A. CAPTAIN'S PANEL Main page

Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation

Captain's Panel

  1. Icon - Kneeboard
    Use this icon to view checklists, performance tables and panel reference.
  2. Icon - Air Traffic Control
  3. Icon - Flight Map Toggle
  4. Icon - GPS Toggle
  5. Icon - Pitch Set
    Enables adjusting of pitch without switching to the Flight Engineer's Panel. Clicking the left icon half will decrease propeller RPM, while a click into right half increases it. Always reduce throttle before prop and increase prop before throttle. All four propellers are affected and each click corresponds to a 2% change. Propellers cannot be feathered or unfeathered using this icon, instead, use the Propeller Levers (58) on the Flight Engineer's Panel.
  6. Icon - Mixture Set Best
    Clicking this icon will optimize the fuel-air-mixture for the engines. Not used, if the Mixture Levers (59) on the Flight Engineer's Panel are in position AUTO RICH. For maximum realism, ensure that you have disabled the Auto-Mixture option in the FS2004 Aircraft-Realism menu.
  7. Icon - Yoke Toggle
  8. Icon - Toggle Flight Engineer's Panel
  9. Automatic Feathering System-Armed-Indicator Light
    Control lamp for switch (26) on the Flight Engineer's Panel.
  10. Vaccum Warning Lights
    Vacuum pump driven instruments, ie. the Directional Gyro (27) or the Attitude Indicator (28), are not working properly, if these lights are indicating low suction press.
  11. Radio Marker Beacon (OMI) Lights
    You can toggle the OMI marker sound with the MKR button of the DME Radio (34).
  12. Radio Altitude
    This instrument has three needles, two for the radar height (0-800 ft and 0-8000 ft.), and a third (red-white) needle for the decision height, which can be adjusted using the knob on the left side. Default decision height is 100 meters.
    The radio altimeter also has an indicator lamp showing three colors:

    RED: radio altitude < decision height
    GREEN: radio altitude < 1000 feet
    BLUE: radio altitude < 2000 feet

  13. OBS1 Course Selector (Magnetic Bearing Runway-Omni)
    Used in combination with the VOR1 Indicator (22) or the Instrument Approach Indicator. The red lamp indicates, that the localizer signal received by the NAV1 radio has no valid glide slope (this is the case, if there is no GS signal available at all, or if you are flying too much above or below the GS).
  14. Nav Lights ON/OFF
  15. Beacon Lights ON/OFF
    This switch also toggles the strobe lights (if available).
  16. Panel/Cabin Lights ON/OFF
  17. Landing Lights ON/OFF
  18. Whiskey Compass (magnetic heading)
  19. COMM1/COMM2 Radio
    Use the STK button to switch between COMM1 and COMM2. The TRM button indicates, if either COMM1 or COMM2 is transmiting. Frequency range is between 118.000 and 136.975 MHz, for example 118.025 is displayed as 118.02 and 118.375 as 118.37. With BTH pushed, both radios can receive, otherwise the transmitting radio is the only receiver.
  20. NAV1/ATC Radio
    Use the STK button of the COMM1/COMM2 Radio (19) to switch between NAV1 and the ATC (Transponder).
     
    NAV1 Radio (108.00-117.95 MHz): The IDT button toggles the NAV1 ident sound. After activating the GPS button, the OBS1 (13), VOR1 Indicator (22), Automatic Approach Warning Lights (23), Instrument Approach Indicator and the Auto Pilot (35) are driven by the GPS receiver (see (4)), and not by the NAV1 Radio (GPS drives NAV1). The OBS1 (13), VOR1 Indicator (22), Automatic Approach Warning Lights (23), Instrument Approach Indicator and DME1 (34)will not work, if the NAV1 Radio is turned off, or if no signal is received.
     
    ATC Radio: The transponder code identifies your plane on the radar screens of the air traffic control. If the VFR button is pushed, 1200 is used as transponder code, and no other code can be dialed in as long as this button is active. The TST button is used to check the displays of the ATC Radio.
  21. NAV2/ADF Radio
    Use the STK button of the COMM1/COMM2 Radio (19) to switch between NAV2 and the ADF receiver.
     
    NAV2 Radio (108.00-117.95 MHz): The IDT button toggles the NAV2 ident sound. The VOR2-needle of the RMI (29), VOR2 Indicator (33) and the DME2 (34) will not work, if the NAV2 Radio is turned off, or if no signal is received.
     
