VC10 C1K Panel Manual
Panel Manual | Checklists | Flying Tips
Main | Centre | Autopilot | Fuel | Ignition | Overhead | Radios
Centre Panel
Percent RPM Engine revs (N2) & warning lights. The scale allows for 110% because original maximums were often extended after the aircraft's launch. Under normal operating conditions, 96% is maximum thrust. Each RPM gauge has a red 'engine fail' light under it. The two outer RPM gauges also have orange 'Reverse thrust' lights under them.
Flap Position Shows the position of the right/left trailing edge flaps. The gauge can be used to move the flaps by clicking with the mouse. Click on the left side to raise a notch, click on the right side to lower a notch. 20 degrees - Takeoff 35 degrees - Approach 45 degrees - Landing Some civil VC10s were also equiped with a 14.5 degree takeoff setting, but this was not generally in use. Takeoff with this setting required the fitting of high speed tyres.
Slat Position Shows the position of the right/left leading edge slats. The slats only have two settings - In or Out. There is no separate control for the slats in FS & so they extend with the first notch of flaps, which is how they would be used under normal operation.
Tail Trim This shows the position of the variable incidence tailplane. This is the VC10's elevator trim (or pitch trim) setting. The scale runs from -3 degrees (nose down) to +14 degrees (nose up). The thicker white line shows the allowable trim range for takeoff. The model usually needs around 3.5 degrees nose up for takeoff, otherwise it may not rotate at the correct speed. The gauge can be used to move the tailplane by clicking with the mouse. Click on the left side for more nose up trim, click on the right side for more nose down trim.
Aileron Deflection This shows the current deflection of the ailerons, by yoke, autopilot or trim. The VC10 has no trim tabs, so aileron trim is set by the position of the ailerons. In FS, the gauge can be used to alter aileron trim by clicking with the mouse. Click on the left side for more left side trim, click on the right side for more right side trim.
Landing Gear Lever Click the top half to raise gear, click the lower half to lower landing gear.
Landing Gear Indicators The round gauge shows the status of the landing gear, left / centre / right. If the landing gear is raised & locked up, no lights are lit. If the gear is in transition the red lights at the top are lit. If the gear is down & locked the green lights at the bottom are lit. The red lights on the left show when the gear doors are open.
OAT (Outside Air Temperature) Ambient temperature outside in degrees centigrade.
Standby Altimeter Duplicates the main altimeter. Displays height above sea level in feet. Altimeters need to be adjusted according to local pressure readings. These readings are given out by ATC & also by ground information radio channels at airports. The standby altimeter in the model uses the same pressure setting as the main altimerter. The pressure setting is made using the main altimeter. You can click either side of the gauge to increase or decrease the pressure setting.
Standby Attitude Indicator Duplicates the main attitude indicator. Visual representation of the aircraft's bank & pitch angles. The scale across the bottom shows marks for 0, 10, 20, 30 & 45 degrees of bank. The scale on the inside shows a pitch scale up to 20 degrees in either direction.
Flight Director Mode Flight director information is displayed by the attitude indicator (main panel). The flight director in FS is not completely independant of the autopilot, so the FD switch in the model works as a simple on/off switch. The FD mode is actually taken from the autopilot NAV mode rotary switch. When FD is on, the FD switch points to the NAV mode that is currently selected on the autopilot (Heading, LOC/VOR, GS Auto etc.). In FS the autopilot automatically starts the flight director. FD can be switched off while the autopilot is running and FD can also be switched on while the autopilot is off.
Speed Reference Chart The crew have to work out the correct takeoff & landing speeds for their flight & would write them down. If you click the chart it will calculate & write down the correct speeds for you. It works out the speeds for the VC10's current weight (TOW on the chart). The thrust setting for takeoff is shown (either 93 or 96%). V1 - Max speed to abort takeoff (The V1 given is only a guess, as it depends on runway length) VR - Rotate speed (Takeoff) V2 - Safe flying speed (Takeoff) Also gives V2+25, +45 & +60 MFR - Minimum for Flaps Retract (Takeoff) FUS - Flaps Up Safety speed Vat - Landing speed (At runway threshold)
DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) These gauges display the distance to any DME supporting beacon tuned into your NAV1 & NAV2 receivers. The top gauge displays for NAV1 & the bottom for NAV2. Distance is displayed in nautical miles. Most VOR & ILS becons support DME, but some do not. If no DME signal is being received, the gauge shows dotted lines across the display. Later DME equipment also displayed ground speed & estimated time to the beacon. This information is available if you move over the gauge with the mouse cursor.
Altitude Alert The amber light gives a warning when your altitude is approaching the set value. It also warns if your altitude slips more than 300 feet from the set altitude. Click either side of the numbers to increase or decrease in thousands. Click either side of the knob (on the left hand side of the gauge) to increase or decrease in hundreds.

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