I use the version 4.1 of the BAe 146 panel with FSX SP2.
I can deploy the airbrakes with the mouse or with the "#" key, but I can't retract the airbrakes with the mouse or with any key.
I found this sentence in the manual:
The airbrake could be deployed with the # key or with the mouse. Unfortunately it’s not possible at the moment to retract the spoiler also with a key function. The only way to retract a deployed airbrake is by using the mouse. I’m currently working on a solution.
Unfortunately I can't retract it in any way
Do you have a solution for me? Can I add an speedbrake gauge of another aircraft to solve this?
This seems to be a problem of the FDE's you're using. Did you use the FDE's which are shipped together with the panel from this website? The flightdynamics for the model which is used together with my panel must not have any autospoiler or spoiler arm parameter. All of those parameters must be set to off. Unfortunately the spoiler arm function is always switched on in the standard FDE's. If someone reworks the FDE's or make new FDE's he very often forget to change those parameters in the flightdynamics. This could be a possible reason for your problem.
I too am having problems with the airbrakes not retracting. I have installed the FDE's you provided for Jon Murchison 146-300QT Since I have the HJG BAe146-300QT Ver 1.1 . However, I have noticed that the aircraft.cfg you provided calls for model= and in the HJG calls for model=QT
Since you said in an earlier posting that this airbrake/spoiler problem is caused by the FDE and models not being configured properly, I was thinking maybe the HJG BAe146-300QT has a new model that may be causing this issue.
BTW... the lift spoilers work great with the clickable spot on the pedestal, just can't get the airbrake retracted.
Just did some more testing.... the airbrake doesn't retract only once it's deployed to 100%. I can use the airbrake deploying and retracting so long as I don't deploy 100%. Once I deploy 100% then I can use the clickable spot to deploy the lift spoilers and retract lift spoilers, but cannot move the handle back up to retract airbrake. Just wanted to update with my new findings.
What you wrote is caused from the FDE's. Two things to solve this:
1. Try to change your current airfiles with those which are shipped with my panel from this website. Those FDE's allow manual settings of the spoilers and delete the spoiler arming (both is important for the panel). When you use the HJG aircraft, please use the replacement files for Jon Murchison's aircraft.
2. When you want to set the spoiler in separate steps (20% then 50% then 75% and so on), please use the mouse for setting the spoilers in the pedestal panel. The key function did not work correctly as the keys just know 0% and 100% (this is a MS bug).
Hi Matthias Thanks for the reply. I did post 2 messages and in the first it does say (and I did double check) that I have the AIR & CFG files installed that you provided from this web site. I also noticed that when installing your panel that the CFG file you provided calls for model= where the one that comes with the plane calls for model=QT
I don't know if they changed things or what but your CFG file didn't match. However I did add the QT to the model= in your CFG so that's ok.
I am able to use the airbrakes just fine with the mouse unless I deploy them fully and deploy the lift dumpers. Then using the mouse, I can get the lift dumper retracted, but can not get the airbrakes retracted. They are stuck out and using the mouse won't move the handle.
Not sure what else to try.... I did install the 300 none QT version and put your CFG and AIR file in from Jon Murchison 146-300 Airfiles.ZIP and I have the same problem with the 300 none QT version.
The things you've mentioned happen when using the wrong airfile. As far as I remember there are two values in the airfile which prevents a manual setting between 0% and 100% when the aircraft is equipped with spoiler arming. I made the same experience like you when I've programmed the gauges. As soon as the spoilers were set to 100% I couldn't control them anymore. After I've changed those two values and delete the spoiler arming it was possible.
However you wrote that you've changed the files. Two things more to check: Did you have an amber caution light of the hydraulic or electric system or of the spoilers in the MWS or overhead panel? If yes, which one is on?
One more thing to check. When you fully deploy the airbrakes without activating the lift spoilers. What did the tooltip text show you when you move the mouse over the spoiler lever. It should show you a spoiler value between 75% and 81%. When you now click below the spoiler lever to activate the lift spoilers the tooltip text should show you a value of exactly 100%. Now you want to retract the airbrake. I assume you know that you couldn't move the spoiler lever before you've retract the lift spoilers. To do this, you must click below the spoiler lever once again. When you move the mouse over the spoiler lever to retract the lift spoilers what value show the mouse tooltip text? It must still show you 100% otherwise you could not retract the lift spoilers. After clicking below the spoiler lever, the lever should move forward a bit and the tooltip text should show you now a value between 75% and max. 81%. From now on, the lever should be free to move back to 0%.
