Start Up
Before you go flying, you'll need to learn how to start the engines.
This tutorial will take you through starting the Cessna 172p.
Tutorials/startup
morning
1
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19.71731272
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true
false
false
/controls/gear/brake-parking
1
/controls/flight/flaps
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/controls/switches/magnetos
0
/controls/engines/current-engine/throttle
0.0
/engines/active-engine/running
false
/instrumentation/adf/frequencies/selected-khz
332
/environment/weather-scenario
Fair weather
/controls/flight/elevator-trim
0.17
/consumables/fuel/tank[0]/selected
true
/consumables/fuel/tank[1]/selected
true
/controls/anti-ice/engine/carb-heat
false
/controls/switches/master-avionics
false
/controls/switches/master-bat
false
/controls/switches/master-alt
false
/controls/lighting/taxi-light
false
/controls/lighting/landing-lights
false
/controls/anti-ice/pitot-heat
false
/controls/lighting/nav-lights
false
/controls/lighting/beacon
false
/controls/lighting/strobe
false
/controls/lighting/instruments-norm
0
/controls/engines/engine/primer
0
/controls/engines/engine/primer-lever
false
/sim/model/door-positions/baggageDoor/position-norm
0
/sim/model/door-positions/leftDoor/position-norm
0
/sim/model/door-positions/rightDoor/position-norm
0
/sim/model/c172p/securing/chock
false
/sim/model/c172p/securing/cowl-plugs-visible
false
/sim/model/c172p/securing/tiedownL-visible
false
/sim/model/c172p/securing/tiedownR-visible
false
/sim/model/c172p/securing/tiedownT-visible
false
/sim/model/c172p/securing/pitot-cover-visible
false
sim/model/c172p/engine_flag_0
1
sim/model/c172p/engine_flag_1
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/controls/engines/active-engine
0
sim/model/c172p/bushkit_flag_0
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sim/model/c172p/bushkit_flag_3
0
sim/model/c172p/bushkit_flag_4
0
fdm/jsbsim/bushkit
0
/sim/model/c172p/cockpit/control-lock-placed
false
/sim/model/c172p/cockpit/control-lock-visible
false
After finishing the Preflight Inspection you're now ready to learn how to start the engine.
0.0
-12
0.0
-0.21
0.19
73.6
7
Verify that the parking brake is still set.
1.3
-41.9
0.0
-0.2
0.2
0.4
50.1
-0.3092
-0.1992
-0.3284
3.4667
Set the parking brake.
sim/model/c172p/brake-parking
sim/model/c172p/brake-parking
Check that all circuit breakers are in.
/sim/model/hide-yoke
true
1.2
-23.0
0.0
-0.2
-0.1
0.1
42.4
Push the AUTOPILOT-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/autopilot
Push the BCN LT-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/bcnlt
Push the FLAP-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/flaps
Push the INST-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/instr
Push the INT LT-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/intlt
Push the LDG LT-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/landing
Push the ALT-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/master
Push the NAV LT-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/navlt
Push the PITOT HT-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/pitot-heat
Push the RADIO 1-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio1
Push the RADIO 2-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio2
Push the RADIO 3-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio3
Push the RADIO 4-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio4
Push the RADIO 5-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio5
Push the STRB LT-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/strobe
Push the TURN COORD-breaker in.
/controls/circuit-breakers/turn-coordinator
/controls/circuit-breakers/aircond
/controls/circuit-breakers/autopilot
/controls/circuit-breakers/bcnlt
/controls/circuit-breakers/flaps
/controls/circuit-breakers/instr
/controls/circuit-breakers/intlt
/controls/circuit-breakers/landing
/controls/circuit-breakers/master
/controls/circuit-breakers/navlt
/controls/circuit-breakers/pitot-heat
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio1
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio2
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio3
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio4
/controls/circuit-breakers/radio5
/controls/circuit-breakers/strobe
/controls/circuit-breakers/turn-coordinator
Prime the engine.
29.3
-29.6
0.0
-0.2
-0.1
0.1
48.4
-0.3198
-0.4298
-0.2339
1.1157
Prime the engine a bit more!
/controls/engines/engine[0]/primer
3
/controls/engines/engine[0]/primer
3
/controls/engines/engine[0]/primer-lever
The Carburetor Heat must be cold.
349.7
-27.9
0.0
-0.1
-0.1
0.1
48.4
-0.2769
-0.0843
-0.1827
1.1488
Set the Carburetor to cold!
/controls/engines/current-engine/carb-heat
/controls/engines/current-engine/carb-heat
Make sure fuel mixture is set to fully rich.
