C. FLIGHT ENGINEER'S PANEL Main page Back

Lockheed L-1649A Starliner

Flight Engineer's Panel

  1. Icon - Back to Captain's Panel.
  2. Icon - Auxiliary Control Stand
    Toggles the Auxiliary Control Stand and Fuel Pump Switches.
  3. Icon - Overhead Fuel Controls
    Show or hide the Overhead Fuel Controls.
  4. Icon - Upper FE Panel
    Toggles the Upper FE Panel.
  5. Icon - Lower FE Panel
    Show or hide the Lower FE Panel.
  6. Icon - Kneeboard
    Use this icon to view Checklist, Performance Tables, Pilot's Handling Notes, Specifications and Panel Reference.
  7. Icon - Chase View Toggle
  8. Icon - Engine Auto Start
    Rookie engine start. It's much more fun to start the engines using the Checklist. Apart from that, the engine auto start will not work on airports with high elevation, where the fuel-air-mixture must be leaned for a successful engine start.
  9. Icon - Supercharger and Mixture Set Best
    Same as (8) on the Captain's Panel. Each click causes the supercharger and mixture levers to be set to their momentarily best position, optimizing the fuel-air-mixture for the engines (for more details, see Supercharger Levers (57) and Mixture Levers (58)).
    If both mixture positions AUTO RICH or LEAN are possible, an AUTO RICH/HIGH BLOWER regime may be prefered, if the aircraft is climbing).
  10. Automatic Feathering Master Switch ON/OFF
    If aircraft is fitted with an automatic feathering system, (model 1049G and later), it may be activated for all four propellers by setting this switch to position ON.
    [FS: Switch is deactivated, if automatic feathering is not available (ie. models 049A, 749A).]
     
    The automatic feathering is working as follows: The propeller of an engine is feathered, if its BMEP value (see (40)) drops below 104psi for more than two seconds while the throttle lever is more than halfway open. The system disarms immediately after the first engine has been feathered.
    [FS: It may be re-armed for the remaining three engines by toggling the switch OFF and back ON.]
     
    The control lamp (46) (if available) on the Captain's Panel indicates, that the system is armed.
  11. Main Avionics Bus Inverter Switch ON/OFF
    AC power supply for radios, AP and other instruments.
    [FS: Toggles avionics master switch.]
  12. Voltmeter (avionics bus voltage)
    See (11).
  13. Amperemeter (generator amps)
  14. Generator Switches ON/OFF
    [FS: Click to open the protection cover. Then, each click toggles the switch ON/OFF. The cover closes automatically, but only with generator toggled on.]
  15. Batteries Switch ON/OFF
  16. Generator Warning Lights
    Control lamps for (14).
  17. Ignition Switches
    Normally located on the pilot's overhead panel.
  18. Pneumatic De-Icer On Light
    Indicates that the pneumatic de-icer boots (19) are activated.
  19. Pneumatic De-Icer Control
    Toggles the pneumatic rubber de-icing boots located at the leading edges of wings, tail fins and horizontal stabilizer. Contrary to electrically heated de-icer systems, the pneumatic de-icer boots are left off until a certain amount of ice has formed. Only then, they are turned on until all ice is broken off. The three positions of the switch are OFF, NORMAL and EXTENDED.
    [FS: structural de-icing is toggled on in positions NORMAL and EXTENDED]
     
