Runway Length determination

[dbwhip42]

Greetings;
I know various forums have discussions about this but thought I would start here to try to nug this down.
I am using AH2 to generate jobs and fly my early aviation fleet (Cub J3 and WACO JYM). The Cub can go anywhere but WACO needs a longer field. So, downloaded FS Flighcontrol to use as a go-no go tool. It shows NK74 with two runways at 3kft length. FSX shows the same field with lighted runway but no length. I take a job PKVD to NK74, arrive and find a dirt strip too short for my WACO...bounced her in and about, got the job done but...So.
Bottom Line: can someone one point me too a tool or a forum that gives a good way to figure out what the field can handle for aircraft? Or is this a "live with it" MSFS deal? Thanks

[TextRich]

I'm thinking the it is an issue with the default FSX's database of runways - it may not have the length of air strips compared to paved runways. You could find the minimum landing distance for your aircraft and then look up the runway lengths online. I'm sure others will have better suggestions.

[dbwhip42]

Thanks, I suspect you are right about the database. Using real world info I think is built into the FS Flightcontrol program I downloaded which appears to be popular with FSX users so thinking I already have that base covered. That flight planner software told me to expect 3K foot runways but the FSX database fudged it.

[gspectre]

You can try downloading Google Earth Pro (free) and the FREE FSX App (fsxge.zip). It might help. When you run Google Earth, you can search for the Airfield. When you go to it, you will get lots of info about that place.

Example:
NK74

Name: Match Mate

Country: United States

State: New York

City: Aurora

Lon: W76.66356

Lat: N42.74451

Alt: 840ft

MaVar: 11



Runways

18 len=3000ft hdg=169 grass

36 len=3000ft hdg=349 grass

[dbwhip42]

That sounds interesting. It may be the case that my moving map program showed the runway material, I will have to check. That would have been a clue. It could be that FSX just painted one "big" grass runway instead of two and it sure did not seem 3000 ft but...
anyway, thanks.

[LHookins]

If I remember right, you have to build your airport database in FS_FlightControl from your current sim. I don't have FSX so I don't know what the FSX database has for that airport. P3D has a single 3000 foot grass runway.

I assume your departure is actually KPVD instead of PKVD.

When your FS_FlightControl subscription runs out, consider the freeware Little Navmap, which I've found to be excellent. Don't think you have a subscription? I didn't either until it expired. I never saw it mentioned on the vendor site, but you get free updates for a year, then you have to repurchase or you go back to demo mode.

Hook

[Licopolis]

Plan-G can display airfield data.
And I doubt you would ever find a strip not long enough for the Cub.
FSX should have shown grass runway for NK74.
There's twice as short field a bit to the north, are you sure you haven't landed at 94NY? only 4 nm north.

[dbwhip42]

Hook....Thanks, you just saved me about 50 bucks... I have been debating on it during free trial, thought it was a little pricey and now it turns out for only a year! Thanks (and yeah KPVD...Once upon a time I flew out of that airport quit a bit...ticket stub at "PVD" is just tatooed in my brain)

Licopolis...Yes, so far the Cub floats on in anywhere. A bit slow but you know you will be able to land when you get there. If I recall, I had a cargo delivery that completed so it was right airfield. As I say above, I think FSX painted one big patch instead of two runways. When I hovered over the map for the field prior to the flight I assumed two runways meant a developed field. Lesson Learned. It probably is 3000 feet but I struggle getting the WACO under 100mph for landings and touch down needs to be more like 70 on the EOR for these grass fields. Thanks again...having a blast with this AH2....

[LHookins]

I think I saved you $65, but who is counting? :D I have no idea what his current price is, or what it might be for Steam purchases.

I've never flown the Waco, but in the Golden Age Simulations Super Stearman what I do is at top of descent I'll pull carb heat on, lower the power from 20" to 15" manifold pressure, then trim so my airspeed is about 80 MPH (95 MPH for normal cruise). This results in a rate of descent of about 700 feet per minute. Since I'm doing all this seat-of-the-pants I'll adjust throttle to aim at the airport while trying to keep airspeed constant; I just keep the runway in the center of my windscreen. If I need to level off for the pattern, maintaining 80 MPH takes quite a bit of power. Touch down at about 70. I assume you know how to flare. :)

I've used both Plan-G and Little Navmap. Try them both and pick the one you prefer. Little Navmap just added a bunch of additional map backgrounds which I haven't tried yet, apparently it includes real world charts.

