Engine start - Help needed

[John_C_Flett]

 Up until now I've always flown career starting on the runway. However I decided to try the Spitfire scripted campaign which starts cold and dark. Except I cannot get the engine started.

 

 I've experimented with different aircraft, warmed or cold engines, various throttle settings but never any luck. "E" or "R CTRL 1" both behave the same.

 

 The startup begins, the engine turns over, I get a few turns of the prop (different aircraft seem to give different amounts) then the engine cuts out and the shutdown goes ahead.

 

 The only success I have had was with a 109.

 

 I'm totally at a loss over this. Any suggestions?

[cardboard_killer]

Each is a little different. I'd recommend Requim's "how to" youtube videos. Here's the one for the P-51. Basically, set mixture at cut off (seems counterintuitive), RPM at 100%, and throttle open just a tad, 20%. Hit the big E. Once the engine really kicks over (not just rotates for priming), after the flywheel runs, quickly move the mixture to Run (~50%).

 

 

Edited February 25, 2020 by cardboard_killer

[John_C_Flett]

 Thanks but while I think Requiem's videos can be very good they don't seem to help much with startup. With the Spit in particular he just says press E.

 

 

 I think I've cracked it. Really stupid actually. I had a brainwave and tried simply turning on the AI and letting it start the engine. Soon as it did I saw straight off the AI set the fuel mix to full rich which hadn't happened with the auto engine start. Reset and tried it myself and everything worked. Easy in hindsight but kind of stupid the autostart didn't do it for me.

Edited February 25, 2020 by John_C_Flett
Brainwave!

[Plurp]

1 hour ago, John_C_Flett said:

 Up until now I've always flown career starting on the runway. However I decided to try the Spitfire scripted campaign which starts cold and dark. Except I cannot get the engine started.

 

 I've experimented with different aircraft, warmed or cold engines, various throttle settings but never any luck. "E" or "R CTRL 1" both behave the same.

 

 The startup begins, the engine turns over, I get a few turns of the prop (different aircraft seem to give different amounts) then the engine cuts out and the shutdown goes ahead.

 

 The only success I have had was with a 109.

 

 I'm totally at a loss over this. Any suggestions?

Spawn in:  Mixture to 100% (auto rich), start engine.  Throttle can be at 0% or 10% and still starts.

Edited February 25, 2020 by Plurp

[cardboard_killer]

32 minutes ago, John_C_Flett said:

With the Spit in particular he just says press E.

I have used his start up sequences for all my planes but have never flown the spits. I didn't know you were looking for the spitfire sequence or I would have tried it; I used the P-51 because I just learned how a few days ago.

33 minutes ago, John_C_Flett said:

Easy in hindsight but kind of stupid the autostart didn't do it for me.

I do not believe autostart will move anything that the pilot is capable of moving.

35 minutes ago, John_C_Flett said:

 I think I've cracked it. Really stupid actually.

 

There was another pilot who had a similar problem recently--he was giving up after the propeller cranked but before the engine turned over. I had to fiddle around with the Yak and IL2 before I got the hang of it.