BK117 helpful tips

Welcome to the BK117

Helpful hints which may be useful.

Go into Joystick & Equipment, and Keys and program in unused/less needed keys (I've used Q and W keys, as I don't use 2D panels, but any will do) for Starter 1 and Starter 2.  I know Nils has it set for Ctrl+1 and Ctrl+2, but the problem is that while you have the Ctrl key pressed, you cannot zoom in with either a joystick hat or X-Mouse Button Changer.

Windows users will find X-Mouse Button Changer helpful (it's free too). http://www.highrez.co.uk/downloads/XMouseButtonControl.htm. If you have a mouse with more buttons than the standard 3, they can be programmed to do whatever you want.  For instance, I have a 5-button mouse. I have the usual 3 buttons are programmed like this:

Left Button Left Click

Middle Button (wheel press) Ctrl+O  (toggles into/out of 3D cockpit)

Right Button Shift+2 (spot view)

Side Button 1 - (zoom out)

Side Button 2normal Click, + (zoom in)

This means that if I use Q/W to start engines, I can still use the mouse to move around and zoom in to look at gauges while starting engines. Ctrl+1/Ctrl+2 won't let you do that, and you need to be able to see the N1 gauge as well as to be able to grab the throttles while starting.

Also, program in something like F2 for "Engines/throttle up" - with that you can move both throttles together once the engines are started and at idle.

As per Nils' manual, Ctrl+Z & Ctrl+X should be set for 7/engine_l  and 7/engine_r    This means that you can balance the engines once started.

Startup list:

===============Cockpit check

Switches off, breakers in, power levers OFF

Power ON

Emergency Lighting ON, Power OFF, check emergency lights are ON,

Power back ON, check emergency lights are OFF

Bus-tie to NORM

Prime pumps ON, check caution, then OFF.

Xfer pumps ON, check caution then OFF

Test engine fire pump

Test MMI

Check fuel

Reset Master Warning

Test Annunciator panel

Check controls then LOCK

Fuel valves ON

Anti-collision light ON

Prime pumps ON

Starter button PRESS and HOLD

At white dot on N1 gauge move throttle to IDLE

Check TOT

At 2nd white dot release starter

-Repeat for second engine

Once started

Xfer pumps ON

Prime pumps OFF

Generators ON

Inverters ON

check hydraulics

Standby artificial horizon ON

Yaw sequence switch, press, test, press, segment light OFF

Comms/nav/transponder ON

AP computers ON

AP yaw source BOTH

AP remaining switches, as required

Bleed air heating CHECK

Pitot tubes ON

Engine overspeed Trip check

Un-guard

Engine to be checked keep at idle, other engine push to FLY

Select overspeed test switch of engine at idle and flip forward, Check N2 decrease.

-Repeat for other engine

Set HSI and altitude bugs

Pre-Take Off check, power levers to FLY

All Lights ON

UNLOCK CONTROLS

On liftoff, check N1/N2 are at 98-102%, Caution lights OFF

Engine and xmsn instruments, recheck

go fly