|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on May 15, 2017 12:49:52 GMT
Hi! This is the support topic for the VSKYLABS Tecnam P2006T.
You are invited to chime in, write feedback, report bugs, ask questions and talk about any aspect with regards to the Tecnam P2006T aircraft (real life and the VSKYLABS one). Current version: v001
|
|
|
|
Post by jaggo82 on May 16, 2017 17:50:44 GMT
Hey there,
I am Jakob from Germany and first of all congrats to the launch of this fine aircraft. I am very happy with the first look and feel with the aircraft. I took it out for a quick spin, using the real life POH/Checklist. I am using the aircraft with X-Plane 11.01
Here are some sights:
- GPS right hand outer knobs are hard to turn clockwise from pilots position. Using TrackIR I need to shift my head towards the center to operate it in the 3D cockpit.
- Loading the aircraft cold and dark, both fuel selectors are on "left tank".
- Max allowable RPM (according to the POH 2388 / red line) can be exceeded with ease on full throttle. Pans out to hit 2600-2700 RPM at the end.
- What are the operating limit for Manifold Pressure? I can't spot a thing about it in the POH.
- During line-up checks (1650 RPM) the aircraft moves with parking brake engaged on grass surface. Maybe brake power is set to low.
- As carburetor heat can't be assigned to an axis, is it possible to have both levers move simultaneously?
- Hide-able yokes would be very handy. Some essential switches are tricky to reach in flight.
Overall a very well crafted aircraft. Really enjoyable to fly.
Regards
Jakob
|
|
|
|
Post by svero1848 on May 16, 2017 18:56:37 GMT
Hi, how did you start the engines? I'm following a real-world POH too. Found at archer839al.com/pdf/P2006T-POH.pdf. But the engines will not start. So I assume I miss something. But what?  Starting the engines via X-Plane (Ctrl+Shift+E) worked. So I could fly a short distance in SoCal. The handling is very nice. Especially for my slow flight training  I could fly the plane stable at 60 kn with full flaps. Not bad. One point I have recognized: the set VS value at the autopilot display is not shown. Only a "-" or a "+" beside the "VS" is displayed. I could fine tune the VS using the VSI gauge. So it was not a problem. All in all I like this plane. The design is great. Although there is room for improvements. But for a first release it is really awesome. I have seen worse releases by some of the bigger player during the last weeks. So congratulations for this nice plane! Kind regards, Sven |
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on May 16, 2017 19:29:53 GMT
Hi Jakob! Thank you for your input! great stuff in it. As you are probably know, the aircraft is in constant development, so any feedback is great! A short follow up (by order): a)GPS right hand outer knobs are hard to turn clockwise from pilots position:I'll check it out. It will be fixed! b) Both fuel selectors on left tank when starting cold and dark:I'm aware of this one. It is X-Plane's preset and I will get into solving this down the road. c)Max allowable RPM can be exceeded with ease on full throttle:It is correct, and intentional (edit:) for a while. In real airplanes, sometimes the allowable limits can be exceed with pilot operation. For example, during a takeoff run with a King-Air B200, the pilot should adjust the throttles while the aircraft is running, because it is fairly easy to cross the torque limit for the engines. It happens also in smaller (and bigger) airplanes. I've set a higher limit to the engine's rpm (6500), which is affecting the propellers rpm (running up to 2600-2700 rpm in high-rpm setting). So, practically, during takeoff, climb and cruise, you should monitor the rpm and adjust the throttles/prop levers so it would stay within the allowable range. The rpm limit that I've set will be reduced in future updates, as the engine performance will continue to fine-tune, edit:but still you will be able to go beyond allowable limits (but not prop rpm though, unless you have a prop runaway failure).d)Operating limit for Manifold pressure:This is a more complex issue, but I'll try to keep it short: when you fly an aircraft with a fixed pitch propeller, there is usually no manifold pressure indicator, because the engine's (or propeller's) rpm is reflecting how hard the engine is working. Now, when you fly an aircraft with constant speed propeller (I'll explain it thoroughly in the near future), the propeller will "try" to keep the engine at the same speed, no matter what is your power settings (you can see 2500 prop rpm with half power or with full power depending on the situation). In this case, the rpm indicator cannot reflect how "hard" the engine is working. However, the manifold pressure can give you a hint, depending on your flying altitude (at full throttle you will have ~1 atmosphere, and as you reduce power, it goes down). So...there is no manifold pressure limit of operation. The aircraft manufacturer write recommendations for the rpm and manifold pressure for the selected phases of flight. With no connection to your question, note that the whole "engine rpm to propeller rpm to manifold pressure" combination is still under tuning and evaluation. e) Aircraft moves in lineup checks on grass:
Noted this one. You can try to use 'max braking power' ("v" in the keyboard) and see if it is getting better. In any case, I've noted this down for further evaluation. f)Moving two handles simultaneously (carb heat, prop levers, throttles):
Good point, I'll add it to my list! (interactivity aspect). g)Hide-able yokes:
It is on the scheduled update plan, will be available in one of the upcoming updates. Thanks again for your great inputs! I hope that my answers were good JetManHuss.
