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# FSX VTOL / Effect Control gauge for UKMIL FA2 Sea Harrier #
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# By Rob Barendregt 18 feb. 2007 #
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What the VTOL gauge essentially does: when VTOL-control is activated, it overrides
the normal FS aircraft flightdynamic calculations, so complete control of the
aircraft is done by intelligent gauge code (with input from the pilot using
the normal flightcontrols like rudder, ailerons, throttle and elevator axis).
The effects control gauge adds a lot of controlled, visible effects to the aircraft.
Functionality (for details, see below):
- Smooth and stable VTOL/Hover capabilities, with pilot-controlled ascent/descent
rate, longitudinal and lateral speed, heading, pitch and bank.
- Works under ALL wind conditions; even with a tailwind, it can fly backwards !
- Does NOT influence the aircraft's normal flight characteristics: the gauge
is only active when the nozzles are rotated more then 80 degrees.
- Controlled effects, like nozzle/N1-dependant smoke, wing /wingtip vortex, a cannon,
high-altitude contrail.
*************************** IMPORTANT **************************
1 This solution also requires prior installation of Peter Dowson's FSUIPC:
FSUIPC.dll (V4.0.7.0 or later, registered or unregistered).
You can download and install the lastest version of FSUIPC at:
http://www.schiratti.com/dowson.html
2 When loading the aircraft for the first time, you might be asked to "trust" Peter
Dowson's FSUIPC and Doug Dawson's modules; if you "trust" them, and also say "Yes"
when asked to all modules from Peter and Doug, you will never asked again.
3 In menu "Aircraft-Realism Settings", uncheck the box "Autorudder" for heading change
during VTOL operation (via seperate rudder pedals, or keyboard rudder commands)
4 If VTOL doesn't appear to work properly:
There may be several causes.
The new SimConnect interface in FSX sometimes doesn't work properly (known bugs)
Moreover, there are some known problems with SImConnect/FSUIPC w.r.t virusscanners and
firewalls; SimConnect communicates via TCP/IP with FSX !
If you experiance these problems, check the FSUIPC website/forum for solutions; there
are several threads about this subject.
To check if SimConnect/FSUIPC is working properly: check if your Menu bar in FSX
contains an item "Addons", with "FSUIPC" in it.
If this is OK, check the following:
- The green needle the Flaps/Nozzles gauge should be between 80 and 100.
Both Nozzles and Flaps are commanded by FSX Flaps commands.
- The aircraft weight should NOT exceed 21000 lbs for VTOL operation.
Reduce fuel/payload if needed.
Main differences with the FS9 version:
- Visually, much smoother. In ALL View modes !
The best way to observe VTOL is in OutsideView-LockedSpot mode.
- Works now with CrashDetection ON.
- Stick control of the "puffer" system works a bit different. See below.
Detailed functionalty of the "VSTOLControlIPC.xml" gauge
========================================================
This gauge consists of two parts:
- A functional part (_Func)
This gauge should only be defined ONCE.
- A display/click part (_Display)
This gauge can be defined multiple times, e.g. in 2D Cockpit and in VC.
The _Display gauge has a clickable bitmap with tooltips.
It displays:
- The FS2004 "flaps" position:
- White Needle: the Flaps position (flaps-position 0-3, 0-40 degrees)
- Green Needle: the Nozzles position (flaps-position 4-9, 0-98 degrees)
- Other info:
- Short Red Needle: the winddirection, relative to the aircraft.
- Top-Left number: Radio Altitude, in feet.
- Top-Center number: Windspeed, in knots.
- Top-Right number: Pitch, in degrees.
Beside using the normal keys/buttons to in/decrease "flaps", you can also
click the gauge. See ToolTips.
- TopLeft: Display/Hide RadioAltitude info.
- TopRight: Display/Hide Pitch info.
- TopCenter: Display/Hide Wind info.
- BottomLeft: Increment flaps/nozzles.
- BottomRight: Decrement flaps/nozzles.
- An Overweight indicator; when the red light is On, the aircraft exceeds max.
weight for VTOL operation; dump fuel first.
