You know, it seems as if most of us have been able to wade through the elements needed to get the aircraft off the ground and flying.  The one thing I still find lacking, is a COMPLETE description of the way to program and activate the FMS on this aircraft. I know were not dealing with a Boeing type, but the two "tutorials" do a half way job but not a complete one in my humble opinion, of explaining how to use this FMS. Is there someone out there who could get us off the ground, with a flight plan procedure that can be properly activated and will follow through til destination? Or, must we wait until the next version arrives.  I don't have a problem with that as long as I'm made aware that that is coming down the pike (as we say).

Having written the above, this in no way denigrates the efforts of the attempt to make the two current tutorials in any way a bad thing. Just a bit lacking in explanation.

 

Jack

I understand LNAV well enough, it's how you handle vertical navigation with the AP that remains a bit of a mystery to me, at least as long as I have Nav control set to FMS.

 

Some walk through of how to do VNAV from post-take-off to pre-landing would be helpful, yes.

 

You know, it seems as if most of us have been able to wade through the elements needed to get the aircraft off the ground and flying.  The one thing I still find lacking, is a COMPLETE description of the way to program and activate the FMS on this aircraft. I know were not dealing with a Boeing type, but the two "tutorials" do a half way job but not a complete one in my humble opinion, of explaining how to use this FMS. Is there someone out there who could get us off the ground, with a flight plan procedure that can be properly activated and will follow through til destination? Or, must we wait until the next version arrives.  I don't have a problem with that as long as I'm made aware that that is coming down the pike (as we say).

Having written the above, this in no way denigrates the efforts of the attempt to make the two current tutorials in any way a bad thing. Just a bit lacking in explanation.

 

Jack

 

 

The real world FMS Operators manual for the UNS 1E of the Q400  is here :

 

http://www.igs.net/~kiddbatt/DOCS/unsbs/UNS_OTM_2009.pdf

 

Guy

Great! Another 423 page read, I've gotten tired of War and Peace after the sixth time through.... (joking) -- thanks for the link!

 

Thanks guys for the replies.

 

Pete, I'd seen your video just after you released it but frankly, I didn't know enough about the Q 400 at that time to take advantage of your suggestions.  I'm going to view it again and see what I can get this time. Very well done, by the way. I'm hoping that someone will do a video just concentrating on the FMS.

 

Guy, thanks for that link.  I also noticed the 423 pages and almost had "heart failure!  I did find the flight plan area buried in it though.  Haven't had a chance to get into it yet but will. It looks as if the creation of flight plans are covered pretty thoroughly though.

 

Fleeting thought, funny line re War and Peace.

 

 

 

Jack

Note that VNAV is a descent-only function, not authorized for use in climb. You're best using IAS mode for climb (IMHO); just watch ALT SEL and be sure it is actually capturing the altitude.

 

Best regards,

Robin.

Yes, I'm finally beginning to "get" the difference between a 737's VNAV and a Q400's VNAV; after struggling through finally starting to hesitantly figure out the former, my expectations and assumptions were skewed for the latter.

 

I will be able to die happy once I can do a controlled, perfect, stress-free landing approach from the right altitude and far enough out while using VNAV and AP/FD correctly along the way.

 

So far, my virtual passengers have exited grumbling and shaking, and the ground cleanup crew is passing me angry glares....

Here's some videos I made. Hopefully can be of some help.

 

 

Amazing virtual pilot right above. I've watched all his youtube videos.