SurClaro Flight Simulator Resources

[jaeger52]

Can some kindly soul explain the use of the Course Selector to me? I generally use the Nav Selector while flying on auto-pilot, and trying to make time with my favorite Flight Attendant.

But I find myself constantly being distracted by the little Course Selector, which is oftentimes hiding behind my pair of fuzzy dice dangling from the overhead panel.

She doesn't really mind what instrument I use! The trouble is, I'm afraid that I'm never going to get to my First Waypoint with this friendly little lassie until I figure out the nuances of the Course Selector. Is this some kind of "guidance" thing? I certainly don't need any guidance vectoring in this kind of situation, but I'm figuring that I could be missing out on something really great--as far as I know.

There are certainly a lot of "in's and out's" that I still haven't learned about flight simming, but I definitely know how to extend my landing gear!

So what's the big deal about the Course Selector? What am I missing out on?

Hey! Business first, snyde comments last!

Jaeg-

[tomcatdriver2006]

http://www.centuryflight.com/products/frame/parts.htm

Compass System - Working Parts
[ Heading Select Knob | Heading Flag | Course Select Knob | Course Pointer ]
[ VOR/LOC Deviation Indicator | To-From Indicator | Reference Aircraft ]
[ Lubber Line | Compass Card | Slaving Meter | Heading Bug ]
[ NAV Flag | Glideslope Deviation Indicator | Glideslope Mask ]


Heading Select Knob:
Rotating this knob sets the heading bug and also aligns a heading transformer for coupled autopilot use to the selected heading. Pushing this knob in cages the gyro.

Heading Flag:
This red warning flag indicates loss of vacuum and/or electrical power to the gyro. Heading information is then unusable, but all course information (comparable to a standard VOR/ILS) remains valid.

Course Select Knob:
Rotating this knob sets the course pointer to a selected course, and if so equipped, a course transformer for coupled autopilot use.

Course Pointer:
This pointer indicates the selected course. Turning the course select knob will rotate the course pointer (VOR/LOC deviation indicator) and course reciprocal around the compass card. As the aircraft's heading changes, the course pointer rotates with the compass card to indicate the difference between the course (under the course pointer) and the actual aircraft heading (under the lubber line). The course selector may also be coupled to an autopilot or flight director. When coupled, "off course" signals are generated which direct the autopilot to maintain or acquire the selected course.

Parts Menu

VOR/LOC Deviation Indicator:
The center portion of the course pointer needle moves to indicate deviation from selected course. A series of dots provides a linear indication of how far the aircraft is off course. Each dot represents a percentage of the total course width. In VOR use, the course width is a total of 20 degrees, 10 degrees either side of center. When being used to fly the localizer, it shows runway center line and percentages of the total course width which is 2-1/4 either side of center. In either case, the actual linear distance off course depends upon the distance from the station. When used to display RNAV or LORAN, each dot will represent a percentage of the total course width in miles. An "on course" condition is indicated when the course pointer, the course deviation bar, and the course reciprocal are all in line.

To-From Indicator:
This indicator is a white triangle and appears underneath the VOR/ILS deviation indicator. It shows whether the selected course will take the aircraft either to or from the VOR station.

Reference Aircraft:
Representing the actual aircraft, this symbol is fixed and is located in line with the lubber line.

Lubber Line:
This orange line, located at the top of the display, indicates the aircraft's magnetic heading on the compass card. The lubber line is in line with the reference symbol to reinforce this association.

Parts Menu

Compass Card:
This card, located beneath the lubber line, indicates the aircraft's current heading. The card is mechanically coupled to the compass card set knob and, at the beginning of each flight, must be set by the pilot to agree with the magnetic compass heading or to the slaving meter, if installed. As the flight progresses and headings change, the directional gyro rotates the card to indicate the current heading. As with any standard unslaved DG, some gyro precession will occur. Therefore, it is necessary to check and reset the compass card at periodic intervals.

Slaving Meter:
A slaving meter is located in the upper right-hand corner of the instrument face on slaved models. If equipped with a slaving feature, an HSI will automatically update its compass card with a magnetic sensor to correct for precession. In flight, the meter needle will oscillate slowly when the compass card is properly aligned with the magnetic compass.

Heading Bug:
The selected heading is marked by an orange heading bug which can be moved to any point about the perimeter of the compass card. As the aircraft's heading changes, the bug rotates with the compass card, thus alerting the pilot to the difference between the selected heading (located under the bug) and the actual aircraft heading. The heading bug may also be coupled to an autopilot or flight director system. When coupled, "off heading" signals will be generated causing the autopilot to fly the aircraft so as to maintain the selected heading.