- A GroundControl Indicator; when the amber light is On, GroundControl is On (default)
See "Limitations"
NOTE:
- When engines are OFF, flaps/nozzles are forced OFF.
The _Function gauge:
The VTOL function becomes active when the nozzles are rotated to a position greater
than 80 degrees. When active:
- RUDDER axis changes Heading.
- AILERON axis changes Roll speed (+/- 20 deg), and therefore lateral-speed.
- ELEVATOR axis changes Pitch speed (+/- 30 deg)
- FLAPS controls nozzles (50, 82, 86, 90, 94 and 98 deg.)
50 deg. is used for STOL, 82-98 for VTOL/Hover.
- THROTTLE axis changes thrust, and therefore longitudinal speed and altitude;
both proportionally to Weight, N1, and the "thrust-attitude".
About "thrust-attitude": the Harrier normally hovers with nozzles at 90 deg.
and 6 deg. pitch up; in this attitude the thrust is directed straight downward,
and therefore airspeed is exactly 0 knots (the groundspeed depends on the wind).
Now, "thrust-attitude" is the resultant of actual pitch and nozzle angle; so if
you e.g. set nozzles to the 98 deg (called FullBrakingStop position) and pitch
to 2 deg. downward, it will again hover with exactly 0 airspeed because thrust
is still directed straight down.
Likewise:
- Pitching down from the standard 6 degr. up, OR decreasing nozzle angle from
the standard 90 deg, will move the aircraft forward.
- Pitching up from the standard 6 degr. up, OR increasing nozzle angle from the
standard 90 deg, will move the aircraft backward.
Hence, you can hover with ANY airspeed between 50 knots forward and backward,
depending on current nozzle direction and pitch !!
Also note, that if thrust is not directed exactly downward (so airspeed is unequal
to 0) you obviously need more thrust (higher N1) to maintain the same altitude.
Again, this effect is proportional; to the extent that even at full thrust you
cannot maintain altitude anymore (if the aircraft is heavy enough).
Detailed functionalty of the "HarrierEffectControl.xml" gauge
=============================================================
This gauge controls several addon effects, by controlling light switches
defined in the aircraft.cfg:
- Engine smoke effects, coupled to:
- WING LIGHT (#8), for smoke directed downward.
ON: When N1 greater then 70% and nozzles at 82 - 98 deg.
- LOGO LIGHT (#9), for smoke directed backwards.
ON: When N1 greater then 70% and nozzles at 0 deg.
- CABIN LIGHT (#10), for smoke directed at 45 deg angle.
ON: When N1 greater then 70% and nozzles at 50 deg.
- Wingtip vortex and Wing vapor effect, coupled to TAXI LIGHT (#6).
ON: When airspeed is greater than 100 Knots IAS, AND Gforce greater than 3.
- Cannon fire effect, coupled to RECOGNITION LIGHT (#7).
ON: When "triggered" by the user: either via a key or joystick button that
generates AfterburnerToggle events (default key: Shift-F4).
IMPORTANT NOTES AND LIMITATIONS
===============================
1. As outlined above (because this is an addon) I have to work within what's
possible for an existing model; like: visible nozzle animations are usually
coupled in the model to Flaps, and not an contiguous axis of its own (although
of course that would require a seperate "nozzle" hardware controller axis as
well); Hence the limitation of discrete nozzle settings, since FSX only
provides for max. 10 flap positions.
2. Make sure that your external control devices (joystick/pedals) are well-calibrated.
3. When VTOL-control is Active:
- FSX gets a bit confused with its Stall warnings.
Hence, in the aircraft.cfg, I inhibited Stall warning by setting extreme Stall
speed warning limits.
- The IAS reading of your normal speed meter may not be accurate.
It displays the IAS calculated by FSX, NOT the real IAS.
Moreover, FSX cannot indicate negative speed (when going backward)
- Although the Elevator, Rudder and Ailerons function are now controlling other
functions (the ReactionControlSystem), the aircraft rudder, nosewheel, elevator
and ailerons visual animations still work. Just ignore them :-)
4. VTOL on moving surfaces (like moving carriers).
Unfortunately, FSX doesn't provide the handles to do proper speed control when the
aircraft sits on a moving surface, caused by the fact that in FSX "groundspeed"
is relative to the earth's surface, and NOT to the moving surface (e.g. carrier deck).
