The Shorts of the Cargo division

[EHM-2198 Didimo]

I have been looking around the cockpit of that Shorts 360 of the cargo division and noticed that

a) apparently there is no GPS with moving map, just a thing that displays the weather and some prehistoric GPS that shows a little info about the waypoint (but very difficult to read).

b) You can set the vertical speed for the autopilot but there is no (rotary) switch or digital gauge to set the altitude hold. There is an altitude alerter but that isn't quite the same.

Anybody has used this plane for flying without getting lost how did you set the altitude to hold by autopilot? how do you know where on earth (no pun intended) you are flying?

[EHM-1651 Christian]

To answere your questions Didimo:

1: When the Short 360 was introduced in 1981 GPS was not a common navaid in aircrafts of this size. I'm not familiare with the GPS in the Short 360, so it's functions I cannot  answere for.

2: The autopilot got only a vertical speed selector which is also used to maintain the desired altitude. The altitude selctor is there to give you a prior warning before you reach your desired altitude. So you can reduse your vertical speed and capture your desired altitude.

And get lost? Well you can always use a VOR and DME check to get a position check:)

[EHM-2198 Didimo]

It is a great challenge to fly this if you are out of VOR coverage. Some routes I have had at times leave me without VOR reference. Anyway great for instrument practice but I won't use it for my lasts Class 3 flight Panel is great looking just too small letters.

Also, great plane for instrument training (training dept?). However I found it rather heavy. I took off from ELLX (Luxembourg) with 20% L/R tanks and cargo weight within limits (in fact lower) and with flaps and full throttle it took slightly longer than the actual runway to take off, keeping it afloat was also a challenge.

[EHM-1651 Christian]

Did you remember to set stabilasor trim for takeoff? That might result in a long takeoff run.

[EHM-2029 Sotiris]

As Christian said, the Shorts is VERY nose heavy.
This is due to the loading taking place at the back by design and as such when FS simulates load it distributes it more or less evenly (when it comes to the payload).

So, to counter FS's defeciency on this point you need to pull the trim all the way down (i.e. full nose up config.).
After take-off and initial climb, you can play around with the trim based on what works or alternatively engage the autopilot.

Summarising: Shorts = Full trim