Using Trim, Spoilers, Flaps, Fuel Mixture etc

[Hussein Patwa]

Hello.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a tutorial or article about how to use the trim, spoilers, flaps, fuel mixture and all those other bits and pieces.  I've never really understood them and never use them, apart from the flaps and those only to slow down.

Cheers.

Hussein.

[Fozzer]

There is a whole library of technical information* contained within the Simulator....obtainable from the opening screen... ...!

It's all there waiting to be read...!

Cheers...!

Paul...Reluctant Librarian... ...!

* Try "The Learning Centre"......!

[beaky]

Hello.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a tutorial or article about how to use the trim, spoilers, flaps, fuel mixture and all those other bits and pieces.  I've never really understood them and never use them, apart from the flaps and those only to slow down.

Cheers.

Hussein.

Hard to say offhand where you'd find something like that other than an official training manual... the use of various things will vary somewhat, too, depending on what you're flying.  
I can only assume you've looked at the PP lessons, etc. in the FS Learning Center...? Maybe you did and it still is unclear. .. which wouldn't surprise me.
I should think about creating some sort of tute; I see this question a lot here. Not that I have time...
 I've got a sample for you, though:
 Flaps do create a lot of drag when deployed, and will slow you down, but they're not like air brakes or spoilers- they are used to increase the camber (curved cross-section) of the wing, which allows the plane to still generate a good amount of lift while flying more slowly than in cruise. In effect, the wings "morph" from a shape better suited for high-speed flying to one for slow flight, then back again as one taskes off and transitions to cruise  flight.
  To better understand that, watch a bird sometime, especially as it descends or lands.  The same principle is used by birds, albeit in a more complicated way.

[Hussein Patwa]

Hi.  Thanks for the explanation on flaps, I understand now.  As for info on trim, spoilers, fuel mixture etc, I did think about using the learning center, and would be happy to do that if there was nothing else online.  I find that whole welcome screen interface hard to use (much preferred the fs2002 colour scheme) as I'm partially sighted, and because it's graphical, my screen reader doesn't work well with it.  I know that sounds contradictary, as I fly the aircraft without problems, but my magnification engine works on the planes, whereas I prefer to use speech when reading large amounts of text to avoid eyestrain, which I get really quickly.

Hope that makes sense.  Also, I'm flying jets mostly, as that's my thrill.  The slower turboprops just don't do it for me.

Cheers.

Hussein.

[beaky]

Hi.  Thanks for the explanation on flaps, I understand now.  As for info on trim, spoilers, fuel mixture etc, I did think about using the learning center, and would be happy to do that if there was nothing else online.  I find that whole welcome screen interface hard to use (much preferred the fs2002 colour scheme) as I'm partially sighted, and because it's graphical, my screen reader doesn't work well with it.  I know that sounds contradictary, as I fly the aircraft without problems, but my magnification engine works on the planes, whereas I prefer to use speech when reading large amounts of text to avoid eyestrain, which I get really quickly.

Hope that makes sense.  Also, I'm flying jets mostly, as that's my thrill.  The slower turboprops just don't do it for me.

Cheers.

Hussein.

Aha... now I get it. You really need a video ,I think... or at least a tute that's more pictures than words.
Not sure what's available on video for FS, but there are tons of good RL-flying training videos out there... Sporty's Pilot Shop one firm I know about; check their web site- tons of training material on video.
I'm assuming, of course, that you have a way of viewing, say, a DVD, that works well for you...

[Hussein Patwa]

Yay also if there's a tut like the ILS landing ones which give instructions and tips on when to use the different features, how and why, that'd be good.  The ILS ones (just using them as an example) were the prefect mix of text and screenshots, and were perfectly accessible as they were documents (text or html) instead of being all wrapped up in inaccessible graphical interfaces.

Cheers.

Hussein.

[Nav]

Hussein - I'll keep it as short as I can!:-

TRIM - This control (especially elevator trim) is vital to good flying. At different heights, power settings etc. the aeroplane will tend to climb or descend, rather than flying level; you should use elevator trim to neutralise this tendency, so that the aeroplane flies level pretty well 'hands-off',without you having to hold the stick forward or back. The commonest situation is that as you add power, the nose tends to rise - use elevator trim 'down' to counteract this. You can also trim 'up' to hold the aircraft in a climb, 'down' to hold it in a descent.

The default key controls are 'Numpad 1' for 'up', Numpad 7 for 'down'. Much the better approach is assign joystick buttons to 'trim' (the best ones are probably buttons right under your thumb). To change assignments, on the top menu, click on Options/Controls/Assignments and scroll down to 'Elevator Trim'.

