Cherokee 140 “G”

“Glass Panel” Version

User's Manual

Revision: 1.0
CREDITS

vFlyteAir Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee “G”

Revision 1.0, December 29th 2016

In-flight song "Pendulum" by rundio, performed by Louis & Clarke,

from the album "Three of One" (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rundio)
Many thanks to rundio (aka Louis Sinclar) for his permission to use the
song in our project! Please visit http://rundiomusic.com for more great
music!

Modelling, Programming: Walker Guthrie, USA

Modelling, Texturing: Igor Kirilove, Ukraine
Airfoil Optimization: Francesco Lanciano, Italy
Aspen EFD1000 Mario Donick, Germany

Manual Design & Text: Mario Donick, Germany

A big thanks to our users and beta testers!

This manual is for flight simulation use only.

Do not use any part of this manual for real flight or real navigation.
Do not use our aircraft for study or training. It is for entertainment only.
Contents
I INTRODUCTION 4 IV OPERATIONAL NOTES 20
A Modern Classic 5 Engine Start 21
Flight Behavior 6 Trim 22
Music to Your Ears 6 Flaps 23
Aspen PFD – Basic Operation 24
II OVERVIEW 7 Aspen PFD – Basemap 25

Aircraft Overview 8 Aspen PFD – Hot Keys 26

Specifications 9 Aspen PFD – Preferences 27

Features 10 Transponder 28

Control Settings 11 Autopilot 29

Rendering Settings 12
A Note on HDR 13 V EXAMPLE FLIGHT 30
Flight Plan 31
III MODEL DESCRIPTION 14 Takeoff and Cruise 32
Cabin Overview 15 Approach and Landing 33
Panel: Pilot's Side 16
Panel: Co-Pilot's Side 17
Aspen E1000 Primary Flight Display 18 VII CHARTS, PROCEDURES 34
Radio Stack 19 Preliminary Remark 35
Performance Charts 36
Procedures 43
I INTRODUCTION
A Modern Classic
Welcome to vFlyteAir's new variant of
the Piper Cherokee 140, featuring a
model of the Aspen Avionics EFD1000
PFD, created by Mario Donick for
vFlyteAir.
This is our “Glass Panel” version of the
Cherokee 140 (thus the 140 “G” model
designation), bringing a classic bird
into the modern age. A lot of older GA
aircraft in the "real world" have been
re-fitted with the Aspen PFD, so we
decided to offer this option to our
Cherokees, too.
After the Ryan Navion and the Cirrus
SR20, this is our third glass-equipped
aircraft, and we dare to say this is our
best attempt on a glass panel so far.
We've learned a lot since our previous
products, and Mario wants to thank
Jörg Goy (Picus-X) for his help with
getting a correct scale on the artifical
horizon. Check out Jörg's great model
of the Garmin G500 in his Aquila series
(at picus-x.com).
Another modern feature is the PS
Engineering PMA 7000B audio panel,
with simulated BlueTooth music.
To further modernize the 140, we've
installed X-Plane's Garmin 530 GPS
that provides primary GPS navigation
and COM1/NAV1 radio
communications. In addition, a Garmin
430 provides COM2/NAV2
communications.
An STEC 55x autopilot has been
provided for full autopilot control of
the 140, including GPS flight plan
following, RNAV approaches, VOR
tracking, Heading mode, Vertical
Speed mode, Altitude Hold mode, and
ILS approaches.
Please note that our product is for
entertainment only. Although our
Aspen has superficial similarities to
the real one, there are still significant
differences. Our model is not suitable
for study or training.
5
Flight Behavior
As is the case with our other two
Cherokee 140 models, the flight
characteristics modeled in X-Plane are
based on several hours of real-world
experience as pilot in command of an
actual 140.
The flaps, for example, not only have
the correct nose-dropping effect, but
can actually “tricked” to deploy by just
1° by moving a small book under the
lever. This way, the nose drops slightly.
When you then trim the aircraft to stay
level, the speed slightly increases. Put
the optional wheel fairings on (using
the on-screen Control Menu) and get
your engine parameters right, and you
are as efficient as a Cherokee 140
allows.
One of our beta testers told us: “I flew
several circuits, and every time I hit
the numbers when it came to
downwind, base and final speeds and
configuration. Really, really well done.
This actually feels like flying an
airplane!”
Music to Your Ears
“Bluetooth” Music by Rundio
Our Cherokee 140 “G” model has “Bluetooth” music!
We are very grateful to “rundio” (aka Louis Sinclar) for
providing the wonderful soundtrack “Pendulum”
from his album “Three of One” available at
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/louisclarke.
To listen to rundio's “Pendulum” while flying the 140
G, just turn up the music volume on the PMA7000B
audio panel! (The left side outer knob).
Please visit rundiomusic.com for more terrific music!
Engine Sounds
The sounds are all actual recordings of the real
Cherokee 140. These recordings are dynamically
mixed and blended to form a convincing sound
experience. Secondly, the sounds change when you
close or open the window, the door or both. And you
can even plug in virtual headphones to get a more
muffled engine sound, so listening to other
important sounds, such as ATC, is easier.
The result is beautiful. Everything you hear while
using our product sounds as it does in the real
aircraft.
6
II OVERVIEW
Aircraft Overview
The PA28-140 Cherokee is a single-
engine low wing plane made of
aluminium alloy, with some additional
parts of fiberglass. The rectangular
wings are often referred to as
“Hershey Bar Wings”, because they
look a bit like a Hershey chocolate bar.

