Flight: London to Glasgow climbing to 30,500 feet (saved at this point), outside temerature droping to nearly -40C.

 

In most if not all of my other aircraft, at much higher temps than this the air speed indicator flicks to zero indicating that the pitot tube(s) are frozen/blocked and prompting me to switch on the pitot heater. With the T210 this did not happen and the ASI still gave a correct reading - even at -40C!

 

The T210 has a pitot heater switch but does not appear to be configured to respond to low outside temperatures. Is there an explanation - is this consistent with real-world T210 performance - or is there a (minor) bug in the sim?

 

Out of interest, the purpose of this flight was for me to get experience of engine management while climbing to (and cruising at) high altitude with this aircraft.

 

Bruce

Apparently pitot tube icing is not simulated

Yes, would appear to be the case - but then why provide a clickable pitot heater switch?

 

There appear to be no pressurisation controls (well I couldn't find any) so I presume the "M" model didn't have a pressurised cabin? If so then the "real world" ceiling for this model of the T210 would be closer to 12,000 - 13,000 feet (is that right?).

 

Bruce

The site linked below indicates a service ceiling of 15,500.

 

http://www.what2fly.com/manufacturer/cessna/210m_centurion_'77.php

Thanks for the helpful link fppilot.

Both pitot tube and airfram/engine anti-ice "are" simulated in FS9 and FSX. You have to add tables 1513, 1518 and 1519 to the airfile. And then use the correct xml commands in gauge form.

And, as for ceilings: the lower the ceiling the greater the risk of icing.

Hmm... I swear I've experienced pitot icing in the Carenado 210, but I can't be sure because it's a standard part of my "before takeoff" check list to turn it on. In FSX, you do need at least some moisture to see it occur.

 

The T210 service ceiling for late models is 27,000', though they wouldn't typically be flown that high, and FL300 is well above reasonable altitude for this model. The lower number referenced and linked above is a non-turboed model, BTW.

 

No, you're not going to find pressurization controls as it isn't pressurized (that would be the P210, which is very obviously different with it's smaller "porthole" style windows and single door), but the lack of pressurization does not limit the plane to sub-oxygen altitudes. Notice the O2 ports. You use supplemental O2 above 12,500'.

 

Scott

Try the Real Air Duke, that simulates pitot tube icing very well! I only realised that the other day going into Leeds/Bradford using real world weather. In and out of cloud, minimal visibility and suddenly - no airspeed! Took a few moments to figure that one out. Cracking aircraft in all other respects also.

It's not just pitot tube icing that is or should be simulated. Real icing should be as well. Clear ice from freezing rain can and does build up on a/c surfaces that may be out of reach of boots or heat. The next thing you know is you're falling out of the sky. As said with the correct tables in the airfile all forms of icing can be simulated.

Thanks Vololiberista. I've been looking at how to edit the .air file and have got as far as loading the T210 air file into AircraftAirfileManager. At this point I don't know how to go about sourcing the 3 tables you mention but I guess a startpoint would be to check out the .air file of an aircraft that I know has a pitot tube that ices up - would that right. However I'm still some way short of having the knowhow to create the associated guage - perhaps you could point me towards a good tutorial? I agree with you about the importance of real icing and have recently downloaded (but not yet installed) a gauge (author: Charles "Dutch" Owen) that goes "some way" to simulating the effect - it can be downloaded from AVSIM as icev10.zip - I don't know if you know of it and maybe have an opinion on it?

 

tttocs - I've tried several test flights with the T210 in an attempt to trigger pitot icing - including flying through high(ish) altitude cumulus (approx -5C) with no result. Initially I purposely left the pitot heater switch off with this aircraft to see what point it would be triggered. This flight was just a "fun" test to help me learn how to best manage the engines on climb and cruise at high altitudes - it became a bit of a challenge to see what altitude I could reach. The flight is saved at 30,500 feet and my intention is to see just how high I can take the T210 (realism aside :lol: ). Hmmm...I hadn't noticed the O2 port (are there controls too?) - I'll look next time I fly.

 

EDIT: Now found the O2 vent plus control lever.

 

Phil - I have the RealAir Duke (and the Turbine Duke). I love 'em both and fly them often.....and you're right, they certainly simulate pitot tube icing very effectively.

 

Bruce

Yes iI know that gauge! If I'm not mistaken it comes with a comprehensive manuel which lists the airfile tables and how to adjust them.

To acces the airfile you need aired. http://library.avsim.net/search.php?SearchTerm=aired&CatID=root&Go=Search

EDIT: Now found the O2 vent plus control lever.

 

Don't forget to plug in your (virtual) cannula or - especially at the altitudes you're flying - mask! ^_^

 

Scott

Did a flight in the T210 tonight just to check on pitot heat. IFR, CEJ4 in southern Alberta Canada to CYLW, Kelowna, BC. I left pitot heat off and on climb out, just as I hit the first visible moisture at about 14,000 and right at 0C, sure enough - IAS dropped to zero. Turned on pitot heat and all was well.

 

Not sure why you're not seeing this, but pitot heat works as expected for me.

 

Scott

Thanks for the link nololiberista.

 

tttocs - Took the T210 up to 36,100 feet at which point no amount of fine manipulation of the throttle, props and mixture could coax another 100 feet. I was using oxygen :wacko: (thanks for pointing it out) but I suspect I was way above the point where O2 would make a difference (?).

 

Scott - Now that is interesting - I've since tried flying from Reykjavik and St Petersburg in cold and moist conditions with no icing of the pitot tubes. I'll give your CEJ4 to CYLW route a try tonight and keep my fingers crossed at about 14,000 feet.

 

Bruce

Bruce, if you've got Orbx Northern Rockies scenery, the free CEJ4 is a delightful little run-down airport on the Alberta plains. In default FSX I expect it's pretty basic. At any rate, be sure to dial up some wx. I was using REX historical wx to recreate a day from mid-fall last year. Scattered to broken clouds in some areas over the mountains got me what I was looking for in terms of moisture, and low vis in the Okanagan valley at the destination bought me a nice ILS through the haze and gunk. :-)

 

Try to find low to mid-level moisture and temps near freezing and I don't think you'll have any problems seeing the effect.

 

BTW, IRL I have some serious doubts you'd ever get the plane that high even under ideal conditions. The pressurized magnetos probably wouldn't stay pressurized well enough to keep working, and you'd have some pretty severe cooling issues to deal with as well and you'd likely have to run way rich of peak just to throw raw gas down for cooling. I'm no expert on oxygen, but I also expect you'd be beyond the capabilities of the mask and delivery system in that plane.

 

Scott