KM Ekranoplan "Caspian Sea Monster" Handling Notes:
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General:
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Flight levels lie between 3 and 60 ft.
Outside view: 600 ft. (Zoom factor 1).
Virtual cockpit: minimum zoom factor.
Auto-rudder: off.
Engines 1+2 represent the 2 aft cruising engines. With these alone, the KM cruises in ground-effect economy mode.
Engines 3+4 represent the 8 forward engines. These provide power for take-off and also extra when exhaust is deflected downwards to increase the air-cushion under the wings for take-off.
Engines 1+3 are on the left, and 2+4 are on the right, and can be controlled independantly.
Take-off with flaps (standard operation):
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1.- Apply some upward elevator-trim.
2.- Fully extend flaps. (includes downward exhaust-deflection on forward engines for extra take-off lift).
3.- Full throttle. (Take-off power in the red zone).
4.- At about 10 Kts, reduce power to 100%. The extra power is
available ONLY to get KM moving on FS2002 water. Any
further use will distort KM´s flight characteristics.
5.- At about 60 Kts, gently pull back on the joystick to rotate for take-off.
6.- Once airborne, adjust attitude with elevator trim.
7.- In good weather, after 150 or 160 Kts, flaps can be pulled in slowly. In bad weather, keep flaps extended, (together with downward exhaust deflection), to provide extra lift, compensating losses in the dynamic air-cushion caused by the waves.
8.- Small adjustments with the elevator trim (Num Pad 7 and 1 Keys) will be necessary at different speeds.
Take-off without flaps (only in good weather):
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1.- Neutral elevator trim.
2.- Retract flaps.
3.- Full throttle (extra take-off power in the red zone).
4.- At about 10 Kts, reduce power to 100%. The extra power is
available ONLY to get KM moving on FS2002 water. Any
further use will distort KM´s flight characteristics.
5.- At about 100 Kts, gently pull back the yoke to rotate.
6.- Once airborne, trim to a slightly nose-up attitude.
7.- After 150 Kts, throttle back to 85% for cruising speed. The KM will slowly continue gaining height and speed.
8.- After 200 Kts, correct elevator trim for level flight.
Normal flying:
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KM levelled with elevator trim, flaps retracted.
Maximum Speed: 297 Kts, all engines at 100% power.
High-speed cruising: 274 Kts, all engines at 85% power.
Economy Cruising: 217 Kts, aft engines at 85%, front engines idling.
Flying in bad weather:
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Fully extended flaps, KM levelled with some upward elevator trim.
About 217 Kts, 100% power on all engines.
Touchdown:
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1.- Set all engines to idle.
2.- Apply as much spoiler (immitates reverse thrust) as you wish.
3.- If further speed reduction is required, fully extend flaps.
4.- Apply some upward elevator trim.
5.- You will touch down slightly nose-up, at around 100 Kts.
