Australian Flying - July 2018

on the left with the moving map
on the major area of the display.
These consist of torque (TRQ ),
Interstage Turbine Temperature
(ITT), Engine RPM (NG%),
Prop RPM, engine oil pressure
and temperature, fuel quantity,
fuel f low and fuel temperature.
Alongside these primary engine
indications are the ancillary
indictors for cabin pressure,
electrical loads, pitch trim, f lap
and landing gear.
The MFD also displays the
Electronic Flight Bag using the
appropriate Jeppesen charts.
Your own aircraft position
appears as a magenta delta
moving around the airfield chart
to help orientate your position
reference taxiway intersections.
Below the centre MFD
screen, are the twin touch-screen
controllers. Each screen allows
the pilot to enter the required
frequencies on either of the twin
VHF radios, transponder codes,
navigation waypoints as part of
a f light plan, control the charts
selected on the MFD, allows the
selection of various aircraft systems
displays, accesses satellite weather
information as well as planning
aircraft performance. They truly
are the control heart of the aircraft.
Outboard to the left of the
pilot’s PFD is the Aspen Avionics
standby instruments. This
consists of a single f lat panel
colour display of attitude and
heading with tape airspeed and
altitude indications.
Situated below these display
controllers are the engine controls

consisting of the power lever,

condition lever and the manual

pitch trim wheel. To my liking,

the power lever is mounted a little

too low and sits just slightly lower

than the height of the front seat

bases. This posed a slight problem

later during the f light.

Located either side of the centre

touch-screen controllers are the

landing gear switch to the left

and the three-position (up, t/o

and lnd) f lap switch to the right.

Outboard on the left, are the

various engine bleed air controls

and the air-conditioning.

The various Auto-f light mode

controls are located above the

centre MFD. These control the

heading bug, navigation course

(CRS) selector, f light director On/

Off, altitude selector, yaw damper

and vertical speed selector (V/S).

On the outboard top of each

leather bound control yoke are

the various switches for autopilot

disconnect, pitch trim and radio

transmit. In the centre of the yoke

for those who still wish to use old-

fashioned paper IAP charts, notes

or maps, there is a clip for holding

them in clear view.

On either cockpit wall outboard

of both front seats are located the

electrical circuit breakers with the

vast majority of important systems

found on the left side.

Flying the beast

After familiarizing myself with

the cockpit layout, it was now time

to put it into action and go f lying.

Our f light was planned to depart

YBAF on an IFR f light plan at

35

July – August 2018 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

10,000 feet for a short f light up to

Warwick on the southern Darling

Downs and back to Archerfield.

After checking that all the

electrical and bleed controls

were selected appropriate for an

engine start, annunciator lights

checked, the battery voltage

was checked sufficient for an

internal power start. After

checking that the fuel pumps

were selected on man, l and r

fuel pump messages showed on,

the ignition switch selected to

man and the prop area was clear,

a start cycle was commenced.

Selecting the start mode

to auto, lifting the cover and

pushing tart there was an

immediate whirring sound and

the Ng % began to increase quite

quickly. As it passed 13%, fuel

is introduced to the engine by

advancing the Condition Lever to

run. The main limitation that we

were looking for on the start, was

a maximum of 1000°C, which is

limited for just five seconds.

The only other limit that needs

to be observed is that the starter

has disengaged above 56% Ng.

While waiting for the

obligatory warm up and checking

of engine parameters, the avionics

were selected on and the relevant

weight and fuel data were entered

or confirmed from fuel onboard

and the f light plan route entered

into the G3000, we were virtually

now ready for taxy.

Of course the most important

item for f light in this type of

aircraft around SE QLD, making

sure the air conditioning was

selected on. Immediately cooling

air was felt coming from the air

LEFT: The large n

eases handling the

increased engine

power. Note the

small fairing/slot

over the tailplane

leading edge.

FA R L E F T: The

4.15-metre gear

track shows here

while taxying

on Archereld’s

taxiway B.

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