Supercar Pilot's Notes
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PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST AND TAKEOFF CHECKLIST

1. Check parking brakes are ON and Retros (spoilers - /)
and Vertical Flight Mode (Flaps - F8) are fully DOWN.
2. Check all switches are in the "off" position.
3. Check all instruments and set all controls in the neutral
position.
4. Check fuel gauges for the amount of fuel in all tanks.
5. To start port engine (left engine - number one), ensure
throttle is set to idle (F1), select engine one (E 1) on
the keyboard, start fuel flow (Ctrl+Shift+F4), turn on
magnetos (M +), followed by the starter (J +). Port
Engine will start. Start starboard engine (right engine
- number two) with (E 2), fuel flow (Ctrl+Shift+F4),
magnetos (M +) and starter (J +). Reselect both engines
(E 1 & 2) on keyboard. Ensure all status lights remain
green.
ALTERNATIVE STARTUP: You can select engine one (E 1) on
the keyboard, start fuel flow (Ctrl+Shift+F4), then start
(Ctrl+E). Port Engine will start. Start starboard engine
(right engine - number two) with (E 2), fuel flow
(Ctrl+Shift+F4) and starboard engine 2 will start
automatically. Reselect both engines (E 1 & 2) on
keyboard.
CAUTION: In an emergency both engines may be started
simultaneously. However, if both engines are started
together in this configuration, Supercar is so powerful
it may leap off the ground momentarily or thrust forward.
Ensure there are no obstacles immediately in front of
Supercar if you decide to do this or a crash may be
inevitable.
6. Make sure that everything is clear of Supercar before
take-off. If ground taxiing is required first, simply
release the Parking Brake and turn the Retro's OFF
(spoilers UP - /). Use a combination of both rudder
and differential braking (F11-Left, F12-right) to
turn. Supercar has sufficient power to move forward
on idle power at about 5kts with Flaps and Spoilers
DOWN. If more taxiing speed is required, select
horizontal Flight (F5), retract spoilers ( -/) and speed
will increase to approx 20kts at idle.
CAUTION: In either of these modes, too much power and
Supercar will become airborne. Taxi with caution.
7. Select vertical take-off (F8) if you have not already
done so, open the throttles to half power and pitch
the nose down slightly to maintain a level or slightly
nose-up attitude. (full boost on take-off is only
necessary for a short period when fully loaded or in
tight surroundings). Turns in all Vertical or
semi-vertical modes should be gently made with rudder.
8. When clear of any obstructions, gradually change to
horizontal flight in the following sequence: Retros OFF
(spoilers UP - /). Sequence through Vertical to
Horizontal flight by tapping F6 progressively. F5 is
full horizontal flight. Ground Effect (Gear - G) OFF
or up. NOTE: Supercar will surge forward and pitch down
once the final Horizontal Flight Mode (F5) is selected;
be ready to pitch the nose up slightly and reduce power
if required. She will also accelerate very quickly once
Ground Effect is disabled (Gear retracted).
Alternatively, do an "elevator" vertical climb by
selecting Flaps fully DOWN (F8) gear and spoilers up
straight after takeoff, and apply full power. Supercar
will climb vertically like a helicopter.
For a high speed "rocket" climb, as for normal takeoff,
but select full horizontal mode and pitch the nose
STRAIGHT UP and apply full power after liftoff. Supercar
will climb like a rocket, straight up to well over
100,000ft msl.
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FLYING SUPERCAR

Supercar has incredible performance, capable of Mach 2.93
(1,680 kts) at altitude and transcontinental range, (in
excess of 9000 nm non-stop) with a maximum recommended
altitude ceiling of 99,000 ft msl (Although test flights
have exceeded 230,000 ft, this is not recommended). Her
most efficient cruising altitude for long distance is
80-90,000 ft at Mach 2.9.

It is recommended that the autopilot be used for speeds
over Mach 1 as she is very responsive and sensitive to
flight movements as speeds increase. With autopilot OFF,
Supercar will achieve 1,200+ kts at Sea Level and literally
stop on a dime when the spoilers (Retros) are lowered (/).
It is also recommended that speeds below Mach 1 are
selected in rough or highly turbulent weather. Fuel burn
will decrease with altitude. For example, at Mach 2.9 at
60,000 ft, Supercar consumes almost twice the amount of
fuel as she does at 80,000 ft.
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HOVERING (almost!)

