Problems with Ramp Start…
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I am doing my ramp start and I am struggling to get the engine to go above 20%. On page 147 (Dash 1) I get to the second sweep, the first thing I encounter is that the following does not happen:
“While the TEST switch is held the FLCS PMG and the ACFT BATT TO FLCS lights illuminate and the FLCS RLY light goes out.”
That light does not go out.
Second problem is that when I do number 2 on the same page, the RPM does not go above 20%. It goes to about 20%, I see the SEC caution light go out, but moving the throttle does not cause the engine RPM to increase, and fuel flow is zero. I also see the MASTER CAUTION light on, and so is the engine caution. I am doing it step by step, can see the throttle move in the a/c when I move the x52, and I have confirmed that the right profile is loaded.
Basic steps are:
MAIN PWR Switch set to MAIN PWR (Not BATT)
ENG & JET START set to Start2
JFS RUN LIGHT is ONRPM increases to 20% but will not go higher, regardless of throttle position. I am doing this in a campaign with Block 50.
I know this is something really simple! lol
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2nd problem: Your missing the step where you click the idle detent lever on the throttle.
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2nd problem: Your missing the step where you click the idle detent lever on the throttle.
Okay buddy thanks. Question. When I look at my setup in BMS I see a red line at the bottom of the throttle. I can set the AB but the red line at the bottom makes me wonder if this is the idle detent. No idea, but I do not see this in the RAMP START procedures, so what is the right procedure? Alt I is the key used to set it, but it seemed flaky when I tried it. Any idea how I should be doing this?
Thanks!
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Okay buddy thanks. Question. When I look at my setup in BMS I see a red line at the bottom of the throttle. I can set the AB but the red line at the bottom makes me wonder if this is the idle detent. No idea, but I do not see this in the RAMP START procedures, so what is the right procedure? Alt I is the key used to set it, but it seemed flaky when I tried it. Any idea how I should be doing this?
Thanks!
The red line is your idle detent. You right click on the set AB to change where the idle detent is at.
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Yes, the red line is the Idle Detent. It is set by default so you use the keyboard rather than the throttle position to control it. You can instead use that red line, such that advancing the throttle moves it out of IDLE, and retarding the throttle sufficiently brings it back to OFF. To enable that, you need to use the configuration settings on the launcher, and select IDLE CUTOFF under the hardware folder.
If you do not set this, then you need to click the Idle cutoff lever in the pit when you advance the throttle.
Im more interested in your FLCS RLY light not going out. You should get the 4 FLCS PMG lights to come on (A,B,C, and D) on the TEST PANEL, and AC BATT TO FLCS to come on, and FLCS RLY should go out. Have you positioned the MAIN PWR switch to BATT before you hold the FLCS PWR TEST switch? If you position it to MAIN PWR, then IIRC you will not get the AC BATT TO FLCS light.
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Okay buddy thanks. Question. When I look at my setup in BMS I see a red line at the bottom of the throttle. I can set the AB but the red line at the bottom makes me wonder if this is the idle detent. No idea, but I do not see this in the RAMP START procedures, so what is the right procedure? Alt I is the key used to set it, but it seemed flaky when I tried it. Any idea how I should be doing this?
Thanks!
You can set an idle detent in the setup UI. However, if you ever bring your throttle below that point, you’ll spool the engine down and have to restart. I think it’s intended for certain HOTASs that have an idle stop/detent.
For the rest of us, we mouse click the ‘lever’ on the throttle, or use ALT-I.
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Right click on the “Set AB” to set the throttle position for the idle detent. What joystick do you use? The thrust master warthog has a back stop that you need to lift the throttles over to retard them all the way which is where I set my idle detent. I don’t recommend setting this on the throttle axis if you don’t have an aft detent or backstop. I think you need to turn the idle detent off in the config startup menu if you are going to set this to a button.
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FLCS TEST switch will press against the spring loaded test position when you LMB on the click zone and release back to normal when you release LMB on the click zone. Most certainly the cursor was moved away from the click zone while LMB was held and the LMB release event did not happen while the cursor was on the click zone. The result? No release event. The fix? Click and release on the “stuck” switch again to provide the LMB release event making sure the cursor is on the click zone.
The FLCS TEST switch behaves differently in BATT and MAIN PWR positions and the lights which go on and off can be a little subtle as to which lights are changed.
The throttle detent release lever is a bicycle handbrake looking appendage on the throttle and requires a click (or the key/button callback) when going from OFF to IDLE or vice versa.
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You guys are awesome. Thanks for the help!
I set the idle cutoff config setting and it worked fine the second time. First RAMP START and it was awesome. I was in a campaign, so a lot of stuff was going on while I was doing it, which added so much to the experience. Using an X-52 Pro, btw.
Let me retest the FLCS RLY light not going out and I will get back to you guys. Everything went out once the RPM went to 70% or so, but from the docs (which are awesome, btw) I was expecting this light to go out when the test sequence was over, and it did not.
The good thing about the idle detent issue is I did the RAMP START like 6 times tonight (lol), thinking I screwed a step. One time I tried to align the ILS before clicking the GPS switch. Start over! So I think I have it pretty well down now, but I will do it again tomorrow with the docs, to make sure I don’t miss anything. I think doing a RAMP START before a flight just gets you pumped!
This sim is amazing. Thanks for the help guys.
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You can set an idle detent in the setup UI. However, if you ever bring your throttle below that point, you’ll spool the engine down and have to restart. I think it’s intended for certain HOTASs that have an idle stop/detent.
For the rest of us, we mouse click the ‘lever’ on the throttle, or use ALT-I.
I have the x52 pro, and it does have a stop point, and a hump to get over. I checked the idle cutoff in the config, and it idled at about 75% when i just go over that hump spot. I am hoping this is right!
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I have the x52 pro, and it does have a stop point, and a hump to get over. I checked the idle cutoff in the config, and it idled at about 75% when i just go over that hump spot. I am hoping this is right!
I don’t remember the X52 Pro having an idle detent? Mine had an afterburner detent about 75% of the way up, but that stopped working after a few months and I removed it. When you’re done, your throttle diagram should look something like this (ideally, with a detent at each end):
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I am having a similar issue. Using a CH throttle I am able to start and shutdown the F-16 just fine, as always, by mouseclicking the lever on the throttle. However, that does not work with the F-18 (for me). The little switch in the group of five avionics switches several inches forward of the throttle is listed as the idle-cutoff. But that seems to do nothing. I have Alt- listed as my Throttle Idle callback. But that also does not work to start either the F-16 or the F-18. Again, not a problem in the Viper because the mouse-click works fine. Using the Idle setting in the Config, does allow me to start the F-18 but with that option selected I am unable to shutdown either plane.
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Disregard. Using the wrong callback (should be Alt-I). Never even knew that existed before.
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@Smokin:
I am having a similar issue. Using a CH throttle I am able to start and shutdown the F-16 just fine, as always, by mouseclicking the lever on the throttle. However, that does not work with the F-18 (for me). The little switch in the group of five avionics switches several inches forward of the throttle is listed as the idle-cutoff. But that seems to do nothing. I have Alt- listed as my Throttle Idle callback. But that also does not work to start either the F-16 or the F-18. Again, not a problem in the Viper because the mouse-click works fine. Using the Idle setting in the Config, does allow me to start the F-18 but with that option selected I am unable to shutdown either plane.
F/A-18 Ramp Start video for BMS 4.33 here: https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?23587-Hornet-Ramp-start-Video&p=339859&viewfull=1#post339859
FYI.