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  • Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.

    Post 16 Update

    Post 17 Warning

Alphasim T-34C Mentor is OUT!

I see Verson 1.1 is available if you re download from your alphasim account :jump:
 
On the unoffical one! Ive loaded it but cant see whats different!
 
EDIT:

I am just waiting on approval from their admin over there to verify my e-mail is authentic, once I get the green light, then I will purchase this aircraft.
 
Fuel flow for 1015 of torque is about 335 PPH.

You can modify the fuel scalar line to the following in the aircraft.cfg.
It will register on the gauge at the approximately correct value.

As always backup you original before making changes.

fuel_flow_scalar = 0.88

VCN-1

I am not speaking on behalf of official AlphaSim customer service but I wholeheartedly endorse this slight adjustment to bring the fuel flow back into the range where it should be. I very well could have misinterpreted some fuel flow data when I was going through the flight manual, and based on information from a T-34C student pilot (I believe we're speaking with him now! :wavey:) 335pph would be more correct.
 
I am not speaking on behalf of official AlphaSim customer service but I wholeheartedly endorse this slight adjustment to bring the fuel flow back into the range where it should be. I very well could have misinterpreted some fuel flow data when I was going through the flight manual, and based on information from a T-34C student pilot (I believe we're speaking with him now! :wavey:) 335pph would be more correct.

Thanks, Shane! :ernae:
 
I've got some visual model faults with the T-34C. Mainly, the two I'm seeing are;

1.) The instructor's canopy doesn't open when the handle is clicked. The student's canopy opens when either handle is clicked. Shift + E + 2 Doesn't work either.

2.) The nose gear doors aren't right. The front door doesn't go forward enough, so the oleo scissors poke through it, and during retraction the doors close before the wheel up, so the wheel moves through the doors.

3.) When the PT6 is shut down the props should be in a 'feathered' position. Since this is the only time the blades are visible, could the blades be modeled in the feathered position so as to be accurate when the engine is shut down?

That's all I've got. Also, is the fuel lever (red behind the throttle) supposed to be ON in the DOWN position, and OFF in the UP position?

Evan
 
AlphaSim T-34C Requested Fixes

Hello All. Im a newbie here, but joined to continue the T-34C discussion. I agree the sim model is AWESOME! Even better than the ones we are provided by the Navy in the MicroSim simulators (not the actual T-34C sims we use for instrument training though, they are quite a bit more pricey!!). I actually have about 110 hours in the real thing here at NAS Whiting Field and would like to get in touch with someone who can do something about these fixes as I dont have the FSX know-how to accomplish.

First off, as discussed previously, the start sequence is not realistic. The individuals are correct in stating fuel control to the engine for start is governed by the prop condition lever (middle of the tree levers on the left side of the cockpit). The "red pull handle" is actually used in the real plane as a pilot-safe release to secure the fuel via the condition lever. You have to pull it and retard the condition lever to "Fuel Off" to shutdown the engine. Prevents an inadvertent shut-down mid flight or on the ground when messing with the condition lever for ground runup and EP simulations.

In reality, all you need to do to start the engine is to turn the battery on, activate the starter, and introduce fuel by moving the prop condition (the middle) lever to "Fuel On", then secure the starter. As for how the sim is set up now, the most realistic start would follow:

1. Ensure all switches off ("fuel lever"{in up position}, starter, ignition, inverters, generator, avionics) and condition lever (middle lever) all the way aft (called the "Feathered" position in the real plane).
2. Battery on, Strobes on
3. Starter and Ignition (not auto ignition) switches on.
4. Fuel "lever" up (in actual plane it would be condition lever as stated above)
5. Starter and ignition switches off after lightoff and ITT peak.
6. Advance condition lever all the way forward (called the "Full Increase" position in the real plane).
7. And your good to takeoff after energizing generator, inverters, avionics.

Second, the ignition switch in the real plane is spring loaded to the "ON" position always, its not a 2-position as depicted in the sim. You actually have to hold it down during certain EPs.

Third, the CDI is waaay to touchy to use with a mouse and too sensative to adjust in the VC view when shooting an approach. Any way to make the course select knob turn like the FSX King Air?

Fourth, the strobes on the real plane all flash at the same time, not wings, then tail as depicted in the sim.

Fifth, anyway to open the rear cockpit? Maybe a Shift + E + 2 function?

Sixth, the flap lever in the actual plane either selects no flaps, or the "full flap" setting depicted in the sim. There are no intermediate flap settings, either up or down.

