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Lukasz

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Posts posted by Lukasz

  1. Cessna Corvalis Question

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Thanks for the information.

    No problem :o I hope you've found the articles useful!

    What's the best way to reduce the CHT, please?  Who knows, maybe I have to actually be in the air flying around for the CHT to come down.  Gonna give it try.

    The best way to reduce CHT, in case of air cooled engine, is to put them against a strong airflow of (preferably) cool air. And the easiest way of doing that is to fly the plane :o So you're on a right track. But if they're too hot in-flight, than either it's a malfunction of some kind, or (more likely) you're pushing engine too hard. If that is the case, you have to reduce power or reduce climb angle to improve airflow.

    Another X-Plane specific thing is that you can have only adjustable cowling flaps - either manual or automatic. Fixed cowling, like found on Corvalis, isn't simulated. So planes like it usually have manual cowling set to default value of 75% and left alone. Still, you can accidentally manipulate cowling flaps, causing excessive engine warming or cooling.

    Back to mixture settings.  I've done some reading on mixture control, and it seems most of the articles are long and complicated while presenting very little useful information.

    Long and complicated usually means useful. Aviation isn't about flying - it's about getting to know how to fly safely and efficiently and only then about how to put this knowledge into practice :o You've come to a conclusion, that the articles you've read contain very little information. Maybe that's correct, but only after you've read them all, the pieces of puzzle begin to fall into places and suddenly the full picture emerges. You can't solve puzzle with only half of the pieces, right?

    i HAVE, however, taken away a few key points from my reading, i.e. at high power settings, the engine creates lots of heat and the mixture should be rich to cool the engine, but at low power settings, you can run lean of peak for fuel economy.

    That is correct. As a general rule of thumb, over 65%* of power you want mixture to be as rich as possible. At full takeoff power it's as much as 200-250F ROP (rich of peak). Below 65% of power it doesn't really matter, where you put the mixture, because it won't hurt the engine. The best place for LOP operations is between 50-80F, but in reality you could go as far as 200F LOP and the engine would still be running, though at so low power setting, that horizontal flight wouldn't be possible. And I'm speaking about real life here!

    * That's a value as described by Continental. Lycoming says 75%, but real life (and X-Plane) testing have shown, that 65% is better and more "safe".

    There are good reasons for that, backed up with data, but for a more thorough explanations I'll send you to the links I've provided. They are very friendly-written, engine management can't be described in a easier way.

    Oh yeah, and also that during descent, I may need to enrich the mixture since the air density goes up.

    Not necessary, as the engine is probably on low power setting. Besides, running rich at low power settings leads to fouling of sparkplugs inside cylinders. That's the reason behind excessive leaning while on the ground, during warming up and taxiing. Another technique is to run full power for 30 seconds once in every 15 minutes of low power - rich mixture flight. The best way is to enrich before final or as necessary (like engine running roughly), other than that leave the mixture alone on descends.

    But other than that, mixture controls are still a mystery.

    Only before reading about it ;)

    By the way, what's the purpose of adjusting the propeller control and manifold pressure?

    These are not simple questions, that can be adressed by a single post on forum. It's a part of pilot's education and training. The articles I've linked to, also cover this areas of plane/engine management.

    At a glance, throttle is a mean to reduce engine's power by restricting airflow into the cylinders. The less air - the less fuel can be burned - the less energy is freed - the less power produced. As a fact, engines are the most happy when they can run full rated power, providing there is enough cooling. From engineering point of view, running with partially open throttle is very similar to having fouled air filter. Which is obviously bad.

    Mixture in reality does the same. The leaner mixture - the less fuel introduced - the less fuel burned... you get the point. As a side effect, by setting mixture in accordance with outside air pressure, you can maintain desired fuel to air ratio, regardless of altitude (to a point, but you get the idea). Oh, by the way, a saying that you can lean only over 3000ft is a bullshit. You can and should lean on every altitude.

    So, what's the best way to operate an engine (that is capable of such "treatment")? You guessed right - full throttle and lean mixture for lower power. That's exactly what is written on last slide in Power Point presentation I've linked to. WOT-LOP-SOP-FTW! Or something like that ;)

    But what does mean, that engine is "capable"? It has to be equipped with two devices: balanced fuel injection nozzles and advanced engine monitor. Both aren't really needed in X-Plane, from software point of view, but it's mandatory to have them in real life to perform LOP and if you want to simulate it, then don't attempt LOP on planes that are carbureted** or doesn't have engine monitor with a separate display of CHT, EGT, OIL and so on for each of the cylinders.

    ** The carbureted engines aren't totally "busted" here, but explaining it in detail is beyond of the scope of this anyway too long post. Again, I'll refer to the articles of my guru, John Deakin (and other great column writers fom avweb).