8
Specifications
Engine - Lycoming O-320-E2A
Rated Horsepower and Speed 150 at 2700

Gross Weight / Empty Weight / Maximum Useful Load 2150 / 1201/ 949 lbs

Takeoff Ground Run, flaps up, sea level 800 ft

Takeoff Distance Over 50-ft Obstacle, flaps up, sea level 1700 ft

Best Rate of Climb Speed 85 mph

Rate of Climb 660 ft/minute

Service Ceiling 14,300 ft

Absolute Ceiling 16,800 ft

Top Speed 139 mph

Cruising Speed, sea level, 75% power 121 mph
Optimum Cruising Speed (75% power, 7000 ft) 130 mph

Instructional Power Cruise Speed (50% power, sea level) 100 mph

Fuel Consumption, 75% power 8.4 gal/hour

Fuel Consumption, 50% power 5.6 gal/hour

Cruising Range (75% power, sea level) 490 mi, 4 hrs.

Cruising Range (75% power, 7000 ft) 535 mi
Cruising Range (55% power, 10,000 ft) 570 mi

Instructional Power Cruising Range (50% power, sea level) 650 mi, 6.5 hrs.

Stalling Speed, flapsdown 54 mph

Landing Roll, flaps down 535 ft

Gross Weight 2150 lbs

Empty Weight 1201 lbs
Useful Load 949 lbs
Maximum Baggage 200 lbs

9
Cherokee 140 “Glass” – Features
The vFlyteAir “Glass” rendering of the One of the
(11)
PA-28-140 Cherokee includes the included
following special features: liveries

● Modernized panel featuring a

simulated Aspen EFD1000 PFD &
Garmin 530 and 430 GPS
● Supports mouse scroll-wheel
manipulators
● Flight model developed by an actual Modern-day
panel layout
pilot of a real Cherokee 140 and
confirmed by beta testers who are
also pilots of the Cherokee 140
● Custom airfoil to match the Cherokee
140's “Hershey bar” wing as close as
possible
● Optional wheel fairings: Slightly
reduce drag for more airspeed Custom
Garmin
● Flaps allow use of a real-world trick to GTX 327
slightly increase speed by putting a transponder
small object under the flaps lever
● 3D model and textures based on Exhaust
measurements and photos we took on pipe
a real PA-28-140 vibrates
depending
● Volumetric propeller, vibrating exhaust
on engine
pipe and key, rain & ice, ... settings
● Custom engine sounds recorded by
vFlyteAir in the real PA-28-140 – sound
changes dynamically on power
setting, open/closed window&door,
and headset plugged/unplugged Custom
S-TEC 55X
● High resolution (4096x4096) liveries
autopilot
based on real-world paints created
specially for this version
● Custom GTX327 transponder with X-Plane
pressure altitude, automatic flight Garmin
timer, count down and count up GNS 530
functionality
● Custom S-TEC 55X autopilot, tied to X-
Plane's default Garmin GNS530
●
Simulated “Bluetooth” music with
original soundtrack provided by
“rundio” (http://rundiomusic.com)
● Working circuit breakers
● Custom engine startup logic – the
colder the engine is, the longer it takes
to start

