Flying the Arrow

Go to Main Menu → Free Flight.

Flight Plan

Route flight plan through EFB → Flight Planner.

Enter route string:

EGHA — SAM (113.35) — GWC (114.75) — SHM (332.0) — EGKA

Click Save.

Send to ATC and Avionics.

Start Flight.

Pre-Flight

Enter cockpit (press Shift-C to take control of character).

Use the EFB to configure the aircraft in a ‘cold and dark’ state.

Getting Started

Check Doors

• Cabin Doors
• Baggage Doors
• Oil Door

Pre-Flight Inspections

Hide yoke to enable easier access to controls.

Check the following:

• Magneto → OFF
• Landing Gear → DOWN
• Parking Brake → ON
• Avionics → OFF
• Mixture → IDLE CUT-OFF

Turn on battery.

• Battery Master → ON
• Fuel → check Left and Right quantity gauges (36 gallons per tank).
• Landing Gear Lights → ILLUMINATED (check/confirm)

Switch on lights.

• Navigation → ON
• Rotating Beacon → ON
• Anti-Collision (Strobe) → ON
• Landing Lights → ON

Switch to the exterior (spot) view and confirm that all of the lights are illuminated before returning to the cockpit and switching them all OFF.

Confirm the following:

• Annunciator Lights → ILLUMINATED
• Low Voltage Light → ILLUMINATED

Switch off battery master.

• Battery Master → OFF

Check that you have full and free movement of the following:

• Flying controls
• Flaps extend and retract fully
• Move the elevator and rudder trims to centre/neutral position.

Switch to external view and carry out visual inspection of the aircraft.

• Wheel chocks → VISIBLE
• Tie downs → VISIBLE
• Towbar → NOT CONNECTED/VISIBLE (confirm)

Use the EFB to recharge the battery in case it has discharged and check the oil quantity.

• Battery → CHECK / RECHARGE IF NEEDED
• Oil Quantity → CHECK / REFILL OIL (if less than 8 quarts)

Starting the engine

Use the EFB tablet.

• Chocks → REMOVE
• Tie downs → REMOVE

Note: To avoid draining the battery, start the engine before configuring the avionics for departure.

• Baggage door → CLOSE
• Passenger door → CLOSE (pull, shut, rotate to latch position)
• Parking brake → SET
• Circuit Breakers → PUSHED IN

On the left sidewall.

• Fuel selector → rotate to LEFT position

On the throttle quadrant.

• Propeller → move to FULL FORWARD position
• Throttle → advance to approximately 1/4 OPEN

Confirm the following:

• Alternate Air → CLOSE
• Avionics → OFF

Turn on battery.

• Battery Master → ON

Turn on lights to warn anyone in the area that we are about to start the engine.

• Navigation → ON
• Rotating Beacon Lights → ON

Switch on fuel pump.

• Fuel pump → ON
• Mixture → FULL RICH until fuel flow is displayed, after approximately three (3) seconds
• Mixture → IDLE CUTOFF

Check the surrounding area if clear of obstructions.

• Magneto/Start Selector → rotate to the START (fully clockwise) position.
• Mixture → FULL RICH
• Magneto → RELEASE

Check the following:

• Oil Pressure → RISIING
• Oil Temperature → RISING

Switch on alternator.

• Alternator → ON
• Anunciator → EXTINGUISHED

Adjust throttle.

• Throttle → maintain 1,400 to 1,500 RPM
• Vacuum Gauge → shows suction within given limits.

With the engine running and the alternator charging the battery, we can now switch on the avionics.

Use GTN 750 (PMS50) if installed.

• Autopilot → OFF

Check that the engine operates correctly on both tanks before selecting the fullest tank.

• Fuel Selector → switch to RIGHT and then the LEFT position

Configuring the avionics

For the initial climb.

• Heading Bug → 80 degrees (maintain runway heading)
• VOR → tune Southhampton 113.35 (NAV 1)
• VOR → tune Goodwood 114.75 (NAV 2)

Check the following:

• NAV/GPS source switch → NAV
• KN62A → RMT (remote position)
• DME selector switch → NAV 1

Taxi

We can now taxi to the runway.

• Check that the area around aircraft is clear of obstacles
• Release parking brake.
• Apply power slowly to get the aircraft rolling
• Start your taxi to the threshold of runway 08.

