Just a habit

[cessan270]

I was wondering for all you real pilots out there how much care you take in flight simulator. I know it probaly doesnt matter on the sim though. As usualy I check the controls are free and loose, then do the run up ect. After the flight I let everything cool off. Also who here lets the cylinder on a real aircraft cool down? I have only been with 1 person who does. I also do this on flight simulator. I also dont like to fly with the RPM in the red all the way. I also lean the fuel about and yeah well i guess its just a habit but i suppose it is good to keep habits like this.
What does everyone else think/do

[alembic]

I must admit, I don't bother on the sim, but in real life, I fly R22 choppers for fun, and I let the engine cool down EVERY time at about 75%. Only when it's cooled down enough do I go to full idle. The engine only finally goes off when the mixture is pulled full lean after the revs start rising as the clutch belts become slack enough.

Well that's an abbreviated version of shutdown in one type of chopper anyway. As for planes - I've never done one in real life, so I wouldn't know.

[flyinggriffin]

Not sure what you mean about cool down. A bigger problem in airplanes except in the hottest climate is letting the engine cool too quickly in flight. Typically you have been operating at reduced power for the apporach, landing and taxi...well I hope the grsss isn't so long that you have to use 75% power to taxi :)


I don't go through the full checklist when using the sim basically because I either flying for fun or to concentrate on some other aspect of flying. Unfortunatly you can totally abuse the planes in the sim and not come to grief. Sparkplugs don't foul, engines overheat, or avionics break from power surges.

[alembic]

well I hope
>the grsss isn't so long
>that you have to use
>75% power to taxi :)
>
>
>

The grass length doesn't really affect choppers!!

[av84fun]

"A bigger problem in airplanes except in the hottest climate is letting the engine cool too quickly in flight."

A real controversy has arisen over the so-called "shock cooling" issue. The most advanced research in metallurgy that I know of suggests that there is no such thing as "shock cooling." Rather, it was an excuse by the engine manufacturers to blame someone else for poor workmanship in engine and cylindar design.

All I know about metal is how to pop the top on a beer can but I must say that having owned 5 high performance engines (2 each on Cessna twins and one on a T210)I tend to believe that shock cooling is a myth.

I say that because no one I know (including myself)has ever gotten to TBO in spite of meticulous attention to cooling issues. They crack anyway. I read that the newer engines pretty much have the problem solved and I know that one of manufacturers (Contineltal I think)will not even give you any "core" credit for certain of their models when you go to swap into a new engine.

In turbocharged machines, the cooling issue is different. The turbo runs at cherry red temps and you must allow for cool down time but NOT because of metallurgucal issues. Rather, you will "coke" your oil if you don't.

If interested, go the the following link. There are many like it nowadays.
Regards
http://www.avweb.com/articles/shockcoo.html

[xplanefanatic]

I agree with av8or on this one. I overall keep the same routine with a real a/c. Now it is hard to do the walk around because of the screwed up angle of the spot view. I do keep the same routine, as far as runup, checking the carb heat drop, and so on..One last thing, I do look for other a/c, I have been landed on before, not in real life just so we are clear... :-lol :-lol :-wave

http://www.flightsim.com/dcforum/User_files/3cdd92d9132c3acd.jpg