10
Control Settings
Based on vFlyteAir founder Walker
Guthrie's own flight experiences with
the real Cherokee 140, and with the
help of our beta testers, who all also
real-world pilots of the Cherokee 140,
we developed a simulation as close to
actual flight behavior as possible.
However, how the model behaves for
you also depends on your controls
and control settings.

Walker developed and tested the

model using a Saitek Pro Flight Yoke
System with separate throttle
quadrant and Saitek rudder pedals
with toe brakes. For reference, his
control settings are shown below:

11
Rendering Settings
VflyteAir founder Walker Guthrie
developed the Cherokee 140 both on
a Windows 10 PC with quad-core
processor & Radeon R9-200 graphics
adapter with 2 GB VRAM, and a Mac
Pro with built-in Radeon R9 M370X
2GB VRAM. Walker can run the
Cherokee fine with the following
settings:

On low-end systems, such as the

Windows 10 PC with Nvidea GT530
graphics adapter with 2 GB VRAM
used by our manual author Mario
Donick, a lot of settings need to be
reduced. Mario is able to run the
Cherokee 140 just fine with “very high”
textures, HDR off, anti-aliasing off, low
world distance & shadows on overlay.

12
A Note on HDR
While the vFlyteAir Cherokee 140 is
perfectly usable even if you can't or
don't want to use X-Plane's HDR
rendering, we recommend to use HDR
whenever possible. Especially the
night lighting will look more realistic
and convincing with HDR switched on.

NOTE: Interior lighting requires HDR!

The exterior lights are all customized

lights. The strobe lights are plug-in
controlled to provide a “staggered”
flash sequence. This is visible much
better in HDR mode.

We included hidden “traditional”

exterior lights in the PlaneMaker
model, so that you can still see the
strobes, beacon and a landing light
that lights up the runway even if you
don't use HDR.

In this picture, HDR is turned

ON in X-Plane. Note the
ambient light on the airplane
surfaces, the dome light
inside the airplane, and the
more realistic lighting effects.

In this picture, HDR is turned

OFF in X-Plane. The dome
light inside the cockpit is not
visible, and the exterior
lights are more “cartoonish.”
HDR on HDR off
13
III MODEL DESCRIPTION
 Cabin Overview
Click headphone Magnetic Click latch to
jacks to plug/unplug Compass secure door
headphones – Click keys to Drag up/down
Click to open sounds will be place into to move sun
vent window attenuated ignition visors

Click for Menu Fuel Flaps Rudder Click to

Selector Handle Trim Knob open door

In the menu, click an option or camera to

select or unselect it. Some remarks:

●
Wheel Fairings: If added, drag is
decreased and speed slightly increased.
●
Add/Remove Copilot: Weight will increase
if you add the copilot. If you fly without
copilot, you can click the copilot seat to
fold it (see picture to the right)
●
Wheel Chocks MUST be removed before
taxi!
●
Nose Gear Steers: De-Select if you want to
taxi with toe brakes only (unrealistic).

