SIM001 › Flying the VTOL › Flying a VTOL

Transition

The transition changes a hover into forward flight, and back. In the first one, the wing motors tilt forward while the plane speeds up, and the wing takes the weight. In the second one, the wing motors tilt up while the plane slows down, and the rotors take the weight. The plane keeps its height through both.

CRUISE changes a hover into forward flight

If the flight is hovering, press CRUISE. The wing motors tilt forward and the plane speeds up. The speed in the PFD is above 11 m/s, and the plane flies forward. The CRUISE button lights up. The height above home is at least 10 m.

Screenshot to come.

See it in Flying a VTOL.

How this is tested untested

Given the flight is hovering
When the operator switches to forward flight
Then the flight is cruising
  And the autopilot mode is CRUISE
  And the height above home is at least 10 m

Follows: the section's setup
Leads to: Disarming outside AUTO restarts the mission
Tested by: Flying a VTOL › Take off, fly forward, hover, land failed

QLOITER changes forward flight back into a hover

If the flight is cruising, press QLOITER. The plane slows down and the wing motors tilt up. The plane stays at one place in the air, and the speed in the PFD is near 0. The QLOITER button lights up. The height above home is at least 10 m.

Screenshot to come.

See it in Flying a VTOL.

How this is tested untested

Given the flight is cruising
When the operator switches to hover
Then the flight is hovering
  And the autopilot mode is QLOITER
  And the height above home is at least 10 m

Follows: the section's setup
Leads to: Disarming outside AUTO restarts the mission, A raised throttle stick lifts the plane, FBWA changes a hover into forward flight, The throttle stick lifts the plane on the serial line
Tested by: Flying a VTOL › Take off, fly forward, hover, land failed