New to KA-50 and need Ramp Start help

[Major SNAFU]

Hi all,

 

Been mucking about with this for a few days and can take off, land, etc. fairly well. Having a bit of ACM issues.

 

But I am getting stuck on the ramp start.

 

I made a new mission to start from the ramp.

 

I have the checklist and I am following it as best I can, but only about 2 in 10 do I succeed in getting both main engines lit off and getting off the ground.

 

Here is what I have figured out so far:

 

Some of the key combinations on the checklist have to be clicked 2 or three times in succession to get the switch to the proper setting. I *think* that "RECAP" means x3 and "CAP" mean x2, but I would like some confirmation.

 

Some of the labels on the checklist don't match the text that comes up in the sim.

 

The Start Selector Switch is giving me fits at times. I reach that point, switch it to what I believe is the APU setting and try to start the APU and nothing. What I mean is this. I hit "E" once from the default position, which should be APU and hit "Home". Nothing. I hit "E" again and then hit "home" and sometimes I get APU start up. I know I an doing something wrong, but I can't identify it.

 

Lastly (for the moment). I see in a number of start up videos that people are changing the two yellow levers on the collective arm 2 notches. These are not active in my cockpit, even when I am able to fly the helo off the ground.

 

I am patched to the lastest. I believe I have all of the realism stuff turned to full.

 

Some kind assistance, please!

 

SNAFU

[joey45]

those two levers argh not clickable, same with the door.

 

Argh you useing any head tracking software??

 

Argh you useing the mose or keyboard??

[Major SNAFU]

I am currently using the keyboard and checklist.

 

I am not using any tracking software.

 

I tried to use the Auto execute full start, but man it takes forever. I just wanted to see what it would do.

[Booger]

You can just click the Turbo Gear/APU/Engines selector switch

 

As far as the Engine Trottle Levers, push [Page Up] to move them up (single notch, you'll have to push x2 to move it to auto), [Page Down] to move them down.

 

Closing & opening the cockpit door is [RCTRL]+[C]

 

I tried to use the Auto execute full start, but man it takes forever. I just wanted to see what it would do.

 

Manual starting will take a bit longer lol.

[Major SNAFU]

You can just click the Turbo Gear/APU/Engines selector switch

 

As far as the Engine Trottle Levers, push [Page Up] to move them up (single notch, you'll have to push x2 to move it to auto), [Page Down] to move them down.

 

Closing & opening the cockpit door is [RCTRL]+[C]

 

 

 

Manual starting will take a bit longer lol.

 

 

The funny thing is that I thought I read that if you don't move the throttles to Auto, you can't generate sufficient lift to take off. But I have taken off 3 or 4 times (having floundered through the checklist) and have not changed the position of these levers (because I had abandonded the checklist and fiddled until I got it to work) but never pushing Page Up/Down.

 

Now I am even more confused.

 

Can anyone confirm my interpretation of RECAP and CAP meaning doing teh key combinations 3X and 2X respectively?

 

Thanks

[DetroitDieseL]

I had some issues getting ti to go also, but I finally got it- memorizing it to the T. I don't even touch the throttle or I get a warning on the yellow light.

 

When u have to hit the 2 or 3 key combos for one switch, its to open the switch guard flip the switch then put the switch guard back over the switch. Kind of wierd the master arm switch doesn't have one though.

[Booger]

The funny thing is that I thought I read that if you don't move the throttles to Auto, you can't generate sufficient lift to take off. But I have taken off 3 or 4 times (having floundered through the checklist) and have not changed the position of these levers (because I had abandonded the checklist and fiddled until I got it to work) but never pushing Page Up/Down.

 

Now I am even more confused.

 

Engines need to be ran up to auto in order to generate enough electricity to power the onboard systems for one.

 

What checklist are you using? The one from the 29th is a very decent "starter" checklist until you learn all the ins & outs of the cockpit.

 

Another stellar reference is War Hawk's Pit Trainer.

[Booger]

I had some issues getting ti to go also, but I finally got it- memorizing it to the T. I don't even touch the throttle or I get a warning on the yellow light.

 

Watch the developer's notes on the Ka-50 Startup.

Edited April 6, 2010 by Booger

[Major SNAFU]

Engines need to be ran up to auto in order to generate enough electricity to power the onboard systems for one.

 

What checklist are you using? The one from the 29th is a very decent "starter" checklist until you learn all the ins & outs of the cockpit.

 

Another stellar reference is War Hawk's Pit Trainer.

 

 

I have been using SDeath's checklist found here: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=35571

 

In the War Hawk's Pit Trainer, it shows all of the controls labeled in English. How do you set this up so it is displayed this way in the sim? This would go a long way towards helping me. I purchased and installed the English version, but all of the controls are labelled in Cyrillic ( I believe) characters.

 

But I am going to try these other one's you mention. Thanks!

Edited April 6, 2010 by Major SNAFU

[Booger]

SDeath's versions are cool, but with the different color coding, if you're not really used to the cockpit all you see is a rainbow. That isn't to suggest his checklist isn't good, rather it could easily add to the confusion if you're not used to it.