15
Panel: Pilot's Side

Flight
Director Audio Panel
Flaps Airspeed Independent Switch w/Bluetooth
Indicator Indicator Backup Music Garmin 530
Keys – Click to place
Altimeter
into ignition
Garmin 430

Aspen E1000 Artificial

Primary Flight Horizon
Display

Transponder

STEC 55x
Autopilot
Primer Starter Pitot Nav & Beacon
Heat Instrument Light
Carb Circuit Throttle
Lights
Heat Breakers
Master Strobe Fuel Landing Magneto & Fuses Omni Bearing
Switch Lights Pump Light Switch Selector –
push IN to
adjust

16
 Panel: Co-Pilot's Side

Keys – click Audio Panel Ammeter

Fuel Fuel Gyro
to place into w/Bluetooth Suction
ignition Music Tachometer Left Right
Clock
w/Elapsed
Time

Clock
AP
Switch

Panel
Lights

STEC 55x Oil

Autopilot Fuel Defrost
Pressure Temperature
ELT
GTX 327 Mixture Cabin
Oil Volt
Throttle Transponder Cabin Air
Pressure Meter Heat

17
Aspen EFD1000 Primary Flight Display
The Aspen EFD1000 PFD is a common choice for re-fitting older aircraft with a glass panel. Aspen
Avionics offer their PFD in two versions: a very basic PilotPFD and a more advanced ProPFD. Our
rendition of the PFD has been created by Mario Donick for vFlyteAir. Its look and feel is very
accurate to the real device; its functionality is between PilotPFD and ProPFD. It does not provide
every feature available on the real devices, but many necessary functions for desktop flight
simulation are available. Please note that our model is not suitable for study or training.

Artificial Horizon with Pitch and Turn

Selected
Indicators, and Flight Director Bars
Altitude
Selected
Airspeed Power
Button

Indicated
Airspeed
Tape Map Range
Buttons

Menu
Button
True Airspeed, Ground
Speed & Outside Air Temp

Wind Direction & Speed,

CDI NAV Source
Barometric Pressure
Information

Course Selected
Numeric
Direction
Selected Hot Keys
Heading

CDI, Directional Compass,

Heading Bug, CDI Scales,
Bearing Pointers,
Deviation Indicators
Basemap Range

Left Knob State (CRS or IAS). Right Knob State (HDG, ALT)
Click to sync value. Also indicates BARO and MIN
adjust. Click to sync value.
Selected CDI Source

Center Button – CDI NAV

Left Knob – Turn to activate, Source Select Right Knob – Turn to activate, turn
turn again to change value. again to change value. Push to
Push to select state (CRS or select mode (HDG, ALT; MIN, if
Left Button – Bearing Pointer
IAS). active).
Source Select
Right Button – Double-Line
Bearing Pointer Source Select
Radio Stack
The vFlyteAir PA28-140 “Glass” version PS
Engineering
features a fully modernized PMA 700B
instrument panel. In addition to the Audio Panel
Aspen EFD1000 PFD, the avionics
package includes:
Garmin
GNS 530 –
● PS Engineering PMA 700B Audio COM1/NAV1
Panel w/”Bluetooth” music
●
Garmin GNS 530 GPS (primary)
● Garmin GNS 430 GPS (secondary)
●
Garmin GTX 327 transponder
w/Pressure ALT, Count Up Timer,
Count Down Timer and automatic
Flight Timer
● S-Tec 55X autopilot

The GNS530 is X-Plane's default GNS, Garmin GNS

which has a readable moving map, a 430 –
COM2/NAV2
complete flight plan feature, waypoint
information windows, lists of nearest
airports & navaid, and the capability of
loading and activating approaches.
The 530 provides COM1 & NAV1
communications. Garmin
GTX 327
The GNS 430 is a backup for the 530,
and provides COM2/NAV2
communications.
S-Tec 55X
The GTX 327 has been programmed Autopilot
from scratch by vFlyteAir. Its special
features include display of pressure
altitude, automatic flight time counter,
countdown and countup timers.

The S-Tec 55X has also been

programmed by vFlyteAir. It provides
HDG, NAV APPR, ALT, and VS modes,
and can be used for ILS and GPS
approaches as well as flight plan
following.

19
IV OPERATIONAL NOTES
Engine Start
Engine start has been improved in Two views
of the 3D-
contrast to previous vFlyteAir effect
products. It depends on the engine propeller
temperature how easy it is to start the
engine, and you need to fulfill certain
prerequisites to ensure engine start.

