FSD International
Commander 115 TC
Pilot Operating Handbook
- 38 –
Copyright© 2008 by FSD International. All rights reserved.
For use with Microsoft Flight Simulator only. Not to be used for real-world aviation.
LEANING BY REFERENCE TO THE EGT GAUGE
Exhaust gas temperature is a very accurate reflection of mixture strength in an operating piston
engine. This absolute accuracy is reduced slightly by the realities of uneven mixture distribution
between cylinders and other anomalies associated with manufactured hardware, but EGT remains
as the most accurate and simplest method of leaning the engine under all atmospheric conditions.
To lean this engine to a best economy mixture strength, and to achieve the fuel flows reflected in
the Section 5 cruise, range, and endurance data, move the mixture control to produce an indicated
fuel flow of 2 to 3 GPH greater than predicted for your power setting (in the cruise charts). Allow
the EGT indication to stabilize, and then slowly lean until the EGT indication peaks and begins to
fall. Then enrich en the mixture until the EGT again peaks and begins to fall. Finally lean the
mixture back to the peak EGT level as observed previously.
CAUTION: Leaning to peak EGT is limited to power settings of 75% and below.
At some power setting combinations in some airplanes engine roughness may occur before peak
EGT is achieved. In this case set the mixture just rich enough for smoothness. As always monitor
fuel consumption as the flight progresses.
The engine may also be leaned to a best power mixture strength for approximately a 3 KTAS
increase in speed at a 6 to 10% reduction in range.
STALLS
Stall characteristics for this airplane are entirely conventional with flaps up and down. An aural
warning of an approaching stall is provided when the airplane angle of attack is equivalent to that
in un-accelerated flight as the airspeed comes to within 5 to 10 KCAS of the stall.
BEFORE LANDING
The flap and gear speeds on [he airplane provide the pilot with good spaced control for blending
with traffic at today's airports. It is suggested that 10° flaps is a suitable arrival flap setting. The
landing gear should be extended on downwind, or passing the final approach fix on an instrument
approach. Then on final the effective flaps on the airplane can provide a steep descent capability
over any surrounding obstructions.
Gear extension should be confirmed by three (3) green locked lights, an absence of the red gear
warn light, and an absence of the gear warning horn when the throttle is moved to idle andior the
tlaps are fully extended
LANDING
FUEL
The fuel selector valve should be in the BOTH position for all landings.
MIXTURE SETTINGS
For most landing operations the mixture should be full rich. However, at landing altitudes above
5000 feet the mixture may be leaned for smooth operation for a possible subsequent go-around as
follows: Briefly apply maximum available power. At altitudes above 5000 feet lean the mixture as
needed to produce smooth operation.