Aux fuel pump "auto" issue and some misc. items
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Hi Nick, first of all thanks for the long awaited update for the TBM! This might finally get me flying something other than the Dukes.
There is one issue that I would have hoped would be fixed, but I'm not sure if it was ever mentioned anywhere.When the engine is off and the aux fuel pump is in the auto position (during shutdown for example), it switches on (probably until it reaches a pre-set PSI) and immediately switches off again because the pressure has been reached, as it immediately switches back on because the pressure has been lost, while it immediately switches off again because the pressure has been reached.
Another point that is not a huge deal, but does affect immersion, is the fact that the propeller does not visually feather when the engine is running. The engine shutdown checklist calls for a 15 second delay between the propeller feathering and the engine shut down. During this time, the RPM drops to a point where you can see the individual propeller blades to find them in the full fine pitch position. Only when you switch off the fuel will the propeller blades finally feather visibly. Similarly, they will unfeather quite a bit early during startup.
I assume this is just a limitation of the core sim? If you ever have some free time and get bored (as if that would ever happen, lol), I'd be very grateful if you could look into it and maybe come up with a custom solution. Maybe MSFS'24 will bring some improvements to the turboprop simulation, which I doubt since I've already seen the Caravan parked with the prop unfeathered in the trailer...
Cheers!
By the way, your Starship looks incredible! Absolutely can't wait to put it through it's paces.PS: Sorry, one more suggestion. If you operate the cockpit and cabin doors via the tablet, the steps won't extend. So far this is not too bad, but when the steps are extended and you try to close the doors via the tablet, nothing happens. I think it would be useful if the tablet function for opening/closing the doors also included extending/retracting the steps.
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Have you read this? I think 3 important things are mentioned here for the next update. @Black-Square
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The second two points are correct, as far as I can tell. (Although I have seen some TBM700 videos that seem to show the prop feathering fully only after shutdown, and unfeathering quickly since it is started with the prop lever fully forward (unlike 900 series TBMs that start feathered and then move to fine pitch when the throttle/pitch lever is moved to flight idle.).
The first point about the fuel pump, however, I believe is modelled as it should be. The aux pump should not be in AUTO before the engine is running. It should be in "ON." Just because something is not behaving the way it does on another aircraft does not mean that it is broken.
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During shutdown, the default position for the AUX BP is the AUTO position. For the 900 series, Daher has even amended the checklist to wait until the AUX BP is turning on in the AUTO position during shutdown before switching it off to confirm normal operation.
Anyways, that's beside the point. -
Any thoughts on this, Nick? @Black-Square
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@Outermarker This is not normal. Aux pump comes on when fuel pressure drops below 10 psi +/- 2
and stays on. I am searching the documentation for the description of the logic, but this is what I have for now.