Alphasim T-34C Mentor is OUT!

[fsafranek]

It sounds as if there are 2 possibilities.

1) lack of fuel on board.
2) Fuel flow lever not turned on.

I am experiencing no problems starting it.


VCN-1

My guess is #2. This thing has full tanks by default.
:ernae:

 

[maguireted]

Hello Herr Gera ,

I appreciate the whole procedure in order to start a FS airplane but it can become a bore at times. This plane is really a dog.....either I got a dud or a second hand one for after following instructions it simply will not start....Unless I place the sim in 2X!!!!!..is this only me or what????...then while flying it quits and makes a lot of noice and re-starts then it quits again!!!!...............I like the "real" stuff, which as many have stated is not too "real"....but why can these companies or dudes make an easy Ctrl +E start in order make it easy to start!!!!....then after a while go into the "real mahoney" start and all the doodlebug stuff.....................Very disappointed with this model....I would suggest those that have not bought it to Wait!!!! until all the bugs are out...otherwise they´ll sting you in that hot cockpit!!!!!!!!!!!!..Fer Sure!!!

I HAVEN'T GOT THIS PLANE BUT I HAVE A GOOD DOCUMENTATION ABOUT THIS ONE BUT ;

If I can help you .... First , I am not a pilot , only on FSX :

after contact and the whole electrical system ok ,
1/Fuel dispatch pump on
2/Starter
3/Start auto-ini
4/auto sart ( wait 10 "tic tic about" )
5/ cut auto ini​

6/engine start effective
During a flight, let the fuel dispatch pump always .

From the real mentor doc.​

Thats all , Best regards Anna

 

[BananaBob]

So far, a photoreal is working with this, just tried the front fuselage and liking the result.

 

[gajit]

Wow Bob - that looks promising

 

[wildcat400]

That looks sweet! :ernae:

 

[JT8D-9A]

Excellent Robert!

 

[doublecool]

NICE

 

[gera]

Hello Herr Gera ,



I HAVEN'T GOT THIS PLANE BUT I HAVE A GOOD DOCUMENTATION ABOUT THIS ONE BUT ;

If I can help you .... First , I am not a pilot , only on FSX :

after contact and the whole electrical system ok ,
1/Fuel dispatch pump on
2/Starter
3/Start auto-ini
4/auto sart ( wait 10 "tic tic about" )
5/ cut auto ini​

6/engine start effective
During a flight, let the fuel dispatch pump always .

From the real mentor doc.​

Thats all , Best regards Anna

Thank you Anna and all.....I got it. ...........It was the "fuel" lever on the left side of the cockpit.....once I moved that forward, the engine reved and propeller shot .....an off I went.......................Gracias.:redf:

 

[Lassen]

So, it's supposed to showcase cockpit systems, but the start sequence is not even remotely close to the way a PT6A starts. It doesn't even follow the checklist in the included manual. Cmon, gimme a break.

I've been positive in my posts to this point, but honestly, if you're going to market something as realistic, it should be and others are, even others with this engine. If you want to market a beautiful model that operates like a toy and starts only with Control E, then say so.

I'm not a simmer, I contacted Alphasim a while ago when I was looking for a training aid to help me in Primary. Nothing was available at the time, but they were working on this project at that time. The person I contacted was very friendly and helpful. In turn I provided him with a few pictures and details on the proper operation of this plane. I don't claim to be an expert on this aircraft, like the guy with 110 hours. I only have about 3/4 of that.

I see a lot of people bashing this plane, which really only has one system error. The condition lever. What they have in place is very similar to the actual function of the aircraft (from an operator's standpoint). The only flaw is that you have to push the tab instead of move the lever 1 inch forward. Aside from this, I can start the model just as I do the real plane.

The condition lever does not control fuel flow to the engine during start, it just operates a binary valve, which cuts the fuel flow in the fuel off position. Aside from this, it works just as it should. Push it forward and you get 2200 RPM.

I didn't have access to the model until the first of November, which is when I realized the mistake. The model was written and designed based almost entirely on text. While the NATOPS is fairly detailed, it is not always easy to fully understand how a system operates from text alone. So, to ask the designers to make such a drastic change to a nearly final product is probably a bit much considering the return and the significance of the error in relation to the work required to fix it.

The sim correctly models nearly every aspect of the plane, including features that are almost superfluous to a PC model. This T-34C model is very realistic and would have been an asset to my early Primary training.

