B. FLIGHT ENGINEER'S PANEL Main page

Lockheed L-1049G Super Constellation

Flight Engineer's Panel

  1. Icon - Back to Captain's Panel
  2. Icon - Kneeboard
    Use this icon to view checklists, performance tables and panel reference.
  3. 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.
  4. Icon - Add Fuel Quantity
    Each mouse click will add a certain amount of fuel (about 25 % of the total fuel tank capacity)
  5. Icon - Mixture Set Best
    Clicking this icon will cause the Mixture Levers (59) to move slowly to the best position. See (6) on the Captain's Panel.
  6. Outside Air Temperature (OAT)
  7. Main Inverter Switch ON/OFF
    AC power supply for radios and other instruments.
    [FS: toggles avionics master switch]
  8. Voltmeter (main bus voltage)
  9. Amperemeter (generator amps)
  10. 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.]
  11. Batteries Switch ON/OFF
  12. Generator Warning Lights
    Control lamps for (10).
  13. Ignition Switches
    Normally located on the pilot's overhead panel. See (15) and (16).
  14. Spark Control Switch
    Setting this switch to RETARD turns off the automatic spark advance. For example, this must be done for engine start (for more details, see performance tables).
    [FS: Click to open the protection cover. Then, each click toggles the switch ON/OFF. The cover closes automatically after some time.]
  15. Engine Selector
    Selects the engine to be affected when using the Primer (17) or the Starter (18) switches. Also, the Ignition Light (16) always refers to the engine selected by this switch.
  16. Engine Start Ignition Light
    Only used during engine start: Indicates, that the Ignition Switch (13) of the engine selected by (15) is in a proper position. When engaging the Starter (18), hold it until the light goes out, signalling you that the engine is running.
  17. Primer
    This spring-loaded switch is used during engine start: Each push gives a shot of primer. It depends whether an engine is cold or hot, if the Primer is required or not. For more details see (18).
  18. Engine Starter
    Invokes the starter of the engine selected by (15). For a successful engine start, following the checklist is strongly recommended, otherwise the engine start cheat button (3) will become your best friend. But before this is going to be the case, here are some items for you to check if your engine doesn't start:
     
    a) Check if the Fuel Tank Selector Switch (51) selects a tank containing fuel (position ON should be ok if you have some fuel).
    b) Ignition Switch (13) of the engine should be in position BOTH.
    c) Batteries Switch (11) toggled ON and the Ignition Light (16) is illuminating.
    d) Spark Control Switch (14) is in position RETARD.
    e) Auxiliary Fuel Pump Switch (22) of the engine selected is in position HIGH or LOW.
    f) Throttle Lever (57) must not be completely closed (open it 6-8%).
    g) The required position of the Mixture Lever (59) and use of the Primer (17) depends on the engine to be started is hot or cold:
     
