Ca/Cessna 172P: Difference between revisions

'''Q:''' I am experiencing grey windows, what is happening?

'''A:''' If you experience grey windows, you do not have the correct FlightGear version. This aircraft requires 3.5 or above.

'''Q:''' Why does the aircraft keep turning left?

'''A:''' Please see [[understanding Propeller Torque and P-Factor]]. If using the amphibian model on a solid runway, note that at the taxiing is done by differential braking (the rudder becomes more and more effective as the plane gains speed).

'''Q:''' Why will the engine not start?

'''A:''' You can start the engine automatically by clicking on the menu "Cessna C172P" and selecting "Autostart". For a manual start, please follow the checklists available by clicking on the menu "Help" followed by "Aircraft Checklists". As seen above, the engine must by "primed" before starting. If oil management is activated, you must have enough oil for the engine to work (more than 5.0 quarts). If fuel contamination is activated, the fuel must be light blue in order for the engine to properly work. You must also make sure that the battery is charged enough (you can check and recharge it in the Aircraft Options dialog).

'''Q:''' Why does the Autostart fail to start the engine?

'''A:''' That's probably because you are attempting to take off from a very high altitude airport. Autostart always tries to start the engine with the mixture full rich, and if it fails to do that properly then you must manually start the engine after properly leaning the mixture.

'''Q:''' Why does the engine die immediately after startup?

'''A:''' Probably because the throttle is being incremented too fast after startup as the engine needs a few seconds to stabilize itself.

'''Q:''' Why can't I start the sim with the engine running?

'''A:''' You can! Go to the menu "Cessna C172P", select "Aircraft Options" and tick the option "Start with engine running".

'''Q:''' Why I keep running out of battery?

'''A:''' Just like in the real airplane, it's always a bad idea to keep the battery switch on for a long time while the engine is not running, as the battery will run out of charge. When the engine is running, the alternator will make sure that the battery is always recharging. If you run out of battery charge, go to the Aircraft Options dialog and recharge it.

'''Q:''' Why the aircraft doesn't move?

'''A:''' The aircraft won't move if you have the parking brakes set, or if either of the wing tie-downs, the tail tie-down or wheel chocks are in place (if the option "allow securing aircraft" is enabled in the aircraft menu).

'''Q:''' Why the airspeed indicator doesn't work?

'''A:''' If the option "allow securing aircraft" is enabled in the aircraft menu, then very likely you forgot to remove the pitot tube cover.

'''Q:''' How can I switch to the bush tires/pontoons/amphibian?

'''A:''' By clicking in menu "Cessna 172P", selecting "Aircraft Options" and then selecting the other landing gear options.

'''Q:''' How can I switch to the 180 HP engine?

'''A:''' This is also done by clicking in menu "Cessna 172P", selecting "Aircraft Options" and then selecting the engine power option.

'''Q:''' Why can't I take off from the water without crashing the plane?

'''A:''' Taking off and landing on water can be quite tricky. Try applying a little bit of back pressure on the yoke while accelerating to 55 KIAS. It's also recommended to use the 180 HP engine instead of the default 160 HP, as the extra weight of the pontoons make it really hard to climb with the default engine.

'''Q:''' Why is the simulator lagging so much?

'''A:''' As with any complex 3D model, this new version of the c172p is a bit more demanding on the computers than the older one. If you are having troubles with performance, try using non-HD liveries which use textures with lower resolutions, as well as other solutions that can improve performance (disabling certain graphical options in the Rendering Options, lowering the resolution of FlightGear, etc.).

'''Q:''' Why are the windows getting foggy/frosty?

'''A:''' If the dew point of the cabin air temperature is higher than the surface temperature of the windshield, the windows will get either foggy or frosty. Use the Cabin Heat and Cabin Air levers (on the right of the flaps) to control it. The dew point rises with the temperature in the cabin, and it rises faster than the windshield temperature can adjust, resulting in temporary fog. If the air is very humid, the dew point is going to be very close to the cabin temperature, which makes it likely that it will be higher than the windshield temperature. Extra passengers will create a more humid atmosphere in the cabin. Try to increase air flow using the Cabin Air lever or overhead air vents in order to decrease the humidity or temperature. Alternatively, disable the effect by going to the menu "Cessna 172P", selecting "Aircraft Options" and disable the option "Enable frost and fog".

'''Q:''' How do I increase the cabin air temperature?

'''A:''' Increase the cabin air temperature by opening the Cabin Heat lever. In order to actually get a heated air flow, you need a medium or high EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature -- the instrument between the yoke and the ADF instrument), and airspeed and/or sufficient propeller RPM.

'''Q:''' How can I click on a switch which is being covered by the yoke?

'''A:''' You can hide the yokes by clicking on them or by going to the menu "Cessna 172P", selecting "Hide/Show Yokes".

'''Q:''' Why my engine seems to be losing power?

'''A:''' Assuming that you have the mixture correctly leaned according to your altitude and atmospheric pressure, then another possibility is that you are accumulating carburettor ice which results in loss of power. Apply carb heat and the ice should slowly melt. Notice that if the engine starts to cough when you apply carb heat, it means that ice is being melt and is a sign that icing was indeed your problem. To reduce the cough during the melting process, lean the mixture.