Parts Menu

NAV Flag:
This red warning flag indicates inadequate VOR or LOC signal or loss of power to meter circuits. Under these conditions, course information is unusable; however, all heading information remains valid.

Glideslope Deviation Indicator:
This yellow wedge relates the vertical glide path centerline to the aircraft's position. The aircraft is "on glide slope" when the wedge covers the horizontal index. Each dot on this vertical scale represents approximately 0.4 degrees vertical deviation from the centerline. An up deviation is a fly up command while a down deviation means to fly down in order to place the aircraft "on glide slope."

Glideslope Mask:
This mask will cover the glide slope deviation indicator in the absence of a usable signal or when a VOR frequency is selected.

Good read Bruce, easy for all!

TomcatDriver

[jaeger52]

Hey Steve-O!

Shreeek-BOOM! You blew me away with that one! Right out of the water! You should have been a technical writer! Now I'm gonna have to research the finer points of your explanation so's I'll understand it! But at least now I've got the correct terminology!

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your effort, but perhaps (like many technical manuscripts) the writer presupposes that the student already understand the jargon/lingo/terminology.

Which I don't.

Ha ha!

Jaeg-

[groundsquirrel]

you walk to work, dont you?

[bromster]

Basically, a VOR is a navigational beacon that shoots 360 different signals out ( one signal for every degree ) . These 360 invisible lines are referred to for example as:

1) Speedbird 123, Intercept the INBOUND 120 DEGREE COURSE to (name of VOR)...

2) Speedbird 123, Intercept the OUTBOUND 020 DEGREE RADIAL to (name of VOR)...

Inbound means "towards the VOR" and vice versa.

IN MY PICTURE (don't laugh... it took me 2 min!!!)

1)Plane is flying heading 270

2)VOR is emitting 360 invisible signals ( 3 have been made visible for this example).

3)If the plane needs to intercept the Inbound 045 degree radial, he would fly down the red line towards the VOR.

4)If the plane needs to intercept the Inbound 023 degree radial, he would fly down the purple line towards the VOR.

5)If the plane needs to intercept the Inbound 360 degree radial, he would fly down the brown line towards the VOR.

It's unlikely for a controller to tell you to intercept an outbound radial when you are still heading towards the VOR. However... REMEMBER that the inbound R-090 and the outbound R-270 are essentially THE SAME LINE because they are 180 degrees apart.

So.... in our example...If you can pull yourself away from the flight attendant, you would tune the VOR frequency into the NAV 1 radio and make sure it's set to active... then set the course knob to the desired radial (R-045) with the autopilot "on" and the course hold switch "on"... The plane will now automatically intercept the red line in our picture!!! Well Done !! :lol:

Hope this helps a bit...
Bromster

[mel wilson]

jaeger52 wrote: Can some kindly soul explain the use of the Course Selector to me? I generally use the Nav Selector while flying on auto-pilot, and trying to make time with my favorite Flight Attendant.

But I find myself constantly being distracted by the little Course Selector, which is oftentimes hiding behind my pair of fuzzy dice dangling from the overhead panel.

She doesn't really mind what instrument I use! The trouble is, I'm afraid that I'm never going to get to my First Waypoint with this friendly little lassie until I figure out the nuances of the Course Selector. Is this some kind of "guidance" thing? I certainly don't need any guidance vectoring in this kind of situation, but I'm figuring that I could be missing out on something really great--as far as I know.

There are certainly a lot of "in's and out's" that I still haven't learned about flight simming, but I definitely know how to extend my landing gear!

So what's the big deal about the Course Selector? What am I missing out on?

Hey! Business first, snyde comments last!

Jaeg-

LOL ....... Like me, I sat in my Spitfire for three weeks before I figured out how to open the canopy :lol:

This topic is very informative though. Nice one.

Mel.

[sonicboom2885]

u guys think thats bad - try for FS2004 (*will post the link when i find it again*) there was a download where i cant remember, it has the TU-154b2 russian bird.
Spent a good 45 mins figuring out how to even begin turning on the engines. Not to mention, i still havent figured out the auto pilot. =)
It was a tuffy to try n get even rolling down the taxi way lol.

[mel wilson]

sonicboom2885 wrote: u guys think thats bad - try for FS2004 (*will post the link when i find it again*) there was a download where i cant remember, it has the TU-154b2 russian bird.
Spent a good 45 mins figuring out how to even begin turning on the engines. Not to mention, i still havent figured out the auto pilot. =)
It was a tuffy to try n get even rolling down the taxi way lol.

Ignition key on the left hand side of the dash Sonic...... lol

Mel.

[harkonnen]

S'alright Sonic...some developers feel your pain and are working to make engine starts a little easier for the ignition-challenged. LOL!

[rd]

ROFLMFAOTIP @ Hark