Walkaround and basic airmanship in the Cessna 152 in Microsoft Flight Simulator

[@localizer363]

FEEDBACK Preflight notes: 1 Drop the flaps for the pre flight 2 Open the fuel cap and look inside the tank to verify fuel level 3 Stall warning horn is not blocked 4 Pitot tube holes not blocked in front and back 5 Confirm no water in fuel from a drain located on the aft wing root under each wing. 6 Confirm open static port on front left side of fuselage 7 Check oil level 8 Confirm all chocks removed ---------------- Yell out of window: "Clear Prop" before engine start Check brakes as soon as aircraft starts rolling from parking spot Your not following checklist, I suggest printing it Missed before takeoff checks You should have stopped at the "hold short line" marking on taxiway and check for traffic before you roll up to runway. You can't have planes flying over your head while they land. Maintain Climb speed: Vy (refer to POH) You don't need flaps for normal takeoff 10 degrees flaps only used for "short field takeoff" 2300 or 2400 rpm cruise Don't lean mixture below 3,000 unless it's a very hot day Align DG every 15 min Full throttle to climb, push nose forward to level off, retrim elevator as speed increases, upon reaching cruise speed reduce rpm to 2400 (cruise setting) In the US we do use the term "pattern" for the traffic pattern Keep the runway in sight while in the pattern. Don't memorize various landmarks outside the airport to keep yourself in the pattern. The only time this helps is when flying at your home airport. Instead, use the runway for situational awareness. Fly the pattern in reference to the runway. When you start flying to unfamiliar airports, the runway is the only landmark you will recognize. Once established downwind, Maintain pattern altitude, once abeam threshold - throttle 1900 rpm, wait for airspeed to drop into white arc then flaps 10, trim for descent around 75 kias, wait until airplanes position is 45 degrees off corner of runway and then turn base and 20 flaps, turn final then 30 flaps, I'm not sure if pattern entry is different in the UK. In the US, I would have overflown the airfield differently and entered the pattern differently. I would have entered 45 degrees to downwind or overfly the field 500 ft higher than pattern altitude "perpendicular" to the runway. Then turn and descend and enter pattern on a 45 to downwind. Pull back on yoke when rolling on grass ------------------------------

[@jonbeckett]

Great feedback - a lot of it is impractical to do in the simulator though (at least in this particular aircraft, because it's not "study level"). I did debate working through a full checklist. The written guidance I have here differs from your pattern description in lots of ways too - and the specific pattern at Booker has numerous visual reference points - some of which I used. I can understand the generic approach in terms of aligning an airfield with various views from the cockpit, but typically you would have the airfield plate if you've planned the trip - so would have all the reference points too. Great feedback though - appreciate it :)

[@jonbeckett]

It will be interesting to come back and do this again soon - and like you say - work through the full "real world" checklist for the 152 - explaining things along the way. I guess in some ways this video "jumps the gun" a bit - starting to explore a lot more than basic airmanship. It's going to be fun to fill in the gaps.

[@johnb.3655]

Fantastic!!! I love the fact that you started out so basic, there is always room for learning things that you have overlooked and still learn something you didn’t know. I am so looking forward to this entire journey. GREAT start Jonathan, Thank You..!!

[@jonbeckett]

You're welcome :)

[@volkerjansen3901]

Excellent! I have been simming for many years, but still come back to the basics from time to time. There is no real consequence if you miss anything like the mixture in the sim, but if you try to do things right it and pay attention to the details, flying in the sim becomes so much more immersive.

[@jonbeckett]

I think that's kind of the point. It's great fun buying new planes every week and so on - but at some point you start to think "I kind of know how to work all these planes - but I don't really know any of them properly" :)

[@aussiecoffeebean]

What a great initiative! This is exciting content and I look very much forward to your instructional videos. Thank you so much for your dedication, time and commitment to the Virtual Flight community.

[@jonbeckett]

Not really instructional - more taking you on the journey with me.

[@jonbeckett]

There have been numerous comments picking holes in this video - there are many steps missing from a real-world full-walk around, and lots of things that are just not there in the simulator. When we move on from the 152 to a more accurate aircraft, we'll be able to do a much better walk-around :) Oh - one more thing - the sump drains on the real aircraft are towards the back of the wing - there's actually nothing modelled there in the simulator :)

[@zombieapocalipse2020]

Jon, just put a disclaimer at start of your videos to stop the detractors. Your videos are very educational and i have learned so much from them, specially for simmers we don't always need to know every nut and bolt of the plane as we are not going to be pilots! I know some content makers are pilot's and not actual simmers so there is room for both. Don't beat yourself up about it, your work is very much appreciated 👍

[@jonbeckett]

​@@zombieapocalipse2020 a disclaimer is a pretty good idea. I think part of the problem is some people seem to like nothing better than to tear down what other people are doing, and yet contribute nothing to the community themselves. It's frustrating sometimes.