    Ah, yes, the propeller. Fine pitch (blue lever forward) is for maximum power and noise. Coarse (blue lever midway) is for reasonable cruising (read - the best speed). Even more aft is for slow, but efficient cruising (read - max range). The more aft the lever is, the quieter the propeller. If you want to fly realistically, thne don't push the prop lever forward on final approach. Descend and approach with prop on cruise settings. Push it only in two cases: taxi out of the runway or go-around. The same goes for mixture. Leave it and push forward on go-around. The proper "escape sequence" is red forward, blue forward, black forward, hold level flight to pick up some speed (at least Vx or Vy or even more) and only then begin a climb out.

    Of course, there is a lot more to the three colourfull magic levers, but you know what to do in order to know more ;)

    "And now, we'll show you the proper movie" :D If you've endured through this post, then you deserve a prize for patience. Here you go:

    Only for Corvalis TT or similar, turbocharged, fuel injected, LOP capable plane! It's only a rough guide - consult POH! (and Corvalis happen to have one of the best if not the best manual in X-Plane world)

    These procedures would be more or less different for other types of planes, like carbureted or fixed prop or not LOP capable.

    flight leg = throttle = propeller = mixture

    warm up & taxi = idle = forward = as lean as possible without rough engine running

    take off = full forward = full forward = full forward

    climb = full forward = -100 RPM = full forward (adjust vertical and horizontal speed for best cooling, 150 KIAS would be good)

    cruise = full forward = 2400-2300 = LOP to 15GPH (fuel flow, gallons per hour)

    descend = leave prop alone, lower power to maintain safe speed with either throttle or mixture, watch CHT!

    approach & landing = as required = at cruise setting = at cruise setting (or as required)

    taxi to ramp = idle = forward = lean as much as possible

    shutdown = idle = forward = lean to cut-off

    That's how I fly, watch the engine instruments and airspeed :)

    post-1467-131369592079_thumb.png

  2. Cessna Corvalis Question

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    LOP operations are much more, than pure TIT control. If you want to know more about it, I recommend reading at least the following articles:

    http://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/182085-1.html

    http://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/182179-1.html

    http://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/182176-1.html

    http://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/182583-1.html

    http://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/183094-1.html

    http://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/pelicans_perch_84_mixture_cht_194816-1.html

    There is also another fantastically informative and interesting series fromthe same author, started with http://www.avweb.com/news/pelican/182102-1.html

    Also there is very good Power Point slideshow, true "LOP at a glance". 100% scientific data!

    http://www.eaa42.org/misc/gregs_show.ppt

    The best part is, most of this stuff works in X-Plane, especially well in Corvalis :o Now I'm gonna bug Goran for JPI engine monitor for Sundowner :o

  7. Beech T34c

    in Videos

    Posted

    Thanks guys. It helped!!! I noticed that the heading indicator isn't moving. I'm on a Mac Snow Leopard with 9.60RC2

    You mean the one directly under attitude indicator? It has to be turned ON in order to work. Look on the right console, there is a panel labelled --------AVIONICS-------- (with 4 switches and a yellow light). The right-most switch is clickable and it turns heading indicator ON/OFF. It's labelled RMI on top.

  8. X-pilot 3rd Fly In Lukla VNLK

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    But there are CSL libraries for helicopters :P I have three packages (among others): Heli_CSL, Heli_Civ_CSL and Heli_Mil_CSL, all downloaded from the .org. Each of the first two contain JetRanger, but with different ICAO codes (BH06 and proper B06, respectively).

    http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=108

    http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=5671

    http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=5672

    So, as long as you're not attempting to hover your B737 upside down, I won't say a word :D

  9. What did you fly today?

    in Screenshots

    Posted

    Night freight hauling around Hawaii. ATC asked three times "say aircraft type" :D In case any of you was wondering, 98% of these are clickable and actually perform some more or less critical duty during some or all phases of flight. Even air conditioning fans can be turned on.

    Yes, I know I'm not precisely over the centerline :D Flying manually 18 tons of aluminium, kerosene, hula skirts and surfing boards, at night in gusty and variable moderate winds isn't a walk in a park, you know :P At least I got the glideslope right!

    post-1467-131369591157_thumb.jpg

    post-1467-131369591182_thumb.jpg

  10. X-pilot 3rd Fly In Lukla VNLK

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I was thinking about the optimum fly-in start time, and I have come to the following conclusions:

    - We have participants from America, Europe and Australia and it's impossible to satisfy everyone at once. Someone has to wake up early and someone else has to stay awake well past sunset. 1200Z or 1300Z seems to be the most reasonable hour, though it's not the perfect.

    - Another idea is to poll (not again...  :P ) pilots as to what time would they prefer, according to their time zones, and set the hour that would suit the most people.