|
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on May 16, 2017 19:38:02 GMT
Hi, how did you start the engines? I'm following a real-world POH too. Found at archer839al.com/pdf/P2006T-POH.pdf. But the engines will not start. So I assume I miss something. But what? Starting the engines via X-Plane (Ctrl+Shift+E) worked. So I could fly a short distance in SoCal. The handling is very nice. Especially for my slow flight training I could fly the plane stable at 60 kn with full flaps. Not bad. One point I have recognized: the set VS value at the autopilot display is not shown. Only a "-" or a "+" beside the "VS" is displayed. I could fine tune the VS using the VSI gauge. So it was not a problem. All in all I like this plane. The design is great. Although there is room for improvements. But for a first release it is really awesome. I have seen worse releases by some of the bigger player during the last weeks. So congratulations for this nice plane! Kind regards, Sven Hi Sven! Thanks! I recommend reading the notes in the project's page at VSKYLABS: www.vskylabs.com/2017/04/vskylabs-tecnam-p2006t-project.htmlIt has all the answers to your questions. Starting the engines:
Do as the POH directs you to, but you will need first to 'reset' the choke handles by switching them up and then down again. Reason is that X-Plane is "awaking" in cold-and-dark, with shut-down mixture. I will try to get around this X-Plane setup in the future. Autopilot VS mode (answer quoted from the project's page):
Autopilot: The VSKYLABS Tecnam P2006T aircraft is featuring the X-Plane included version of the S-TEC 55X Autopilot. The X-Plane's S-TEC 55 is a fully functioning autopilot, but it is a simplified version of the real S-TEC 55X autopilot. Some displays are currently not featured in the display screen, but all of the operation modes are fully functioning (heading, NAV, Approach, Back-Course, Alt, Vertical Speed). The Vertical Speed mode is set up to maintain up to 1000 feet/min (climb/descent). Set it up by simply rotating the knob. I will probably add an additional display panel for the autopilot in the future. Thanks for your feedback The aircraft is still under development and it will get "tighter" as time goes by. |
|
|
|
Post by svero1848 on May 16, 2017 19:55:02 GMT
Hi JetManHuss, Thanks for your reply. I will try it tomorrow. For today I have to be strong and have to ignore X-Plane. Need to get some sleep before the next day will start here in Berlin About showing the set VS value: it's clearly not a problem. Like I said I can use the VSI to adjust the VS the autopilot holds. It was only something I had noted in contrast to other planes with the S-TEC 55(X) I own. So no need for a quick "fix" or something. When I'm knowing that this works as designed I'm right with it And I know that this is a development version. But to be clear: for a "development version" it is more mature than some of the planes released shortly but much bigger competitors. So you can be really glad about your creation. I like it much. And I'm looking forward to follow your development process to make this plane better and better. Kind regards, Sven |
|
|
|
Post by jaggo82 on May 16, 2017 20:25:47 GMT
Hey JetManHuss,
Great explanations, especially regarding RPM and MAP. Haven't been aware of it, but now fog clears up a lot.
Did a longer flight the last hour and practised the normal flight patterns. The aircraft needs a lot power, once the gear is down and the flaps fully deployed, to maintain a stable 75KIAS approach. Is that normal? Do gear and flaps induce so much drag on the P06?
|
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on May 16, 2017 20:50:35 GMT
Hi! Drag is higher than it should be. It will be fixed soon, right after I'll complete the flaps and the propellers performance tunning (the propellers pitch is slightly too fine, causing the need for higher power setting).
