Starting the PT Tu154-B2 - me going nuts!

[Staiduk]

'Lo all!

I've got the PT Tu154-B2; and starting the thing is driving me bonkers.

I follow the tutorial carefully; made sure fsuipcwhatever is properly registered; etc. I get as far as pushing the startup button. A light is supposed to light up and the starter turn - no light; the starter whines for one second then cuts out.

If anyone has this plane; any tips?

And no; Ctl-E doesn't work.

[Staiduk]

OK - so I've managed to get as far now as getting the engines to start - but as soon as engine 1 starts and the copilot calls (in Russian) "Engine 1 at idle"; the fuel lever cuts off; killing the engine! rakkin frakkin....

[Ivan]

Short instructions. i excpect you can find the necessary panels

Engineer panel
1: Power mode to ground or APU. that one is near the voltmeters. 3 position switch. ground and battery(center) should give a bunch of lights on top of the engine gauges

2: Battery switch on if it isnt already

3: start APU, pump bleed air into starters

4: put all engine feed switches on, 3 switches on the lower left, should be all 'up', EGT gauges on (somewhere between the engine gauges)

5: Fuel system starting from below: all 4 with the lights on top should be up. the left and right ones at the top of the fuel system stuff should be up that's PACK2 and PACK3. that completes the minimal tanks stuff you need for starting, but its more useful to put all the automatics for the fuel system on. (4 switches below the tanks control)

6: With all fuel stuff on auto, start engines. open panel, all 2 position switches up, 3 position switch determines what engine you start. You need to press the start button for each engine, and watch the engine gauges. if you start with #1, the flight engineer will say something like 'une normalny' when you have a confirmed idle, continue with the rest (starter will work again when the light goes out on the starting panel)

7: put all switches on the top left in the up positon or you won't have flight controls

8: go back to cockpit, and put on all other equipment, and remember not to forget gyro calibration

[Staiduk]

Thanks Ivan; did all that.
I select engine 1 from the 3-pos. switch; push the starter, the engine begins spooling up and the condition lever promptly switches to cutoff. If I jump on it fast enough; I can use CTL-SHF-F4 to get it back to open in time. Engine starts like normal; then as the co calls 'At idle' the lever promptly cuts off again; killing the engine.
Very odd - and maddening.

[Ivan]

If you exactly follow the steps in the manual it will always start... i can do it already whitout looking in the manual

[Staiduk]

That's just it, Ivan; I am - and it's not. I'm following the checklist to the letter; there is nothing about the levers switching to 'off', so I'm wondering if there might not be something screwed with my version of FSUIPC (or whatever).
I'll try reinstalling that to see if that helps - but I'm stretching here.

[Ivan]

That should help... and remember to get the 9.5 update, that should fix the 'not starting when certain tanks are empty' problem

[Staiduk]

Update:
Hi Ivan; thanks again for the help - unfortunately it just isn't working.
I reinstalled FSUIPC; reinstalled the plane, got the update, etc. Still the same deal.
Worse; now the #&^*(%#!! engine switch cover won't open - right-clicking it brings up the window menu. Had to feel for the switches by memory.

Looks like there's something fundamentally incompatible between the plane and my computer. Too bad - I was looking forward to flying it.


Cheers!

[Ivan]

Right-click spot is near the hinge of the starter cover...

Im not at my pc at the moment but i'll try to make some screenies tomorrow

[Staiduk]

Thanks Ivan; I really appreciate your help.

This Tupolev has exactly what I've been craving in F$ since the beginning - accurate (or at least accurate-seeming) startup procedures. I can only hope that I'm missing something - either because of something I've missed in the instructions (unlikely at this stage) or something that the instructions might've missed. Not to mention the fantastic VC and overall excellence of the model. It'd be a shame if there's something that just doesn't go with my computer.

Cheers!

[Staiduk]

Ivan:

It's OK; I figured it out - finally.  ::)

I was doing exactly as it asked; but in the VC - many of the engine controls apparently don't translate from the VC to the 2D panel. I tried it on the 2D panel and she started right up.

Boy do I feel dumb.