 

You don't have English labeling? The english version is labeled accordingly. Perhaps you purchased the wrong one?

[Major SNAFU]

SDeath's versions are cool, but with the different color coding, if you're not really used to the cockpit all you see is a rainbow. That isn't to suggest his checklist isn't good, rather it could easily add to the confusion if you're not used to it.

 

You don't have English labeling? The english version is labeled accordingly. Perhaps you purchased the wrong one?

 

 

No. I had it wrong. I thought they weren't labelled in English, but when I just went in to try again, they were. But I also am getting better about sooming in to read the labels. Or perhaps I was having a mental moment.

 

Thanks,

[Frederf]

I made a new mission to start from the ramp.

The "Shooting Range" mission makes a good practice mission for such things.

 

I have the checklist and I am following it as best I can

By checklist do you mean the manual? Otherwise there's no real the checklist in an official sense, just several created by the community. Some are really detailed, some try to look official, some are geared toward training, some are geared toward operational use, and some are as abbreviated memory aids for those that normally have it memorized.

 

My advice is to write your own so it suits you. Doing one for yourself is a really helpful learning experience. You're much more likely to absorb the information creating than passively reading. After some time with your own, feel free to condense it as your experience grows or your experience dictates.

 

Some of the key combinations on the checklist have to be clicked 2 or three times in succession to get the switch to the proper setting. I *think* that "RECAP" means x3 and "CAP" mean x2, but I would like some confirmation.

CAP or RECAP simply refers to the safety cover over the physical switch. No procedure that I have every read will specify number of clicks, just what switch it is and what position to set it to. Left-click will generally cycle a switch forward through its positions and right-click will cycle it backward.

 

Some of the labels on the checklist don't match the text that comes up in the sim.

Someday perhaps someone will make a checklist where the text on it matches the tooltip text perfectly. This might be you!

 

The Start Selector Switch is giving me fits at times. I reach that point, switch it to what I believe is the APU setting and try to start the APU and nothing. What I mean is this. I hit "E" once from the default position, which should be APU and hit "Home". Nothing. I hit "E" again and then hit "home" and sometimes I get APU start up. I know I an doing something wrong, but I can't identify it.

 

The switch has 4 positions, up, center, left, and right. APU is center and left and right are the left and right engines. Up is "turbo gear" which is something you really never have to use.

 

The "ready list" for the APU is pretty short so it's pretty easy to run:

 

• Electrical power
  
• Fuel pumps
  
• APU fuel valve open
  
• Engine Selector: APU
  

Try not to use keyboard shortcuts for clickable buttons (E for engine starter) as this can hamper your education. There's nothing worse than knowing a "magical keyboard press" where the associated physical cockpit switch is unknown. Knowing and using the clickable cockpit gives a good education about what is really happening as the button's appearance and location in the cockpit can hint at much deeper information.

 

Lastly (for the moment). I see in a number of start up videos that people are changing the two yellow levers on the collective arm 2 notches. These are not active in my cockpit, even when I am able to fly the helo off the ground.

 

As people have mentioned, those are increased and decreased together with PgUp and PgDn, without the possibility of being clickable. It is possible (but rather difficult and clearly not advisable) to take off with the throttles at the LOW setting. Remember when using keyboard throttle control that the normal AUTO setting is two notches above the lowest LOW setting.

 

The AC generators also won't provide AC power until up to a speed that requires the AUTO setting on the throttles. Make sure not to disconnect your ground AC power early before the generators are actually producing.

 

Happy flying!

[Squid_DK]

My take on Re-Cap and Cap, re-cap is where you first lift a cap to manipulate a switch and then close that cap or lid again (IE APU or engine governors) cap is where you just manipulate a switch and then close the cap.

 

Staffan

[Luke.S]

i just flick random switches and it works (actually i do know what i'm doing) when i installed my bs it asked if i want an english or russian cockpit

[Major SNAFU]

Thanks for all of the helpfull comments. Getting away from the key-clicks is excelletn advice to a point.

 

The funny thing is that I had more success flying and landing in the Low setting that in the high.

 

Today is reserved for getting my Cougar set back up and loaded for BS.

[Booger]

Honestly, the suggestion to get away from the keyboard is -very- good advice. Sure it'll take a little longer to get up, but knowing where the switches are at in the cockpit...I don't really need to reflect its importance.

 

Expanding a little beyond the scope of the topic, watch the different producers notes (if you haven't already). Spend a week or so flying around or doing some missions, then watch them again. You'll see a few things that you can set "early" as part of your start-up instead of just prior to your attack (as covered in the videos). Mainly...

 

Weapons systems

Shkval scan rate

UV-26

Laser standby

 

To each their own, but the less I have to do enroute (besides a quick scan to double-check before flipping master arm) as well as coming right up on the FEBA, the better.

[DetroitDieseL]

Also, make sure you let the engines RPM's get to 70% before doing anything else, wheather your firing up the left or right or shutting down the APU. If you don't you will not be able to fly it, because you will break it.

 

I see that the engines are realistically modeled, and they will blow if you don't use the SOP.