VC10 Panel Manual
Panel Manual Checklists Flying Tips

Main Centre Autopilot Fuel Ignition Overhead Radios
Centre Panel
Percent RPM

Engine revs & warning lights.
The scale allows for 110% because original maximums were often extended after the aircraft's launch.
Each RPM gauge has a red 'engine fail' light under it.
The two outer RPM gauges also have orange 'Reverse thrust' lights under them.

Flap Position

Shows the position of the right/left trailing edge flaps.
The gauge can be used to move the flaps by clicking with the mouse.  Click on the left side to raise a notch, click on the right side to lower a notch.
20 degrees - Takeoff
35 degrees - Approach
45 degrees - Landing
The VC10 (except the 1101) was also equiped with a 14.5 degree takeoff setting, but this was not generally in use. Takeoff with this setting required the fitting of high speed tyres.

Slat Position

Shows the position of the right/left leading edge slats.
There is no separate control over the slats & so they operate according to the flaps setting.

Tail Trim

This shows the position of the variable incidence tailplane.  This is the VC10's elevator trim (or pitch trim) setting.  The scale runs from -3 degrees (nose down) to +14 degrees (nose up).
The thicker white line shows the allowable trim range for takeoff.
The model usually needs around 3 degrees nose up for takeoff, otherwise it may not rotate at the correct speed.
The gauge can be used to move the tailplane by clicking with the mouse.  Click on the left side for more nose up trim, click on the right side for more nose down trim.

Aileron Trim

This shows the current deflection of the ailerons.
The VC10 has no trim tabs, so aileron trim is set by the position of the ailerons.
This gauge moves with the ailerons whether it be through use of the yoke, autopilot or due to the aileron trim setting.
The gauge can be used to alter aileron trim by clicking with the mouse.  Click on the left side for more left side trim, click on the right side for more right side trim.

Landing Gear Lever

Click the top half to raise gear, click the lower half to lower landing gear.

Landing Gear Indicators

The round gauge shows the status of the landing gear, left / centre / right.
If the landing gear is raised & locked up, no lights are lit.
If the gear is in transition the red lights at the top are lit.
If the gear is down & locked the green lights at the bottom are lit.
The red lights on the left show when the gear doors are open.

OAT   (Outside Air Temperature)

Ambient temperature outside in degrees centigrade.

Standby Altimeter

Duplicates the main altimeter.  Displays height above sea level in feet.
Altimeters need to be adjusted according to local pressure readings.  These readings are given out by ATC & also by ground information radio channels at airports.
The standby altimeter in the model uses the same pressure setting as the main altimerter.  The pressure setting is made using the main altimeter.

 Standby Attitude Indicator 

Duplicates the main attitude indicator.  Visual representation of the aircraft's bank & pitch angles.
The scale across the top shows marks for 0, 10, 20, 30 & 45 degrees of bank.
The scale on the inside shows a pitch scale up to 25 degrees in either direction.

 Flight Director Mode

Flight director information is displayed by the attitude indicator (main panel).
The flight director in FS is not completely independant of the autopilot, so the FD switch in the model works as a simple on/off switch.
The FD mode is actually taken from the autopilot NAV mode rotary switch.  When FD is on, the FD switch points to the NAV mode that is currently selected on the autopilot.
In FS the autopilot automatically starts the flight director.  FD can be switched off while the autopilot is running and FD can also be switched on while the autopilot is off.


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