Simviation Forums

G'day guys,

I've been flying the heavy metal for a long time now and I wanted to get into the pistons again for some touring.

Is there are good site which explains flying the pistons - climb/cruise speeds and alts, when to pull all those mixture knobs, cowl flaps, etc?  I don't understand any of that!

I'd especially like to do more Baron and DC-3 flying if that helps!
Cheers
Stew

[quote]G'day guys,

I've been flying the heavy metal for a long time now and I wanted to get into the pistons again for some touring.

Is there are good site which explains flying the pistons - climb/cruise speeds and alts, when to pull all those mixture knobs, cowl flaps, etc?

What kind of control device(s) do you own?  At minimum you need a stick, rudder controls (pedals), and a throttle setup, preferably one with all three types of controls: throttle, feather, and mixture.

[quote]What kind of control device(s) do you own?

Good evening Stewy...

Here are a couple of Links that might help...

http://flighttraining.aopa.org/students ... ngine.html

http://www.dauntless-soft.com/PRODUCTS/ ... nifold.htm

Each aircraft will have it's own Operating Manual for engine type and that is what really should be used...

As all my Operating Manuals for the various aircraft I flew or owned are back in the library at the old homestead I did find this....scroll down for the chart....

http://www.dc3airways.com/technical/flying_fsx.htm

My apologies, Fozz. Just trying to cover the basics before issuing commands about "moving the blue handle whilst carefully adjusting the throttle and twiddling with the mixture."

It's just that most throttle-jockeys I have seen or heard of don't have the myriad of levers associated with prop flying.   Just kiddin.

As for what you need to know, it's all contained in the flight school in FS.  It's fairly comprehensive, since I showed up to my first day of flight school much more prepared than half of my classmates. If you've already mastered things such as handling of ATC (no-brainer in FS9 ), ground handling and navigation, the rest is up to getting a feel for the specific aircraft.  Smaller aircraft are less forgiving of small mistakes, so keep your eyes on a pattern when gauge-checking.  I'm fairly sure they cover that in the later portions of the instruction.  Best to remember that there are three fundamental parts of aviation: lift, drag, and is-that-jet-going-to-overtake-me-on-final?.

Good evening Stewy...

Here are a couple of Links that might help...

http://flighttraining.aopa.org/students ... ngine.html

http://www.dauntless-soft.com/PRODUCTS/ ... nifold.htm

Each aircraft will have it's own Operating Manuel for engine type and that is what really should be used...

As all my Operating Manuels for the various aircraft I flew or owned are back in the library at the old homestead I did find this....scroll down for the chart....

http://www.dc3airways.com/technical/flying_fsx.htm

Doug...

Thanks for all the help guys - really appreciate it!  Looks like I've got some reading to do!

"What does the blue knob do, in between the black knob and the red knob?"

Yes, that was exactly my question, Fozzer, thanks!

[quote]Thanks for all the help guys - really appreciate it!

Hi Paul...you caught me before I could get it fixed...

I usually proofread before hitting the button but what is very unusual is I made the same mistake twice with the same word...           

[quote]

Hi Paul...you caught me before I could get it fixed...

I usually proofread before hitting the button but what is very unusual is I made the same mistake twice with the same word...

No one has talked about one of the greatest sites for piston-heads ante-1958, I see.

http://www.calclassic.com/

...for the planes and...

http://calclassic.proboards.com/

...for a forum full of info.

Thanks for the plug. 

And after you learn the basics, there is a tutorial on flying the propliners more realistically:

http://www.calclassic.com/tutorials.htm

Part 1 - Flight Simulation Basics
Part 2A - En Route Phase (simulating historic infrastructure constraints)
Part 2B