I have a couple questions about dropping the gear on approach. Assuming I am slowed down enough when I start the approach and hit the flap extension schedule before dropping the landing gear, everything is fine as scripted in regards to the engine start switches. However, if I'm coming in a little too fast for whatever reason to hit the flap schedule and need to drop the gear before Flaps15 or even before Flaps1, then the co-pilot doesn't properly set the engine start switches to continuous before going through the Before Landing checklist.

 

So, my first question for this would be is doing something like this "normal" some times in the real world? I think I've been on flights before where the gear have come down before flaps were extended. So, by doing that, I'm not operating outside of some operational envelope or anything, right? Assuming that is ok then, is there a way to make the co-pilot still properly set the engine start switches even though the gear are already down by the time he gets to that point in his progressions?

 

Thank you for your help.

 

Kevin LaMal

Hi Kevin,

 

In the real world, if the FO/PNF screws up, you just reach over and do it your self.

 

In the simulation though, the FO's flow associated with setting the Start Switches during approach is directly connected to the FS2Crew "Gear Down" command as displayed on the FS2Crew Main Panel.

 

So if you're skipping the FS2Crew Gear Down command and dropping the gear manually, the FO's flow won't get triggered.

 

Cheers,

Thanks Brian. So I will have to pay attention the next time I fly or maybe you can tell me, but I don't skip any command in FS2Crew even though I may drop the gear myself manually before the point at which FS2Crew would do it. So, does the "Gear Down" call still happen to the FO then if the gear are already down by the time I get to that portion of the flow? I can't remember right now off the top of my head. I think the Gear Down command still gets called but the gear are obviously already down. So, in theory, I'm still executing the Gear Down command as far as FS2Crew is concerned. Maybe there is some check in that portion of the logic that sees the gear is already down and then skips having the FO do anything about the engine start switches since the gear are down?

 

It's not a big deal really. Right now I am doing exactly what you're saying happens in the real world and setting the engine start switches manually if I drop the gear before FS2Crew would have me do it. But, since it's not out of the norm for the gear to go down before the flap schedule, is there any way of FS2Crew still setting the engine start switches?

 

Again though, excellent product. It is one of the must haves in FS. Thanks for the help.

Hi Kevin,

 

If you want to drop the gear early, try doing it this way:

 

Use the "arrow" buttons on the FS2Crew Main Panel to skip to the Gear down command, then press the Main button.

 

Then use the arrow buttons again to "skip back" to Flaps 1 or wherever you want to be.

 

Cheers,