    - Yet another idea is to dedicate each fly-in to a specific group out of the three I've mentioned above. So in every three weeks, anyone could have one perfectly suited fly-in, one so-so and one absolutely out of ordinary  ;D

    See for yourselves, be like Chronos and command the time!

    http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunearth.html?iso=20101010T120000

    May I also suggest, that the next fly-in be dedicated to helicopters? You know, the short runway and else :D Anyone not familiar with eggbeaters, could use GA aircraft that cruise at around 100KIAS.

  11. Beech T34c

    in Videos

    Posted

    Real Mentor's POH calls for +4 (nose up) pitch trim and zero (neutral) trim for both ailerons and rudder at takeoff. You have to manually maintain direction of flight during takoff run and the first phase of climb. After you're high enough and have the situation more or less organised, you should trim for a climb. The plane has adjustable, in flight from cockpit, trim tabs on all three axis.

    Another tip is not to takeoff with full throttle. This is a turbine engine, which was derated from like 715hp to 425hp sea level, so for takeoff you have only 59% of "full" power available. Observe torque gauge and don't exceed the limits. This 59% is more than enough to take the bird into air even from short fields, at max gross. Real Mentor has a torque limiter, so the students doesn't have problems with excesive propeller forces at takeoff. Or engine disintegration due to over-whatever-limit :)

  12. Eyecandy or under the hood?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    When I've asked what people would like to have in their hangars, one of the bottom lines was a question, do you want a simulation or a game (a pseudo-simulation, if you like)? I hadn't assumed if X-Plane is to be regarded as a simulator, because that's one of the questions, I was asking here. The results are clear and actually very meaningful, so far. Take a note, that a simulation covers various aspects, so yes - various skills are needed and various areas of an aircraft have to be polished. Visible and invisible alike ;)

    In FS9 I had a bus. You know, just like the X-Plane cars. To carry passengers between terminal and planes, on the more archaic airports. The only problem was that, after accelerating enough, bus was getting airborne! Without any apparent wings nor rotors nor anything else. It flew quite good by the way, just like a Piper Cub. Does that prove that FS9 is a simulator or a game? Neither. The bus proves only that it's creator had a sense of humour :)

    I love the first sentence in your last paragraph :D"You have to at least start with "under the hood", otherwise we're not talking about a simulator." It's spilling honey on my soul, really :D I also like to see good looking planes, with cockpits simulating real ones, but at the same time I very much like planes flying like they should. Agreed, it's not a question of either/or - that's why I've provided the "pretty and accurate" option. The one, I've also voted for, by the way.

  13. X-pilot 3rd Fly In Lukla VNLK

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I've checked how things are going in Nepal at 1300Z and there was only one pilot at Lukla. It took me some time to find out by his callsign, that it was in fact Airace. Once I got online in Katmandu, Scubajuan was just taking off and heading east. He was so nice that he waited in holding while I was getting organised, warming up the engines and finally pushing Duchess to get to altitude :) We were flying direct to Lukla, with nice descend into the valley at the end of route.

    I've set up to rather good approach, flaps down, low and slow, in order to make the most of the short runway, without the ability to go-around. I had installed custom scenery, so there were no trees, alright. Now you can imagine my reaction, when just after touchdown the plane was booted into the sky in a milisecond and brutally trashed aside the runway. Darn the runway hump! So much for the custom scenery... Had I come to landing even a little bit faster, there would be hard crash for sure.

    While I was reloading the plane, Scubajuan got offline and Airace was flying back to Katmandu. I've joined him there and we have a short chat, after which he also left. So I took MU-2, filed a flightplan from Katmandu to Lhasa and took off. It was very nice and uneventful flight. No ATC, no other planes, no clouds, no turbulence, nothing. Only steady wind at altitude, but that wasn't any problem for double Garrett engines :D

    Once I got to my destination, I've set up for a VOR approach and proceeded to the runway. When I got to about 3 miles from it, X-Plane happily loaded whole jungle all over the place. Hmmm, let's just pretend it's a green shallow fog layer from nearby water bodies. But just as I was about to touchdown, I saw between the tree... I mean patches of fog, a step. Yup, it was there. A sudden and almost vertical rise in terrain, for the height of the whole plane or even slightly more.

    I've punched throttles, engines whined almost in pain and plane lazily jumped up, just enough to make something like a come-low carrier landing. Good I was carrying a little bit of extra speed on this one! I pulled the power back to idle and engaged reversers, to save on brakes. When the plane slowed down to about half of the approach speed, came another runway step, this time down... I wonder how the landing gear was able to withstand that slam into asphalt below? Good I was at low gross weight. One more minor jump and finally I was shutting down at a ramp.

    "Life is like an airfield in X-Plane - you'll never know what you get" :D

  15. Eyecandy or under the hood?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    True and valid observations ;) However, I wasn't making a difference between outside shell and 3D cockpit on purpose. This poll is about pretty art (in general) vs. accurate engineering and adding too much sub-options would more or less cloud the basic goal of the poll.

