I am working with a tutorial from the fs station site, which involves doing a flight from KLRF to KDYS. The tutorial indicates that I should start out with the FS9 default aircraft Cessna 172, load the flight plan and shut down everything in order to start cold and dark. I'm then supposed to select the C130 aircraft and go through the startup process.

I get all the way through engine startup and turning on the radios. When the radio is turned on, it's tuned to ground control at KLRF. The FS9 ATC prompts me to press 1 to request IFR clearance. I press 1, but nothing happens. Everything works as it should if I use the Cessna, but the problem starts when I select the C130 aircraft. How can this issue be fixed?

I AM following the manual, so I don't see what it is that I am not doing correctly. Here is what I have done as far as startup:

Brake select switch to emergency, anti-skid off, temp datum controls to auto, condition levers/throttles set to ground stop and ground auto. I starting up using ground power so I select the captain sim menu and select ground power. I see the green banner indicating ground power is connected. I turn on the external AC and DC power followed by turning the radio on. The next several steps I follow are turning on the switches on the GTC panel. I set the inverters to match the yellow stripe on the panel. After following a couple more steps, the engines are ready to be turned on. AFter turning on all four engines, I switch to the external view and verify that all four engines are running. Once engines are running, I turn off the GTC and the external ac power followed by turning off the external ac power.

The next step in the manual I am following indicates I can tune to the clearance delivery and request an IFR flight. THIS DOES NOT WORK. The radio is already tuned to the right frequency, but the default ATC does NOT respond to any key pressed on the keyboard.

I'm going step by step following a manual which provides detailed instructions on startup. So, with all the engines started and ground power disconnected and external power turned off, what could I possibly be missing?

Alan,

The guide that I am following is the one available at fs station. I'll give this another try, but I don't think I am forgetting anything. The low speed ground buttons are pressed down, I turn on the switch for the engine bleed air, move the throttle lever for engine 3 up, and press the starter button for engine 3. I then move the engine generator switch from reset to on.

I've verified that the ATC works when I start with a default aircraft and turn it off. I've even verified that the ATC works if I go through the flight planner to select the c-130, select a starting and destination point, and lastly a parking space. The thing is, going about this way, the engines are on and running, but none of the switches are set in the proper place.

Edit:
I just tried again after posting this, and it STILL does not work. I just don't get why this is not working. Essentially, all I can do is turn the engines on and get the radio tuned to ground control at the starting airport and that's it! Either there is something that I am still not doing right or the manual that I am using is missing a few steps. What other C130 startup manuals are there?

so666 wrote on Apr 5^th, 2008 at 12:48pm:


Takes right at 2500 to 3000 feet to recover from a stall.  The 130 is not too forgiving on that stuff though it does give you quite a good warning prior, you don't want to push her at all.