Simviation Forums

Sorry if this has already been posted.

I checked out the Learning Center in FS2004 for help with mixture settings.  All it says is to keep the needle pointed towards the top, then to let back a little.  Thats a little vague for me.

Here is the gauge... Help! Where should the needle be?

I see three white markers, should it be in the center?  Does it change depending on the altitude?

Any feedback is helpful, thanks in advance.

I haven't seen an airplane in FS 2004 that the CHT or MAP changes much when adjusting mixture. According to the instructions on many aircraft these are what you are supposed to use. I've found that it's a whole lot easier to adjust the EGT to peak then off just a tad. This will usually give you the best performance.

In a real airplane you would want to be a lot more careful to do it exactly right because not doing so might damage an engine and depending on the airplane an engine rebuild costs around $10,000 to $40,000. In FS 2004 you can't damage the engine (except for some payware models) so just use the EGT for best performance.

Avgas is a liquid When supplied in sufficient amounts it burns but also cools (liquids cool). When we reduce the amount of liquid coolant (lean mixture) the temperature of the burnt fuel rises, when the temperture reaches its highest temp, we know the mixture cannot be reduced further. Because high temps cause problems, we increase the mixture slightly and watch the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) gauge show a reduction in temp (more liquid cools). In C172-182, or Mooney, the ideal reduction is approximatley 100 degrees. The mixture is now set correctly for that altitude and power setting.

bill

Im glad someone posted this, I was wondering the same thing. Ive ordered a CH yoke, with mixture and prop levers, and it should be here any day now. I plan to use all of the levers for more realism. My question now is, what is the blue prop lever for? If it is for prop RPM, wouldnt you want it at the highest possible RPM all the time?

Yes, the blue lever is prop control Its purpose is analogous tp 'overdrive' in an automobile. No, one does not want it at maximum speed all the time -- only during takeoff.

A constant speed prop could be referred to to as a variable-pitch prop because that's what it is. There's a good description of what it is and how it works HERE.

Maximum RPM is referred to as 'fine setting' which means the prop blade angles are not set too steep and thus are able keep their r.p.m. s up.

Once climb speed and attitude is achieved, the power and prop are 'pulled back'. Power is pulled back first in realworld but in sim planes it doesn't matter.

Prop/Power settings for various flight configurations are to be found in the Operator's Manual or in kneeboard Reference file in MSFS.

bill
P.S. Using CTRL+F1 will set the prop to maximum-range (course) pitch setting

Im glad someone posted this, I was wondering the same thing. Ive ordered a CH yoke, with mixture and prop levers, and it should be here any day now. I plan to use all of the levers for more realism. My question now is, what is the blue prop lever for? If it is for prop RPM, wouldnt you want it at the highest possible RPM all the time?

Car drivers would think high RPM's are always desirable

[quote]I'm SO tempted to fly my school's Seneca, turboprops are really the bomb compared to the Diamond's I fly

Sorry for the offtopic =/
Chomp; I'm gonna get my IR and night certificates first, before moving up...also need a "class rating" (that's what we call it) for the Piper Warrior. But that will just take a few hours according to my instructor.

But after that, I may do it, depends on how my financial situation is  :)

thanks for the replies guys, and the link. Just found out that my yoke will be here tomarrow. Cant wait!

Best explaination for prop pitch I've heard is that it's like a gear shift. High RPMs aren't desireable when the car is in first gear. Same with an airplane. You want power going up hill (climbing) but once on the level you want to be in a high gear (cruise).

..Aw..what the heck..you could have Automatic Mixture checked and then forget it....commoner

Diamond full auto diesel twin? with one lever for everything? That one is more like a jet with fast throttle response

Just got my yoke, its great!! the mixture and prop settings are easy once you get used to it.

There's a nice tutorial on flying a "complex" twin engine, the Beech Baron in the FS9 tutorials. It also tells how to adjust prop and throttle("always prop before throt" he says) as well as using the prop adjustment to facillitate short and steep landings when the odd runway is steep or short and/or in some odd mountainous ravine.

Thanks for the replies, now its time to find out about fuel injection (fuel pumps) and how that might affect all this.

You might see a new thread soon... depending on if I grasp it or not with what FS9 help files tell me.