    It would be interesting to measure the ratio of attention divided between the quality of outer and inner modelling, but I'm sure you had enough polls lately  :D and also this topic was discussed on the forums, in one way or another. Besides such research also enters the territory of personal preferences. Helicopter pilots would vote for accurate 3D cockpits, while airliners captains could be as much, if not more, happy with detailed 2D panel, full of controls, popups and displays. Online and combat flyers would highly value 3D cockpit, that enables them spotting boogeys or traffic, while people enjoying solo flights would probably more care about outer model, to have some great screenshots and sightseeing from external view.

  16. X-pilot 3rd Fly In Lukla VNLK

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Now I'm confused. Summer and daylight saving times around the world give me a headache. May I suggest posting time in Zulu/GMT/UTC format, like in real aviation? This way we would have only one single hour to stick to and I'm sure that everyone could figure on their own, which timezone they're in and how much time offset to add or subtract.

    If not, there is an excellent timezone calculator:

    http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html?year=2007&month=2&day=11&hour=16&min=0&sec=0&p1=224&p2=176

  19. Eyecandy or under the hood?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    The "both option" is for people, who values eyecandy and flight modelling at the same level. Hadn't I place it, someone would be forced to choose one or another, when in fact he's not so much inclined in either side. It still is a valid trend marker, which indicates, that planes should be as good as possible in both areas, without sacrificing one for the other.

    The poll on the .org has one substantial flaw: it's type specific. No wonder that airliner got the most votes, when there are so few of them, especially well done airliners and the X-Plane market is dying for every one of them. I've asked about general quality trend, regardless of personal preferences as to the type of the aircraft.

  20. Online flying advice please!

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Ok, sorry for the confusion :D

    Join Vatsim through XSquawkbox plugin - that you have done.

    To join voice room, you have to:

    1) set sound options in XSquawkbox. You can find it within X-Plane's [plugins] menu.

    2) tune your COM1 radio to appropriate frequency. And that's it :D You join rooms by tuning the radio.

    http://www.xsquawkbox.net/xsb/faq

    How do I use voice-over-IP with XSquawkBox

    For VATSIM, configure your microphone and speakers using the Audio Setup dialog box. Voice features will work automatically as you tune your Com1 radio to controllers that are using voice.

  22. X-pilot 3rd Fly In Lukla VNLK

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    VATSIM stands for Virtual Air Traffic SIMulation. It's a kind of multiplayer platform that allows users to fly together. You can read everything you need to know on their website, especially in the following sections:

    What exactly is Vatsim:

    http://www.vatsim.net/about-vatsim/

    How to join:

    http://www.vatsim.net/about-vatsim/members/joinvatsim/

    What to do and how to do it after you've joined:

    http://www.vatsim.net/pilots/

    Rules and regulations, also lessons:

    http://www.vatsim.net/prc/

    It looks like a lot of reading, but if you're a fast reader and have previous knowledge of real world operations and ATC, you can get the hang of it in one day. The rest you'll learn as you do :D The fly-ins are basically for that, to introduce new Vatsim pilots (like myself) to the joy of online flying. We join on a remote and less used airfield and then try our best not to antagonise any of the controllers ;D

    The most important is to make an account and download XSquawkbox:

    http://www.xsquawkbox.net/

    The account is totally free and the XSquawkbox is a freeware X-Plane plugin needed to communicate with server your plane's position, as well as receiving positions of other pilots.

    Also I highly recommend downloading freeware software vRoute (Download Standard):

    http://www.vroute.net/content/view/79/52/

    It's a combination of community platform, server info, traffic radar and flight planner. I like it so much, that I'm going to buy the premium version.

  23. Plane design: stick to the book or freestyle a bit?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Recently I've read some interesting materials, as well as I had equally enlightening conversations with various individuals, more or less linked to aviation. The three polls I've started are direct results of these events and some thinking about it from my part. I'm really interested in these matters, so I ask for as much votes as possible :D Thanks in advance.

    This poll is not only about X-Plane. Think of the enchancements as adding carrier hook to F-16, JATOs to C172, G1000 avionics to Tiger Moth or steerable front wheel to Mentor, just to name some either minor or extreme "addons".

  24. Eyecandy or under the hood?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Recently I've read some interesting materials, as well as I had equally enlightening conversations with various individuals, more or less linked to aviation. The three polls I've started are direct results of these events and some thinking about it from my part. I'm really interested in these matters, so I ask for as much votes as possible :D Thanks in advance.

  25. Real flying vs. simming

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Recently I've read some interesting materials, as well as I had equally enlightening conversations with various individuals, more or less linked to aviation. The three polls I've started are direct results of these events and some thinking about it from my part. I'm really interested in these matters, so I ask for as much votes as possible :D Thanks in advance.

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