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F.8L Falco Flight Manual 1–3
The rate of climb and altimeter share the pitot static system of the airspeed indicator. The static ports are
located on the sides of the fuselage tail cone. In the event that these two ports become clogged, an alternate
static source is provided. This is located at the base of the instrument panel on the left. The alternate static
source is a drain valve, and it is opened by pushing up and turning the two protruding rods to the locked-open
position.
The pitot tube is located on the left wing and is heated. The switch for the pitot heat is located in the row of
circuit breakers, and its yellow indicator light shows that the switch is on.
The artificial horizon and direction gyro are of a special design for acrobatic flight, thus no special
procedures are required for acrobatic flight. These two instruments are operated by the vacuum system, and a
suction gauge is provided to the left of the airspeed indicator. A filter is provided to supply clean air to
these instruments. This filter is located on the forward—away from the pilot—side of the instrument panel,
directly in front of the master switch. The suction gauge is vented into the filter, thus the gauge is a proper
“differential” gauge, indicating both a clogged filter or a failure of the vacuum pump.
The turn and bank is electric, and the switch is located in the row of circuit breakers. Its green indicator light
is located above the switch, and this shows that the switch is on.
Optionally, a Century I autopilot may be installed. The electric gyro in this autopilot is switched on and off
by the turn and bank switch. The operation of the autopilot is controlled by a separate switch, normally
installed near the top of the avionics stack. The autopilot may be coupled to the navigation radios, and a
“NAV 1 - NAV 2” selector switch is located with it. This autopilot is entirely electric, thus is will continue to
work in the event of a vacuum system failure.
The tachometer and the manifold pressure/fuel pressure gauges are provided in the center of the instrument
panel, above the throttle quadrant.
A cluster of instruments are provided below the flight instruments in front of the pilot. This cluster included
the cylinder head temperature (CHT) gauge, the oil pressure temperature gauge, the oil temperature gauge,
the ammeter, and the two fuel gauges. All of these instruments are electric and include internal lighting
controlled by the light dimmer switch. The fuel gauges are marked in U.S. gallons, and the red arc indicates
the last three gallons in each tank—for approximately 30 minutes of flight at low power settings.
The aircraft may be equipped with a single cylinder or four cylinder exhaust gas temperature gauge (EGT).
As an option, the CHT may be a four cylinder gauge if it is wired through the switch for the 4 cylinder EGT.
A Davtron clock-timer may be installed. The flight time is connected to the landing gear circuit, thus the
flight time is automatically timed from gear retraction to gear extension. The incandescent display is
automatically dimmed.
A Silver Fuelgard may be installed to precisely monitor the fuel flow and fuel usage. The Fuelgard
normally displays fuel flow, and fuel used may be indicated by holding down the switch. The incandescent
display is manually dimmed with a switch on the Fuelgard.
A Davtron digital outside-air-temperature indicator may be installed. This is located on the right side of the
instrument panel. The incandescent display is automatically dimmed.
An accelerometer is normally provided on the left side of the instrument panel. This instrument has a green
arc for the Utility category. Red lines are provided for the Utility category and for the Acrobatic category,
and each is marked with a Uor A.
A magnetic compass is provided above the instrument panel at the center of the airplane.
The Falco is provided with dual circuits for the instrument panel lighting and each is controlled with a solid
state dimmer. The combined switch/dimmers are located on the right side of the instrument panel. The
dimmers control the internal lighting of the cluster of instruments, most avionics, the Isocom, and the magnetic
compass. The instrument panel is provided with post lights at the instruments. In addition, the glare shield
has four lights which illuminate the instrument panel.