To start the engine, switch on the

Master switch, then do the following
steps:

1) Take the key and put it into the

ignition switch by clicking the key
on the windshield.
2) Set mixture full rich.
3) Move the throttle lever forward to
about 10-25%.
4) Optionally switch on the fuel pump,
which can facilitate engine start.
5) Turn the ignition key to “both”.
6) Press the starter button. Depending
on temperature, after a few turns
the engine should start.

Don’t forget to place the key

into the ignition…

21
 Trim
The Cherokee 140 has elevator trim The PA28
and rudder trim. To use elevator trim, uses an
antiservo
use the big lever on the cabin ceiling. tab at the
To use rudder trim, use the knob tail for
located below the instrument panel in elevator
front of the flaps lever. You can, of trimming.
course, define your own joystick
button or keyboard assignments for
elevator and rudder trim. Unlike the
real Cherokee 140, the vFlyteAir model
includes a mechanical trim indicator
which we placed to the right of the
attitude indicator. The trim indicator
has markings for neutral and takeoff
trim.

The elevator trim in the Cherokee

uses an antiservo tab on the stabilizer.
Antiservo tabs are a special kind of
balance tabs which, in contrast to trim
tabs, move in tandem with the control
surface. When the stabilizer moves up
or down, the antiservo tab moves
even further in that direction, thus
providing a “positive feel” feedback to
the pilot that indicates relative pitch
control.

Elevator trim is operated by the big silver lever above the pilot's
heads, and indicated on the panel next to the attitude indicator.

Rudder trim is operated by the

knob below the instruments panel.
22
Flaps
The flaps lever is between the pilot The flaps
handle.
and copilot seat. In X-Plane, you can
either click it or operate it by
whichever buttons or keys you have
assigned to the flaps control. We
included a flaps indicator to the left of
the airspeed indicator.

One of our beta testers with a lot of

hours in his 140 pointed us to a special
trick: If you jam a small object under
the flaps lever during cruise flight, you
can cause the flaps to deploy by
about one degree of down flaps. This
results in slightly more speed in cruise
flight (2-4 knots), assuming that you
trim down a bit to compensate for the
small amount of extra lift. To simulate
this real-world trick, we placed a log
book in the pilot side cabin wall
pocket that you can click on to mode
it underneath the flaps lever. After
doing so, trim down a bit, and without
changing the throttle setting, you will
see about 3 knots of extra speed.

23
Aspen PFD – Basic Operation
The primary way to control the PFD are the If the mouse cursor is a (- or +) icon, click or scroll to turn.
If the mouse cursor is a "hand", click to push.
two knobs and the three control buttons at
the bottom of the unit.

Left and Right Knobs

The left and right knobs are used to select
various “states”. Press or turn once to “wake
up” the knob function – the knob label will
change from cyan to magenta. If the knob
When a knob is active (label shown in magenta), click
label is magenta, the knob can be rotated to the hidden spot on the label to synchronize the value.
adjust the current state. Click the knob
rotate icon or use the mouse scroll-wheel to
adjust. After ten seconds, the knob state
reverts to inactive, and the knob label turns
to cyan.

Synchronizing HDG, IAS and BARO

In the real PFD, values like HDG or IAS are
synchronized by holding the knobs for 2
seconds. For convenience, we changed this:
We added two invisible clickspots directly
on the knob labels above. You can, for Toggle Single- Toggle Double-
example, click the magenta HDG label to Line Bearing Line Bearing
Pointer Pointer
set the heading bug to the current heading,
or click the magenta ALT label to set the Toggle navigation
selected altitude to the current altitude. source (CDI)

Left, Center and Right Buttons

Use the left button to select the single-line Hold and drag the upper part of the popup to
bearing pointer source (NAV1/VOR1, move it (left, right, forwards, and backwards)
NAV2/VOR2 or GPS). Press repeatedly to
change the selection. The center button is
used to select the Navigation Source to be
coupled to the CDI (NAV1 or GPS1). The right
button is used to select the double-line
bearing pointer source (NAV1/VOR1,
NAV2/VOR2 or GPS).

