RTFM

[Bucic]

Indeed!!!

 

To moderators. Is there any chance I could add StrongHarm's post above to my sig instead of the missile? :music_whistling:

 

BTW, SH, post the golden track, please!

[GGTharos]

... if it doesn't break the rules :D

[Steel Jaw]

There's a reason for that! I miss your thread at frugals.....you know which one I'm talking about.

 

This one you mean...

 

(not work safe)

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20080502202248/http://forums.frugalsworld.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=116787=

[Wags]

Was pitot tube heat on?

 

Now .. that's what I'm talking about!

 

I did RTFM all the way through. I just completed my first flight and it was wildly successful.

 

I created a night mission so I could concentrate on the cockpit while doing practical subsystem familiarization. I created a flightplan with waypoints and bullseye, from the cockpit instead of the mission editor. I took off and was pleased with how the "C" cradled me in information and responded to my HOTAS (see X52pro profile here)

 

Here's the crazy part that made me look around to see if there was a dev looking over my shoulder laughing. After thoroughly reading the manual, creating a night mission, and embarking on my 120 mile check flight.... half way through I had a CADC failure!!!

 

I didn't panic. I knew what to do. My alt/speed were locked and flashing. I selected PNU on the altimeter to open the pitot and get a manual reading. I went to my CDU and tried a hot reset from the systems page; no joy. Tried to cycle the power; no joy.. bit test fail. I checked my 'divert' and found the closest field. I radioed and asked for nav and told them I was inbound. I performed a perfect cold VFR landing.

 

As I went through the shutdown checklist I reflect on how glad I am that I waited for my first flight. My first flight will undoubtedly be remembered as one of my best.

[sobek]

Uh, somebody is in trouble :lol:

[StrongHarm]

Was pitot tube heat on?

 

No it wasn't on.

 

My preflight procedures and systems were by the list. The ONE thing that was erroneous was that I left MAV EO and TGP running for a very long time. Overheat maybe? Also, when I created the mission I did check out the failure window, but I made no selections or changes in the window.

 

I didn't save the track, sorry Wags. (it was hella long due to line time doing review).

[Wags]

Looks like that was the cause of your CADC error. It got frozen up and could not provide good data to the CADC. Always turn the heat on shortly before takeoff.

[Steel Jaw]

Well the checklist says to leave pito heat off on the ground or it may over heat.

 

Cool that that issue is modelled if you forget to turn it on airborne.

[kylania]

Great story! I'd read that button as Pilot Heat and thought, "I'm comfortable, I don't need heat!" Guess I'll pay more attention now. heh

[element1108]

I don't think I can fully go through the manual until I can get a hard cover so I can read it before bed. I retain everything when I read before bed, plus having it on my lap whilst flying is also ideal. If it takes too long to come out, I'll eventually get through it digitally.

[StrongHarm]

Looks like that was the cause of your CADC error. It got frozen up and could not provide good data to the CADC. Always turn the heat on shortly before takeoff.

 

It was actually a full failure. Not unreliable data, but total loss. I never went above 10k and it was 20c. After going manual I did receive alt readings. What else could cause full CADC fail in a non-hostile environment?

[Sticky]

Was pitot tube heat on?

 

No it wasn't on.

 

StrongHarm, Mr Holy RTFM Warrior, I think you need to RTFM again ;) :P Pages 154, 428, 475 and 595 :lol: Dont fly without turning Pitot heat on, Like Wags told you, thats probably what cause the failure :music_whistling:

 

PS: No angry reply plz, just having some fun with you ;)

[71st_Mastiff]

I

StrongHarm, Mr Holy RTFM Warrior, I think you need to RTFM again ;) :P Pages 154, 428, 475 and 595 :lol: Dont fly without turning Pitot heat on, Like Wags told you, thats probably what cause the failure :music_whistling:

 

PS: No angry reply plz, just having some fun with you ;)

Think that pilot is bugged , I.ll be fling and it will go in error for no reason.