The sim's torque settings vs airspeeds are also off. In level flight (near sea level, clean config) a 1015 ft-lbs of TQ setting will approximate 190-200 kias depending on the individual plane/engine. Other "gouge settings" used in the real plane are: 750-800 ft-lbs for 170 kias "Fast Cruise", 600-650 ft-lbs for 150 kias "Normal Cruise", and 450-500 ft-lbs for 120 kias (slow cruise). Normal climbs are at 1015 ft-lbs (with engine exhaust bottoms on horizon) at 120 kias. Enroute decents are 300 ft-lbs for 150 kias. Downwind Configurations in the pattern with gear down, flaps up is 500-550 ft-lbs for 100 kias and Landing Approach Configuration on final with gear and flaps down are 600 ft-lbs for 90 kias.

I know its detailed, but if there is anyway to adjust these settings in the sim, it would make for much more realistic training and simming!

As for the prop look during engine-off, it actually "feathers" automatically via spring (to help in case of engine failure in the air). The leading edge of the prop on the ground is actually facing forward, not left and right as depicted in the sim. See picture for detail. Dont know if we can fix that without AS's help.

I know these are small details, and it speaks volumes for AlphaSim's homework to depict the T-34C so realistically on the initial release. I love this plane, its a MUST-HAVE addition for any FSX enthusiast. Ill continue to fly it as is, as its a great tool for any student pilot flying the T-34C's here at Whiting Field.

If anyone has any questions, or can help in a config change for the T-34C let me know, Id be glad to provide technical knowledge on the "real-deal".
 
I have to wait 48 hours for Alphasim's admins to approve my registration so I can buy this? What the!??!!?!?
 
If anyone is interested in the actual publications the Navy issues us to learn to fly the T-34C check out:

https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/pubs/ppub_t34_pri.htm

These are a version older than the ones we have, but all info on how to fly the plane is still correct, not much changes after 5 decades of training!!

Specifically the "Contact Flight Training Instruction T-34C" for just an intro to what we do with the plane, power settings, landing and departure patterns, ect.

For the more advanced instrument simmers, check out the "FTI Instruments" pub. All of our standard procedures from a holding pattern to shooting approaches is discussed.

A good overview of the systems can be found in the T-34 Aircraft Systems pub. Anything and everything short of the actual NATOPS manual (the Navy equivalent of an owner's flight manual) is in this one, and sometimes more than in the actual NATOPS.
 
GatorFlyer,

Hopefully I'll be in your shoes in a few years once I get done at the boat school. Are you an SNA right now?

Evan
 
Fuel management

How does the plane manage fuel useage from the two wing tanks? So far I can not find a tank selector switch and it seem to be drawing fuel from the LH tank only.

One other item that I am not sure of is the operation of the Turn & Slip indicator. If the needle is moving to the right and you use the right rudder pedal it only increases the slip. This appears opposite to a standard bubble indicator.

Tom
 
GatorFlyer,

Hopefully I'll be in your shoes in a few years once I get done at the boat school. Are you an SNA right now?

Evan

Wingnut- I am currently an SNA. I wrapped up in the T-34C back this summer and am currently flying the TH-57 SeaRanger helicopter. Any questions about things here at flight school, give me a shout via message. Its a hell-of-a-ride, impossible at times, but well worth anything they can throw at you here. Where else can you take a turboprop out solo after 20 hours and put it through its aerobatic paces pulling 4.5 Gs (or sometimes unfortunatly more) for an hour and a half!!!
 
How does the plane manage fuel useage from the two wing tanks? So far I can not find a tank selector switch and it seem to be drawing fuel from the LH tank only.

One other item that I am not sure of is the operation of the Turn & Slip indicator. If the needle is moving to the right and you use the right rudder pedal it only increases the slip. This appears opposite to a standard bubble indicator.

Tom

The plane manages fuel from both "wings tanks" (actually 4 total "rubber bladders", 2 in each wing connected via one-way check valves) to a common low point in the fuel system located between the wings under the floorboard approximately beneath the aft instrument panel. Its a 1.5 gallon sump tank that draws from both tanks at the same time via a one-way valve to prevent fuel being drawn out of the sump during high "G" maneuvers or aerobatic flight. From there it runs forward to the backup fuel pump, filter, engine driven pump, and FCU to the engine.

Unbalanced flight (flying with the "ball out") is the most common flight realm that will cause noticeable fuel splits besides normal ground ops (you usually takeoff with a small split due to the way the plane sits/fuel bladder arrangements in each individual plane). The only way to even out a fuel split in the actual plane is to coordinate out of balance flight opposite the fuel split to correct.

There is an emergency procedure in the actual plane if the split is too much, but have never heard of anyone unable to correct it.

As for the sim model only drawing from one "tank", havent looked enough to notice it. But the model is accurate with no "fuel tank selector" switch.

Hope this helps.
 
The oil temp & press gauge is rotated 90deg CW in the screen shots. Is this the way it is in the released program?

Just curious,

Tom

This is the way its released in the program. Its actually like this in the real plane as well. This isnt a great shot of the cockpit, but better than nothing.

Here are a few others of a few T-34Cs on short final here at NAS Whiting at sunset.
 
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