TCA Aircraft Testing Department.

Jet/ turboprop/ large prop aircraft test report:

Date of Report: June 10, 1998
Tested by:	Marco Pacagnella 
		TCA #2459
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SECTION A: (Original FSFS aircraft details.)

	a) Aircraft name: 		Airbus A310-300
	b) Aircraft registration: 	PJ-7002
	c) Aircraft Filename:		Tca-a310.zip

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SECTION B: (FS98 only aircraft file details.)

	a) Aircraft name:	n/a
	b) File name:		n/a

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SECTION C: (Criteria Tested)

1)	Endurance (range)NM:  		3600 nm	(see note 1)

2)	Take-off distance(metres): 	1400 m
	Landing distance(metres):  	380 m 	

3)	Rotation speed (Vr)(KIAS):
	a) Educated guess:	155 KIAS
	b) Calculated:		160 KIAS

4)	Climb: Best climb speed (KIAS/fpm): 2000 fpm under 220 KIAS, 3000 fpm and 250 KIAS
	under FL100 and 300 KIAS and 1500 fpm until cruise FL

5)	Overspeed clacker sounds at(at cruise altitude)Mach number or KIAS: .85 Mach

6)	Behavior under AP(OK/Not OK).
	a) Speed AP.	 	OK
	b) Altitude AP.		OK  (see note 2)
	c) Heading AP.		OK
	d) NAV1 AP.		OK
	e) Back course AP.	no
	f) Approach AP.		OK
	g) Autoland		no

7)	Speed @ 80% N1, FL300 (Mach number or KIAS). 0.78 Mach

8)	% N1 at recommended economic cruise speed:  81% (for 0.80 Mach max cruise)

9)	Stall speed (KIAS). 
	a) 100% fuel: 160 KIAS
	b)  30% fuel: 110 KIAS

10)	Approach speed at 30% fuel(KIAS): 145 KIAS

11)	Turns AP ON - (OK/Not OK):
	a) Level turns.		OK
	b) Climbing turns.	OK
	c) Descending turns.	OK

12)	Turns AP OFF - (OK/Not OK):
	a) Level turns.		OK
	b) Climbing turns.	OK
	c) Descending turns.	OK

13)	Landing speed(KIAS):
	a)  30% fuel:	130 KIAS
	b)  15% fuel:	127 KIAS

14)	Take-off with some engines out of service:
	Not difficult, I tried a engine n.1 cut at 140 KIAS,  not too much yaw as for other 
	Big twins, easy to fly over 200 KIAS and to land, more care needed during initial 
	climb.

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SECTION D: 	NOTES/COMMENTS:

1.	I've tested the range at Max cruise speed (the only cruise speed reported 
	in the Docs) and Fl310 as required. It looks good because the N1 is just at 81%.
	I suggest for long range  FL370 (suggested by Airbus for such plane) 
	and M.76.

2.	There is a silly pith oscillation driven by autopilot during cruise (at all 
	cruise speeds): you see the AP can't find the right trim selection.
	(As you swich off the AP Alt the plane is never trimmed !)

3.	It is a good plane, but it seems to have too much flaps, you can feel it during 
	landings: you feel to approach too quickly even at 140 KIAS, you have to keep nose
	down to keep a -800 fpm, and there is a big ground effect.

4.	Visual design is nice, for the panel I suggest Andreas Jaros A300-600/A310 panel
	(Aj310P20.ZIP at www.Flightsim.com).
	You can use it also for TCA A300-600s and Beluga.