    Hot engine (oil temperature > 40°C):
    Primer (17) is optional (engine will start with or without prior use)
    It is very difficult, to start an engine with Mixture Lever (59) 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 (17) is required (at least one time)
    Mixture Lever (59) has position AUTO RICH.
  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 (45) 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. Carburetor Air Switch
    It has three positions OFF, COLD and HOT. Position HOT is spring-loaded to OFF. HOT actuates a rotary valve in the carburetor air intake scoop permitting hot air from behind the cylinders to enter the carburetor, while COLD supplies unheated air to the carburetor. Moving the switch to OFF is stopping the valve in any intermediate position (see also (21)).
    [FS: Moving the switch into HOT position, turns on carburetor heating, position COLD turns it off. With activated Cockpit-Quick-Tips, the carburetor air temperature is displayed, if the mouse arrow is positioned between this switch and the Carburetor Air Induction Switch (21) ]
  21. Carburetor Air Induction Switch
    Selects either ram air (from the front of the cowl) or alternate air for each carburetor. In position RAM (normal), ram air is passed directly into the carburetor, while ALTERNATE (used in icing conditions) is admitting sheltered air to the carburetor (see also (20)).
    [FS: no direct function]
  22. Auxiliary Fuel Pump Switches
    Toggles the auxiliary fuel pumps (electric). For engine start, the fuel pumps must be HIGH or LOW, during takeoff or in emergency situations, in position HIGH (for details, refer to the checklist).
    [FS: electrical fuel pumps are turned on with positions LOW or HIGH and turned off in position OFF]
  23. Propeller De-Icing ON/OFF
  24. Pitot Heating ON/OFF
    Don't forget to use this switch with low temperatures, otherwise your Airspeed Indicators (26) on the Captain's Panel and (50) may not work properly.
  25. Propeller Synchronizer ON/OFF
    The automatic propeller synchronization is used for cabin noise reduction in almost all stages of flight (turn off while taxiing when using the engines for steering). Related gauges: (46), (49).
  26. Automatic Feathering ON/OFF
    This switch has a control lamp (9) on the left side of the Captain's Panel. Must be ON for takeoff and landing.
  27. Altimeter
    Use the left knob to adjust the altimeter to the local barometric pressure (or hit B). See also (30) on the Captain's Panel.
  28. Rate of Climb Indicator (VSI)
  29. Gear Hydraulic Pressure Gauge
    The gear hydraulic circuit operates gear, flaps, wheel brakes and nosewheel steering. Normal pressure is 1500 psi (see also (37) on the Captain's Panel and (35)).
  30. Left Inboard Fuel Tanks
    See also Fuel Flow Indicators (39) and Fuel Tank Selector (51).
    [FS: Indicator needles for left main (1550 gal) and center 1 (1175 gal) tanks]
  31. Right Inboard Fuel Tanks
    See also Fuel Flow Indicators (39) and Fuel Tank Selector (51).
    [FS: Indicator needles for right main (1550 gal) and center 2 (1175 gal) tanks]
  32. Left Outboard Fuel Tanks
    See also Fuel Flow Indicators (39) and Fuel Tank Selector (51).
    [FS: Indicator needles for left aux (550 gal) and left tip (600 gal) tanks]
  33. Right Outboard Fuel Tanks
    See also Fuel Flow Indicators (39) and Fuel Tank Selector (51).
    [FS: Indicator needles for right aux (550 gal) and right tip (600 gal) tanks]
  34. Fuel Tank Warning Lights
    Low fuel warning lights. Each lamp corresponds to one of the fuel tank indicators (30), (31), (32) and (33).
    These lights are on, if a tank contains less than 10% of its total capacity (see Master Fuel Warning (47)).
  35. Gear Hydraulic Pressure Warning
    Control lamp for (29).
  36. Door Warning
    [FS: Each click into the light opens or closes the exit (or hit Shift-E).]
  37. 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.
  38. Vacuum Warning Lights
    Same as (10) on the Captain's Panel.
  39. 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 Fuel Tank Selector (51) and fuel tank indicators (30), (31), (32) and (33).
  40. Cylinder Head Temperature (dual)
    Use tables Engine Power Schedule and Engine Operating Limits for details on which CHT is allowed. The cowl flaps can be used to control the CHT (see (41)).
  41. Cowl Flap Indicator (dual)
    See (40).
    [FS: Click into the gauge to increase or decrease the position of the cowl flaps.]
  42. 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 (58)), will cause the BMEP to increase and vice-versa.
  43. Tachometer (dual)
    Showing engine shaft rpm (see (39) on the Captain's Panel) and (58).
  44. Manifold Pressure Indicator (dual)
    See also (38) on the Captain's Panel.
  45. Pneumatic De-Icer On Light
    Indicates that the pneumatic de-icer boots (19) are activated.
  46. Propeller Synchronizer Off Indicator
    Control lamp for (25).
  47. Fuel Master Warning Light
    Indicates, that the amount of fuel selected by (51) has reached a critical limit (less than 600 pounds (100 gals) selected by the left or the right fuel tank selector). When it starts blinking (less than 300 pounds selected), the remaining air-time is only a few minutes (see (34), (39) and (51)).
  48. Clock
  49. Propeller Synchronization Spinners
    Each of the three spinners (for engines 2, 3 and 4) compares the propeller rpm to engine 1: The spinner is rotating clockwise, if propeller rotation is faster than the propeller of engine 1, and anti-clockwise, if it is slower.
    Activating the automatic Propeller Synchronizer (25) should fade out spinner rotation within a short time.
  50. Airspeed Indicator (IAS)
  51. Fuel Tank Selector Switch
    The real Connie fuel system is very complex, consisting of up to ten fuel tanks, fuel tank selectors for each engine and several levers operating additional fuel valves, ie. for crossfeed.
    For use with this panel, the fuel system has been simplified to eight tanks ((30), (31), (32), (33)) and two fuel tank selectors (one for the left and one for the right engines), operated by a single fuel tank selector switch with following ten positions:
    Fuel Tank
    Selector Switch
    Left Tank
    Selector
    FS9
    pos.
    Right Tank
    Selector
    FS9
    pos.
    OFF Off 0 Off 0
    LEFT Left 2 Left 2
    CEN 1 Center 6 Center 6
    AUX LeftAux 4 RightAux 5
    MAIN Left 2 Right 3
    ON All 1 All 1
    CRSFD Right 3 Left 2
    TIP LeftTip 12 RightTip 11
    CEN 2 Center2 7 Center2 7
    RIGHT Right 3 Right 3

