Starting the engines |
A step-by-step procedure: Pre-start check: Check that "low stop lever" is on "Ground" position and H.P.C levers are "off", and that neither prop is feathered. Also check that the prop brake is "off" and parking brake is set. Also ensure that the fuel trimmers have been set correctly. 1. Select the engine you are starting with the "engine select" switch. Normally No. 2 engine (starboard) is started first. 2. Switch Starter Master Switch to "start" 3. Push Starter push button. 4. Wait the starter motor to increase engine RPM to around 1200-1500 RPM, then move the H.P.C lever for that engine to "on". 5. After ignition, wait for the engine to reach approximately 4000 RPM, then move the H.P.C lever to H.SWL. 6. Keep your eye on the TGT gauge, and increase the fuel trim as necessary to keep the TGT below the red line. 7. Repeat the procedure for the other engine 8. After both engines are up and running set "Engine Select" to "off" and "Master Start" switch to "safe" You'll leave the H.P.C levers at the H.SWL position for the taxi and takeoff. After you've stabilized the climb, you can move them back to the "on" position for the cruise phase. Once you're preparing for the approach, you'll move them back to the H.SWL. The H.SWL is referred in the checklists as "lock out". Important Note: Engine autostart (cntrl+E) does not work! |
Taxi | Before taxiing check that the low stop lever is in "ground" position and activate W/M injection system (2 green lights). Disengage the parking brake, then slowly advance the power levers until engine rpm is around 12000 rpm (be careful not to autofeather your propellers!). Once the plane starts moving you can cut back the power levers to around 11700 rpm for a 14-17 kts taxi speed. |
Take-off |
There are two types: WET - utilizing Water Methanol boost, and DRY - without Water Methanol boost. Procedures usually call for a Wet takeoff when the takeoff weight exceeds 48,000 lbs or when operating out of runways less than 6000 ft long. It is possible to do DRY takeoffs if the runway is long enough (around 9000 ft.) even at high takeoff weights, however, this isn't recommended. Flap setting for a "wet" takeoff is 10 deg. Flap setting for a "dry" takeoff is 15 deg. During a wet takeoff, the engine speed is 15000 RPM with a TGT of 860° Centigrade. For a dry takeoff, you get 15000 RPM with a TGT of 820° Centigrade. Take note, your only indication of the power difference between a WET and DRY takeoff is the TGT. However, a WET takeoff will give you 3,060 SHP, while a DRY takeoff will give you 2,600 SHP. During a wet takeoff, Water Methanol is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber once the engine speed passes 14800 RPM. Fuel flow during takeoff is approximately 1600 lbs/hr/engine. Rotate speed is 105 knots for a MTOW takeoff, with a pitch angle of 8 degrees nose up. Initial climb rate is 1000 fpm. Once the gear and flaps are retracted, the water methanol system is turned off, and climb power is set at 14500 RPM with a TGT of around 790-800 °C, fuel flow around 1100-1200 lbs/engine. Pitch attitude is around 8 degrees with an initial climb rate of 1000 fpm. The YS-11 is somewhat underpowered with average climbe rate for MTOW around 500 fpm. |
Cruise |
Normal cruise altitudes are between 8000 and 20000 feet, with cruise power setting of 14200 rpm you get speeds ranging from 160 to 210 kts, engine temperatures should stay below 800°C with an average fuel flow of 1000 lb/h. Ideally, you should get 14200 RPM and 770°C TGT. You can use the fuel trim controls on the center pedestal to adjust the temperature together with throttle levers. During cruise the H.P.C levers are set to "on" position and all of the prop indicator lights should be off. |
Descent |
NORMAL DESCENT Engine speed is set at 11,000 rpm. Airspeed should be around 170 knots with a rate of descent between 1,200 to 1,400 ft/min. CRUISE DESCENT Engine speed set at 14,200 rpm. With a descent speed of 240 knots, the descent rate is between 1,200 to 1,700 ft/min. |
Landing | Joining the traffic pattern downwind, keep the speed around 140 knots and extend flaps to 10 deg. Turning base, extend the landing gear. When the landing gear indicator shows the gears fully extended, lower the flaps to 20 deg. and begin a gradual descent. Turn to final approach at approximately 600 ft above ground level and lower the flaps to 35 deg at 110 knots. When passing outer marker turn the W/M injection system back on (2 green lights) and H.P.C levers to "lock out". Set the fuel trimmers to the pre-calculated position by referring to the chart on the checklists. Slow to Vref (90-105 kts) over the runway threshold. Close the throttles fully just before touchdown (aircraft attitude is between 3 to 5 deg nose up) and when all the wheels are on the ground, pull the low stop lever to the GROUND (full aft) position. On crosswind landings, add a 5% increase in airspeed to the calculated Vref speed. |