13 minutes ago, Alaska738 said:

Come on, it's not hard.

 

 

It's hard when all I ever do is battery master and alternator.  Fuel pump for a few secs, mixture idle/or leaned and throttles cracked, mags on, start!

3 hours ago, ryanbatc said:

It's hard when all I ever do is battery master and alternator.  Fuel pump for a few secs, mixture idle/or leaned and throttles cracked, mags on, start!

With practice, you won't find it difficult. To help you, you can see videos on youtube or watch videos from Justplanes. There're also tutorials on the FBW siteweb.

23 hours ago, Cpt_Piett said:

I guess everything that's required to get familiar with the flows and checklists is here: 

https://docs.flybywiresim.com/pilots-corner/SOP/

Used to be a 737-800 hardcore simmer over at XP11, I remember I was very sceptical of converting to an Airbus. Now I'm too deep into the FBW version - just too much fun!

And - I highly recommend the FS2Crew FBW edition. Perhaps after practicing a bit, getting used to the flows. It's just something else having a first officer turning on the landing lights, advicing the cabin to be prepared for takeoff, and setting the transponder to TA/RA. 

Oh - I usually keep two copies of the experimental version stored. One current - my last download. And when I download the most recent one I store that in another folder. I've encountered some issues on a rare occasion, but mostly it's been a smooth breeze. If Ie have any issues with the most recent version, I just go back to the previous experimental version. If that makes sense..

There are excellent tutorials on YouTube. I recommend easyJetSimPilot. No, he's not a RW pilot, but a very knowledgeable simmer with years of experience in the A320. 320Simpilot is however a RW Neo 'bus driver - but he can be a bit hasty and rushed at times. For more advanced stuff, his channel is top notch though. 

Yes totally agree.

I finally got the Dev version working after struggling a bit with the Experimental version and Simbrief. But yep what a gas for free! Amazing work and deeply immersive even in its WIP state. With the help of the people in this thread I found it relatively straight to start and get it in the air once I caught onto some basics. Realized there's no VNAV in the dev version yet - so piloting skills and ATC will have to do.

I have not virtually written off any A320s or killed anyone, including myself yet. Works so well with AIGTC too on the ground - eg at SCEL with all the LATAMS etc crusin around.

 

Regarding the engine start there is no engine cut off on the power levers, it's just the switches below the throttle. There is no wait for xx% of N1 and introduce fuel bit either, just flip the engine start switch, usually engine 2 first and it's all automatic.

Some tips if the engines won't start: Check APU on, check bleed air on on the overhead panel. Check fuel pumps on.

Finally with the new EFB check out the aircraft states menu. A virtual co-pilot can switch all the knobs for you including settings items you may have missed. To get going quickly try the turnaround state.

[Edit]: Forgot one: Calibrate your throttle in the EFB, it's essential to get the detents right.

Edited April 20, 20224 yr by JSmith2112

Ryan, 

Totally forgot this. GREAT alternative to hours of YT videos. 

https://flightsim.to/file/7531/a320-checklist-procedures-for-flight-simulator-a32nx-flybywire-mod

 

Eddie

19 minutes ago, haskell said:

Ryan, 

Totally forgot this. GREAT alternative to hours of YT videos. 

https://flightsim.to/file/7531/a320-checklist-procedures-for-flight-simulator-a32nx-flybywire-mod

 

Eddie

Thanks - I did manage to start up the plane today (woohoo haha) and do a flight with a STAR into KMSP.  I must have screwed something up cause half way through the green line on the MFD went away but my waypoints were still on the screen.  I ended up vectoring myself onto the ILS12R and hand flew to a decent landing.

Im still having a heck of a time with the AP modes and stuff.  I understand if the panel is blank the fms (whatever it's called in Airbus) is driving the values but a few times I selected an altitude and then a higher one and it stopped at the lower one.  

Also the plane has waaay more power than I'm used to (typically the fastest I fly is the CJ4) - which made level offs sort of a vomit coaster for my virtual passengers lol.

Finally some of the clickspots for the ECAM screens won't work.  Mainly just the ENG one shows - I tried clicking on the APU one like one of the posters in this thread mentioned but nothing happened.  Same with the NAV IRS alignment knobs - they're stuck on NAV.  Is this because I'm using the wrong version of the FBW?  Oh one other thing - in order to select a STAR I first had to select an approach.  Seems backwards to me - another Airbus feature?

Edited April 20, 20224 yr by ryanbatc

25 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

Finally some of the clickspots for the ECAM screens won't work.  Mainly just the ENG one shows - I tried clicking on the APU one like one of the posters in this thread mentioned but nothing happened.  Same with the NAV IRS alignment knobs - they're stuck on NAV.  Is this because I'm using the wrong version of the FBW?

Sounds to me like you are not using the FBW A320, but are using the Asobo A320! The big giveaway is that the ADIRS (NAV IRS alignment knobs) are not selectable.

Assuming you downloaded and installed the FBW installer and used that to download the FBW version you wish to use (Development version is recommended), my guess is that you did not notice that you now have two A320's in your airplane selection screen, the original Asobo one and the FBW one. You want to specifically select the FBW A320.

...jim

 

25 minutes ago, JimBrown said:

Sounds to me like you are not using the FBW A320, but are using the Asobo A320!

Agree.

Make sure you extract the correct folder. FBW has a flypad/EFB at the captain’s side of the cockpit.

And you need to select approach - STAR - then VIA (if there’s any). Bit awkward at first yes.

Interesting.  I did install it (developmental version) and it is in my Community folder.  Does it show as a separate aircraft in the Selection window?  I noticed a FBW house livery in there so I figured I selected the proper plane.  But perhaps not.

3 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

Does it show as a separate aircraft in the Selection window?

Yes, separate aircraft. 

4 minutes ago, Cpt_Piett said:

Yes, separate aircraft. 

Ahhh rookie mistake - yep I was totally using the default - it wasn't flying very well at all.  Good to know!  Now we're cookin' with gas!

cookin by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Edited April 20, 20224 yr by ryanbatc

5 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

it wasn't flying very well at all

And you’ll find that she climbs like an airliner, not a rocket 😜

Enjoy!

1 minute ago, Cpt_Piett said:

And you’ll find that she climbs like an airliner, not a rocket 😜

Enjoy!

Ok hah!  Now where is GND CTRL?  I see FLT CTL... but I can't find ground

gndctrl by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

22 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

GND CTRL?

Should be on the recorder. To the right on the upper overhead IIRC. Not shown in the image you uploaded.

1 hour ago, ryanbatc said:

Ok hah!  Now where is GND CTRL?  I see FLT CTL... but I can't find ground

gndctrl by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Don't forget to press CVR test (you'll hear a beep). Press the Probe Heat if you find yourself with temperatures below 0 C° like Alaska... Disable it when the engines are started and enable Antice engines and wings (You can enable it or disable it during the flight if you have a message on the ECAM.). It will be automated. GND CTL will turn off when engine 2 is started.