To say the model is not realistic is not only wrong, but probably hurtful. Even before I got my hands on a beta model, I reviewed their documentation and corrected a lot of their misinterpreations of the NATOPS. I can assure you that they invested a great deal of time in trying to perfect this model. Far more than they anticpiated or were originally willing to. I know that the are proud of it and were very excited about releasing it.

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.

I have probably less than 10 hours invested in playing with FSX and I can start the plane in under 20 seconds using these procedures.

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.

I just assumed it was this way, b/c holding the ignition switch with your mouse would prevent you from performing other operations with the mouse. Like securing the starter before releasing the ignition.

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.

Flap motor operation is controlled by three-position switches located on the left consoles...

I see you corrected yourself, but perhaps you should have checked your facts before you publicly criticized the model from a “professional” standpoint.

As for the prop look during engine-off, it actually "feathers" automatically via spring (to help in case of engine failure in the air).

I think you forgot that about the oil pressure produced by a windmilling prop, which is actually sufficient to prevent the propeller from automatically going into feather. Just in-case you ever get back in a T-34.

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!!

I would hardly call publications including updates as recent as 10/16/08 old. In fact, that's more up to date than my copy.

 

[VCN-1]

Lassen

Thank you for the information in your post.

A valuable insight into the T-34C and the AlphaSim version.

I for one am enjoying it.

There are lots of new textures appearing giving one the opportunity to fly with various TAWs

VCN-1

 

[pbearsailor]

Lassen,

Sorry, but I stand by my posts. It's a beautiful plane, but it doesn't function correctly and it isn't just one system.

Not interested in a flame war, so I'll say no more.

cheers,
steve

 

[fsafranek]

I'll look into that. No promises, just a promise to have a look. I'm not into fictional paint schemes at all.
But as I've said elsewhere (or at least to myself ), "if it's freeware, anything goes".
:ernae:

You wouldn't be intrested in doing a fictional scheme of the USCG please. I'd be one happy T-34 simmer. I'm getting jealous all the military branches except us Coasties.

 

[tigisfat]

The services have all had a few oddball aircraft here and there that not many people know about. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the coasties had one or two T-34Cs, at the very least on loan, at one point or another.

 

[maguireted]

Thank you Anna and all

Hi Herr Gera , If I have helped you, I'm happy. Best Regards Anna

 

[VCN-1]

Lassen,

Sorry, but I stand by my posts. It's a beautiful plane, but it doesn't function correctly and it isn't just one system.

Not interested in a flame war, so I'll say no more.

cheers,
steve

I am curious. What systems are not functioning to your satisfaction or don't exist?

VCN-1

 

[JT8D-9A]

Is there a way to feather the prop? :redf:

For the A2A Lights user:
[Vcockpit01]
gauge28=shockwave_lights!SW Lights_gear, 1,1,1,1 //shockwave light

[lights]
..
light.8 = 5, -0.15, -3.22, -2.47, fx_shockwave_landing_light_narrow_no_flare
light.9 = 5, -0.15, 3.22, -2.47, fx_shockwave_landing_light_narrow_no_flare

 

[GatorFlyer]

Lassen-

Nice to see your freshened up on the NATOPS, we need more like you at Whiting. I didn't realize trying to help refine the model would strike such a deep chord.

Just about all of the individuals here are simply trying to further the development of the T-34C model by helping to ID simple, known issues.

I see you corrected yourself, but perhaps you should have checked your facts before you publicly criticized the model from a “professional” standpoint.

I've never labeled myself as any sort of "professional" on the subject (dont see where you saw that written), just an individual with some limited experience in the real thing who wanted to HELP out.

No need to feel like people here are "attacking" in anyway, especially in any input I've provided. I just ask you to read the forum posts as clearly as we've all seen you can read your NATOPS:

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 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 feel that the majority of the people here agree. We are simply providing constructive feedback to a company whose client base, product line, and profit margin will only be helped by the information provided.

I don't feel a need to comment on the remainder of your rant, but appreciate the time and effort you provided AlphaSim in the original design.

Until next time, keep those pubs updated and your NATOPS nearby!

 

[JT8D-9A]

Is there a way to feather the prop? :redf:

Nils, to feather the prop you have to move the prop lever to 0 and then to press "ctrl+F2".

 

[JT8D-9A]

Really great work Alphasim! I should have gone to sleep, but i had to do an additional flight
[marquee][/marquee]

 

[BananaBob]

Great shots Nils!! Little bit more done on this photoreal paint.