REV Key
Press to power the Aspen off/on.

RANGE Key
Press ”+” or +-+ to adjust the basemap zoom
range. Current range is shown in the lower left
corner of the PFD.

MENU Key Click anywhere on the screen to show a popup. Click

Press to display the Preferences menu. the screen again to dismiss the popup.
Aspen PFD – Basemap
Our model of the Aspen EFD1000 uses X-
Plane's default moving map with
customized icons for navigation aids and
traffic.

The picture above shows the default

settings of the map. It is shown in 360°
mode (like a HSI, with added needles for the
current navigation source and single line
bearing pointer). You can switch to ARC
mode by pressing the associated hotkey
(refer to page 27 of this manual).

Map range is 20 nm, declutter level is 3 (only Airport

airports and VORs are shown). You can
change map range via the RANGE key on VOR or VOR/DME
the right side of the PFD.
NDB
Which icons are shown depends on the
declutter level set in the preference menu FIX
(refer to page 28 of this manual) and if the
traffic hotkey is active (refer to page 27 of
this manual).
Traffic Proximity Advisory

Note: X-Plane's moving map unfortunately Traffic Advisory

has very small texts below the map icons. You
can either click the PFD to show an increased Other Traffic
popup version, or you can use the scroll wheel
to zoom in and out quickly.
Overview of Map Icons
Aspen PFD – Hot Keys
On the right side of the Aspen PFD, there
are five hotkeys from top to bottom. The
upmost hotkey changes between two
pages.

Hot Keys – Page 1

1 / 2 Key – used to select the current hot key

“page”. Press to toggle between Pages 1 & 2.

MIN Key – Press to toggle the Minimums

adjustment and display off/on. If “MIN” is active,
use the Right Knob to adjust up/down.

360 / ARC Key – Press to toggle the Navigation

Display between 360 compass rose or partial-
arc view.

The #4 Key on Page 1 is not implemented in this

version of the Aspen simulator. Hotkey Page 1. On this example
picture, the 360 mode for the
BARO Key – Press to toggle BARO adjustment. HSI is active. MIN and BARO
Use the Right Knob to adjust. modes are inactive.

Hot Keys – Page 2

1 / 2 Key – used to select the current hot key

“page”. Press to toggle between Pages 1 & 2.

NOTE: The #2 Key on Page 2 is not

implemented in this version of the Aspen
simulator.

NXRAD Key – Press to toggle the weather

display off/on. Uses X-Plane's default weather
radar.

TRFC – Press to toggle the display of nearby air Hotkey Page 2. On this example
traffic on/off. The label changes to TFCU when picture, traffic display is active
active, indicating that all traffic is shown. (shown as TFCU); weather
(NXRD) and BARO modes are
BARO Key – Same as Page 1 function. inactive.
Aspen PFD – Preferences
The real Aspen EFD1000 has a lot of
configuration options, grouped in several
subpages of a preferences menu. Our
model of the EFD offers five useful options
presented on just one page.

Press the MENU button on the right side of

the Aspen to open the preferences menu.
Press the MENU button again to close the
menu.

When the menu is shown, options are

displayed on a blue bar next to the hotkey
buttons. Press the hotkey button next to an
option to toggle it. The current state is
shown on the blue bar, i.e. if ENABLE is
shown, the option is active.

TPS – used to toggle display of speed tape and

altitude tape. If you prefer the upper half of the
PFD to work just as artificial horizon, set this to
DISABLE.

VSPEEDS – used to toggle display of reference

speeds on the speed tape. Set this to DISABLE if
you feel distracted by the speeds.

BARO – used to toggle the unit of barometric

pressure between in and mB.

AUTOCRS – used to toggle AUTOCRS mode. If

set to ENABLE (autocourse is active) and GPS as
active navigation source, the green needle on
the HSI will always point to the bearing of the
current GPS waypoint and you can't use the left
knob to adjust the CRS needle.