    Example: In position MAIN, the left selector is set to the FS9 fuel tank selector position 2 (Left), which means that the left engines are first consuming the fuel contained in the left tip tank, then the fuel in the left aux tank is used and finally, the left main tank is emptied. Similarly, the right selector's FS9 position is 3 (Right), causing the right engines to consume the right tip tank at first, then the right aux tank and finally the right main tank.
    With position ON, both fuel selectors are set to the FS9 position 1 (All), leading to following sequence: At first, all engines are using the fuel contained in both tip tanks, then the fuel in both auxiliary tanks, and then both (left and right) main tanks. Simultaneously, the center section tanks are emptied (center2 before center). Therefore, ON is the only position, affecting all tanks.
     
    Generally, to avoid structural damage, the outboard tanks should be emptied before the inboard tanks. When calculating the amount of fuel needed, ensure, that the maximum landing weight (113,000 lbs) will never be exceeded. When doing only a pattern, it is a good idea, to choose this value as takeoff weight, too (see Super G specifications). For example, empty left/right tip tanks, empty left/right aux tanks, half filled left/right main tanks and filled center/center2 tanks will produce a gross weight of 112,356 lbs. (with 15,600 lbs. payload).
    Fuel supply is guaranteed for the time, the fuel tank selector switch is operated (engines will not stall, if the switch is moved over an empty tank).
  52. Oil Temperature Indicator (dual)
  53. Oil Pressure Gauge (dual)
  54. Oil Pressure Warning Lights
    For details refer to the Engine Operating Limits table.
  55. Fuel Pressure Indicator (dual)
  56. Fuel Pressure Warning Lights
    For details refer to the Engine Operating Limits table.
  57. 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, between lever 2 and 3 is a hot spot for moving all four throttles and placing the mouse arrow between lever 1 and 2 or between 3 and 4, allows you to move either the left or the right throttle levers.]
  58. Propeller Levers
    Always reduce throttle before prop and increase prop before throttle. Refer to the Tachometer (43) when adjusting the pitch. See also (5) on the Captain's Panel
     
    Feathering:
    a) Set engine throttle lever (57) to idle
    b) Turn off the electrical fuel pump (22)
    c) Shutdown engine by moving the mixture lever (59) to position CUT OFF
    d) Set ignition switch (13) to position OFF
    e) Move propeller lever to position FEATHER. Propeller should stop spinning within a few seconds.
     
    [FS: Each lever has its own mouse area and between lever 2 and 3 is a hot spot for moving all four propeller levers.]
  59. 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 can be done by manually adjusting the mixture levers or automatically with position AUTO RICH.
    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 60%.
    LEAN: Fuel-air-mixture can be leaned manually, if the lever is moved towards LEAN (ie. used for high altitude cruise or engine start on airports with very high elevation, like La Paz (SLLP), Bolivia).
    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, mixture must be leaned above 10,000 ft. and should be set to AUTO RICH below 10,000 ft. (see checklist). The mixture settings given in Cruise Operating (1), and Cruise Operating (2) tables are for HIGH and LOW blowers (not available with this panel), and therefore may differ to this information.
    [FS: AUTO RICH can be used above 10,000 ft., too.]
    Before using this levers, ensure that you have disabled the Auto-Mixture option in the FS2004 Aircraft-Realism menu.
    For easy positioning of the levers, it is also recommended to activate the Cockpit-Quick-Infos in the FS2004 Options-Settings menu. This will give you additional information, every time the mouse arrow moves over a gauge.
    If the fuel-air-mixture is adjusted by hand (not position AUTO RICH), you can click the Mixture Set Best Icon (5), if you want to see the levers moving to the (currently) best position.
    [FS: Each lever has its own mouse area and between lever 2 and 3 is a hot spot for moving all four mixture levers.]
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