For normal navigation I use real world charts from the skyvector.com site, which can also give you lots of airport data.

Hook

[dbwhip42]

Good stuff. I downloaded Littlenav and will check it out....interesting that it is one of the ones I looked at before going FS.

Meanwhile, Challenge to me in the WACO JYM is, no trim, no flaps and there is a fuel guage in your face where a modern fighter HUD would be blocking a slice of vision on the centerline (this guage appears to be outside the canopy, someone really thought a pilot needed fuel status above all else ). All that is manageable on a regional airport runway but hopping over trees to a grass strip is challenging.

My goal is to fly these seat of the pants aircraft in a circa 1926 start up airline. If you have any pointers for other aircraft from this era please pass along. I found a Ford Tri-motor, and the Lockheed L10(?), would like to find a Boeing 247 and one of Stout's early all metal AT's. Really tempted to buy a Lockheed for my company but trying to keep it chronological so just the WACO and Cub for now,

I am far enough along skill wise that next hop i will try that carb heat trick. Not sure aircraft will let me adjust manifold pressure but that may be a realism setting (in past I have looked at the manifold handle in 3d but it did not give me a "hot" switch option)

Regards,
DBW

[LHookins]

My favorite "airliner" is the DC-3. I recommend the freeware Manfred Jahn C-47. I think the latest version is 3.14. Probably better than the 247. :) It'll be a little more complex than the Waco or Cub, but actually flying it is no more difficult than either. Try the default DC-3 first to see if you like it as it's a lot simpler.

Don't worry too much about carb heat. You can toggle it with the H key. It may or may not be possible to get carb icing in FSX if you reduce the throttle. You'll know if you have carb icing because you won't be able to apply much power. Toggle carb heat back off if you need to abort the landing and go around, otherwise you can wait until you are on the ground and have more time to think about it.

Manifold pressure is adjusted with the throttle. If you don't have separate manifold pressure and RPM gauges, then don't worry about MP, just adjust for RPM.

The Stearman has no flaps, the Cub probably doesn't either. I can't imagine an aircraft without elevator trim. Check the documentation for FSX and for the aircraft you are flying.

Elevator trim is very useful as you can use it to fine tune your airspeed and use throttle to fine tune your altitude. During landing you should be setting your airspeed by using the stick and rate of descent by using the throttle. This makes landing a lot easier.

Hook

[UncleJoe]

dbwhip - The job description in AH2 gives you all the airport info (runway #, length, surface, ILS) for both the departure and destination airports. I always check that info before accepting any job or mission.

[gspectre]

Originally posted by dbwhip42:

That sounds interesting. It may be the case that my moving map program showed the runway material, I will have to check. That would have been a clue. It could be that FSX just painted one "big" grass runway instead of two and it sure did not seem 3000 ft but...
anyway, thanks.

Runways

18 len=3000ft hdg=169 grass

36 len=3000ft hdg=349 grass

These would be the same runway, just opposite directions. So, yes FSX just painted one "big" grass runway because that's all there is, even in Google Earth. Look for yourself.

[dbwhip42]

Another Lesson Learned, one runway counts as two if you label both ends! And I'll be damned, the info is in the job description? Yikes thats a big miss on my part.

Hook, RE DC-3...yep definitely on my company wish list and I have one in the FSX fleet, just dont want to add it until I work my business up to steady earned income and theoretical time.

The missing elevator trim bothers me as well....think I will do some real world research on it. The Cub has it and I use it as part of my regular cockpit discipline. I have looked at least 3 times in WACO JYM and dont see it...Theoretically it should be easy to get to for the pilot so not squirreled away somewhere. .I have a new controller inbound and my plan was to see if the trim appeared when I set up the new controller...tough to hold a steady altitude with just stick and throttle. More to follow