It is one of the topics in my pre-planned development update schedule. The near upcoming update will be released within a few days.
|
|
|
|
Post by taildraggin68 on May 16, 2017 21:36:05 GMT
Just of note, I have no illumination of the ground with the landing/taxi lights.(V11) Otherwise, fun plane and I look forward to the JMH treatment to the updates. Thanks for bringing the Tecnam to xplane.
|
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on May 16, 2017 22:15:24 GMT
Just of note, I have no illumination of the ground with the landing/taxi lights.(V11) Otherwise, fun plane and I look forward to the JMH treatment to the updates. Thanks for bringing the Tecnam to xplane. Hi Got it! The "JMH treatment" to the updates will soon to begin  |
|
|
|
Post by timatc on May 17, 2017 8:32:20 GMT
Hello,
Is it possible to open the doors of this aircraft?
Looks great so far!
Cheers,
Tim.
|
|
fab10
New Member
Posts: 3 
|
Post by fab10 on May 17, 2017 9:49:13 GMT
Hi,
Firstly, thank you for this aircraft, it's already excellent, and it's only going to get better.
May I ask whether there is a way to hide the yokes? I don't use head tracking software, so manoeuvring around the VC can be tricky to click hidden buttons.
An observation is that to start it, the chokes have to be applied (mixture) and then switched off; the P1's choke is easy to do from the left seat, but the P2's choke cannot be actioned from the left seat.
Personally, I'd like to be able to open the doors, but I haven't found any click spots as yet.
I'm looking forward to future updates.
Many thanks,
Fabio
|
|
|
|
Post by VSL-Admin on May 17, 2017 9:59:04 GMT
Hi, Firstly, thank you for this aircraft, it's already excellent, and it's only going to get better. May I ask whether there is a way to hide the yokes? I don't use head tracking software, so manoeuvring around the VC can be tricky to click hidden buttons. An observation is that to start it, the chokes have to be applied (mixture) and then switched off; the P1's choke is easy to do from the left seat, but the P2's choke cannot be actioned from the left seat. Personally, I'd like to be able to open the doors, but I haven't found any click spots as yet. I'm looking forward to future updates. Many thanks, Fabio Hi Fabio! In couple of hours update to version 001.1 will be released. Among other things, it features the hide-yoke feature. Update log will be released also. Choke operation from left seat is possible, but not comfortable. It will be fixed soon, in the next update. The need to set it off and then on as you start on cold and dark, is because of X-Plane setting to start cold and dark with mixture set to zero. I'll try to work it out in the future. Doors - they are animated but only in my development prototype, because it needs sone refinements. It will be availible in the future! Thanks for the great inputs! |
|
fab10
New Member
Posts: 3
|
Post by fab10 on May 17, 2017 11:47:43 GMT
Hi,
Thanks, the new version is downloaded, and I'll fly it after work.
I must just say that this is a truly great choice of aircraft.
Many thanks,
Fabio
|
|
|
|
Post by jaggo82 on May 17, 2017 11:54:10 GMT
V1.1 comes along nicely. Very fun to fly now. Aircraft is way light, but feels heavy in flight. Power settings on approach are much better now. She tends to float a bit over the numbers, which needs more practice on my side. Used to fly a lot Cessna 210's and Piper Archer and this lady has a bit of different needs for a smooth landing.
Here are some sights and thoughts:
ENGINE COOLING.
During my first flight CHT and OIL Temp went up the roof, even on ground. I checked the POH and it points for RAM-Air and liquid cooled cylinders. I checked outside temp and fell above the "Cowl Flaps", which the aircraft is not equipped with. But if you load XP11 with a default aircraft, the cowl flaps are set to 0.5 (half-open). Loading the P2006T thereafter results in half-open cowl flaps and thus a wrong calculation on engine parameters. I assigned a button to close/open the cowls and tried again with the cowls open. CHT and OIL-Temp stayed within green range, despite for a short period during take-off run. Maybe you need to tweak something here in Plane-Maker to allow better engine cooling or maybe this is a XP11 bug.
EDIT:
- Even with the non-existing cowls fully open, in engine idle settings; CHT reaches 128 and OIL-Temp 101. I think thats a bit high, because as soon you apply a bit power for taxi, CHT rises above the red line within two minutes.
GRAPHICS:
- Resolution of the GNS530 bezel is a bit low. Writings look faded. It's ok for the lower unit.
- Heading numbers on the heading rose are hard to read sometimes, especially on the upper half.
CRUISE PERFORMANCE:
- Did some tests with Max-Takeoff weight at 3000ft under ISA conditions. I referred to the tables from the POH. At all MAP/RPM values the aircraft is lacking a few knots (5-10) on TAS. I used X-Plane's data output to crosscheck.
WISHLIST:
- separate DME receiver
- Altitude pre-selector for the autopilot
|
|
I could fly the plane stable at 60 kn with full flaps. Not bad. 
