DC-6

TUTORIAL 1

Copyright © 2016
Precision Manuals Development Group
All Rights Reserved
DC-6 Pilot Introduction Disclaimer and Copyright Information

Disclaimer and Copyright Information

This manual was compiled for use only with the PMDG DC-6 simulation for
X-Plane 10. The information contained within this manual is derived from
multiple sources and is not subject to revision or checking for accuracy. This
manual is not to be used for training or familiarity with any aircraft. This
manual is not assumed to provide operating procedures for use on any aircraft
and has been produced for entertainment purposes only.

It is a violation of the owner’s copyright to distribute this document or any

portion thereof without permission of the author.

The Precision Manuals Development Group Web Site can be found at:

http://www.precisionmanuals.com

Copyright© 2016 Precision Manuals Development Group

This manual and all of its contents, pages, text and graphics are protected
under copyright law of the United States of America and international
treaties. Duplication of this manual is prohibited. Permission to conduct
duplication of this manual will not be subcontracted, leased or given.

Laminar Research, the Laminar Research Logo and X-Plane 10 are registered
trademarks of Laminar Research. Produced under license. Boeing, Douglas,
DC-6, the distinctive Boeing logos, product markings and trade dress are
trademarks of The Boeing Company. Some graphics contained in this
manual were taken directly from the simulator and altered in order to suit
duplication on a printed page. All images contained in this manual were used
with permission.

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Table of Contents DC-6 Pilot Introduction

Table of Contents
Disclaimer and Copyright Information ..........................................................2
Table of Contents ........................................................................................... 3
Introduction.................................................................................................... 4
Overview ......................................................................................................... 5
Addon Sceneries .......................................................................................... 5
MisterX - KPDX: .................................................................................... 5
Default - KSEA ....................................................................................... 5
The Flight Plan ............................................................................................... 6
Setting up X-Plane .......................................................................................... 7
Getting Started................................................................................................ 8
Preparing for the Departure ..........................................................................14
Climb ............................................................................................................15
Cruise............................................................................................................20
Descent .........................................................................................................23
Approach ......................................................................................................25
Taxi ...............................................................................................................27
Shut Down ...................................................................................................28
Next Up ........................................................................................................29

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Introduction

Introduction
Welcome to Tutorial #1 for the PMDG DC-6! This tutorial is being
provided to give people an understanding of how to operate the aircraft well
enough to take it on various adventures around the globe. By the end of this
tutorial, you should be able to fly one of the most advanced versions of a
commercial propliner currently available for the X-Plane platform with
relative ease, while also gaining a sound appreciation for old radial engines.

In the past, we have provided multiple versions of Tutorials in order to slowly

build up various skills that are helpful for operating the aircraft. This trend
will continue here. The main purpose of Tutorial #1 is to familiarize the user
with some of the features of the PMDG DC-6 while on a shorter flight, using
the GPS. Tutorial #2 will expand upon this concept by including cold and
dark procedures, and VOR to VOR navigation. Finally, Tutorial #3 will be a
much longer flight to include the VOR to VOR navigation and much more
involved fuel management. This last tutorial will be released in a future
update.

In order to concentrate on flying the aircraft and the techniques discussed in

the tutorial, the first two tutorials will be flown without weather.

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Overview DC-6 Pilot Introduction

Overview
Our schedule today takes us from KPDX – Portland International Airport in
Portland, Oregon, to KSEA – Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in
Seattle, Washington. Portland is the largest city in the state of Oregon, and
has undergone a rather extreme transition between the 20th and 21st
centuries. In the early 1900s, it was considered one of the most dangerous
port cities in the world, but in the mid-1900s it began to transform into one
of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly cities in the world.

Seattle is the largest city in the state of Washington, and is probably most well
known in the aviation industry for being the home of the Boeing Aircraft
Corporation. Outside of aviation, Seattle was well known during the Gold
Rush, and has been the birthplace of and launching point for many
influential musicians from various genres.

Addon Sceneries
MisterX - KPDX:
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?/files/file/28168-kpdx-portland-
international-airport/

Default – KSEA
If you are using the default KSEA, you may want to turn off the option that
contours the runway to terrain.