Steer aircraft with the rudder pedals — add brakes for tight turns.

Check the operation of gyroscopic instruments.

• Horizontal Attitude
• Heading and Turn and Bank Indicators

Stop at the holding point just short of runway 08.

Carry out the power (ground) check here.

• Parking brake → SET
• Propeller → FULL FORWARD

Magneto check

• Throttle → Obtain 2,000 RPM
• Magneto → rotate to LEFT position (note the RPM drop)
• Magneto → rotate it back to the BOTH position
• Repeat the process for the right magneto.

Check the following are within limits.

• Vacuum
• Oil Temperature
• Oil Pressure
• Ammeter Readings

Use the PRESS-TO-TEST button to confirm all the Anunciator lights illuminate

Check the following:

• Mixture → FULL RICH (fully forward)
• Fuel Selector → set to the FULLEST TANK

Propeller Check:

• Throttle → Obtain 2,000 RPM
• Propeller → cycle twice, high pitch / low RPM and low pitch / high RPM position (note the RPM drop on the tachometer)
• Propeller → reset to FULL FORWARD position

Alternate Air Check:

• Alternate Air → lever DOWN (check Manifold Pressure → does not drop)

Fuel System Check:

• Fuel Pump → OFF
• Fuel Pressure → confirm still within the green sector

Final check:

• Throttle → set to IDLE (check for rough running)

Before Take-Off Checks

• Battery Master → ON
• Alternator → ON
• Fuel Selector → FULLEST TANK
• Fuel Pump → ON
• Alternate Air Lever → CLOSE
• Mixture → FULL FORWARD
• Propeller → FULL FORWARD

Lower the flaps to the 10 degrees (first stage) position.

• Flaps → 10 degress (first stage)
• Magneto → BOTH position
• Landing Lights → ON
• Anti-Collision Lights → ON
• Pitch Trim Wheel → NEUTRAL/CENTRE position

Check the following:

• Both Doors → LOCKED
• Flying Controls → FULL and FREE
• Pitot Heat → ON

With the before take-off checks complete.

• Look left and right
• Verify that nothing is on approach
• Runway is clear
• Taxi onto the runway

Take-Off

Line up with the runway centre line and then come to a stop.

• Throttle → smoothly apply FULL POWER
• Keep it running down the centre line with rudder inputs.
• at 65 knots → start to raise the nose of the aircraft.

Once you are safely airborne:

• Brakes → TAP
• Landing Gear → RAISE
• Elevator Inputs → as required to maintain climb speed of approx. 90 knots
• Heading → Hold the runway heading 80 degrees.
• at 300ft AGL → retract flaps.

CLIMB

Once stable in the climb

• Pitch → ADJUST your pitch to maintain 90 knots climb speed
• Heading → MAINTAIN.

at 1,000 feet

• Fuel Pump → OFF
• Landing Light → OFF

at 2,000 feet

• Southhampton VOR → should be within range of the aircraft.
• NAV flag on VOR 1 → will disappear to indicate that a valid signal is being received.
• KN 62A → will display the DME distance (nautical miles), groundspeed (knots), and time-to-station (minutes).

Rotate the OBS knob on the HSI

• CDI needle → centers with a TO flag visible approx. 95 degrees

To reduce workload, we will now engage the autopilot and command it to maintain the course to the VOR.

• Autopilot → A/P ON
• Heading switch → HDG ON (to enable autopilot to take control of the aircraft’s heading.

Check coupler radio selector switch

• Coupler Radio →set to NAV 1

Navigation/Approach coupler knob

Navigation / Approach coupler knob is set to NAV — this selects navigation hold mode.

The autopilot will now control the heading and maintain our course to the VOR.

Cruise

at 4,000 feet

• Altitude Hold Mode → ENABLE

Note: The real-life Piper AutoControl IIIB does not feature altitude hold mode but it has been included for convenience.

As the aircraft levels out and begins to accelerate, set typical cruise power.

• Throttle → reduce to obtain 23 inHG on the manifold pressure gauge
• Propeller → reduce to obtain 2,200 RPM on the tachometer

Important: Change fuel tanks every half hour and do not exceed a fuel imbalance of 10 US gallons.

If you want to avoid worrying about switching fuel tanks, enable the automatic fuel selector in the EFB.