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FSXA Prop Feathering

Confirming Roy's observation, (A:PROP FEATHERED:index,bool) doesn't change to "1", even when the prop is at its feathered position.


Drew up some custom prop lever and feathering code which seems to work well.

Exemplary prop lever for the virtual cockpit (FSX syntax, requires animation header for the Modeldef):
Code: 
<PartInfo>
<Name>Prop_Lever_L</Name>
<AnimLength>100</AnimLength>
<Animation>
<Parameter>
<Code>(L:Prop Lever L, number)</Code>
<Lag>400</Lag>
</Parameter>
</Animation>
<MouseRect>
<Cursor>Hand</Cursor>
<TooltipText>Left Propeller Lever: %((L:Prop Lever R, number))%!3.2f! Beta: %((A:PROP BETA:1, radians) rddg)%!2.1f! deg</TooltipText>
<MouseFlags>LeftSingle+LeftDrag+LeftRelease+WheelUp+WheelDown</MouseFlags>
<CallbackCode>
(M:Event) 'LeftSingle' scmp 0 ==
if{ (M:Y) (&gt;L:MOUSEPOSY,number) (M:X) (&gt;L:MOUSEPOSX,number) }

(M:Event) 'LeftRelease' scmp 0 ==
if{ (M:Y) (&gt;L:MOUSEPOSY,number) (M:X) (&gt;L:MOUSEPOSX,number) }

(M:Event) 'LeftDrag' scmp 0 ==
if{ (M:Y) (L:MOUSEPOSY,number) - 3 + 0 &lt;
  (M:X) (L:MOUSEPOSX,number) - 3 + 0 &lt; or
  if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) (M:Y) (L:MOUSEPOSY,number) - (M:X) (L:MOUSEPOSX,number) - + abs 0.25 * + 100 min (&gt;L:Prop Lever L, number) (M:Y) (&gt;L:MOUSEPOSY,number) (M:X) (&gt;L:MOUSEPOSX,number) }

  (M:Y) (L:MOUSEPOSY,number) - 3 - 0 &gt;
  (M:X) (L:MOUSEPOSX,number) - 3 - 0 &gt; or
  if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) (M:Y) (L:MOUSEPOSY,number) - (M:X) (L:MOUSEPOSX,number) - + abs 0.25 * - 0 max (&gt;L:Prop Lever L, number) (M:Y) (&gt;L:MOUSEPOSY,number) (M:X) (&gt;L:MOUSEPOSX,number) } }

(M:Event) 'WheelUp' scmp 0 ==
if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) ++ 100 min (&gt;L:Prop Lever L, number) } }

(M:Event) 'WheelDown' scmp 0 ==
if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) -- 0 max (&gt;L:Prop Lever L, number) } }
</CallbackCode>
</MouseRect>
</PartInfo>

Exemplary feather button for the virtual cockpit (FSX syntax, requires animation header for the Modeldef):

Code: 
<PartInfo>
<Name>Feather_Button_L</Name>
<AnimLength>50</AnimLength>
<Animation>
<Parameter>
<Code>(L:Feather Button L, bool) 50 *</Code>
<Lag>400</Lag>
</Parameter>
</Animation>
<MouseRect>
<Cursor>Hand</Cursor>
<TooltipText>Feather Left Propeller%((L:Prop Feathered L, bool))%{if} (Feathered!)</TooltipText>
<MouseFlags>LeftSingle</MouseFlags>
<CallbackCode>
(L:Feather Button L, bool) ! (>L:Feather Button L, bool)
</CallbackCode>
</MouseRect>
</PartInfo>

The rest of the feathering related code is executed in a 2D gauge, because I'm a lazy sod and save-compile-copy-paste-overwrite-reload is way too much work (save-reload is much faster).

FS9 syntax becasue why not. The value for the feathered prop beta is specified in the aircraft.cfg, in this case 89.5 degrees. Since this is an R1830 (see post #15 by Roy), the feather button will pop back out once the prop is feathered.

The event traps are necessary to avoid interference via keyboard when the prop is feathered.
Not sure whether use of external throttle quadrants with prop controls will pop the prop out of feather.

Code: 
<Gauge Name="Bjoern_K_is_the_smartest_person_on_the_planet" Version="2.0">
<Element>
<Select>
<Value>
(L:Feather Button L, bool)
if{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }

(A:PROP BETA:1, radians) rddg 89.5 ==
if{ 1 (>L:Prop Feathered L, bool) }
els{ (L:Prop Feathered L, bool) if{ 0 (>L:Prop Feathered L, bool) } }

(L:Prop Feathered L, bool)
(L:Feather Button L, bool) and
if{ 0 (>L:Feather Button L, bool) }

(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) !
(L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and
if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) 163.83 * (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) }
</Value>
</Select>
</Element>
<Keys>
<!-- CTRL+F1/2/3/4 event traps -->
<On Event="PROP_PITCH_LO">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ 100 (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH_INCR">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) 10 + 100 min (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH_INCR_SMALL">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) ++ 100 min (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH_DECR_SMALL">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) -- 0 max (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH_DECR">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) 10 - 0 max (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH_HI">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ 0 (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<!-- Single engine event traps -->
<On Event="PROP_PITCH1_LO">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ 100 (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH1_INCR">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) 10 + 100 min (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH1_INCR_SMALL">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) ++ 100 min (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH1_DECR_SMALL">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) -- 0 max (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH1_DECR">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ (L:Prop Lever L, number) 10 - 0 max (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{  }
</On>
<On Event="PROP_PITCH1_HI">
(L:Prop Feathered L, bool) ! (L:Feather Button L, bool) ! and if{ 0 (>L:Prop Lever L, number) } els{ 0 (>K:PROP_PITCH1_SET) (>K:PROP_PITCH1_DECR) }
</On>
</Keys>
</Gauge>

(Rinse and repeat for more engines.)

Note: No trap for PROP_PITCH1_DECR because it would lead to fatal command flooding when using the feathering button.

Note 2: You will still have to close the throttle or cut the mixture to stop the engine.
 
I now have the RAF Pilots Notes for the DAKOTA I & III with two Twin Wasp R-1830-92 engines. The words about feathering are identical to those in the Fortress III pilots Notes (B-17G)
Out of interest I also got the Piper Apache notes and its engines are feathered by moving the RPM control fully aft through the low RPM detent into the feathering position.

I had forgotten about the cockpit heater in that plane which runs off a nice little stove that used 91/96 octane aviation gas. I suppose it was quite safe but I was not keen on using it.
Perhaps I'll give your gauge a try in the mighty Fortress.
Roy
 
Roy Holmes said:
Out of interest I also got the Piper Apache notes and its engines are feathered by moving the RPM control fully aft through the low RPM detent into the feathering position.
Click to expand...

That's exactly how it works in the default Baron, the minor difference being that the lever's animations do not account for the detent and feathering position.

I had forgotten about the cockpit heater in that plane which runs off a nice little stove that used 91/96 octane aviation gas. I suppose it was quite safe but I was not keen on using it.
Click to expand...

According to Ernie Gann, a co-pilot who could properly operate the stove in a DC-2 was worth his weight in gold.
 
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