NOTE: Various sceneries in X-Plane require the download and use of specific
scenery libraries. Be sure to double check the requirements on the download
page.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction The Flight Plan

The Flight Plan

The flight plan is a modern approximation of what a DC-6 crew might have
flown at the time. The flight time is approximately 40 minutes, plus the time
spent on the ground. We will be cruising at 8000 and the full flight route is:

KPDX..BTG.V495.SEA..KSEA

There is a saved situation included with this tutorial. It can be installed by

placing the included DC6B_scenario_ 1.txt file in the DC-6B aircraft folder
of your X-Plane directory: X-Plane 10\Aircraft\PMDG\DC-6\DC-6B. If you
have already created a scenario, you may want to back it up prior to
overwriting it with this file.

If the Introduction Manual has not been read, please review it prior to
completing this tutorial. The sim needs to be properly configured and given
that the DC-6 is much less automated than our other offerings, setting key
commands is highly recommended, namely: elevator trim (up/down buttons),
aileron trim (left/right buttons), flaps (up/down buttons), gyro pilot and
autopilot mechanical disconnect buttons, and a tiller axis.

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Setting up X-Plane DC-6 Pilot Introduction

Setting up X-Plane
• Start X-Plane

• Select the DC-6, KPDX, day, clear weather, and load into a flight, as
you will not be able to load a situation until you are fully in the
simulator.

• If you would like to follow along with the same time of day, set the
time to 01JUN16 at 1700 local.

• Click on the Hard Drive icon on the left side of the screen to load
the Scenario Manager.

• Select Scenario 1 and allow everything to load.

• After everything loads, you will be on Runway 28L with the engines
running.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Getting Started

Getting Started

The aircraft is all set up and ready to roll so that it’s easy for those eager to get
up in the air to do so. Before we depart, though, we will quickly set a flight
plan into the GPS. In order to get mouse wheel support, which will increase
the speed of entering the plan, you may want to click on the screen of the
GPS to pop out the 2D pop up.

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Getting Started DC-6 Pilot Introduction
• Click on the FPL button of the GPS.

• Click the middle of the right side knobs - where it says “PUSH
CRSR”

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Getting Started
• This will light up the first line of the flight plan. Enter KPDX by
rotating the inner knob to select the letter, and the outer knob to
select the next position. Once KPDX is displayed, click ENTER to
set the entry and a second time to confirm.

• Use the outer knob to scroll down to the next position, and then
scroll the inner wheel to begin entering the next fix: BTG. After
BTG is displayed, click ENTER to set the entry and a second time to
confirm.

• Again, use the outer knob to scroll down to the next position, and
then scroll the inner wheel to enter OKARE. After OKARE is
displayed, click ENTER to set the entry and a second time to
confirm.

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Getting Started DC-6 Pilot Introduction
• Repeat this procedure to enter TOUTL, ALDER, CIDUG, SEA,
and finally, KSEA. While TOUTL, ALDER, CIDUG are not
required, they are nice to have in the plan as fixes along the V495
airway for situation awareness.

• After finishing the entries, click the PUSH CRSR button to exit the
cursor function.

• Next, click on the PROC button to bring up the approach

procedures for KSEA.

• Scroll through the list to find ILS 34L.

• Select CIDUG and then the option to LOAD. This will place the
approach at the end of the flight plan for quick access later.

• Finally, set the ILS frequency and course ahead of time: 110.75 and
343, respectively. The course will have to be manually set using the
OBS knob at the bottom left of the NAV1 gauge, directly under the
artificial horizon. While this is not required for the autopilot to work
correctly in this circumstance, it is a good habit to get into.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Getting Started
• After completing the flight plan, click on the FPL button to return to
the Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) screen.

• In order to get a moving map display, drag the inner knob to the
right. By default, the map shows North Up, but it can be changed to
Track Up by clicking MENU, and then “Map Track Up.”

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Getting Started DC-6 Pilot Introduction
• Open up the AFE window and run the After Start checks. After the
AFE conclude the After Start checks, activate the Before Takeoff
checks. Note that when the AFE is done with a sequence, the slider
remains green to note which sequence just concluded.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Preparing for the Departure

Preparing for the Departure

Before we depart, we should go over a few things, since you will have your
hands full of about 70,000 pounds of airplane and will not have time to be
flipping through this document.