When F8 is selected, Supercar only requires a small amount
of power to hover - slightly above idle power. If spoilers
are lowered, she will start to slowly descend. Lowering
the gear will further increase the rate of descent. In
"dirty" mode (ie, F8, gear and spoilers down), Supercar
will require almost 1/3 to half power to maintain a hover.
In actual fact, you will be creeping forward at around
18-25kts.
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LANDING

Visually aim for your intended landing site, decreasing
altitude to approx 1000-1500 ft above ground level and
approach as with any normal aircraft. Speed should be in
the vicinity of 120-200 kts. Fly almost right up to your
landing site, lower spoilers (/) and gear (G) and select
idle power with nose slightly down to ensure you can see
your landing site. (Turning the dash panel off; Shift+1)
is most helpful at this point. Supercar will almost
immediately come to a standstill in mid-air and begin to
sink quite rapidly. Immediately lower flaps to 1 notch
(F7) and increase power to half or more to reduce sink
rate or maintain altitude. Use tiny amounts of rudder to
steer and try NOT to roll or she may sideslip. As you
slowly descend and move forward, gradually decrease power
and select the next flap notch down. Supercar will pitch
up slightly; keep the nose slightly down. At approximately
2-300 ft off the ground, select full Vertical mode (Flaps
fully down F8), and slowly reduce power, keeping the nose
level or slightly raised.

If you find you are creeping forward too quickly, cut
power completely and Supercar will drop almost vertically.
Be ready to give a small burst of power just before she
touches down, then kill the power and engage the brakes.
NOTE: Supercar can sustain a power-off vertical landing
in F8 mode (in the event of engine failure for example),
with gear and spoilers down, but it will be a bit hard,
rough and bouncy. As with a conventional landing, a near
vertical landing requires a great deal of practice.
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SPECIAL TAKEOFF AND LANDING MODE SITUATIONS

Although it may "feel" as if there is not much
difference between full vertical and inbetween modes,
there IS. Experiment in these modes, both with gear
and spoilers UP and DOWN. For example, In moderate to
strong winds DO NOT select full vertical modes for
takeoff or landing and do NOT use the spoilers except
to slow down; Supercar will be flipped on its back from
the wind. Therefore, if on the ground, taxi into the
wind with Flaps fully up, then engage only the first
notch of flaps for a vertical takeoff. Likewise, for
landing, determine the wind direction, point Supercar
into the wind, select the first notch DOWN on the
flaps, point the nose down and land by carefully
adjusting the power. The minute you touch down
select FULL horizontal mode (F5) and select the brakes.

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RECOMMENDED SPEEDS vs ALTITUDES

In manual flight mode (ie Auto Pilot OFF), Supercar
can be flown at maximum power from sea level although
maximum speed at sea level will be around 12-1300 kts.
As altitude increases, so will the max speed up to
1680 kts.

Due to certain instabilities when the auto pilot is
engaged, these recommended speeds and altitudes should
be used:

For ease of manoeuvring after takeoff, or for landing
approach, maintain a speed of around Mach 0.25 -
Mach 0.4.

0 - 1000 ft Mach 1.1 Max
1000 - 10,000 ft Mach 1.1 - 1.3 Max
10 - 20,000 ft Mach 1.3 - 1.7 Max
20 - 30,000 ft Mach 1.7 - 2.1 Max
30 - 40,000 ft Mach 2.05 - 2.4 Max
40 - 50,000 ft Mach 2.4 - 2.92 Max
50,000 ft+ Mach - 2.9 Cruise, Mach 2.93 Max

For high-speed, high-G turns over Mach 1, roll
Supercar almost 90 degrees on to its side, and
pull back (up) on the stick.

Supercar can also be flown at very low speeds with
gear down in full Horizontal mode at around 70-80 kts
but requires a very nose-high attitude. She will stall
at around 50 kts.

NOTE: If altitudes over 60,000 ft are selected on
autopilot, you will have to manually stop Supercar
climbing by selecting "0" Rate of Climb in the VSI once
the desired altitude is reached. For example: If your
target altitude is 80,000 ft, enter this into the
Altitude setting of the autopilot. Maximum VSI can
be set to 7000 ft per min. As you approach 75,000 ft,
gradually reduce the rate of climb in the VSI selector
on the dash panel. Suddenly going from 7000 fpm to "0"
fpm is a bit severe and may cause Supercar to porpoise
all over the sky at high speed. If this occurs, reduce
power or engage the spoilers briefly to reduce speed
until buffetting desists, then bring full power back up.

Likewise, you will have to manually manage an autopilot
descent with both speed and rate of descent. At 6000
fpm descent from 80,000 ft altitude and at Mach 2.9,
it's going to take quite a while to come down to a
landing altitude and you will have travelled several
hundred miles! Technnique I use is to disengage all
but the heading on the autopilot at about 200 nm from
touchdown point, and gently trim the nose nose down
and reduce power to maintain a high speed descent.
When the target landing site is visually seen, you
can fly in manually.