BOEING 707-420 - Throttle Quadrant, Autopilot and INS

Introduction

All the devices shown on this page are displayed by clicking the button or by pressing pressing SHIFT + Keypad 5 (with NUM LOCK off).

The Throttle Quadrant

The four large handles operate the throttles. Attached to these handles are the thrust reverser handles, which move back when reversing thrust, as in the real aircraft. Spoiler and flap handles are also located on the throttle quadrant. Trim indicators and wheels are found at either side (trim may be adjusted by clicking on the wheels). The amber light in the lower right comes on while the trim is being adjusted. Remember that in a 707 you must mind your own airspeed - there is no autothrottle to do this for you!

The four levers at the base are the engine start levers. Set the levers to the START position to start the engines, once the appropriate N2 RPM is reached. The levers automatically move to IDLE once the engine is started.

The Autopilot

The panel is equipped with an authentic 1960's autopilot - it only has a few basic functions, but if used correctly will provide an equally smooth ride to your destination. The altitude and vertical speed modes now use custom programming, as the default FS autopilot is deficient here.

- The Autopilot Master Switch - the autopilot is ON when the switch is up, and OFF when the switch is centred. When the autopilot is turned off, the A/P warning light on the main panel comes on. Pushing the switch DOWN extinguishes this light.
- The Altitude Hold Switch - When this switch is ON, the autopilot holds the aircraft at its current altitude. When the switch is OFF, the aircraft maintains its current rate of climb or descent. The rate of climb or descent may be altered using the pitch command wheels.
- The Horizontal Mode Selector - This switch selects between the autopilot's various horizontal modes:
  - INS - follows the heading given by the Inertial Navigation System
  - MAN - bank angle set according to Bank Angle Selector
  - HDG - finds and holds selected heading (you can alter the selected heading using the knob on the HSI)
  - LOC/VOR - tracks a VOR beam, or an ILS localizer (horizontal only)
  - GS (MAN) - the aircraft will move to capture an ILS beam (horizontal and vertical), and then track this beam. Note: the 707 is not autoland capable!
  - (GS) AUTO - the aircraft will follow the existing vertical mode until the ILS glideslope is reached, then follow the ILS beam.
- The Bank Angle Selector - When the horizontal mode is set to MAN, you can select the bank angle using this knob. If any other horizontal mode is selected, the bank angle selector returns to the zero position.

If the autopilot Master Switch is OFF, the selected modes are still relevant, as they drive the flight director.

The Inertial Navigation System

This unit is typical of the waypoint navigation systems in use in the 60s and 70s. The system can store up to 25 waypoints. Initially, waypoints for outward and return London-New York flights are set up. You'll probably want to get some maps to assist your navigation - no moving map displays here!

The main mode knob selects the display mode:

- POS - the aircraft's current latitude and longitude are displayed.
- WPT - the co-ordinates of the currently selected waypoint are displayed.
- TRK/GS - the track to the selected waypoint, and the aircraft's current ground speed in knots are displayed.
- HDG/DA - gives the heading required to follow the correct track, and the drift angle.
- DIST/TIME - gives the distance to the selected waypoint in nm, and the time to the waypoint in hours and minutes.

The top row of keys have the following functions:

- HOLD - sets the HSI heading bug to the INS heading. Note that this does not continuously update the heading bug to follow the INS track - use the AUTO mode on the autopilot for this!
- SET - this allows waypoint to be changed. Waypoint must be entered in a specific way.
  The co-ordinates shown on the image would be selected using the keys [SET][N][0][5][4][3][0][9][2][W][0][0][1][2][5][0][6][ENTER]
- CURRENT - selects WPT mode momentarily
- TRK - selects TRK/GS mode momentarily
- DIST - selects DIST/TIME mode momentarily
- CLR - Backspace key when entering waypoints.

Loading and Saving Flight Plans

The INS gauge automatically saves the currently entered waypoints to disk when Flight Simulator is exited, or when the aircraft is changed. It is also possible to save up to 3 user-defined flight plans.

- Flight Plan 1 - to save, press [SET][7][ENTER], to recover, press [SET][1][ENTER]
- Flight Plan 2 - to save, press [SET][8][ENTER], to recover, press [SET][2][ENTER]
- Flight Plan 3 - to save, press [SET][9][ENTER], to recover, press [SET][3][ENTER]

To restore the default London-New York-London flight plan, press [SET][ENTER]

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