"Fred" wrote in message ...
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.

Also, the design of the aircraft engine is such that once it is started,
the engine driven magnetos provide the spark to keep it running.

Yes, doens't that remind you of a basic lawn mower engine?

Actually it, reminds me more of the engine in my 1967 VW Bug (horizontally
opposed aircooled engine)... :-) It just doesn't use magnetos for the
ignition system. I have always kind of thought of the engine in the 172 I
fly as "just a bigger bug motor, and uses magnetos, and the mixture is
controllable while it is running..."