DECLTR LVL – used to declutter the basemap.

Press multiple times to toggle levels between:

-4 show airports, FIXes, VORs and NDBs

-3 show airports and VORs
-2 show airports
-1 show no icons on map
-0 don't show basemap

Traffic and weather are shown in levels 4 to 1.

The current declutter level is indicated with
green bars in the lower left corner of the PFD.
Transponder
The Garmin GTX 327 transponder's main Transmit position Select mode Toggle functions
task is to transmit your aircraft's identifier
(squawk code) and altitude so air traffic
control can track you. Use the four mode
buttons (OFF, STBY, ON, ALT) to select
the desired transponder mode. Use the
numeric buttons to enter the squawk
ATC assigned to you, or press VFR to set
squawk 1200. Press IDENT to transmit Set squawk 1200 Set squawk Control timers
your position one time if requested by air
traffic controllers.

In addition to the basic transponder

functions, the GTX 327 offers some
special functions, toggled by the FUNC
button:

● Pressure Altitude: This is the default

function when you start the aircraft.
Pressure altitude is the altitude
transmitted to air traffic control (mode
“C” or “ALT” mode).

● Automatic Flight Timer: Once you are

airborne, your flight time will
automatically be recorded. The timer
will stop after landing. Press CLR to
reset the timer (can only be reset
when on the ground).

● Count Up: If selected, press

START/STOP to start a timer counting
up. Press the button again to stop the
timer. Press CLR to reset the timer.

● Count Down: If selected, press the

CRSR key to enter a time value using
the numeric buttons to specify a start
time (example: 01:30:00 – press “0”,
“1”, “3”, “0”, “0”, “0”). Press START/STOP
to start the count down.

28
Autopilot
Autopilot master switch.
The S-TEC 55X is a simple autopilot Switch to “FD” mode to
for general aviation aircraft. It can be turn on the Flight Director.
used to perform the most common Switch to “SERVOS” mode
tasks, but is not as capable as more to activate control servos.
sophisticated devices.

Click upwards on the FD switch to

place it in “FD” mode. In this mode, the
autopilot is ON, but the servos are not
engaged. Press the switch upward
again to the SERVOS position, and the
autopilot servos will engage and hold
the current roll and pitch. Approach Altitude ALT/VS
Mode Mode knob
You can select different modes by Navigation
pressing one of the associated Mode Reverse Vertical
buttons: Heading Approach Speed
Mode Mode Mode
● HDG: In heading mode, the
autopilot follows the heading bug
which you set Aspen PFD.
● NAV: In nav mode, the autopilot
follows a nav source (a navaid on
NAV1 on the GNS530 GPS). If no
valid nav source is selected, or is
not being received, the display will
show “FAIL”. Select HDG using the Right
Knob on the Aspen PFD, and
● APR: In approach mode, the turn the Right Knob to adjust
autopilot executes an ILS or GPS the Heading Bug.
approach, and both roll and pitch
will be controlled.
●
REV: In reverse mode, the autopilot
will fly the approach back-course.
● ALT: In altitude mode, the autopilot
will level off when it reaches are
preselected altitude. Preselect the
altitude on the Aspen EFD1000 and
use VS mode to set vertical speed.
Please note that the real 55X does
not allow to pre-select an altitude;
we changed this for convenience.
● VS: In vertical speed mode, the
autopilot will control pitch to Set NAV frequencies with the GNS530.
achieve the desired climb/descent Press CDI button to select VOR or GPS as navigation source.
speed. Set the vertical speed in
increments of 100 ft by clicking the
ALT/VS knob when VS is active.

29
V EXAMPLE FLIGHT
Flight Plan
In this example flight, we want to fly KPSP
airport
VFR from Palm Springs (KPSP) to chart
Twenty-Nine Palms (KTNP). The direct
distance between both airports is 33
nm, but we will follow the roads, so it
is slightly longer.

KPSP has two runways in 13/31

direction. The shorter runway 31R/13L
is near the general aviation parking
area and used by aircraft of this
category; the larger runway 31L/13R is
used by airliners. If weather and ATC
permit, you should takeoff from 31R,
because after takeoff we will follow
the Interstate 10 for about 7 nm.

