Is there an indicator in the cockpit for the speedbrakes?

[JEFX]

I looked everywhere, even did a search in the manual, there seems to be no indicator for the speedbrakes (is it open, how much, etc...). I finally find myself going F2 view to see if my speedbrakes are open, kind of cheating no?

 

thanks!

 

JEFX

[Deadman]

There is no Speed break indicator in the A-10C model. The only place i have seen one is an old manual I have for the A-10A it was placed next to the flaps indicator on the landing gear panel.

[reemit0772]

Er... what I do is.. jus look over my shoulder, out of the canopy. Up = Up, Down = Down. Sorta makes you feel less guilty:music_whistling:.

[Sabadin]

I finally find myself going F2 view to see if my speedbrakes are open, kind of cheating no?

 

You can also just pan your view left/right, the spoilers are on the outboard wing segments and easily visible from the cockpit.

[RogueRunner]

I looked everywhere, even did a search in the manual, there seems to be no indicator for the speedbrakes (is it open, how much, etc...).

 

MK1 Eyeball

[Echonomix]

Just look out the window. Those real pilots are always looking around "outside the cockpit" more than inside most of the time.

 

It would be kinda handy if there was a dial or something inside the cockpit though. If you have the hotas, the switch will stay in the 'close/retract' position all the time. So if you aren't sure and don't want to or can't look to see. I just make sure the switch is closed or in the 'hold' position. It won't stay in the open/deploy position without holding it there. I also time how long it takes to deploy the brake during start up and when I need to deploy brakes in flight I count how much speed brake I want in seconds (1/2= this much, 1 sec = this much, etc).

 

But usually those guys are looking outside the windows for stuff like that. Look on youtube for in-cockpit videos of pilots at airshows. In 60 seconds, they might look at their instruments 10 seconds of that time. Mostly to check speed and altitude before doing and maybe quickly during a maneuver.

[RogueRunner]

J

Mostly to check speed and altitude before doing and maybe quickly during a maneuver.

 

It's called a FREDA check and he checks a little more than just speed and altitude. :music_whistling:

 

F - Fuel quant check

R - Radio freq check

E - Engine temps and press check

D - DI aligned

A - Altitude check

[leafer]

Those brakes are not easy to see in a pitch-black night either.

[deephack]

Easy to see with the NVGs.

[MTFDarkEagle]

+1 nvg's

[JEFX]

Thanks, I get the message!

[lobo]

My experience (not in A-10), normally aircraft airbrake deployment causes some noticable airframe shuddering and audible cues (increasing in relation to increasing a/c speed). We don't get that in the sim. An audible wind over the airbrake/rumbling noise cue would be a nice sim feature.

[Mike Busutil]

+1

[Woots]

Only question now is - without an indicator how does the pilot set 40% speedbrake on landing? The TAR method (That's About Right)?

[BTTW-DratsaB]

I guess so. Half way is easy to guess, so a bit less than that :D

 

I knew it wasn't my imagination when I felt this indicator was missing, I remember it from the Lockon A10. I'm surprised they didn't combine it with the Flaps indicator for the "C".

[leafer]

Must try that. :D

[Loz]

My experience (not in A-10), normally aircraft airbrake deployment causes some noticable airframe shuddering and audible cues (increasing in relation to increasing a/c speed). We don't get that in the sim. An audible wind over the airbrake/rumbling noise cue would be a nice sim feature.

 

+1

[Necroscope]

My experience (not in A-10), normally aircraft airbrake deployment causes some noticable airframe shuddering and audible cues (increasing in relation to increasing a/c speed). We don't get that in the sim. An audible wind over the airbrake/rumbling noise cue would be a nice sim feature.

 

+1

I've notify this effect IRL in 757-200 yesterday, during descent.

Sound level was similar to engines noise.

Edited November 30, 2010 by Necroscope

[effte]

It's called a FREDA check and he checks a little more than just speed and altitude. :music_whistling:

 

...but you won't do it while manoeuvring, and definitely not during an airshow. :)