Preferences GUI

The MU2 provides preference settings to configure certain aspects of the simulation. The preferences dialog may be accessed when the MU-2 is loaded by moving the mouse cursor to the right side of the X-Plane window as shown below. Doing so will cause the Gizmo menu bar to appear. Click on the red Mitsubishi Logo as shown below to access the dialog GUI. Descriptions of each preference is given below:

  • GPU When this checkbox is checked, a GPU will be connected to the aircraft. The aircraft must be on the ground and not moving for the GPU to be connected.

  • Engine Intake Covers Use this checkbox to place/remove the engine engine intake covers. The intake covers may also be removed by clicking on their handles but only the GUI dialog can be used to return them to the engine intakes Intake covers will be in place by default when starting simulations cold and dark**. Note that you will not be able to start the engines with the intake covers in place, so be sure to remove them before attempting to start the engines.

  • Pitot Covers Use this checkbox to place/remove the pitot covers. The pitot covers may be removed by clicking on the hanging banner; however, the GUI must be used to return the pitot covers to the pitot tubes.

  • Yoke Lock Use this checkbox to place/remove the Yoke Lock. The yoke lock may also be removed by clicking on its metal tab; however, only the GUI may be used to replace the yoke lock.

  • Nosewheel Chocks Use this checkbox to place/remove the nosewheel chocks. The wheel chocks may also be remove by clicking on the chocks; however, only the GUI dialog may be used to put the chocks in place.

  • Key always in ignition This pref will keep the battery key in the ignition, rather than having to grab/replace it from the tall cabinet behind the copilot seat.

  • Hide Avitab mount For Avitab owners, you can use this to show/hide the Avitab mount on the window.

  • Save Control Positions on Exit: - Best used for users who regularly start their simulations cold and dark . When exiting the MU2 simulation, the current position of controls, where you left them, are saved. When this preference is not enabled, the controls are initialized to given positions as required, which is normally the case with most aircraft. Note that if you have this preference enabled and start a simulation with engines running, then some controls necessary to simulate a running aircraft will be initialized.

  • Auto Set Cockpit Light This preference will adjust the overhead lighting rheostats at the beginning of the simulation only. So if you start a simulation at night cold and dark, then the rheostats will be turned to illuminate whenever power is applied.

  • Show 3D pilot in external Views - Just what it says. Default is OFF

  • Manips With Hardware Use this preference to expose the manipulators with hardware installed. By default, the MU2 will hide the manipulators for the power and condition levers when it detects that you have assigned an axis to a specific lever. For single paddle configurations, this will preclude performing single lever operations, such as may be done for the overspeed or feather valve/NTS tests. By checking this checkbox, you can then use the mouse cursor to perform single lever operations. Note that moving the hardware axis will cause the levers to synchronize again, so when performing a single lever operation with a single hardware paddle configuration, be sure to not move your joystick axis until you've concluded the single lever operation and are ready for the lever positions to synchronize again.

  • Hide Yoke Manip This preference will hide the yoke manipulator when the yoke is visible.

  • Auto-stop power levers at detent This preference causes the 3D power levers to automatically stop at the Flight Idle detent when pulling your hardware throttle aft. This will avoid accidentally going into BETA with hardware that have no physical detent. Commands are provided to virtually lift the power levers (left / right / or both) so that your hardware throttle will then control power lever operation in the BETA region. See Joystick Configs / Modern Method for more information.

  • Power Lever Upper Limit This is the upper limit value of your joystick position (expressed as a ratio) where you can use the commands to "lift power levers". If your joystick position is any higher than this value, then the commands to "lift the power levers" will be ignored. The acceptable range is 0.5 to 1.0. This setting is used in conjunction with the "Auto-stop power levers at detent" option. This upper limit is shown as the top of a yellow bar on the Ghost Throttle Visual Aid.

  • Power Lever Lower Limit This is the lower limit value of your joystick position (expressed as a ratio) where you can use the commands to "lift power levers". If your joystick position is any lower than this value, then the commands to "lift the power levers" will be ignored. The acceptable range is 0.0 to 0.5. This setting is used in conjunction with the "Auto-stop power levers at detent" option. This lower limit is shown as the bottom of a yellow bar on the Ghost Throttle Visual Aid.

  • Default VFR code for GTX Transponder - Sets the VFR transponder code that is entered into the Garmin GTX330 transponder when the VFR button on the GTX unit is pressed. Default is 1200

  • Brake application rate (seconds to full) - Works with the default X-Plane braking commands:
    *   sim/flight_controls/brakes_toggle_max
*   sim/flight_controls/brakes_toggle_max
*   sim/flight_controls/brakes_max
*   sim/flight_controls/brakes_regular

Using the default X-Plane commands to toggle the brakes on/off is usually too aggressive and abrupt. This setting allows you to set the time it takes to apply full braking, which can ease the braking. Default is 1 second.

  • Power Lever Detent Ratio - This preference is for owners of hardware with real detents or those who desire to move their lever from full reverse to full thrust without a detent. This value simply allows the MU2 animation of the levers for ALPHA and BETA regions to match users detent hardware of the same regions. This value only affects the animation of the levers. If you have no detent but still wish for your levers to move from full reverse to full power, then simply set this value to 0.5 and make sure that the "Auto-stop power levers at detent" is unchecked. See Hardware Setup for more information.

  • Show Ghost Throttles - This pulldown selects when the Ghost Throttles are to be visible. There are 4 options: NEVER, ALWAYS, Lift Zone and Below, When Out of Sync. "When out of sync" means whenever the 3D levers in sim and your hardware are not in the same place. This can happen when using the "Auto-stop power levers at detent" option and also when using the mouse cursor to move the levers with a hardware throttle attached.

  • Charge Batteries - This is a convenience aid for users who may spend time in the cockpit without the engines running but with the batteries connected to the bus, as would be the case for new users becoming familiar with the aircraft systems. Instantly sets the batteries to 100% capacity. If you sit in the MU2 with battery power on and mess about for any significant length of time, then the battery level can deplete enough to make starting difficult as the starter won't be able to spin the turbine past through 10%, where lightoff occurs. This button allows you to instantly recharge the batteries so you can start the aircraft.

  • Fill Tanks Use these buttons to rapidly fill the tanks.