Otherwise I have no more idea of what could be the reason for your problem.
Thanks again for your reply, unfortunately the airbrakes are still stuck.
1. I have used the AIR & CFG files that came with the panel (I rechecked that again) 2. I don't have any amber caution lights. None on the overhead, and none on the MWS. 3. Yes you are correct about the %'s. I can drag the spoiler handle down and back up so long as the handle doesn't get to the box marked "out" on the Throttle Quadrant. If it gets to that mark, the handle will not go back up. It is stuck there and tooltips reads "Speed Brake Lever (80%)". Now I can click below that and the handle will move down and then it says "Lift and Roll Spoiler Out". Then I can click above it (on the box marked "out " on the throttle) and the handle moves back up to the 'out ' position and reads "Speed Brake Lever (80%)", but it is stuck there. I can not get it to move from that position back up. I try to drag the handle back up, using the mouse, and it won't move. However, I can click below it and move the handle back down again and get the "Lift and Roll Spoiler Out" and then click above it again and get back to 80%. I can do that all day long, but can't get it to go back up past the 80%.
This one has really got me puzzled too. I love all the BAe Panel project panels and have been using them for years in FS9. I was so happy to see the release of this version for 10 since I am now switching over to FS10. I am sorry to hear this is the end of the project, but I will continue to use this panel in my BAe146 for many years to come.
I too am also having the same problem. The speed brakes and spoilers will deploy, but not retract. I am also using the CFG and AIR files supplied with the panel, overwriting the HJG originals.
Other problem I have encountered are, when switching to the 2D cockpit view, I loose engine #1. It powers down, and can not be restarted. Engines # 2,3,and 4 however function fine. The view over the panel is tilted too high up. On the ground I can not see the runway, just sky. I do use the Ctrl Q method, but would like to permanently have the angle changed. Also when looking left and right, I'm getting the virtual view in the cabin left and right. It puts me right in the galley position.
Any suggestions on the above other matters would be much appreciated.
The airbrake problem is very mysterious. I do not know why it haoppen on a lot of systems and why not on other systems. Before I have uninstalled the Flight Simulator I was using FS2004 and FSX together. I was able to deploy and retract speedbrakes with FS04 and FSX. With the last version it was just possible to retract the spoilers with the mouse.
There is one thing which is maybe the reason. What flightdynamic files do you use? I remember that I have to make some modifications in the airfile (*.air) and aircraft.cfg to bring the spoilers to work as they should. One of it was to disable the spoiler arm function. But I know that there was another entry I had to modify. When you download the panel and aircraft from HJG I would like to ask you to check the model with the flightdynamics from this website. Maybe this could be the reason.
I double checked to make sure I have the air and cfg files from this website's download. What I have done for now is assign the propeller speed lever on my CH yoke to the spoilers. Now I can retract the speedbrake after I land.
I was wondering if it is possible to assign the invisible mouse click button for the lift spoilers to a button on the yoke? I find that having to have the pedestal panel open and needing to take my hand off the yoke to fumble the mouse onto the click spot is a bit harrowing right at that particular moment. I've had a couple of fairly hard landings from not getting my flare angle right after deploying the speedbrake.
Sorry to revive an old subject but I wonder if any further suggestions or possible solutions to this problem have been found since.
I have just installed FSX as well as the HJG BAE146QT and the FSX 4.1 panel successfully (inclusive of the pertinent JM air files provided in the package). The panel works great as well as the plane, just as it was in FS9, with the exception of the Air brakes / spoiler retraction process. The handle gets stuck exactly as mentioned here by previous contributors.
In the JM BAE146QT aircraft.cfg file provided in your panel package there is no reference to either the auto spoilers or the arm spoilers. So I imagine this conforms to what you instructed.
On another note, I have the cockpit tool tips option activated. It works on your panel and gives indications normally when pointing to instruments. However, I don't get any indications from the CTT function when I move the mouse over the airbrake handle. Shouldn't it indicate the % level of deployment? That seems to be the case for some other users but not for me.
I hope we can find a solution otherwise I will have to do without the spoiler arm option. Too bad because it is a nice feature to have.
I thank you in advance for any help you can provide me. I would also like to thank you for making this freeware panel available to the Flightsim community. It is an outstanding achievement that never ceases to amaze me.