At Whitewater, we turn north,

following California State Route 62 (a
street which stretches over 151.4 miles
east towards Earp, near the Colorado
river and the border to Arizona). We
will follow route 62 for 41.5 nm, so we
cover an overall distance of 48.5 nm.

31
Takeoff and Cruise KPSP Ground 121.9
KPSP Tower 119.7
●
Before starting the engine, turn on
avionics to set COM frequencies: In
the GNS 530, set KPSP ground
(121.9 MHz) and KPSP tower (119.7
MHz); initially, make KPSP ground
your active frequency. Set COM2
(on the GMS 430) to KTNP's
CTAF/UNICOM (122.8 MHz).
●
Set the audio panel to COM1, call
ATC and ask for engine start
clearance.
●
Turn off avionics (to save battery)
and start the engine, as described
on page 22 of this manual.
● Turn on avionics again to get taxi
clearance. Taxi to runway 31R. At
the holding point, switch to tower
and ask for takeoff clearance.
● Align with the runway, slowly push
the throttle fully forward and at
about 70 mph, gently pull the yoke
to rotate. Climb at 600 to 660 ft per
minute.
● As we're generally flying a course
between 0° and 179° (east), we
need to hold odd altitudes + 500 ft.
I suggest 5500 ft. KTNP CTAF/UNICOM 122.8

32
Approach and Landing
●
How we approach KTNP depends
on which runway is active. KTNP
has two runways, one in 8/26 and
one in 17/35 direction. We are
arriving from the west, so runway 8
would allow for a direct approach.
●
Another possibility is to enter a left-
hand traffic pattern.
● Finally, there exist VOR and GPS
approaches for runway 26. For the
GPS approach, load the approach
into your GNS530 GPS. Fly towards
the initial approach fix (IAF) JEHLI
(you need to be at 6000 ft), then
activate the approach. Select the
GPS as navigation source for your
autopilot. Sink to 3800 ft, then
activate approach mode on the
autopilot. The autopilot will now fly RNAV (GPS) approach runway 26
you down to runway 26. This will
feel very similar to an ILS approach,
but is controlled by GPS positions.
● During approach, use full flaps to
reduce your airspeed to about 65
mph.

KTNP, as seen from the west

33
VI CHARTS, PROCEDURES
Preliminary Remark
If you browse the Internet, you may
stumble upon a lot of different POHs
for the Cherokee 140. You will soon
notice that there exist several versions
and that they vary in the performance
values given. This is due to two facts:

1) Very early aircraft with serial

numbers 28‑20000 to 28‑20939
had a gross weight of just 1950 lbs.
Starting with serial number
28‑20940, the PA28-140 was
licensed at 2150 lbs. The N3466K
(on which the vFlyteAir model is
baed) has serial number 28‑23569,
thus for our model 2150 lbs apply.
2) After 1973, the PA 28-140 was
equipped with a more powerful
engine, the Lycoming O-320-E3D.
Our model is equipped with the
older Lycoming O-320-E2A. Title pages
of different
PA 28-140
POHs

35
 Take-Off Distance

Source: PA28-140 POH

36
 Rate of Climb

Source: PA28-140 POH

37
 Range

Source: PA28-140 POH

38
 Power

Source: PA28-140 POH

39
 Landing Distance

Source: PA28-140 POH

40
 Glide Distance

Source: PA28-140 POH

41
Altitude Conversion

Source: PA28-140 POH

42
Engine Start & Warm-Up

While the
electric fuel
pump works in
the vFlyteAir
Cherokee 140,
the prime lever
is currently
without effect,
as it is rarely
used by pilots
of the N3466K.

Source: PA28-140 POH

43
 Ground Check

Source: PA28-140 POH

44
 Takeoff

Source: PA28-140 POH

45
 Climb & Cruise

Source: PA28-140 POH

46
Approach & Landing

Source: PA28-140 POH

47