Concorde

[EHM-1152 Thomas]

I absolutely adore this plane.  Lets face it, who doesn't?!!!!
After coming back from my holiday I have just sat down to fly the new Eurobusiness concorde for the first time.  I decided to take her out for a quick practice flight first which proved to be a good idea as I hit a small problem.
I can't seem to set the speed properly with the autothrottle.  IAS Hold works ok but the mach hold I can't seem to work out.
I'm using this panel made by Pedro Oliveira.



Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks

[EHM-0695 Scott]

Hi Tom... I can't get enough of this bird

The Project Mach 2 model of concorde is fantastic. I see on the panel that the FS2000 autopilot gauges are used so there should not be any problems there.

When you say the "mach hold I can't seem to work out"  What do you mean?

[EHM-1152 Thomas]

Sorry, I should have explained that a bit better! :$
I can turn the autothrottle on and can click the mach button just above it.  However I can't work out how to set what mach I would like the autothrottle to hold. eg 2.01
Hope that makes sense!

[EHM-0695 Scott]

Okay this is what works for me. During the trans-sonic climb phase, I set the mach hold to 2.00 and activate the reheat. I keep my speed under the barber pole and withing CoG limits by adjusting my rate of climb. Once I reach Mach 1.70 I disengage the reheat and set climb to about 1000 fpm until reaching Mach 2.00 when I set my climb to 300 fpm (which should be between 49-50,000 feet).

The Max operating Mach of Concorde is Mach 2.04 and max operating speed is 530 knots indicated airspeed.

So in summary. Climb to min 30,000 max 39,000 feet at 310 KIAS (Knots Indicated Airspeed / IAS Hold) or hold Mach 0.95 until clear of populated areas (unless you have made arrangements with the local transport authority to travel supersonic near populated areas - virtually of course).

When ready to go supersonic set your altitude hold to your desired cruise altitude (usually 49-61,000 feet depending on length of flight). Set rate of climb to 2000 fpm and engage reheat. Monitor you speed and CoG gauges to keep concorde within safe operating parameters (ie no overspeed no out of CoG warnings) by adjusting rate of climb (make sure you are still accelerating otherwise your climb is too steep and concorde will shift out of balance). Once passing Mach 1.70 disengage reheat and reduce rate of climb to 1000 fpm so concorde continues to accelerate to Mach 2.00.... Engage Mach hold at Mach 2.00 and reduce rate of climb to 300 fpm (this simulates concorde's upward drift as aircraft burns fuel and gets lighter).

Hope this helps

[EHM-1152 Thomas]

Originally posted by Scott EHM-0695
I set the mach hold to 2.00

How do you do this?

[EHM-0695 Scott]

Oh okay... I'll snap some shots and post ASAP

[EHM-1152 Thomas]

Thanks very much.  That would be a great help.

[EHM-0695 Scott]

I just glanced back at your panel pic. I notice there is now Mach window. There is an IAS window (showing 997). There should be another small window where you can set the mach.

Also, is FS set to show Indicated Airspeed or True Airspeed?

[EHM-1152 Thomas]

That is what was confusing me, I thought that there should be a window like that.  Any idea why it's not there?

And fs is showing true airspeed.

[EHM-0695 Scott]

First... It is more realistic for FS to show Indicated Airspeed because that's what your airpseed gauges should show. If you fly online at all, ATC will expect you to use indicated airspeed. I recommend you change the setting to indicated as all speeds in POM (Pilot Operating Manuals) will be indicated (such as max, stall, approach, best angle climb etc).

Second, I still use the PM2 panel (even though they've taken it off the website for updating) so I don't know why the Mach window is missing from your panel. If you need help adding the window to the panel, let me know... You can send me an e-mail with your panel.cfg file to scott@euroharmony.com and I can have a look at it and help you edit it.

I'm 99% sure that is why you can't set the speed or mach. You need to switch to Indicated in the FS settings and we'll add the mach window.

I'm off to work... Won't be back until about 0100 Z time

[EHM-0240 Joe]

I dont know about this panel but some panels, the Mach and IAS setting are shown in the same display and switching the Mach or IAS button on will change it to the other setting.

Although as you seem to have the Mach button switched on in your pic, and a speed setting of like 997kts, maybe this isnt the problem.

[EHM-0695 Scott]

Yes Joe. The 997 speed is shown because Tom had FS set to fly with True Airspeed rather than Indicated Airspeed.

Regardless of panel, it is the gauge that is the culprit. The ol' FS2000 concorde gauges have a separate display window for both IAS and Mach.