Flying the Comet 4

DM Flight Sim - Classic British Jet Airliners for Microsoft Flight Simulator

Flying the Comet 4

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9: Approach



Max Land Weight	CHECK
Maximum landing weight for the Comet is 54431 kg. You should really only be landing above this weight in an emergency.

Air Brake	IN
If you need to descend at more than about 1500 ft/min in the latter stages, you'll probably have to make use of the air brake. It's easily left out after the descent.

De-icing	As Required
If temperatures are in a range where ice could be a problem, de-ice should be used. Structural de-ice and engine de-ice is on here. Pitot heater and fuel heaters are also included in this check. If icing conditions could be present and any of the above systems is off, the checklist will show a cross.

Req Cabin Alt	0
If the airport is at a higher altitude, you can set the equivalent value in here. Once on the ground, the pressure valve is opened to fully equalize any difference anyway.

Landing Speeds	CHECKED
Click the gauge to get the speeds for current weight. Vat is the speed that you need to be at the runway threshold for a safe landing.

Landing Lamps	ON


Flap	20 - 40 deg
Once flaps are in use, set all engines to around 6500 - 6700 RPM. That should give around 180 kt on the glide slope with 20 deg flap. Once you have around 180 kt with 20 deg flap, keep the RPMs stable & introduce more flap to slow more for final. As a rough guide 30 deg = 150 kts, 40 deg = 140 kts, 60 deg = 130 kts, 80 deg = 120 kts

Gear	DOWN
In the VC this lever needs to be dragged, rather than just a single click.

Brakes	OFF
Brakes off. Parking brakes & pedal brakes. The four gauges on the co-pilot's outer panel show any current pedal brake pressure being applied. Test that the pedal brakes do register on Green & then return to zero when released. Green is the normal hydraulic channel, red is only active if green fails.

Final

Flap	60 - 80 deg
With under 3 nm to run, if you are happy that you are going to land, select 60 deg flap. Wait until around 1 nm to run before selecting 80 deg flap and only if you need to lose some more speed. It is ok to land at 60 deg flap.

Reverse Lock	OFF
Reverse lock off allows selection of reverse thrust. This lever is only available in the VC. In FS there is no real disadvantage in ignoring it.

Autopilot	DISENGAGED
The Comet does not have any auto land fuinction, so when you are on final disengage the autopilot. If the A/P is engaged (no amber light) you press the blue button to disengage. Once disengaged, the amber light is lit. Don't power the A/P unit off, because you may need it if you decide not to land and go around.

Once over the threshold, throttle back all engines. Hold the nose up slightly & the Comet will settle down nicely. The Comet's air brake is never used on landing. Reverse thrust when all wheels are down & then pedal brakes at 60 kt. Due to the low landing speeds, the stopping distance is very short.

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