SPOILERS - very simple. The 'on-off' control is the '/' key. You almost never need the spoiler in flight (only if you get an 'Overspeed' warning) but it is useful for slowing down after landing. Just press '/' to apply. '/' again to cancel.

FLAPS - Usually 5 degrees for takeoff, retract as soon as you reach a good speed. 5 degrees also as you slow down to lower the gear on approach, then usually full flap for landing.  Varies between aeroplanes, though - best to call up the aircraft name on the Learning Centre Index and read the Flight Notes for whichever type you want to fly, for exact information on flap settings for various speeds.

FUEL MIXTURE - You'll be pleased to hear that this doesn't apply to jets!

For piston-engined aeroplanes it is necessary to lean the mixture above 3,000 feet; otherwise, as the air pressure decreases, the engine gets too much fuel and too little air (so it gives far too little power and uses far too much gas).

Strictly speaking you should lean the mixture so it gives maximum revs. and/or maximum CHT (Cylinder Head Temperature). But a cruder way that works all right is to lean the mixture until the engine coughs, and then enrich it a touch until it picks up again!

To lean the mixture, hold down 'Ctrl/Shift' and tap 'F2'. To enrich it, 'Ctrl/Shift' and tap 'F3'. Don't forget 'Ctrl/Shift/F4' for 'full rich' below 3,000 feet, especially prior to landing!  

[Hussein Patwa]

Thanks mate that was awesom.  I feel I understand these concepts completely.  Tonight I'm going to start a flight and work on my fuel usage,  at the moment I'm pretty much just using the autothrottles and not pacing the fuel useage.

Cheers.

[gryshnak]

TRIM - This control (especially elevator trim) is vital to good flying. At different heights, power settings etc. the aeroplane will tend to climb or descend, rather than flying level; you should use elevator trim to neutralise this tendency, so that the aeroplane flies level pretty well 'hands-off',without you having to hold the stick forward or back.

Okay, that reminded me of something I read once - I could put this in the Jokes forum but it really is appropriate here.

One day you are about to go flying in your Stearman biplane, when you are approached by the Queen of England!  She says she would like to go for a ride in your lovely old aeroplane, and of course you agree to take Her Maj up for a spin.  While you are airborne, she indicates that she wants you to perform a loop.  No problem, you dive to pick up a bit of speed then pull the stick back, and the Stearman rises up and over.  But at the top of the loop, you fly level for a moment to give Her Majesty a better view and she falls out!  She wasn't wearing her seat belt!  You watch in horror as she goes tumbling down, without a parachute.

What should be your immediate reaction?  What do you do before anything else?

(There are several responses depending on whether or not you're a Royalist, but this is supposed to be a pilot's question)

Gryshnak

[Hussein Patwa]

Um, push the stick forward and hope for the best?

I'm not a royalist, in fact I never have been.

[TacitBlue]

My immediate reaction isn't repeatable here. But after that I might either try to swoop down and catch her*, or just tell ATC what happened and land. Then I would prepare to be arrested.
*why not, it's a joke anyway right?

[gryshnak]

Although it's often told as a joke, the correct answer for a pilot is quite true...

You should retrim the aircraft for the new centre of gravity.

Gryshnak  ;D

[elite marksman]

Another way to control fuel usage is to follow the "First Church of Combustion"principals. It says that in order to get max effency is to lean the mixture until EGT is about 50*F lean of peak. By doing this you should get max HP per pound of fuel per hour.  Unfortunatly I don't know if this works in the sim.

[Fozzer]

Why do I get the impression that Hussein is leaping blindly in at the deep end with complex aircraft, and not spending weeks practicing in the Cessna 152 first!.... ...!

All the basics will be there, in the Trainer... ...!

Then, and only then, slowly progress through each aircraft type perfecting it as you go...!

This is what really happens at Flight School.

Start Small!

Cheers...!

Paul....spent many hundreds of Sim hours perfecting the Cessna 152 flight and instruments....including Radio navigation, and ILS landings, etc....before sitting in the left-hand seat in a '152 at my local airfield...worked wonders...!
It's cartainly not rocket science... ...!

[Hussein Patwa]

"Why do I get the impression that Hussein is leaping blindly in at the deep end with complex aircraft, and not spending weeks practicing in the Cessna 152 first!.... ...! "

Because that's exactly what I did! LOL! I only recently got really into the technical stuff, before I was quite happy twidling my AP numbers and letting GPS take me everywhere as long as the plane left and arrived at the right places.

But NOW...

I'm getting into the bit stuff, and will, in the new year, slowly work my way through the training lessons.  So you most likely will see me in my little cesna until I've got to grips with the stuff.

Cheers and thanks.