    The Pneumatic De-Icer On Light (18) will remind you to turn off the de-icer boots after some time (if left on, ice will form over them, with an air gap for the boot to inflate into).
  20. Propeller De-Icing ON/OFF
  21. Pitot Heating ON/OFF
    Don't forget to use this switch with low temperatures, otherwise your Airspeed Indicators (24) on the Captain's Panel and (4) on the Upper FE Panel may not work properly.
  22. Panel/Cabin Lights ON/OFF
  23. Engine Starter Selector Warning
    Indicates, that the Engine Starter Selector Switch (26) is not in OFF position.
  24. Primer Button
    Only used during engine start: Each push gives a shot of primer. It depends whether an engine is cold or hot, if the Primer Button is required or not. For more details see (25).
  25. Engine Starter Switch
    Invokes the starter of the engine selected by (26). For a successful engine start, following the Checklist is strongly recommended, otherwise the engine start cheat button (8) will become your best friend. But before this is going to be the case, activate the Cockpit-Quick-Infos in the FS Options-Settings menu and use the quick-info of this switch as your engine start assistant: If engine does not start, you can read which of the settings are not correct and what you have to do next. Here is a list of all possible messages created by the start assistant:
     
    ! CHECK BUS VOLTAGE: There is not enough electrical power available to the starter, ie. the Batteries Switch (15) is not toggled ON, or batteries are low.
    ! REDUCE ALTITUDE: You are trying to restart an engine in flight, but the current altitude is too high for a successful start (normally it is not possible to start an engine above 13,000ft.).
    ! CHECK SPARK CONTROL: The Spark Control Switch (6) on the Lower FE Panel is not in position RETARD (this message won't occur on aircraft not fitted with automatic spark advance, ie. models 049A, 749A).
    ! CHECK FUEL CONTROL LEVERS: The engine to be started is not supplied with fuel, ie. it is connected to an empty tank or cut-off from any fuel (see Fuel Tank Selector Levers (59) and Auxiliary Control Stand). The message also is displayed, if the Emergency Shut-Off Lever (1) (see Overhead Fuel Controls) of the corresponding engine is closed.
    ! OPEN THROTTLE: The Throttle Lever (56) must not be completely closed (open it 6-8%).
    ! CHECK IGNITION: The Ignition Switch (17) of the engine is in position OFF. Set to BOTH.
    ! TOGGLE FUEL PUMP: The Auxiliary Fuel Pump Switch (1) on the Fuel Pump Switches Panel of the engine selected is turned off. For engine start, it must be LOW or HIGH.
    ! UNFEATHER PROP: The propeller is feathered. Pull the Feathering Button (8) on the Lower FE Panel, but before this is done, it is recommended to engage the starter for some seconds (see below).
    ! ROTATE PROP WITH STARTER: If this message occurs, the propeller is still in feathering state, although the Feathering Button has already been pulled out (Feathering Inhibit Flag=0). Do set the flag, do the following: Push the Feathering Button and engage Starter Switch for two or three seconds. Wait, until propeller blades have stopped, then pull Feathering Button for unfeathering.
    ! USE PRIMER: See below.
    ! CHECK MIXTURE POSITION: The required position of the Mixture Lever (58) and use of the Primer Button (24) depends on the engine to be started is hot or cold:
     
    Hot engine (oil temperature > 40°C):
    Primer Button (24) is optional (engine will start with or without prior use)
    It is very difficult, to start an engine with Mixture Lever (58) set to IDLE (as directed in the Checklist). For easier engine start, it is recommended to set lever between IDLE and LEAN.
     
    Cold engine (oil temperature < 40°C):
    Primer Button (24) is required (at least one time)
    Set Mixture Lever (58) to AUTO RICH position.
     
    Normal engines start procedure (typical):
     
    a. Batteries..............................ON
    b. Spark Control......................RETARD
    c. Engines Start Selector......SELECT ENGINE TO START
    d. Ignition Switch....................BOTH
    e. Throttle.................................NOT FULLY CLOSED
    f. Mixture...................................AUTO RICH
    g. Auxiliary Fuel Pump...........LOW
    h. Primer Switch.....................ONE SHOT
    i. Start Switch..........................ENGAGE AND HOLD
     
