A. CAPTAIN'S PANEL Main page

Lockheed L-049A Constellation

Captain's Panel

  1. Icon - Radios
    This icon toggles the Overhead Radio Panel.
  2. Icon - Kneeboard
    Use this icon to view checklists handling notes and panel reference.
  3. Icon - Air Traffic Control
  4. Icon - Flight Map Toggle
  5. Icon - GPS Toggle
  6. Icon - Compass
    Shows or hides the Whiskey Compass (20).
  7. Icon - Pitch Set
    Enables adjusting of pitch without switching to the Flight Engineer's Panel. Clicking the left icon half will decrease propeller RPM, while a click into right half increases it. Always reduce throttle before prop and increase prop before throttle. All four propellers are affected and each click corresponds to a 1% change. Propellers cannot be feathered or unfeathered using this icon, instead, use the Propeller Levers (56) on the Flight Engineer's Panel.
  8. Icon - Mixture Set Best
    Clicking this icon will optimize the fuel-air-mixture for the engines. Not used, if the Mixture Levers (57) on the Flight Engineer's Panel are in position AUTO RICH. For maximum realism, ensure that you have disabled the Auto-Mixture option in the FS2004 Aircraft-Realism menu.
  9. Icon - Yoke Toggle
  10. Icon - Toggle Flight Engineer's Panel
  11. Vaccum Warning Lights
    Vacuum pump driven instruments, ie. the Directional Gyro (25) or the Attitude Indicator (26), are not working properly, if these lights are indicating low suction press.
  12. Radio Marker Beacon (OMI) Lights
    You can toggle the OMI marker sound with the MKR button of the DME Radio (32).
  13. Radio Altitude
    This instrument has three needles, two for the radar height (0-800 ft and 0-8000 ft.), and a third (red-white) needle for the decision height, which can be adjusted using the knob on the left side. Default decision height is 100 meters.
    The radio altimeter also has an indicator lamp showing three colors:

    RED: radio altitude < decision height
    GREEN: radio altitude < 1000 feet
    BLUE: radio altitude < 2000 feet

  14. OBS1 Course Selector (Magnetic Bearing Runway-Omni)
    Used in combination with the Instrument Approach Indicator (31). The red lamp indicates, that the localizer signal received by the NAV1 Radio (2) on the Overhead Radio Panel has no valid glide slope (this is the case, if there is no GS signal available at all, or if you are flying too much above or below the GS).
  15. Nav Lights ON/OFF
  16. Beacon Lights ON/OFF
  17. Panel/Cabin Lights ON/OFF
  18. Landing Lights ON/OFF
  19. Taxi Lights ON/OFF
  20. Whiskey Compass (magnetic heading)
  21. Automatic Approach Warning Lights
    These lights are working similarly to the CDI-needle of the Instrument Approach Indicator (31): The left lamp illuminates, if the CDI-needle is pointing to the left, and the right lamp is on, if the CDI-needle is pointing to the right. The plane is exactly aligned to the runway, if both lights are on.
    The Approach Warning Lights won't work, if the NAV1 Radio (2)on the Overhead Radio Panel is turned off, or if no localizer signal is received.
  22. Heading Course Display
  23. Flap Shut-Off Warning Light and Test Switch
    Flap overspeed warning, normally located on the co-pilot's side. Vfe is 174 knots for flap stage 1 and 127 knots for stages 2 and 3. Also refer to Pilot's Handling Notes. The test switch is used to check the bulb.
  24. Airspeed Indicator (IAS)
  25. Directional Gyro
    Plane heading degrees. From time to time, the left knob must be used to correct the gyro drift error (or hit D).
  26. Gyro Horizon (vacuum)
  27. Radio Magnetic Indicator
    RMI with ADF- and VOR2-needle. The needles will not work, if the corresponding radios are turned off.
  28. Altimeter
    Use the left knob to adjust the altimeter to the local barometer pressure (or hit B). Clicking into the barometer card window will display the exact value currently tuned in.
  29. Turn and Bank Indicator (electric)
  30. Rate of Climb Indicator (VSI)
  31. Instrument Approach Indicator
    Consists of a CDI (course deviation) needle and a GSI (glide slope) needle for NAV1. Use the OBS1 Course Selector (14) as OBI and for TO-FROM information.
  32. DME Radio (NAV1/NAV2)
    When receiving a VOR/DME signal, the distance to the station is displayed in nautical miles. Use the knob, to select either N1 (NAV1) or N2 (NAV2). The MKR button toggles the OMI marker sound (see 12).
  33. Auto Pilot
    Early Constellations were fitted with a Sperry A-3 automatic pilot, maintaining directional and altitude control of the airplane.
    The auto pilot used here is of a more modern type and offers three displays to preselect heading course, altitude and rate of climb (V/S). Pushing the AP ENG button, the auto pilot master switch, will engage the auto pilot and also the ALT (altitude hold) and the HDG (heading hold) buttons, maintaining the plane's current heading and altitude.
    ALT button: Activates altitude hold using the preselected target altitude and V/S settings. It is possible to select a negative rate of climb with current altitude lower than target altitude and vice versa, a positive rate of climb is allowed, although the target altitude is lower than the current altitude. In these cases, the V/S setting has a higher priority, causing the aircraft to fly away from the target altitude.
    HDG button: Activates heading hold using the preselected heading course.
    NAV button: The plane follows the direction to the VOR station received by the NAV1 Radio (2) on the Overhead Radio Panel (nav hold). The auto pilot will not allow to select nav hold, if there is no nav signal available.
    APR button: Activates approach hold. A localizer signal must be received by the NAV1 Radio.
    If APR is pushed with activated altitude hold, ALT will remain active until a valid glide slope signal is received or altitude hold is turned off by hand.
    BC button: Activates backcourse hold. A localizer signal must be received by the NAV1 Radio. Pushing this button always activates approach hold, too.
    The Test button can be used to check the button lights.
  34. Parking Brake Light
    [FS: Click into the light to set or release the parking brake]
  35. Hydraulic Pressure Warning Light
    Normally four seperate lights located on the co-pilot's panel. Indicates low hydraulic pressure. The Connie has two hydraulic pressure circuits (1500 psi each) for flight control boosters, gear and wing flap operation.
  36. Manifold Pressure Indicator (dual)
    Same as (45) on the Flight Engineer's Panel.
  37. Tachometer (dual)
    Same as (41) on the Flight Engineer's Panel.
  38. Three-Axis Trim Indicator
    [FS: Click into the gauge for rudder trim, aileron trim and elevator (pitch) trim. Pitch trim can be zeroed by clicking into the green display.]
  39. Flap Position Indicator
    Click into the gauge to set the flaps to the three positions 60% (Takeoff), 80% (Approach) and 100% (Landing). See also (23).
    For flap speeds allowed refer to Handling Notes.
  40. Clock
  41. Gear Lever
    Vle and Vlo is 152 knots IAS. For more details refer to Handling Notes.
  42. Landing Gear Position Indicator Lights
  43. Gear In Transition Light
  44. Throttle Levers
    Always reduce throttle before prop and increase prop before throttle.
    [FS: Click the levers to adjust the throttle. Each lever has its own mouse area, and on the left side of lever 1, there is a hot spot for moving all four throttles.]
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