346.8
-25.8
0.0
-0.2
0.2
0.4
62.3
-0.3000
0.0759
-0.1868
2.0744
Use the m key or mouse to select fuller mixture.
/controls/engines/current-engine/mixture
0.85
/controls/engines/current-engine/mixture
0.85
Open the throttle slightly. Use your joystick throttle control,
or PgUp to increase throttle to about 20%.
346.8
-25.8
0.0
-0.2
0.2
0.4
62.3
-0.3342
-0.0027
-0.2289
3.1156
Push in the throttle using PgUp, or your joystick throttle control.
Open the throttle a bit more.
/controls/engines/current-engine/throttle
0.15
That's a bit too much. Pull it out slightly using your joystick throttle control, or PgDn.
That's a bit too much - pull it out slightly.
/controls/engines/current-engine/throttle
0.25
/controls/engines/current-engine/throttle
0.15
/controls/engines/current-engine/throttle
0.25
Turn the master switch on.
12.2
-35.2
0.0
-0.2
0.3
0.4
35.0
-0.3000
-0.3858
-0.1603
1.9333
/sim/model/hide-yoke
true
Click the battery master switch to turn it on.
/controls/switches/master-bat
/controls/switches/master-bat
Switch on the beacon.
347.6
-29.9
0.0
-0.3
-0.0
0.2
45.3
-0.1041
-0.2215
-0.1033
0.9174
You have to warn everyone that you're about to start the engine so switch on the beacon now!
/controls/lighting/beacon
/controls/lighting/beacon
Now, we'll check no-one is about to walk into our propeller.
2
44.0
-15.7
0.0
-0.2
0.3
0.4
55.0
Looks clear.
2
296.6
-10.4
0.0
-0.2
0.3
0.4
55.0
We need to switch on the magnetos.
Click the middle hotspot three times, or use your mouse scroll wheel, so the key is set to BOTH.
12.2
-35.2
0.0
-0.2
0.3
0.4
35.0
0.0000
-0.2876
0.0223
1.0000
Click the middle hotspot three times, so both magnetos are on and the key
is set to BOTH.
/controls/switches/magnetos
3
/controls/switches/magnetos
3
Finally, we can start the engine. Hold down s, or the right hotspot until the engine catches.
12.2
-35.2
0.0
-0.2
0.3
0.4
35.0
-0.3689
-0.3663
-0.2985
3.0000
Wrong way - set the magnetos back to BOTH.
You need the magnetos on to start the engine. Set them to BOTH by clicking the middle hotspot or pressing ].
/controls/switches/magnetos
3
/engines/active-engine/running
1
Great, the engine is running. Adjust the throttle so we're running at between 800 and 1000 RPM.
360.0
-23.0
0.0
-0.2
0.2
0.4
60.0
-0.3791
-0.3089
-0.1072
3.8622
/sim/panel-hotspots
false
You can release the starter motor now - the engine is running
/controls/switches/starter
true
That's a bit high. Reduce throttle to below 1000 RPM using PgDn, or your joystick throttle control.
/engines/active-engine/rpm
1000.0
That's too low. Increase throttle to above 800 RPM with PgUp, or your joystick throttle control.
/engines/active-engine/rpm
800.0
/engines/active-engine/rpm
800
/engines/active-engine/rpm
1000
Check the oil pressure.
10.7
-13.9
0.0
-0.3
-0.0
0.2
45.3
-0.3628
-0.3876
-0.0248
1.6777
5
Now turn the master alternator switch on.
12.2
-35.2
0.0
-0.2
0.3
0.4
35.0
-0.3375
-0.4142
-0.1878
1.6333
/sim/model/hide-yoke
true
Click the alternator master switch to turn it on.
/controls/switches/master-alt
/controls/switches/master-alt
Finally, switch on the master avionics...
12.2
-35.2
0.0
-0.2
0.3
0.4
35.0
-0.3500
-0.3233
-0.2261
1.3688
Flip the master avionics switch...
/controls/switches/master-avionics
0
/controls/switches/master-avionics
1
... and the navigation lights, too
347.6
-29.9
0.0
-0.3
-0.0
0.2
45.3
-0.3579
-0.1785
-0.2314
1.7438
Switch on the Nav lights!
/controls/lighting/nav-lights
/controls/lighting/nav-lights
Great, our lesson is complete. We're now ready to taxi to the runway.
/sim/model/hide-yoke
false
360.0
-10.0
0.0
-0.2
0.2
0.4
60.0