See also "Operation tip 8: VTOL on moving carriers"
(V)(S)TOL operation tips
========================
1. Vertical Takeoff
- Make sure you are not too heavy; reduce fuel if necessary.
Note that the max. VTOL weight for a Harrier is about 21000 lbs, given the max. thrust
of 21500 lbs.
IF TOO HEAVY, THE AIRCRAFT WON'T LIFT OFF !
- Taxi your aircraft to the Takeoff position.
- Set nozzles to 90 deg., using default keys F6/F7 or mouseclicking the flaps/nozzles
position bitmap.
NOTE: F8 sets FullFlaps (== nozzles 98 deg, NOT 90 deg.)
- Apply full throttle,
When N1 becomes > 90% (Weight-dependant), the aircraft will lift off.
- Raise the gear.
- When you reach sufficient height, gradually move the nozzles and flaps to normal
position, using "flaps-decrement" (default key: F6, or by clicking the gauge).
When transitioning from 80 to 50 deg nozzles, apply a little backpressure on the
stick (elevator), to avoid the nose dropping when the VTOL gauge releases control.
- And if your are lazy :-) : set "flaps-up" immediately (default key: F4).
The aircraft now will accelerate quickly to 250 knots, after which VTOL-control
deactivates and you can fly the aircraft as usual.
2. Short Takeoff.
- Taxi your aircraft to the Takeoff position.
- Set flaps to Flaps 40, Nozzles 0 degrees.
- Apply full throttle.
- At around 60 knots, increment flaps (F7) to set nozzles at 50 deg.
- The aircraft will lift off now.
- Raise the gear.
- Gradually move nozzles and flaps to the normal flight position.
3. Vertical Landing.
- Make sure you are not too heavy (see "Vertical Takeoff").
- Descent, slow down and gradually lower Flaps.
- Around 170 knots and 1/2 a mile before landing spot, rotate nozzles to 90
deg and throttle up.
The airspeed will gradually reduce to 0.
- And if your are lazy :-) : set nozzles to FullBrakingStop immdiately (default
key: F8), from ANY speed. The aircraft now will decellerate quickly.
Note that the speed of decelleration depends on the actual nozzle position. !
- Lower the gear.
- Hover the aircraft to the landing spot, using throttle, stick and rudder.
When near the landing spot, preferably turn the aircraft straight into to
the wind and descent slowly (with zero groundspeed) untill touchdown.
See also "5. Hover"
- Set brakes, throttle to idle, and flaps/nozzles to 0.
- Release brakes and taxi to the parking spot.
4. Short Landing.
- Descent, slow down and gradually lower Flaps to 40 deg.
Make sure you are lined up with the runway.
- Around 120 knots and 1/2 a mile before landing spot, rotate nozzles to 50.
- Lower the gear.
- After touchdown, apply brakes, set flaps/nozzles to 0 and taxi.
5. Hover.
During a hover (nozzles 82-98 degrees), you can change direction, longitudinal/lateral
speed and altitude using your controls. See section "Detailed functionality"
So longitudinal and lateral groundspeed is also dependant on windspeed/direction.
To hover or land with zero groundspeed in all directions:
- Roughly compensate head/tailwind by adjusting nozzles.
- Headwind < 6 knots: Nozzles 90
- Headwind between 6 and 18 knots: Nozzles 86
- Headwind between 18 and 30 knots: Nozzles 82
- Tailwind < 6 knots: Nozzles 90
- Tailwind between 6 and 18 knots: Nozzles 94
- Tailwind between 18 and 30 knots: Nozzles 98
- Fine-compensate headwind with Elevator (Pitch), and Ailerons (bank/roll) for sidewind.
When N1 thrust > "x"%, altitude will increase, when < "x"% altitude will decrease
(proportional to N1). "x" is the "CenterThrust" in the gauge, which is the
N1 value at which the hover altitude remains constant, but corrected for:
- The actual aircraft Weight.