[Sticky]

Sure it could have been something else, anything, but If the Holy Manual says to keep pitot heat on in flight, then it is your duty as a creator of a thread like this to follow the Holy Manual and keep it on. The Holy manual doesnt say you can decide yourself based on altitude and temperature ;) ;)

[Frederf]

Reading the entire manual cover to cover before hour 1.0 of flight isn't good learning technique. Worrying about prepping the DSMS pages for S-J isn't going to help you fly pattern around the airfield and put the tires down softly. Every single flight program uses a building block approach cycling through theory, details, application, evaluation, and improvement on a topic-by-topic basis.

 

You should pick out a manageable block of knowledge each sortie, define what capability you want out of it, read up on it, and try it until you get it done correctly and understand it.

 

My first day with the Ka-50 I just wanted to start it up and shut it down properly. The next week I flew it from place to place with the weapons off. Then I did cannons. Then I learned the UV-26. Then I learned the PVI. And so on.

[StrongHarm]

I would agree with you Frederf, if the manual weren't so good. This manual is structured in the best possible way to learn the hardware;

• Instrument Orientation (till page 464!)
  
• Basics of flight
  
• Combat Employment (practical use of the instruments you learned, with detailed pics)
  
• Emergency Procedures (good to read through once on the ground, then practice in flight to make it second nature)
  

 

I think this structure is efficient. At the very least you should read up to the combat employment section before flight. Then if a person learns best hands on, go through 'Combat Employment' by section, performing each step in flight. Read, understand, review it while you do it.

 

I would imagine that starting in the air and trying to learn subsystems when you need them would take longer in the end. The systems are tied together in a manner that if you don't understand one, the other is useless.

 

Personally I found going up with a full understanding, then reviewing on the line and in flight, very satisfying.

[Frederf]

The manual is... OK. The instrument and procedure parts are good. The figures and tables are a bit 5th grade sometimes. The flight theory section is absolutely cringe-worthy though.

[aaron886]

It's not written for aerodynamicists. It's meant is a "jumping-off" point, I believe. If you want to get into the finer points of aerodynamics, etc, you can read something else.

 

Actually I really can't imagine where you can get it in your head to say the manual is "OK." It's pretty much fantastic... some of the most thorough documentation for a study simulator I've ever seen.

[StrongHarm]

[coolts]

Hopefully the whole JTAC component will be in the GUI manual or a yet to be seen flight manual chapter as that needs some proper explanation having seen Wags recent vids and thought "i want some of that!"

 

There is a big hole in the "communications" chapter around page 634 that looks likely for filling ;)

 

Currently this is it...

 

"Once you selected the desired JTAC unit, Check -in with it and follow the on-screen directions."

 

Obviouslty the manual is WIP, so i'm good to wait.

Edited October 18, 2010 by coolts

[MasterZelgadis]

Reading the manual before starting to fly is the wrong way, in my opinion.

What benefit do I have in reading ~700 pages about HUD, TMS, CICU, ICP, DSMS, MFCD, WTF, OMG, and so on...

When I reach the next chapter, I forgot most of the stuff from the last one...

 

Start flying, with the manual in reach. practice flying, with the accourding chapter open.

Start understanding the instruments. Look at them one by one, referencing to the manual. Practice until you know what everything does.

 

So I prefer "RTFM while flying" instead of "RTFM before you fly"

[Steel Jaw]

So I prefer "RTFM while flying" instead of "RTFM before you fly"

 

I think most of us do. We learn by doing.

[thisisentchris87]

I use the manual as a reference.

 

I'm finding the A-10C insanely easy to fly, I've mastered the avionics faster than I did with the KA-50. Difficult part is combat engagement tactics and taking off properly (I either break my landing gear or slam the tail on the ground).

[Fimble]

So I prefer "RTFM while flying" instead of "RTFM before you fly"

 

I'm more of a RTFMWYP kind of guy.

 

Read The Fuggin Manual While You Poop.

[Stalintc]

I'm more of a RTFMWYP kind of guy.

 

Read The Fuggin Manual While You Poop.

 

 

Agreed, I learnt alot of DCS: Blackshark while sat on the crapper!