DC-8 mystery Dials - What do they do?

[thrillsandchills]

For the life of me, I can't figure out what these dials do. Does anyone know?

Thanks in advance,

Thrills and Chills

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

If you don't mind .... in future can you post your imagery other than by way of an attachment/s ?

It's just that one needs to be logged-in in order be able to be able to view such attachments .... and which isn't always convenient.

Consider setting up a "FREE" image hosting account .... like PHOTObUCKET (or other) .... and uploading your imagery there (perhaps), and then copying & pasting the related image URL link/s to your posting.

No big deal really .... BUT .... it would be appreciated/more convenient .... from my own perspective at least


ABOUT THOSE GAUGES .... the best I can advise is ....


The larger of the 2 knobs is, I think, some form FD mode selector switch .... with selectable OFF, F/I, RADIO AUTO, RADIO MAN, and G/A options.

The smaller knob, located at the bottom right of it, can be used to set/manipulate the displayed indications when F/I mode (only) is engaged per the principle FD mode selector knob

The vertical thumb wheel, loated to the right of both of these knobs, is an FD TRIM selector .... which can be used to set/manipulate the displayed indications when either F/I or RADIO AUTO modes (only) are engaged per the principle FD mode selectot knob

I'm not actually sure precisely how these are used .... so .... can't advise authoritively .... unusual for me I know

I really need one of the pilots (or someone elses educated opinion) to fill us all in as to these features and their precise usesage .... BUT .... I can say, for the type flying I do at least, and using the HJG DC8-60/70 panel series, I've "NEVER" actually used either knob .... over my entire 13 year association with HJG and these particular DC8 panels.

By not understanding it I don't think anyone is, really. missing much of great importance, but, we'll see .... hopefully on the basis of a more informed/experienced opinion than mine.


Just one unrelated comment .... and this might only be on account of how things are presented, to me, per my own monitor .... BUT .... you might want to experiment with your monitor screen-size/resolutions (etc) .... just in order to {maybe) try'n reduce the apparent "ovalness" that's evident per the round gauges displayed in the panel .... and per your image. Of course I/we appreciate these panels are from another age and were not designed for use with wide-screen type monitors

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[thrillsandchills]

Sorry about the attachment. I'll host them somewhere next time.

Yep that's it, the picture was taken on a 16:9 aspect ratio monitor. I still can't see the distortion.

Thanks for the info for the dials.

Thrills and Chills

[skyking]

Hi Mark,

He asked me about that panel. I simply don't remember it at all. I looked all through my manual and didn't find anything about it. Maybe it was an option ?! But, as I told him, I've got ALS and some parts of my memory are shot.

Take care,

Skyking.

[acourt]

DM,

Mark is right: there's really no need to use those controls. They change the settings of the flight director. The Eight's FD, as depicted here, is not nearly as useful as a modern "smart" system. You basically tell the FD what you want to fly, and it moves the two FD bars to give you what you asked for. Say you want to fly a 270 heading with a pitch of 8 degrees nose up. You would set the heading and pitch on the FD control panel, and then fly the heading and pitch. Or...you could just fly the heading and pitch and not distract yourself with the FD. Personal opinion!


I've only fiddled with those controls a little, but here's what I've learned...

Mode Selector:

OFF = Both pitch and roll cues are removed from the attitude indicator.

F/I = "Flight Instrument?" The pitch bar is controlled by the F/D Trim wheel: one click is one degree pitch change. The roll bar is controlled by the heading knob, either on the HSI or below and to the left of the F/D trim wheel: one click is one degree heading change.

RADIO AUTO = The FD will automatically capture a course from a VOR or Localizer. The roll cue remains in heading mode until the course captures. I haven't experimented to see if it captures a glideslope. I don't think it does.

RADIO MAN = Don't know.

G/A = The roll cue is taken away, and the pitch cue is set at the go around attitude, probably around 10 to 15 degrees nose up. I think it's a set pitch, regardless of weight. Watch you speed!


F/D Trim:

Controls the position of the pitch cue of the FD in F/I mode.


Heading Knob:

Controls the heading bug, affecting F/I mode and RADIO AUTO mode prior to capturing a nav course. Also located on the HSI.


That's about all I know. I haven't used a FD like this since flying the Jetstream 31. I do recall that it was too much work for very little functionality. Again, I wouldn't bother with it.


Al

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

"THANKS" Al .... that's really helpful .... clarifying/putting and end to much of the mystery

Mark C
ASKL/NZ

[thrillsandchills]

Thanks for the info.

Thrills and Chills

[walterleo]

FD bars work in the DC 8 simulation with LOC and GS on RADIO AUTO , as long as ILS is correctly selected on NAV, 1 LOC Radial correctly selected and Heading bug on approach heading.

Kind regards

Walter