- "CenterThrust" for min weight (15000 lbs, low fuel) is 80 % N1
- "CenterThrust" for max VTOL weight (21000 lbs) is 96% N1
- And liniairly between 80 and 96% for all weights 15000 and 21000 lbs.
- The "Thrust Attitude", as explained above.
6. Groundroll.
On the ground and nozzles less then 80 deg., VTOL is not active and the groundroll
is as usual. However when nozzles are set greater then 80 deg (and Brakes Off), the
roll speed depends on the set nozzle position and throttle.
So the aircraft will roll forward (nozzles 94,98) or even backwards (82,86), with
a groundspeed depending on throttle.
And at nozzles 90, the aircraft won't move at all !! (since thrust is directed
straight down).
Of course, keep thrust below "CenterThrust" or your aircraft will takeoff :-)
7. Performing the Harrier "bow".
Now, here's a spectacular effect; just like in real life (although with different
controls) !
- Make sure you are in a stable hover: nozzles at 90, pitch at 6 deg. up and
throttle at a position where altitude is more or less constant.
- Make sure you have enough altitude: at least 100 feet AGL
- Go into Spotplane View.
- Rotate the nozzles to FBS (98 deg), by pressing F8.
The aircraft will build up backward airspeed.
- After a sec. or 2 (backwards speed is about 25 knots), press the elevator fully
forward. The nose will quickly drop and the backward momentum is stopped.
- When the airspeed hits about 0 knots, center the elevator untill the aircraft
pitches up again to 6 deg.
- Set nozzles back to 90 deg. again (press F6 twice).
8. VTOL on moving carriers.
Also quite spectacular is VTOL operation on a moving carrier.
There's one catch though: you MUST switch OFF VTOL Ground Control (see "Groundroll").
As explained in the "Limitations".
A good place to start is:
- In FSX, select Mission "Tutorial 11: Helicopter Maneuvers 1" and check the box
"Enable changes in selected mission" and "Show saved missions"
- Select your VTOL-capable aircraft instead of the helicopter.
Remember to dump fuel before takeoff to stay below 21000 lbs weight !!!
- Set Ground Control OFF (click the amber light on the VTOL display gauge), and take off.
- Either follow the mission objectives (nice as well !!) or fly straight to the carrier.
- Approach the carrier (that moves with appr. 25 knots), using flaps, pitch and roll
to control longitudinal and lateral airspeed, and land .....
How a real Harrier operates
===========================
Note that this info may not be 100% correct, and certainly not complete :-)
In a hover (nozzles rotated to 90 degrees) all thrust is directed downwards;
hence the aircraft weight must be less then the max. thrust to maintain (or even
increase) altitude; i.o.w. thrust (throttle) determines whether you are as/decending
or maintain current altitude.
The pilot can control the attitude of the aircraft via a Reaction Control System (RCS):
a set of "puffers" on the nose, tail and wings of the aircraft that uses compressed,
bleed air from the main engine.
1. Lateral movement (Roll).
Moving the stick to the left opens the valve on the left wing, which pushes that
wing down. Since the the thrust now is no longer directed underneath the aircraft,
it is pushed sideways (to the left).
2. Directional movement. (Yaw).
Likewise there is a puffer jet on the tail boom which controls left or right yaw
in the same way as lateral movement.
3. Forward/backward movement.
This is controlled by changing the downward thrust direction, either by:
- Rotating the four main nozzles (from 90 degrees position) slightly forward or
backward.
- Pitching the nose up or down (like a helicopter) via puffers in the nose and
tailboom.
Usually the nozzles are adjusted to keep the aircraft more stable.
Credits, Copyrights and Disclaimer
=================================
This package is freeware, and is available for your personal use.
Without my explicite permission, it may NOT be sold, modified, re-distributed,
re-bundled and/or uploaded to another website or bulletin board in ANY shape or form.
And obviously, installing & using this package is at your own risk.
Thanks to:
- Doug Dawson, for his great "XML2IPC" gauge, which allows me to interface from my
XML code to FSUIPC.
- Peter Dowson, for creating/maintaining FSUIPC.
Enjoy ......
Rob Barendregt, The Netherlands
Email: rc.barendregt@planet.nl
******************************* End of README *******************************