New to BMS. Startup help
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Hello everybody.
I’m using the BMS training mission guide and I’m walking through the engine startup tutorial (Mission 1: Ground Ops)
I’ve been through the startup process a half dozen times including watching the startup tutorial on youtube and for the life of me I don’t understand what I’m missing. I can’t start the engine! It’s as if a crucial step has been omitted and I can’t figure out what or where it is. Once the RPM gauge begins moving I’m unable to move the throttle forward (I’m not sure where to click on it) so I don’t know if that is a part of the problem.
I’ve gone through the steps in the manual and nothing works. I then watched the video and followed his steps but that too doesn’t work. I’m lost now.
In any case, I would appreciate some input as to what may be causing the problem.
Thanks.
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Does it move when you start airborne?
These training missions are made to be followed with BMS-Training.pdf. Your answer is probably there.
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Yes, testing with an airborne start that throttle is mapped at all is a good first check. If moving the axis on your controller isn’t producing animated movement (from air start) of the cockpit throttle lever then that’s the first thing to rectify. Check the SETUP>CONTROLLER section of the software to see if the blue bar graph for throttle output responds to your controller axis. If not press the ADVANCED button and assign the appropriate axis and controller in the FLIGHT CONTROL section.
In the real airplane there is a small lever which is pulled which allows the handle to be moved from the off position forward to the idle position. By default moving from the off to idle position is done by moving the axis far enough forward followed by clicking or key for “idle detent” which represents pulling the small locking lever and moving out of the off position. The reverse is possible (idle to off) by being less than 10% axis and triggering this command. The idle detent command can be clicked. It is located where the small black lever on the forward side of the throttle handle is when it’s at its most aft position.
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To begin, I am using the BMS-training.pdf. This is where I found the startup tutorial and I’m following it step by step.
Next. I don’t see any instructions telling me to use my control stick so I’m simply following the tutorial by activating all the panels manually.
Do I have a control stick? Yes.
Has it been configured? Yes.
If the cockpit throttle doesn’t need to move then that’s no big deal for me. I’m simply following the gauges on the panel board and as stated already, the RPM is moving to 20% but beyond this step, nothing else is happening.The issue remains that I can’t start up the engines. My DED does not start up nor do my display screens. This is where I am lost. The startup sequence is not working for me. There is some option that is not activating which clearly does not allow me to start up the cockpit and engine fully.
My engine does not start up. The Instruments don’t light up either nor does my HUD activate. Something has been overlooked and I can’t understand what it is. I know I can take the easy route and just start the sequence with “take off” but that isn’t what I want.I’m going to go through the start up sequence again and see what happens.
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Hello everybody.
I’m using the BMS training mission guide and I’m walking through the engine startup tutorial (Mission 1: Ground Ops)
I’ve been through the startup process a half dozen times including watching the startup tutorial on youtube and for the life of me I don’t understand what I’m missing. I can’t start the engine! It’s as if a crucial step has been omitted and I can’t figure out what or where it is. Once the RPM gauge begins moving I’m unable to move the throttle forward (I’m not sure where to click on it) so I don’t know if that is a part of the problem.
I’ve gone through the steps in the manual and nothing works. I then watched the video and followed his steps but that too doesn’t work. I’m lost now.
In any case, I would appreciate some input as to what may be causing the problem.
Thanks.
ALT + I
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In 4.34, the throttle does not move in the pit until you hit the idle detent. When the RPM settles just north of 20%, click Alt-I. Do not move the throttle until idle RPM is reached… around 70ish%
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BMS docs folder/F-16 checklists/main checklists.pdf scroll down to Starting Engine Step 3 Idle detent–toggle move your mouse cursor over the hotspot near the detent lever on the throttle and left click. The throttle should move a short distance up and the engine should start to spool. What I usually do on starting BMS I go to the setup page select the controller button and move my stick and throttle then I proceed to mission selection ect
Dave
PS. My typing skills suck bad 2 people posted in the time it took me to respond;)
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Since ALT-I and idle detent are clearly mentioned in BMS-Training.pdf, I’d assume OP already perfectly knows all that. If I don’t assume that, the doors are opened to many possibilities:
1. BMS-Training.pdf actually not followed by the book
2. Throttle actually not working well even airborne
3. ALT-I actually not known or not well configured… And so on.
In the case, then, where my assumption was wrong, a commented video of what OP is doing would end up useful.
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An out of the choir voice
For every kind of explication you can provide about your need to start from engine start, my absolutely personal point of view is : do not start from engine start.
In BMS, a very demanding sim, engine start it’s a quite demanding exercise… Must to be sure to very well know all about your stuff, throttle, stick and pedals if you have them. Everything must to well run inside the sim. Start to know Consoles,malfunction light every single switch.
Fly, have a fun.
Engine start procedure it’s coming itself after long time. Take it easy and enjoy the sim. In my opinion it’s like air to air refueling, those stuff can cause a nervous breakdown, in my opinion you are getting too much info that can make hate this sim.
Of course do what you like, but again, in this way seem to me the worst way to approach BMS.
I love that sim that I believed at a given time that to play it as deserved I need a real cockpit.
