The Captain Sim 'Legendary C-130' is one of the very few realistic and visually detailed military aircraft add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator available today. What makes this aircraft special to me is that you truly need some piloting skills in order to complete a successful fight - it's no rocket science, but it's certainly harder than pushing the right buttons at the right times! Due the 'Legendary C-130' great complexity and the huge popular request, we have decided to write a complete flight tutorial with plenty of pictures and easy to understand information. If you are willing to learn how this beautiful classic aircraft works, you are in the right place! Enough talking, let's get it started!

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Briefing

In this tutorial, I'll guide you though a flight from the active C-130 base of Little Rock (KLRF - Jacksonville, AK) to the active C-130 base of Dyess (KDYS - Abilene, TX). This flight is about 450 nautical miles long and it should take 1h30min to be completed. We will fly the C-130E at the typical altitude of 20,000 ft, navigate using VORs and finally land with the ILS help. For this flight, you will need about 45% of fuel on all tanks, which results in a total fuel weight of 21,100lbs and a gross weight of about 110,000lbs.

This is the route we will be following in this flight: KLRF (departure airport) -> LIT (113.90) -> BYP (114.60) -> FUZ (115.70) -> ABI (113.70) -> KDYS (arrival airport)

If you would like to use FS ATC, please download the IFR Flightplan. After the download is complete, move the file to your "My Documents\Flight Simulator Files" directory. I'd also like to recommend that you download (and print, if possible) two other files: 1. C-130E Checklist // 2. C-130E Takeoff and Landing Speeds - they will be needed later.

In order to start in a cold and dark cockpit state, load the IFR Flightplan with the default Cessna 172. After you shut down its engine, battery and avionics, go to the Aircraft > Select Aircraft menu and choose your favorite C-130E livery. Slew yourself to an available parking spot and load the fuel by going to the Aircraft > Fuel and Payload menu. You are now ready to start!

Cockpit inspection

! At this point, I assume you have your C-130E parked at a Little Rock AFB (KLRF) parking spot with everything shut down and the IFR Flightplan loaded in case you want FS ATC !

The airplane comes almost fully prepared for operation, you only need to change a few settings in the hydraulic system, the fuel system and the throttle quadrant.

- In the hydraulic system (R1 icon):

1. BRAKE SELECT switch - EMERGENCY
That will force the airplane to supply auxiliary hydraulic pressure (rather than utility hydraulic pressure) to the brakes, allowing them to be used with the engines off.
2. ANTI-SKID switch - OFF
Anti-skid will not function when the brake system is operating from the auxiliary hydraulic pressure (engines off) or when the parking brake is set.

- In the throttle quadrant (propeller icon):

1. TEMP DATUM CONTROL VALVES switches - AUTO
Permits normal operation of the electronic temperature datum control system.
2. Condition levers, throttles – GRD STOP, GRD IDLE
This ensures the blade angle is set to minimum thrust and that the engines will not start. Nacelle preheat is operable in this configuration.

Before start

We have basically two ways of powering the aircraft: using external power from an ground power cart or using the battery. For this tutorial, we will use ground power, but you may also use the battery if you want to. Go to the Captain Sim menu and activate the ground power unit - a green bar will appear to confirm your selection. It's time to power it up and start systems configuration.

- In the electrical system (upper OH icon):

1. External AC power switch - EXT AC PWR
Match the knob's yellow stripe with the panel's yellow stripe. That will connect external power to the AC distribution system. When using the battery, this switch remains in the OFF position.
2. External DC power switch - EXT DC PWR
Match the knob's green stripe with the panel's green stripe. That will connect external power to the DC bus. If you are going to use the battery, place the switch in the BATTERY position.
3. Turn the instrument and panel lights on
Now that you have electrical power, make instruments more clear by turning lights on. The lights on/off switches are located on the pilot's side shelf (virtual cockpit)
4. *Only when using the battery* Bus tie switch - TIED
Provides a mean for powering the main ac bus from the ATM generator during ground operation with no engine-driven generators supplying power. This is not needed when using external power, since it also powers the AC bus.
5. Inverters - OFF
Both "Copilot AC Instruments" and "AC instrument and Engine" switches should be placed in the OFF position until we have electrical power.

- In the radio stack (tower icon):

1. Radios - ON
Not much to say here. With the radios on, you can communicate with ATC and change frequencies.

Now that you have electrical power, it's time to start the Gas Turbine Compressor (GTC). The GTC supplies air for ground operation of the air turbine motor, engine starting, nacelle preheat and air-conditioning systems. It is essential for a correct engine startup and makes possible the ATM (Air Turbine Motor) operation, for those of you using the battery. The ATM supplies AC power to the aircraft (battery supplies DC power) - it will not be needed if you are using external power, since it also powers the AC bus.

- In the GTC control panel (upper OH icon):

1. Start GTC - STARTING
This require several steps:
1.1. Open the GTC intake door in order to allow GTC startup. The "NOT CLOSED" indicator should illuminate.
1.2. Turn the GTC control switch to the START position. It will go back to "RUN" and the "START" light goes on.
1.3. Wait until the ON SPEED light goes on. This light indicates that the GTC is operating normally and load can finally be applied.
1.4. Open the bleed air valve. This forces the GTC to supply air to the bleed-air system, which will be used to pressurize and climatize the aircraft, and also for engine startup.

2. *Only when using the battery* START ATM - STARTING
This require two steps:
2.1. Start the ATM by placing the ATM control switch to the ON position.
2.2. Connect the ATM generator by placing the generator switch in the RESET, ON position. This will supply power to the essential AC bus.

- In the electrical system (upper OH icon):

1. Inverters - SET
This require two steps:
1.1. Copilot inverter switch - ESSENTIAL AC BUS
Knob's yellow stripe matching with panel's yellow stripe.
1.2. AC INST & ENGINE FUEL CONTROL INVERTER switch - ESSENTIAL DC BUS
Knob's yellow stripe matching with panel's green stripe.

At this point, you will see that the OFF flag on the attitude indicator has disappeared. Let's continue with the configuration...

- In the lower overhead panel (lower OH icon):

1. Fuel enrichment switches - OFF
2. Oil cooler flaps - AUTOMATIC
This settings leaves to the aircraft the function of opening and closing the oil cooler flaps. In temperatures above 27ºC, leave the oil cooler flaps completely open.

- In the hydraulic system (R1 icon):

1. SUCTION BOOST PUMP switches - ON/LIGHTS OUT
After you turn the suction boost pumps on, make sure its warning lights have gone off.
2. AUX PUMP switch - ON
With the auxiliary pump on, you will be able to use the emergency brake system to brake the aircraft until the engines are started.

--- RUN THE BEFORE STARTING CHECKLIST ---

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