[@zombieapocalipse2020]

​@@jonbeckett i get the impression some content makers feel threatened! Trust me your style is great for learning, i have watched them all, i settled on yours and joined the group for that reason.

[@runanrunamaralda4855]

You have inspired me! I bought the Poolys kit and am looking forward to going through the video series with you! Great idea! Best regards from Germany Runan

[@leerose9436]

Nice ! Virtual PPL training in FS2020 ! That’s cool and interesting and informative for those amongst us that have not trained for real ! Great idea Jonathan! 👍🙏🏻❤️✈️👨‍✈️

[@jonbeckett]

Stressful as anything though - trying to fly properly lol

[@Sataniceasterbunny]

a big thank you Beckett .. spending your precious time to teach us some things so we can sim fly better and know what we are looking :)

[@jonbeckett]

I'm learning too! (and slowly getting better, hopefully) :)

[@thecorporatepilotdad]

The access panels in the wings are not for checking for fuel contamination. There are sump drains at the wing root on each wing. The 152 has 8 spark plugs and magnetos provide the power to create the spark to each plug provided the crankshaft is turning. There are several mistakes in this video. Tagging it with the word “education” probably isn’t the right thing to do here.

[@jonbeckett]

Guilty as charged - I refererred to a real-world walkaround video, and didn't spot that the sump drains on the real thing are towards the back of the wing - about six inches into the wing, aren't they. Mysteriously there's nothing there in the simulator :) Strangely, I have seen other videos where the sump drain was further forward in the wing - much closer to the access panel - I'm wondering if the design of the 152 has changed over the years ?

[@GumperVanLier]

You sure like to teach and you're good at it.

[@jonbeckett]

I'm not really teaching here - more taking with you as I try to do it :)

[@pto200]

As always, good video. This reminds me to always use checklists. I like the lighting in your videos too. But don't be too afraid to allow the sound of the AC and engines to come thru. It' s part of the realism.

[@jonbeckett]

Heh - when I leave the simulator sound up, people complain about the engine noise too :)

[@pto200]

oh well then. Your video's are fine the way they are. I'm sure you've found a happy medium.

[@Gilles45]

I did all my flight training in Pipers, flew the 172 a lot, but very rarely 152's. But if someone is into basics, that's as basic as it gets!

[@jonbeckett]

That's the whole point I guess :)

[@mikecoffee100]

I only flew the 152 when the 172 and Warrior were all out and there was nothing else to rent , however it was quite fun though

[@andrew4149]

Another great video sir

[@jonbeckett]

Lots of room for improvement though :)

[@markscars1069]

Excellent stuff JB.

[@jonbeckett]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stephencain5448]

Jonathan thank you for these videos, I would ignore the soothsayers regarding missing this or that is not correct its just background noise. Looking forward to following this.

[@jonbeckett]

It's all part of the journey though - I *am* missing things along the way - but that's why I'm doing this - to slowly improve.

[@peterperkin3094]

WE still have spark plugs with magnetos Jonathan!

[@jonbeckett]

You know those moments where you know you mean one thing, but you say something completely different? What I meant to say in the video was that older aircraft don't have the FADEC systems that so many modern aircraft have that take care of the ignition sequence for you :)

[@conlethbyrne4809]

Pretty bloody good, I'd be happy with half that good loved the video demo Slainte My next fright. 😆 🎉Slainte, Jonathan

[@f0rce593]

Why you haven't used jpl logistic 152?

[@f0rce593]

Video is amazing btw ☺️

[@jonbeckett]

The JPL Logistic 152 has some serious bugs - plus I really wanted the aircraft to have no added features - it has to have as little as possible to replicate the basic trainer you would actually see in the real world. Also - everybody has the 152 so can replicate the sessions easily if they so wish :)

[@f0rce593]

@@jonbeckett gotcha!

[@kokoeteantigha389]

Not another didgeridoo from Black Square, is it? Ah, whew!!!

[@PilotDaveAviation]

Are you a CFI ?? There are some items that are not accurate, sir. In any rate, if this is just an example of what you do flying in msfs2020, then a warning needs to be given that this video is not for instructional use just for entertainment purposes only !

[@BurnleyNuts]

Relax Dave, its game man. I don't think anyone is going to be needing warnings and all that. I think the clues are all in the title.

[@jonbeckett]

It's a game, and no - I'm just learning as I go - adding more and more to the simulator. There was actually an alterior motive to this - I'm going to record the same thing *again* at a later date, using the checklist from the POH, and then compare and contrast between the "obvious", and the "not so obvious". :)

[@kiwinesss]

Why does he need to be a CFI to show me how to play a game? As a beginner using MSFS I actually learnt more from this video than any video I have seen on Sim Flying so far. For me it was definitely instructional and not entertainment. i can only repeat what has already been written; Relax Dave, relax Dave.

[@BurnleyNuts]

@@kiwinesss Looking at Pilot Dave's content I think he's only learning anyway so describing himself as a pilot is somewhat misleading.