In order to ensure that your hardware throttle does not interfere with the
AFE, leave it at the idle stop. Hold the brakes to remain in position while the
AFE sets the takeoff power (we will be using Takeoff (Dry)). Begin rolling
only after you hear full power has been set. Your rotation speed will be 100
knots. At that speed, smoothly increase backpressure on the yoke to raise the
nose. Climb out at about 130 knots and then pitch over slightly at about 500’
above the ground (about 531’ MSL here) to reach 140 knots. The AFE will
retract the flaps and then set Maximum Except Take Off (METO) power
during this time. You will need to adjust yoke backpressure and trim as the
flaps are retracted. The AFE will then set CLIMB power and run the after
takeoff checks. Continue the climb at 150 knots.

You should still have more than enough fuel after setting the GPS up and
reading this section, but just to be sure:

• Click on the Load Manager icon on the left side of the screen.

• Set 2160 pounds of fuel in each of the four main tanks. Leave the
alternate tanks empty.

• Click the Save Fuel & Loadout Settings button.

• When you are ready to begin your takeoff roll, open the AFE panel
and click Takeoff (Dry).

• Hold the brakes until the “full power set” is announced.

• Follow the takeoff procedure discussed earlier.

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Climb DC-6 Pilot Introduction

Climb

• After the AFE sets climb power, continue to trim the aircraft so that
it continues to climb at 150 knots. Note that the AFE will also
continue to maintain the climb power so that you do not need to
increase throttle as you climb. When the trim is set so that you can
let go of the yoke briefly, continue below.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Climb
• Look down at the back of the pedestal to find the GYRO PILOT
switch on the autopilot. Single click it to turn it on, and then look
below it and to the left to find the AP MECH DISCONNECT.
Single click it to turn it on. This will cause the AP to hold wings level
and the current pitch. If the speed is too low or decreasing, roll the
CLIMB/GLIDE wheel forward. Roll the CLIMB/GLIDE wheel aft
if the speed is too high, or increasing.

• Turn the aircraft to the right, toward the course line, using the
TURN wheel. Drag it further to the right to increase the bank angle,
or back to the left to decrease it. Stop the turn at a heading of 020.

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Climb DC-6 Pilot Introduction
• This should point us reasonably close to OKARE, so we can easily
modify our flight plan in the GPS to send us directly to that fix.
Click on FPL and then PUSH CRSR. Use the large wheel to select
OKARE and then press the DIRECT button. Press ENTER to
confirm.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Climb
• In order to put the aircraft on the GPS guidance, be sure that the
CDI says GPS and not VLOC. Click on the CDI button to toggle
between VLOC and GPS.

• After ensuring the CDI is set to GPS, look down at the autopilot and
turn the AP MODE selector to LOCALIZER. Despite the name,
this is simply an autopilot mode that tracks a signal with lateral
guidance. This can be a VOR, the GPS course, or a Localizer.

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Climb DC-6 Pilot Introduction
• Continue climbing until reaching 8000. You may want to use the
CLIMB/GLIDE wheel to slowly decrease the climb rate before
engaging ALTITUDE CONTROL.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Cruise

Cruise

After leveling off, allow the aircraft to accelerate to your cruise speed before
running the cruise checklist and reducing power and RPM. This will allow
the aircraft to settle onto the speed faster, improving efficiency, particularly
on longer flights.

• Run the cruise checklist

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Cruise DC-6 Pilot Introduction
• As your speed increases, you will need to adjust your rudder trim.
When setting the trim, imagine the nose of the aircraft as the front of
the trim wheel. If the ball in the turn and slip indicator is to the left,
that means that left rudder is required to bring the nose of the
aircraft back to the left. If the nose needs to be brought to the left,
drag the front of the trim wheel to the left. Note that not a lot of
trim is necessary, so start with small adjustments and wait for the
turn and slip indicator to adjust.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Cruise
• Descent planning is very important with radial engines as you always
want to make sure you are using positive thrust. This will increase
your speed for the descent. One way to plan for a descent is to pick a
vertical speed, and then divide the altitude change by the vertical
speed, convert for hours, and then multiply by your ground speed. In
order to make the approach easier, we will be using the ILS Runway
34L approach. The approach calls for 5000 at HIPRO, and we will
want to have slowed down and configured at least Flaps 20 by that
point, so we should be at 5000 about 10nm prior. The change from
8000 to 5000 is 3000, so with a vertical speed of 500 feet per
minute, it will take 6 minutes, which is 0.1 hours. Assuming
approximately 220 knots in the descent, the result is 22nm. Adding
the 10 prior to HIPRO, we should begin run the descent flow and
begin descending 32nm prior to HIPRO. Since ALDER is
approximately 22nm from HIPRO, look to begin this descent 10nm
prior to ALDER. Beyond this, give some time to run the checklist,
and get yourself situated in a descent. That being said, run the
descent flow 20nm prior to ALDER.

