Saitek switch panel & cowl flap

[sunray]

using SPAD and all switches are fine except for the cowl flap, what do I need to do?

[Tigerclaw]

The cowl flap is NOT a switch, it's a "Lever" or Axis if you prefer. In other words, it's not an On/Off switch state, it's variable. I've assigned mine to a spare throttle axis on my second Saitek quadrant. It works perfectly.

If you don't have a spare Lever to use, what about another axis like a rotary?

[sunray]

Thank you Tony I will give that a try however on all my other aircraft (non A2A) the panel switch works the cowl no worries.
John

[Tigerclaw]

Most other aircraft treat the cowl flaps as a "switch" either open or closed, but A2A treat our aircraft very special. You have to admire the work that goes into an A2A aircraft

I don't personally know if the cowl flaps being ¼ or ½ open serves a purpose in flight, I'm not a real pilot, but my guess is there may be situations where having them fully open may keep the engine to cool for the most efficient operation. Just a guess though.

[tttocs]

The cowl flap is NOT a switch, it's a "Lever" or Axis if you prefer. In other words, it's not an On/Off switch state, it's variable. I've assigned mine to a spare throttle axis on my second Saitek quadrant. It works perfectly.

While I agree with Tony that an axis is the most realistic way to go, if you don't have a spare axis available, it's still easy to map a switch - a rocker works best.

Not at my sim computer right now, but I have a rocker switch mapped to, I believe, cowl flap increment and cowl flap decrement in FSUIPC. Works very well.

Scott

Edit: It's 'Inc Cowl Flaps' and 'Dec Cowl Flaps'. As with some of the other settings on the 182 and 172, just using '... Cowl Flaps 1' doesn't work. It has to be just plain 'Cowl Flaps".

S.