ELEVATOR BOOSTER

[scarter]

Why do you engage the elevator booster when first entering the flight station and what is the function of the booster during flight?

[alan CXA651]

Hi.
This aircraft is complex , so read the manual first , as for the boosters there are 3 of them elevator/rudder/ailerons , on entering the cold and dark cockpit , the boosters are engaged , and when engines are off these boosters act as control locks , which prevents controls being moved by the wind , to check free movement of controls , you turn the boosters off , and you should have limited movement on ail/ele/rud controls , this is the position the boosters need to be in when you have hydraulic failure in flight, and controls are then manually operated under emergency conditions .
After you have checked free movement , the boosters are re engaged , I.E. locking your controls , when all your engines are running , and hydraulic pressure is good , you do another full and free control movement check , YOU WILL SEE MORE MOVEMENT in the controls now you have hydraulic control boost , which helps the crew from getting fatigued , as the controls are now light to the touch.
Try turning the boosters of in flight , you will find the aircraft very hard and sluggish on the manual controls.
regards alan.

[scarter]

That was a great and very informative explanation of what the boosters are for..Thank you much.