Activity Guide
4
Tech-Design by Lab-Volt
Controls and Instruments
Flight Simulation
Flying the Plane
Before each and every flight, a pilot must check his/her airplane to make sure everything is working
properly.
Pre-Flight Check
Open the flight simulation software.
1.
From the Main Menu, click on Free Flight.
2.
From the Free Flight screen, under 1. Current Aircraft, click on Change. Select the Cessna C172SP
3.
Skyhawk aircraft from the list and click OK. Under 2. Current Location, click on Change. Select a
location from the list of thousands of airports. Click OK. Change the 3. Current Weather to Clear
skies. Do not change the 4. Current Time and Season.
Click Fly Now!
4.
If you are in the full-screen mode (no menus or taskbar are visible), press the ALT key on the
5.
keyboard to view the menu bar.
From the Menu bar, click on Views>View Mode>Tower>Nearest Tower. You should see a view of the
6.
plane from the control tower.
Press the + and - keys on the keyboard (NOT the keypad) to zoom in and out.
7.
Zoom in to the plane so that you can see the control surfaces (ailerons, rudder, etc.)
8.
When you see the plane up close, pull on the yoke and turn the rudder pedals with your feet. You
9.
should be able to see the control surfaces move when you move the controls. Make sure everything
works properly.
Turn the yoke to the left and make sure the ailerons respond. Turn the yoke to the right and make
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sure the ailerons respond.
Pull back on the yoke and make sure the elevator responds. Push forward on the yoke and make
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sure the elevator responds.
Push the rudder pedals to the left and make sure the rudder responds. Push the rudder pedals to
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the right and make sure the rudder responds.
From the Menu bar, click on Views>View Mode>Cockpit>Cockpit. (NOTE: if the Menu bar is not
13.
visible, press the ALT key to display it). You will see the instrument panel and will be looking down
the runway.
Observe the instrument panel. Locate and become familiar with the following instruments and
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controls.
HINT:
Place your cursor over an instrument for its name.
Airspeed Indicator
a.
Turn & Bank Indicator
b.
Throttle Control
c.
Attitude Indicator
d.
Heading Indicator
e.
Vertical Speed Indicator
f.
Elevator Position Indicator
g.
Tachometer
h.
Flap switch
i.
ADF Indicator
j.
