No documented way to start additional pnuematics system APU's

[kcgb]

Version: 1.6.34.0

Frequency: Consistently*

Severity: Blocker
(Low - quality of life, workflow optimization, rare enough to not impact production, etc…
High - critical but workarounds are available, important feature not working as expected, frequent enough to impact production
Blocker - prevents from working on the project, prevents from releasing the product)

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Context: What package? When editing or mounted from Community? In main menu or in flight? etc…

Similar MSFS 2020 issue: insert url here if applicable

Bug description:

The Modular Pneumatics system SDK page mentions being able to have more than one APU in a system. It would be nice to use this for ground air supplies or aircraft with air supplies other than the engines.

The SDK doesn’t have any information on how to start these other “APU’s”. It’s possible to start them all with the Electrical system V1 commands. (K: APU_STARTER). But the SDK says these are legacy events, so I assume they shouldn’t even be used to start a normal APU in MSFS 2024

Repro steps:

Attachments:

Key Events for Secondary and Tertiary APU's

It seems the EX1 Pnuematics system supports multiple APU’s, but there aren’t any key events documented for starting or toggling Bleed air in the individual APU’s. The available Key events don’t seem to support any inputs for an APU index. Are there any other Key events available to control AU’s if you have more than one?

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[FlyingRaccoon]

Hello @kcgb

I think the systems where designed this way to be future proof but the sim only support a single APU for now. I couldn’t find an example of aircraft having multiple but it would be interesting to know if there is.

Regarding your need for an external pneumatic supply, this is being worked on as we speak.
It won’t be available before Sim Update 7 though.

Regards,
Sylvain

[kcgb]

Thanks @FlyingRaccoon

I think I have a workaround till then for ground air and air supplies that don’t come from an engine.
A Ram air intake with a Fan inline. Control the fan speed and a valve to control airflow. Not 100% ideal, but it will work for now.

An example of an aircraft with 2 APU’s is the KC-135R, To add to its uniqueness, they are both started via a Hydrualic starter powered by an accumulator.

This bug was also brought up because of an aircraft from the same family, the 707. As most of its air supplies come from compressors, rather than bleed air.