Main landing gears system includes an operational 3-state landing gear lever, with DOWN, NEUTRAL and UP positions. Placing of the lever to the DOWN position directs hydraulic fluid pressure to the landing gears down-line to extract the gears, while placing it in the UP position will direct pressure to the up-line to retract the gears.
Placing the landing gear lever to the NEUTRAL position (center), will block the fluid flow to both lines, and the extraction/retraction process is stopped. When the gears are fully extended or fully retracted, the lever should be placed back to NEUTRAL position to hold the desire setting. Note: In the current version of the VSKYLABS DC-3 Project, the NEUTRAL position is managed by a "virtual copilot" and will be placed in this position automatically, when normal conditions permits.
In addition to this, another lever is operational. That is the LATCH LEVER which is positioned on the floor, RH side to the pilot-seat. The safety latch will latch to lock the landing gears, once they are fully extended.
Before takeoff, the latch lever is placed into the positive lock state (fully down). When retracting the landing gears after takeoff, the latch lever should be raised first to the UNLOCK position. Only then, the landing gears handle can be placed in the UP position. Once the gears are fully up, the landing gears lever is placed to neutral and the latch lever will snap automatically to a spring-lock position.
Before landing, when lowering the landing gears, the landing gears lever is placed in the DOWN position. When the landing gears are fully down (gear warning light is green), the latch is placed to the positive lock position. In this state, the landing gears lever is also prevented from being pulled up.
Landing gears handles interaction zones:
Landing gears warning lights:
Two landing gears warning lights are fitted on the RH side of the instrument panel, indicating as followed:
- GEARS DOWN AND LOCKED - Green light.
- GEARS LOCKED DOWN, selector not NEUTRAL - Red light.
- GEARS UP, selector NEUTRAL - No light.
- Gears between UP and DOWN positions - Red light.
Dimming the lights for night flying is optional via the LANDING GEAR DIM/BRT switch, which is located below the lights column.
Landing gears warning horn:
The landing gears horn will sound when one or both throttles are less than approximately 1/4 open and the landing gear is not down and locked. No switch is provided for silencing the horn.
Landing gears operation:
To retract the gears after takeoff, release the safety latch (by interacting with it). It will be set to the UP position. Then, set the gears lever into the UP position. Landing gear retraction process will be initiated.
Once the landing gear pressure reads "0" (zero), move the gear lever to the NEUTRAL position. Only then, the red warning light will go off.
To extend the landing gears, verify that the safety latch is in the spring-lock position (in the current version of the VSKYLABS DC-3, it will be in the UP position). Then, set the gears lever to the DOWN position. Hydraulic pressure will build up. When the gears will be fully retracted (down and locked), the green light will illuminate. Set the safety latch to DOWN AND LOCKED position.
BRAKES SYSTEM
The brakes are operated by toe extensions on the ruder pedals. To apply parking brakes, depress the brake pedals fully and pull out the parking brake handle fitted on the under-side of the throttle quadrant, then release the pedals. To release the brake depress the rudder pedals.
Note: In the VSKYLABS DC-3, the parking brakes can be applied with the use of the parking brake handle alone.
TAIL-WHEEL LOCKING CONTROL
The tail-wheel locking control lever is on the control pedestal on the under-side of the throttle quadrant. To lock the tail-wheel, move the lever to the right and allow it to spring forward to the locked position. The tail-wheel will then lock when it is centralized.
In the VSKYLABS DC-3, 3 modes of operations are available:
- Unlocked Tail-Wheel: The Tail-Wheel is free to swivel. This is being used for Taxi.
- Locked Tail-Wheel: The Tail-Wheel is LOCKED. This is being used for takeoff and landing procedures.
- Novice Mode: When enabling this mode, the tail-wheel gets "Locked" but will act like a conventional steerable tail-wheel. Use this mode to make the taxi phase more comfortable. It is not realistic, but will make taxi more easy for the novice pilots.
For user convenient in the simulator, all modes, including the Tail-Wheel locking mechanism can be managed by pressing the indication lights, as shown below:
