Setting Up Flaps

[dmccorm62]

How do I set up a button to move the flaps in 1/4 increments? Right now, I have a toggle button set to "increase flaps" and "retract flaps". The retract side will bring them up all the way but the increase side extends them in smaller increments than what I need. (I have to hit the switch twice for 1/4 flaps, 3x for half flaps, 2 more times for 3/4 flaps and 2 more times after that for full flaps.) Isn't there a way to set up a toggle button so I can get quarter, half, three quarter and full on four presses? Flying the DC 3 by the way, in case anyone would need to know.

[Twelvefield]

There's Increase and Decrease controls you can set, my memory is a little shy on their exact names, but they are in there in the flaps section. You just press and hold to increment or decrement.

The DC-3, though, needs very little flap since they create so much drag since it's a split flap. For the few times you need them, you could just mouseclick the cockpit control for them. Because the hydraulic system in the DC-3 is so labyrinthine, it takes the flaps a long time to respond, so you need to hold the control down longer than you would for an aircraft with more nimble hydraulics, like a jetliner.

I think the hydraulics in the DC-3 are wicked awesome! It's a primitive system by today's standards, but perfectly functional. If you did not know, you can control the hydraulics from the panel behind the co-pilot's seat. There are three levers: blue, yellow, and red from top to bottom. The top level gives hydraulic control to the gyropilot, the DC-3's autopilot. I think this is just cosmetic in the MSFS version. The middle lever raises and lowers the flaps. The bottom lever operates the landing gear, but it won't budge when you are on the ground. Underneath that is a red manual hydraulic pump. I don't know if that works in MSFS, but James Bond uses it successfully in Quantum Of Solace, trivia for the world.

To operate the hydraulic controls, you have to click on the hub nut to pop the lever out. This activates the hydraulic line, otherwise the line is locked. Once the lever is popped out, you can move it up and down with the mouse or better still the mouse wheel. It's not fast, so you have to keep the lever in up or down position for some time: plan this move in advance while in flight. On the plus side, you have much finer control over the flap position than most other aircraft in MSFS.

https://youtu.be/AlH2RiZT9ss?si=2MYrPtGOa3CDF95V

Interesting in this video is the relief valve system, which tries to prevent you from shearing off the flaps during overspeed. I don't think or know if this is modelled in MSFS, but it would contribute to the slowness of flap response if you are going too fast.

Also, the ever-thorough Paul Gatcomb:

https://youtu.be/uRK2CgyPFt4?si=KnHrlSovfmHdmT4m

[★Macman★]

No issue here using INCREASE & DECREASE FLAPS. You may have a Doubled BIND to DELETE.