  26. Engine Start Selector Switch
    Selects the engine to be affected when using the Primer (24) or the Starter (25) switches.
  27. Carburetor Air Temerature Indicator
    See Carburetor Air Heating Switches (1) on the Lower FE Panel.
  28. Gear Hydraulic Pressure Gauge
    The gear hydraulic circuit operates gear, flaps, wheel brakes and nosewheel steering. Normal pressure is 1500 psi (see also (35) on the Captain's Panel and (33)).
  29. Left Outboard Fuel Tank Indicator
    This is Tank 1 (1344 gal) normally feeding the left outboard engine. See also (5), (6), (7) on the Upper FE Panel, Fuel Flow Indicators (37), Fuel Tank Selector Levers (59) and Auxiliary Control Stand.
    [FS: Tank 1 corresponds to External1 tank in the FS fuel menu. See also Overhead Fuel Controls.]
  30. Left Middle Fuel Tank Indicator (Tank 2)
    This is Tank 2 (1385 gal) normally feeding the left inboard engine. See also (5), (6), (7) on the Upper FE Panel, Fuel Flow Indicators (37), Fuel Tank Selector Levers (59) and Auxiliary Control Stand.
    [FS: Tank 2 corresponds to Left Main tank in the FS fuel menu. See also Overhead Fuel Controls.]
  31. Right Middle Fuel Tank Indicator
    This is Tank 3 (1385 gal) normally feeding the right inboard engine. See also (5), (6), (7) on the Upper FE Panel, Fuel Flow Indicators (37), Fuel Tank Selector Levers (59) and Auxiliary Control Stand.
    [FS: Tank 3 corresponds to Right Main tank in the FS fuel menu. See also Overhead Fuel Controls.]
  32. Right Outboard Fuel Tank Indicator
    This is Tank 4 (1344 gal) normally feeding the right outboard engine. See also (5), (6), (7) on the Upper FE Panel, Fuel Flow Indicators (37), Fuel Tank Selector Levers (59) and Auxiliary Control Stand.
    [FS: Tank 4 corresponds to External2 tank in the FS fuel menu. See also Overhead Fuel Controls.]
  33. Main Fuel Tank Warning Lights
    Low fuel warning lights. Each lamp corresponds to one of the main fuel tank indicators (29), (30), (31) and (32).
    The lights turn on, if the corresponding tank contains less than 80 gal of fuel. When starting to blink (less than 20 gal), the remaining air-time is only a few minutes.
  34. Gear Hydraulic Pressure Warning
    Control lamp for (28).
  35. Door Warning
    [FS: Each click into the light opens or closes the exit (or hit Shift-E).]
  36. Inclinometer
    Displays plane pitch degrees.
  37. Fuel Flow Indicator (dual)
    Engine fuel consumption is shown in pounds per hour. Divide this value by 6 to calculate the amount of fuel in gallons per hour.
    See also Auxiliary Control Stand and fuel tank indicators (29), (30), (31) and (32).
  38. Cylinder Head Temperature (dual)
    Switch (49) determines, which temperature is displayed (front CHT, rear CHT or temp cabin supercharger drive shaft bearings). Disconnect Cabin Superchargers (57), if temperature exeeds 150°C.
    The cowl flaps can be used to control the CHT (see (39) and (2) on the Lower FE Panel).
  39. Cowl Flap Indicator (dual)
    Use Cowl Flap Switches (2) on the Lower FE Panel to open or close the cowl flaps (see also (38) and (6) on the Captain's Panel).
  40. Brake Mean Effective Pressure Indicator (dual)
    Torque pressure is calculated using the formula:
      BMEP = (HP * 13000) / (L * RPM)
         L = displacement in liters
       RPM = shaft rpm
        HP = (T * RPM) / 5252
         T = torque(ft lbs)
      