    ADF radio: The automatic direction finder receives NDB signals (100.0-1799.9 KHz). The IDT button toggles the NDB ident sound. The ADF-needle of the RMI (29) will not work, if the ADF Radio is turned off, or if no NDB signal is received.
  22. VOR1 Indicator (TACAN)
    Multi-function instrument with CDI (course deviation) needle, GSI (glide slope) needle, TO-FROM flags, OMI marker light and OBS1 course selector knob.
  23. Automatic Approach Warning Lights
    These lights are working similarly to the CDI-needle of the VOR1 Indicator (22): The left lamp illuminates, if the CDI-needle is pointing to the left, and the right lamp is on, if the CDI-needle is pointing to the right. The plane is exactly aligned to the runway, if both lights are on.
    The Approach Warning Lights will not work, if the NAV1 Radio is turned off, or if no localizer signal is received.
  24. Heading Course Display
  25. Flap Shut-Off Warning Light and Test Switch
    Flap overspeed warning, normally located on the co-pilot's side. Refer to V Airspeeds table. The test switch is used to check the bulb.
  26. Airspeed Indicator (IAS)
  27. Directional Gyro
    Plane heading degrees. From time to time, the left knob must be used to correct the gyro drift error (or hit D).
  28. Gyro Horizon (vacuum)
  29. Radio Magnetic Indicator
    RMI with ADF- and VOR2-needle. The needles will not work, if the corresponding radios are turned off.
  30. Altimeter
    Use the left knob to adjust the altimeter to the local barometer pressure (or hit B). Clicking into the barometer card window will display the exact value currently tuned in.
  31. Turn and Bank Indicator (electric)
  32. Rate of Climb Indicator (VSI)
  33. VOR2 Indicator
    A bit unusual for a VOR2 indicator, this instrument also has a glide slope indicator needle.
  34. DME Radio (NAV1/NAV2)
    When receiving a VOR/DME signal, the distance to the station is displayed in nautical miles. Use the knob, to select either N1 (NAV1) or N2 (NAV2). The MKR button toggles the OMI marker sound (see 11 and 22).
  35. Auto Pilot
    Early Constellations were fitted with a Sperry A-3 automatic pilot, maintaining directional and altitude control of the airplane.
    The auto pilot used here is of a more modern type and offers three displays to preselect heading course, altitude and rate of climb (V/S). Pushing the AP ENG button, the auto pilot master switch, will engage the auto pilot and also the ALT (altitude hold) and the HDG (heading hold) buttons, maintaining the plane's current heading and altitude.
    ALT button: Activates altitude hold using the preselected target altitude and V/S settings. It is possible to select a negative rate of climb with current altitude lower than target altitude and vice versa, a positive rate of climb is allowed, although the target altitude is lower than the current altitude. In these cases, the V/S setting has a higher priority, causing the aircraft to fly away from the target altitude.
    HDG button: Activates heading hold using the preselected heading course.
    NAV button: The plane follows the direction to the VOR station received by the NAV1 Radio (20) (nav hold). The auto pilot will not allow to select nav hold, if there is no nav signal available.
    APR button: Activates approach hold. A localizer signal must be received by the NAV1 Radio (20).
    If APR is pushed with activated altitude hold, ALT will remain active until a valid glide slope signal is received or altitude hold is turned off by hand.
    BC button: Activates backcourse hold. A localizer signal must be received by the NAV1 Radio (20). Pushing this button always activates approach hold, too.
    The Test button can be used to check the button lights.
  36. Parking Brake Light
    [FS: Click into the light to set or release the parking brake]
  37. Hydraulic Pressure Warning Light
    Normally four seperate lights located on the co-pilot's panel. Indicates low hydraulic pressure. The Connie has two hydraulic pressure circuits (1500 psi each) for flight control boosters, gear and wing flap operation.
  38. Manifold Pressure Indicator (dual)
    Same as (44) on the Flight Engineer's Panel.
  39. Tachometer (dual)
    Same as (43) on the Flight Engineer's Panel.
  40. Three-Axis Trim Indicator
    [FS: Click into the gauge for rudder trim, aileron trim and elevator (pitch) trim. Pitch trim can be zeroed by clicking into the green display.]
  41. Wing Flap Position Indicator
    Click into the gauge to set the flaps to the four positions 60% (Takeoff), 66% (Approach), 80% and 100% (Landing). See also (25).
    For flap speeds allowed refer to V Airspeeds table.
  42. Clock
  43. Gear Lever
    For Vle and Vlo refer to V Airspeeds table.
  44. Propeller Reverse Indicator Lights
    Warning for activated reverse pitch. See (47)
  45. Landing Gear Position Indicator Lights
  46. Gear In Transition Light
  47. Throttle Levers
    Always reduce throttle before prop and increase prop before throttle.
    [FS: Click the black levers to adjust the throttle. Each lever has its own mouse area, and on the left side of lever 1, there is a hot spot for moving all four throttles.]
     
    Propeller reverse can be used to slow down after landing. With this panel, reverse pitch is simulated using the brakes: After touchdown, a mouse-click into one of the throttle lever's red knobs (or a little bit above, if throttle levers are completely closed) will activate reverse thrust. Having done that, move throttle levers to the desired position and wait until your aircraft has slowed down. Normal reverse power is between 1500 and 2100 RPM. To deactivate reverse, reduce throttle to idle or click into the red knobs again. Then, you can use the brakes as usual (hit . for normal braking).
    Propellers cannot be reversed in flight. Since it is simulated using the brakes, you will see the red brake message bottom left on the screen, when reverse is engaged. With activated propeller reverse, always all four throttle levers will move together, even if you click only one of them. This is made for easy adjusting all engines without searching for the 'all together' mouse area first.
    The brake power depends on the position of the throttle levers and is adjusted no matter if the throttles are moved using the mouse, keyboard (F1-F4) or with a yoke/joystick throttle (28% brake power at 1500 RPM, which is approx. 14% throttle and 68% brake power at 2100 RPM (34% throttle), but maximum brake power is limited to 80%).
    If you don't like the red brake message to be displayed during prop reverse you can edit the file FS9.CFG and add the following line to the [SIM] section:
    show_brake_message=0
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