Handling Descent, Approach and Landing in conjuction with AFE

Discussion Hub Aircraft
1

Hello All
So, I can handle the whole take-off and cruise part in conjunction with AFE. I understand that it is important to go through all the AFE-stages from beginning to end.

Now, as for descent and approach - I have a bit of a problem. Let me explain:

I watched the tutorials about descent and approach and learned from Rob the F30/F40 etc. things.

Now, when I want to engage in descent, I am a bit confused about what AFE is doing. In my first try I started AFE descent. And later the in range part (though I do not understand when to engage that oneā€¦) plus later the before landing (also - when to engage exactly?

Anyway - besides not knowing when to engage what, the real problem is that I seem to loose partially control over some functions of the plane. Like, after engaging the AFE descent part, I was not able to engage the flapsā€¦

I also lost the ability to adjust trotttle - this and control over flaps (I think) I only regained after engaging AFE before landing procedure.

Can someone help me to better understand?

2

afe takes over some controls when it is on for certain stages.
just experiment more. it is a pdmgā€¦

3

at this point I am wondering if it is a good thing to use AFE if it is like a ā€œblack boxā€ where you do not know what is happening?

4

but you do know, it says what it does. and you can see switches moving.
i am not sure if there is anywhere a good account of what is behing handled by afe in every stage.
also , i think at their own forum you get more deeper answers.
also yes, try descending, landing without afe, did you read the manuals?

5

I read some parts - but itā€™s a lot - it was launched 2 days ago - not sure how I could have read through the hundreds of pages AND memorized it :wink:

but yea - I may have to go in deeper :wink:

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6

Hi Merlin, the plane can be a handful.

If it helps, the AFE basically follows a checklist according to the selection you make on the tablet. The steps are all outlined in the POH/Documentation, under the ā€˜recommended proceduresā€™ heading.
Iā€™m trying hard but I wonā€™t be memorizing all of them in just a few days either :slight_smile:

Happy flying.

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7

Thanks Farez! It just takes time - thatā€™s ok for me! :wink:

8

I flew the DC-6 in P3D. Still I read both manuals before doing the first tutorial flight.

Reading the manuals significantly saves time. Well, except you go to the forums and ask questions that are answered in the manuals. :wink:

Karl

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9

Thanks for your comment Karl. Iā€™m sure nobody ever asked any question that was explained in the manual.

Anyway - I was wondering: Can you point me to the place in the manual where it explain what ā€œin rangeā€ in terms of ā€œdistance from the airportā€ and ā€œbefore landingā€ in terms of distance exactly means?

Because Page 319 of the POH does not explain that.

Thank you very much for pointing me in the right direction so I do not have to bother the forum anymore :wink:

10

The way I do it

1- I select the before takeoffā€¦
2- let the afe do his thing
3- select dry (normal) or wet (more power)
4- when he says full power , I uncheck the AFE and do the takeoff myself
5- make sure you set 40 manifold and 24 rpm
6- I fly the &?$& plane. Lol
7- optional (select cruise, descent ā€¦.)
8- Enjoy it !!!

Maybe Iā€™m wrong but it seems like when afe is ON , some controls are locked ā€¦ (throttle , rpm , and so on) so when the checklist is done , make sure to uncheck the AFE to fly and control everything.

11

Aha - so AFE might lock out some controls! Thatā€™s interesting - andā€¦ maybe not what I would like to have :wink:

I think I will study the checklist and do descent approach and landing manually then.
thanks jeerouss - that was indeed interesting!

12

Sure there are many questions not answered in the manuals. But, as an example, one classic question that is answered in the manuals and shows up here a lot is why controls do not move: the gust lock. Or questions about failed take offs because of the throttle lock.

Anyway, I believe that manuals exist to be read and not to be ignored.

Karl

13

No worries.

Yes , technically , when you select one of the AFE option , the AFE literally takes control of the central unit , so any rpm , throttle , mixture are locked.

Beside the startup and before takeoff , the plane is handling like a regular GA aircraft , you can pretty much fly using only the rpm and the 4 throttles and the flaps the usual way.

In real life , that would probably be harmful to the engines to do so but itā€™s more than flyable and landable using normal flying technique.

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14

yes, and thsi is very realistic, the plane was flown by 3 people, and the pilot was not allowed to touch certain controls, aka throttle !!! just keep plodding on.

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15

Thank you Karl - I couldnā€™t agree more. Would you agree though that my question is not answered in the manual?

I ask because I see often this kind of response coming ā€œas a reflexā€ and not because the author knows that it is indeed explained in the manual.

This is a complex aircraft. I would expect ppl to ask a lot of question. Saying ā€œrtfā€ is often not that helpful I feel :wink:

1 Like
16

Thanks! I will try again. I remembered from Robā€™s video that one should not touch the throttles to control descent - much more use flaps. I donā€™t know if Rob was also using trim - I would assume - but I will try again and again until it works :slight_smile:

17

ā€œin rangeā€ is graphically shown on page 319. That might give you a sense for when to apply this checklist.

ā€œbefore landingā€ is not explained anywhere, but the exact same drawing will give you a clue when to start this checklist as it has to be done after ā€œin rangeā€ and before touch down.

Also the shown speeds in this drawing may help.

Karl

18

thanks - yes I saw page 319 - I was just not sure what that means in terms of distance to runway.
best
Merlin