    According to this, decreasing propeller RPM (see (55)), will cause the BMEP to increase and vice-versa.
  41. Tachometer (dual)
    Showing engine shaft rpm (see (37) on the Captain's Panel and (55), (56).
  42. Propeller Governor High and Low Position Indicator Lights
    Lights should illuminate, if propellers are either full increased or full decreased. See Propeller Master Lever (55) and Propeller Governor Switches (7) on the Lower FE Panel.
  43. Manifold Pressure Indicator (dual)
    See also (36) on the Captain's Panel.
  44. Fire Warning Light
    You better pray that you never will see this light blinking, signalling you that one of the engines has catched fire and will fail in a few seconds.
  45. Vacuum Warning Lights
    Same as (11) on the Captain's Panel.
  46. Clock
  47. Synchroscope
    Each of the three spinners (for engines #2, #3 and #4) compares the propeller rpm to the master engine (normally engine #1): The spinner is rotating clockwise, if propeller rotation is faster than the master propeller, and anti-clockwise, if it is slower.
    Activating the Synchronizer Button (4) on the Lower FE Panel should fade out spinner rotation within a short time (see (3), (7) on the Lower FE Panel and 48.
  48. Master Engine Propeller RPM Indicator
    Use Switch (3) on the Lower FE Panel to select either engine #1 or #2 as master engine for synchronization. See Propeller Governor Switches (7), Synchronizer Button (4) on the Lower FE Panel and (47).
  49. Temperature Selector Switch
    This switch has three positions, determing which temperature is displayed by the temperature indicators (38): POS 1: front CHT, POS 2: rear CHT and POS 3: temp cabin supercharger drive shaft bearings (see (57)).
    Cabin Superchargers (57) must be disconnected, if temperature exeeds 150°C.
    [FS: There is no difference between front and rear CHT, both positions are showing the same value, and POS 3 is a generic value dependent on the current engine cylinder head temperature.]
  50. Oil Temperature Indicator (dual)
  51. Oil Pressure Gauge (dual)
  52. Oil Pressure Warning Lights
  53. Fuel Pressure Indicator (dual)
  54. Fuel Pressure Warning Lights
  55. Propeller Master Lever
    This lever is setting the pitch for all four propellers, providing the full range between 0% (FULL DECREASED) and 100% (FULL INCREASED). Use Propeller Governor Switches (7) on the Lower FE Panel for individual propeller governor setting. Always reduce throttle before prop and increase prop before throttle. Refer to the Tachometer (41) when adjusting the pitch. Propellers cannot be feathered or unfeathered with this lever, instead, use the Feather Buttons (8) on the Lower FE Panel.
    [FS: The Propeller Master Lever works with a small amount of unpreciseness (±1,5%), allowing the automatic synchronizer to do its work (see (4) on the Lower FE Panel)]
     
    See also (7) on the Captain's Panel.
  56. Throttle Levers
    Always reduce throttle before prop and increase prop before throttle.
    [FS: There are several hot spots to operate the throttle levers: Each lever has its own mouse area and between lever 2 and 3 is a hot spot for moving all four throttles together.]
  57. Supercharger Levers
    The engine and cabin superchargers are controlled by these levers, having three positions labeled DISCONNECTED (up), LOW BLOWER (mid) and HIGH BLOWER (down).
    Levers 1 and 4 can be used to disconnect the cabin superchargers, see Temperature Indicators (38) and Selector Switch (49).
    [FS: Just use these levers to control the engine superchargers, cabin superchargers are not simulated with this panel.]
     
    When flying at higher altitudes, the Supercharger Levers and the Mixture Levers (58) must be set to the correct positions, otherwise the engines cannot deliver their best performance. For the required settings during various stages of flight refer to Performance Tables. Generally, LOW BLOWER is required with AUTO RICH above 7,500ft, with LEAN above 10,000ft. Use HIGH BLOWER with AUTO RICH above 10,000ft and with LEAN above 15,000ft.
    [FS: Note, that all altitude limits are not exact values, because the ambient barometer pressure is used for calculating the fuel-air-mixture ratio, it may differ more or less due to the outside weather conditions.]
     
    [FS: The Icons (9) or (8) on the Captain's Panel can be used to set the Supercharger Levers and the Mixture Levers (58) to the currently best positions.]
     