…and I’ve builded…
Step by step
G -
An out of the choir voice
For every kind of explication you can provide about your need to start from engine start, my absolutely personal point of view is : do not start from engine start.
In BMS, a very demanding sim, engine start it’s a quite demanding exercise… Must to be sure to very well know all about your stuff, throttle, stick and pedals if you have them. Everything must to well run inside the sim. Start to know Consoles,malfunction light every single switch.
Fly, have a fun.
Engine start procedure it’s coming itself after long time. Take it easy and enjoy the sim. In my opinion it’s like air to air refueling, those stuff can cause a nervous breakdown, in my opinion you are getting too much info that can make hate this sim.
Of course do what you like, but again, in this way seem to me the worst way to approach BMS.
I love that sim that I believed at a given time that to play it as deserved I need a real cockpit.
…and I’ve builded…
Step by step
GI agree, but there is something about bringing the jet to life that is gratifying in itself. For now I use an “Abbreviated” checklist, skipping a lot of tests, and for me it is a good compromise. I also have read that starting on Taxi or Runway can cause timing issues but not really sure why…
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Hello everybody.
I’m using the BMS training mission guide and I’m walking through the engine startup tutorial (Mission 1: Ground Ops)
I’ve been through the startup process a half dozen times including watching the startup tutorial on youtube and for the life of me I don’t understand what I’m missing. I can’t start the engine! It’s as if a crucial step has been omitted and I can’t figure out what or where it is. Once the RPM gauge begins moving I’m unable to move the throttle forward (I’m not sure where to click on it) so I don’t know if that is a part of the problem.
I’ve gone through the steps in the manual and nothing works. I then watched the video and followed his steps but that too doesn’t work. I’m lost now.
In any case, I would appreciate some input as to what may be causing the problem.
Thanks.
Move your throttle all way from min to max when you get in plane. This “sets limits of your throttle axis to work correctly”. Then do like guide says with idle detent at correct time like in manual.
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Hello everybody.
I’m using the BMS training mission guide and I’m walking through the engine startup tutorial (Mission 1: Ground Ops)
I’ve been through the startup process a half dozen times including watching the startup tutorial on youtube and for the life of me I don’t understand what I’m missing. I can’t start the engine! It’s as if a crucial step has been omitted and I can’t figure out what or where it is. Once the RPM gauge begins moving I’m unable to move the throttle forward (I’m not sure where to click on it) so I don’t know if that is a part of the problem.
I’ve gone through the steps in the manual and nothing works. I then watched the video and followed his steps but that too doesn’t work. I’m lost now.
In any case, I would appreciate some input as to what may be causing the problem.
Thanks.
Take a look here, Fluke’s checklist is great! I modified it a bit more for my own use and added a couple notes… (Ignore “Can’t see it”, just needed to use mouse to shift my view…)
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My bet is on a hardware issue with the throttle. No unofficial checklist will solve this. The training manual is quite proven and has been working as is for hundreths of users. So the issue here is most certainly hotas set up from new guys, as it was often the case before.
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Ok, I finally figured it out. BMS was not detecting my game throttle so I had to dig around in the advanced settings in order to sync it to BMS. Now that my throttle is linked, I applied the Idle Detent (Alt-I) and once that happened the system started right up.
The only remaining issue I have is with my nose steering. Can somebody please direct me in how to link my nose steering to my controller? If I recall correctly, my days flying Falcon 4 had me just moving my controller left or right and that was all I needed to do. It’s clear that I need to configure my controller this time.
Thanks again for your help.
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The only remaining issue I have is with my nose steering. Can somebody please direct me in how to link my nose steering to my controller? If I recall correctly, my days flying Falcon 4 had me just moving my controller left or right and that was all I needed to do. It’s clear that I need to configure my controller this time.
Thanks again for your help.
The command is NWS A/R MISS and on my keyfile it’s /. The best way to map to HOTAs is the Dx method in the UI
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Hi drkbkj
If I understand you correctly I don’t need to program my controller, I simply press / and my NWS activate and deactivates each time.
Ok, thanks. -
Hi drkbkj
If I understand you correctly I don’t need to program my controller, I simply press / and my NWS activate and deactivates each time.
Ok, thanks.That will work if your keyfile hasn’t been modified, yes. Once in the air the same key is Missile Step (to next pylon A-A or A-G)
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Persius, Icer makes a good point. As we discuss key commands and their functions, you always need to keep in mind that it can vary with what keyfile( and stock/modified) you’re using. The test is to go into the UI, then into the Controls section, enter the key command, and see what function appears. So, for our example, entering " /" should yield “STICK:NWS A/R DISC MSL STEP SWITCH”. If it does, you’re good-to-go.
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The command is NWS A/R MISS and on my keyfile it’s /. The best way to map to HOTAs is the Dx method in the UI
The default v4.34 keypress for NWS A/R MSL is " Shift / " (pg 25 of the BMS Manual)
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The default v4.34 keypress for NWS A/R MSL is " Shift / " (pg 25 of the BMS Manual)
Gray, you may well be correct. I tend to “rekey” the critical functions to non-combo keystokes(my Saitek doesn’t like those) , and this may very well have been one. On the bright side, it’s a good example to Persius of exactly what we were talking about