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Descent DC-6 Pilot Introduction

Descent

As part of the descent flow, the AFE will set the manifold pressure to 26
inches. This helps to ensure that the engine is still delivering positive thrust,
while also reducing thrust enough to descend. With this in mind, be aware
that you may end up picking up speed during the descent. While this is not
normal by the standards of today, given the high cruise speeds of jets, this was
not abnormal at the time.

Descending 10nm prior to ALDER will give you more than enough time to
decelerate to Flaps 20 speed prior to HIPRO. After passing ALDER, press
FPL, click PUSH CRSR, and then select the second CIDUG in the plan,
which is part of the ILS approach. Press the DIRECT button, and then
ENTER to confirm. This activates the approach.

• Disengage ALTITUDE CONTROL and roll the CLIMB/GLIDE

wheel forward to begin a descent of about 500 feet per minute.

• As your speed increases, check your vertical speed indicator (VSI)

and use the CLIMB/GLIDE wheel to adjust the vertical speed as
necessary.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Descent
• Reduce the vertical speed when nearing 5000, and engage
ALTITUDE CONTROL. Leveling off will help decelerate below
175 knots in order to be able to set Flaps 20.

• Once at 5000, run the In Range flow.

• Turn the AP MODE selector to GYROPILOT, and then change the

CDI on the GPS back to VLOC. This will use the ILS signal as
guidance for the autopilot instead of the GPS. With the CDI back to
VLOC, set the AP MODE to APPROACH.

• After the speed decreases below 175 knots, set Flaps 20, pausing at
each flap setting to give the autopilot time to adjust trim.

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Approach DC-6 Pilot Introduction

Approach

The approach will be a visual approach to Runway 34L, aided by the ILS,
which will help stabilize the aircraft on the proper alignment and glide path.
Do keep in mind, however, that since this is your first flight, you will want to
turn the autopilot off as soon as possible to get a better feel for the controls.
When you are ready to do so, turn the GYROPILOT switch off, and then set
the AUTOPILOT MECHANICAL DISCONNECT to off.

• As you get close to the glideslope, run the landing flow.

• Set Flaps 30 when established on final and let the speed reduce to
120 knots. If you find that your speed is not bleeding off quickly
enough, you can manually adjust the throttle back to the 60 mark of
the BMEP gauge. Just be mindful to reset it to 26” manifold pressure
as full flaps are set.

• Allow your speed to bleed off while on final and set Flaps 50 to
maintain 110 knots.

• Aim to be over the threshold at 105 knots, flare, and touch down.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Approach
• Let the speed naturally reduce with the assistance of light braking.
Provided you land near the touchdown zone, the runway is long
enough that there is no need to jump on the brakes.

• Exit to the right.

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Taxi DC-6 Pilot Introduction

Taxi

• After exiting the runway

• Run the after landing checklist

• Taxi south on Taxiway T to the General Aviation ramp.

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DC-6 Pilot Introduction Shut Down

Shut Down
The ramp is rather small for General Aviation aircraft, but maneuver as best
as you can to fit the aircraft on the ramp, away from the taxiway.

• After arriving at the parking spot, set the parking brake.

• Run the shutdown checklist.

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Next Up DC-6 Pilot Introduction

Next Up
The next segment is another short hop - about an hour in the air - between
KSEA and CYVR. You may continue right into it from here if you’d like.
Otherwise, open the Scenario Manager and save this flight in the Scenario 2
slot for Tutorial #2.

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