Marty Shapiro wrote:

Mxsmanic wrote in
:

new_CFI writes:

the more complex adjusting of the fuel comes from the mixture control.

I don't understand the mixture control, either. Fortunately I can
have MSFS worry about that.

I'm surprised at all the fiddling that pilots are expected to do with
their propulsion units, as compared to other types of vehicles. Bad
enough that one must know how to fly, but apparently one must be a
qualified engine mechanic as well.


Have you ever driven a non-turbocharged car from a low lying city up into
the mountains, like above 5,000' MSL? If you did, you would understand why
the pilot has to manipulate the mixture.

Yes, except I've gone far higher than 5,000' MSL. Take a morning drive from
any (sea level) beach in Maui, for example to the summit of Mt Haleakala
(10,000+ ft). And the 'pilot' of the car doesn't have to do a damn thing for
the mixture, the injector pulse width (aka the mixture) is adjusted by the
computer automatically for max performance of power/emissions. Pretty basic
stuff for any car today, too bad so many aircraft are still using 1930s era
design engines.