM. Initial amount varies with Mode.

FLAP indicates up or down (DN) Max safe flap down speed = 85 MPH
(ASI reduces by 5 MPH when "DN" due to drag)

GEAR indicates up or down (DN) Max safe gear 'DN' speed - 90 MPH
(ASI reduces by 5 MPH when 'DN' due to drag)

N.B. It you exceed either max safe speeds or the max safe speed for the whole
aircraft (145 MPH) then you will crash.

DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) - Measures miles from the beginning of
the runway. N.B. As you pass the beginning of the runway the figures increase
again.

RPM (Engine Power) - Max 2500, MIN 800. N.B. If you run Out of fuel RPM will
reduce to 800.


To land successfully you must stall the aircraft onto the first 0.2 miles of the
runway (flap down i.e. less than 60 MPH). From a height of less than 10 ft, with
a descent rate of 300 ft per minute or less, wings level, gear down (you will
hear the tyres squeek on landing).

When an aircraft 'stalls' it can no longer fly. At any altitude above 10 feet
this will damage or crash the aircraft - an aircraft will stall when the ASI is
less than the stall speed (normally 70 MPH) - when you lower the flaps the stall
speed reduces to 60 MPH - this allows you to fly slower, safely. N.B. if you
are in a banked turn the stalling speed increases by 5 or 10 MPH (depending on
the angle of bank).


MODE 2 - Heading South East (130) roughly towards the NDB (E) level at 2000 ft

INSTRUMENTS - As per MODE 1 PLUS:

ADF E (Automatic Direction Finder) - This is an instrument which has a pointer
which points to the NDB (Non-Directional Beacon) (East in this case), which is
situated at four miles from the touchdown in line with the ILS centreline. The
needle points relative to the aircraft direction such that if hte aircraft is
pointing at the NDB the pointer points straight up e.g. if the pointer is left
of straight up, then turn left to home in on NDB.

When you pass over the NDB the pointer will swing around (Run Mode 5 A/Pilot
and observe the effect at 4 miles) having found your way to the NDB you now
have to turn in to "establish" on the ILS. The easiest way to do this is to fly
past the NDB on a south easterly heading for four or five cycles and then turn
left to the ILS. Navigational accuracy to the NDB is measured only on the first
pass (not as you pass it inbound on the ILS) Max 50%. You must judge your own
moment to commence descent (bearing in mind the glide slope and mountains).


MODE 3 - Heading North towards the VOR (VHP Omni-Oirectional Range)

INSTRUMENTS As Mode 2 except:

VOR - This is a different kind of radio beacon which produces beams radially
(like the spokes of a wheel). You have preselected the 360 radial. The
instrument shows the relative position of the beam in the same way as the ILS
centreline (inbound heading now 360). DME in this case shows distance to run to
the VOR.

ADFW - there is a second NDB situated at the same place as the VOR (W standing
for West) the pointer now points to it.

When you pass the VOR/NDB W make a right turn, select the ILS (by holding
down key 'I') which gives you NDB E and the ILS as in Mode 2, continue as per
Mode 2

Navigational accuracy is assessed on VOR and NDB E (Max 100%).


MODE 4 - TAKE OFF - On the runway with take off power selected

INSTRUMENTS As per Mode 3.

You must take off the climb to an altitude high enough to cross the hills. You
may either climb straight ahead to an altitude clear of the hills or you may
intercept the radial 360 from VOR (as already selected) which will take you
through the narrow valley to the west of the airfield. If you cllimb straight
ahead you may use the ADF W to home in on the VOR/NDB W, then continue as per
Mode 3


MODE 5 - AUTOPILOT - In this Mode the computer selects a position as per
Mode 1 - Finale, and will fly itself down the ILS and achieve a landing. Each
time the Autopilot makes a control change the computer will BEEP. If you wish
to take control of the computer approach then press 'T'.

In all player controlled Modes the keyboard is scanned just after the short BEEP
(cycle time about 2 secs) when taking control from Autopilot hold down 'T' until
you hear the input BEEP (shorter than Autopilot BEEP).



CONTROL KEYS EFFECT

7 Raises A/C nose Speed decreases, rate of descent
decreases (climb increases)
6 Lowers A/C nose Speed increases, rate of descent increases

J- Reduces engine rpm Speed decreases, rate of descent
increases (climb decreases)
K+ Increases engine rpm Speed increases, rate of descent
decreases (climb increases)
5 Bank left A/C will turn left, heading will decrease
and this will continue until opposite key
(8) is used which will bank A/C right
and level wings
8 Bank right A/C turns right, heading will increase etc

4 Adjusts heading by 1 to the left without
the need to bank

9 1 to the right

F Raises or lowers flap

G Raises or lowers gear

I Changes VOR display to ILS display a
ADF W to ADF E
T Take control from Autopilot



GLOSSARY Of AVIATION TERMS

A/H Artificial horizon

A/C Aircraft

AOF Automatic direction finder

ILS Instrument landing system

VNE Velocity never exceed

WND Wind given in compass degrees

HDG Heading in compass degrees

ALT Altitude in feet

VSI Vertical speed indicator

ASI Air speed indicator

NDB Non directional radio beacon

VOR VHF Omni directional range

R Radial