Hello All,Well, before I retired I guess I just flew too many turbo props and jets, cause even I had to do some basic refreshing on a TC piston engined twin. If I had the Navajo in 'real world' I kept damageing the engines with either high oil temps or 'operator induced' damage.Well, this morning, I re-read the manual, and some of my old Cessna 421, (real life) POH's. Hmmm...BINGO! PILOT ERROR!1. This type of engine does NOT like a ham-fisted approach,meaning rapidly opening or closing the throttles. It takes a firm but gentle touch.2. Remembering my basics on a TC aircraft engine, maniford pressure and rpm need to be changed in the proper progression. meaning in climb, (hope I get this right) you should first set manifold pressure and then prop RPM. On landing, EGT is also critical as is prop RPM because if a missed approach is necessary, you need the TC to be spooled up.Now, (after damaging the engines on the new Navajo several times, and knowing that Steve's .mdls are usually 'right on'), after an hours play, DOING IT BY THE NUMBERS AND IN THE PROPER PROGRESSION, GUESS WHAT? NO high oil temp and no engine damage. Hmmm....even real world pilots need refreshers and that is what they make POH's for!A smooth hand on the throttles, the right progression and the proper numbers and you WON'T be damaging those expensive Lycoming's any longer. Oh, and let's not forget the cowl flaps, boost pumps and syncrophaser for the props, (Hartzel in this case), they are all there for a reason . . . BECAUSE THEY DO SOMETHING IMPORTANT!Sometimes we desire so real and authentic aircraft for FS, and then when we really get it, we wonder WHY things arn't going the way we want. Of course, set it to non real, with no alarms and such and just fly the wings off, but if you are like myself, who want it to be, 'as real as it gets' for a computer simulator, well, guess we all need to read a bit more . . . I SURE KNOW THAT I DO!So don't feel bad, guys, even a real world pilot with tons of hours had trouble till he started doing his homework . . . ahh, LOL...homework that all of us WOULD do if we were getting into a strange aircraft, in real life, to fly it for the first time. Best to all, and wiping the self imposed egg off my face! Clay

Don't feel embarrassed Clay. Your pilot skills are no doubt better than mine. I am generally considered a menace to ATC.Seriously, those that want a bit more "give" can set one of the lower realism settings in the Load Manager (FS 2004). Then it gets harder and harder to blow an engine.We are thinking about introducing more comprehensive failure systems, for both training/practice of emergency procedures, and also, for good sport. Would appreciate your input on that.You might want to take it over to our forum so we don't use up all of Avsim's page space.:-wavehttp://www.fsd-international.com/team/TD_forum_sig.gif

Tim,Roger that . . . it's made the trip!Clay