    [FS: Each lever has its own mouse area and between lever 2 and 3 is a hot spot for moving all supercharger levers together.]
  58. Mixture Levers
    Only with the correct fuel-air-mixture, an engine can deliver its best performance. During a climb or a descent, the fuel-air-mixture must be adjusted from time to time. This is done automatically, if the Mixture Levers are in position AUTO RICH or LEAN. Each Lever can be set to one of the following positions:
     
    FULL RICH: Can be used for engine start or takeoff on airports with low elevation.
     
    AUTO RICH: In that position, fuel-air-mixture is optimized for the current altitude and adjusted each time the aircraft climbs or descents. Used for engine start (cold engine) and most stages of flight (except high altitude cruise). AUTO RICH can be selected seperately for each mixture lever. To choose AUTO RICH for an engine, the corresponding lever must be set to a position between 50% and 95%.
     
    LEAN: Automatic leaning (ie. used for high altitude cruise or engine start on airports with very high elevation, like La Paz (SLLP), Bolivia). LEAN can be selected seperately for each mixture lever. To choose LEAN for an engine, the corresponding lever must be set to a position between 16% and 50%.
     
    IDLE: Mixture position for hot engine start (approx. 15% mixture). Never set lever below IDLE, because engine will not start. For easier engine start, it is recommended to position the mixture lever between IDLE and LEAN. Quickly move to position AUTO RICH, as soon as engine is running.
     
    CUT OFF: Move to this position for engine shutdown.
     
    Generally, the required mixture lever position depends on the current altitude and on the position of the Supercharger Levers (57):
    With AUTO RICH, use LOW BLOWER above 7,500ft and HIGH BLOWER above 10,000ft. With position LEAN, LOW BLOWER is required above 10,000ft, HIGH BLOWER above 15,000ft. Additionally, never fly LEAN below 5,000ft or AUTO RICH above 20,000ft. For more details, refer to Performance Tables.
    [FS: Note, that all altitude limits are not exact values, because the ambient barometer pressure is used for calculating the fuel-air-mixture ratio, it may differ more or less due to the outside weather conditions.]
     
    [FS: The Icons (9) or (8) on the Captain's Panel can be used to set the Supercharger Levers (57) and the Mixture Levers to the currently best positions.]
     
    [FS: Before using this levers, ensure that you have disabled the Auto-Mixture option in the FS Aircraft-Realism menu.
    Each lever has its own mouse area and between lever 2 and 3 is a hot spot for moving all four mixture levers. For easy positioning of the levers, it is also recommended to activate the Cockpit-Quick-Infos in the FS Options-Settings menu. This will give you additional information, every time the mouse arrow moves over a gauge.]
  59. Fuel Tank Selector Levers
    Lever 1 and 4 have two positions and are labeled OFF and OPEN, toggling the tank valves of the main tanks 1 and 4 (see (29) and (32)). In position OPEN, the corresponding engine always draws its fuel from that tank (which is its main tank), regardless of the position of the Fuel Cross-feed Levers (3) on the Auxiliary Control Stand.
    Lever 2 and 3 have three positions, OFF, POS. 2A, POS. 2 and OFF, POS. 3A, POS. 3. In positions POS. 2, POS. 3 (see (30), (31)) or POS. 2A, POS. 3A (see (5), (7) on the Upper FE Panel), the corresponding engine always is feeded by that tank, regardless of the position of the Fuel Cross-feed Levers.
    An engine is cut off from any fuel, if its Fuel Tank Lever and its Fuel Cross-feed Lever is CLOSED.
    [FS: By default, levers 1 and 4 are in position OPEN, lever 2 and 3 in position POS. 2, POS. 3]
     
    [FS: If the aircraft is not fitted with additional tanks 2A and 3A (models 049A, 649, 1649A), it is not possible to move the tank selector levers to the positions POS. 2A or POS. 3A. For more information about the fuel system see Auxiliary Control Stand.]
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