[caldrail]

When do we have to use :

- mixture
Mixture controls the ratio of fuel to air taken in by the engine, necessary since at higher altitudes the air is thinner and doesn't provide as much power to the engine as the ratio (the 'mixture' ) gets richer. So as you gain altitude reduce the mixture a little to maintain your power. For the first two or three thosuand meters I wouldn't worry too much, but above that that you may well find your performance improves if the lean the mixture a little. In fact, mixture is used to switch an aero-engine off. The sim is wrong in that the 'I' button switches off the ignition - aero engines don't work like that, you stop such an engine by starving it of fuel.

- prop pitch
Pitch is like the 'gearbox' of an aeroplane. Fine pitch is your lowest gear and making it coarser (reducing the percentage in-game) allows faster speed but doesn't pull so well. Pitch can control the max engine speed so in dogfights you can run at high power for longer without overheating, although you won't accelerate as much as with fine pitch. Experience will teach you which setting is best in any circumstance.

- magneto
Magneto's are your ignition circuits and aeroplanes with combustion engines have two for safety reasons, as well as extra power from multiple spark plugs. Generally speaking you should test these prior to take off and leave them on until you land. Switching them off (like pressing 'I' in game) will switch off the engine ignition but in this case the engine still has fuel in the system and can start by itself if any propellor rotation occurs due to heat and pressure in the system igniting the fuel regardless of any magneto setting.