Using the VCR Controls

The playback controls in the Flight Analysis dialog box act like the controls on a VCR. Use them to play, rewind, fast forward, or stop the flight analysis playback.

Using the Playback Slider

Use the playback slider to move to a particular point in the flight analysis. You can drag the slider quickly and move across a large area, or move the slider slowly to view a second-by-second analysis. Dragging the playback slider affects playback on the map as well as in the vertical analysis graph.

To move rapidly through the flight analysis Drag the playback slider.

Using the Flight Analysis Map

The flight analysis map displays the horizontal path of your flight. When you animate the flight analysis, the airplane on the map will move along the path you flew, trailing a red line. You can use this feature to evaluate how precise your path was. For example, you can observe how well you flew a traffic pattern at an airport or how well you flew an instrument approach.

You can zoom in or out on the map, and, if the map looks too cluttered, you can choose not to display airspace lines or other elements.

To view a larger or smaller area of the map Click the Plus or Minus buttons above the map to zoom in or out.

To turn a map element on or off Click the element's corresponding icon above the map.

To see the horizontal path of the flight Click an arrow (for example, the Play button) on the VCR-style controls and observe the small airplane on the map. - or - Drag the playback slider and observe the small airplane on the map.

Using the Dynamic Text Boxes

Text boxes along the left side of the map display your aircraft's current latitude, longitude, altitude, heading, and airspeed. When you animate the flight analysis, the values in these text boxes update as the flight progresses—a valuable tool for analyzing how well you held heading, altitude, or airspeed. (You cannot type new values in the dynamic text boxes when using the map in Flight Analysis.)

To see dynamic text box values Click an arrow on the VCR-style controls and observe the values in the dynamic text boxes. - or - Drag the playback slider and observe the values in the dynamic text boxes.

Using the Vertical Analysis Graph

The vertical analysis graph displays your vertical path along the flight. The left side of the graph is marked off in altitude. The bottom of the graph is marked off in distance. The graph helps you evaluate how well you held altitude, or how precisely you ascended or descended. You can also zoom in or out on the graph.

To see the vertical path of the flight Click an arrow on the VCR-style controls and observe the graph. - or - Drag the playback slider and observe the graph.

To view a larger or smaller portion of the graph Click the Plus or Minus buttons above the graph to zoom in or out.

Using the Playback Timer

Use the Playback Timer to play back parts of the flight, or to skip to a particular part of the flight. You will also see the Playback Timer values change during VCR playback or if you drag the playback slider.

To use the Playback Timer Click on the hours, minutes, or seconds. Click the spin box to adjust the time.

Using Time Compression

Use time compression to slow down or speed up the playback of the flight analysis from 0.025 times (or 1/40th) normal speed to 128 times normal speed.

To adjust Time Compression Select a speed from the Time Compression box.