FSX Douglas C-47 Skytrain V2
This is a re-worked version of our 2011 FSX C-47 Skytrain. The new models feature a modern VC,
a realistic slow radial engine start, a paratrooper/cargo drop door, a Control Panel, a fuel and
payload manager, failure conditions, improved engine textures, and new cameraviews focusing on
props and engines. Sound is aliased to the default DC-3. Three Expansion Packs will become
available separately from Sim-Outhouse, including a custom sound set by Ted "Tufun" Wolfgang,
and a paintkit and two weathered VC texture sets by Gordon "Gman" Madison. Earlier paints need
to be adjusted to catch the new nose and engine mappings (conversion kit included in this
basepack). Models by Manfred Jahn, flight dynamics by Alexander M. Metzger, gauges,
animations, and failure conditions by Hansjoerg Naegele. Startup smoke effect by Ted Wolfgang.
Minimum system-requirements: FSX SP2. Recommended: FSX Gold Edition or Acceleration.
INSTALLATION
(1) Extract the zip to a temporary folder or open it in Windows Explorer.
(2) You should see three subfolders: Effects, Simobjects, and Sound. Copy these three folders
directly to your main "Flight Simulator X" folder using "merge" or "integrate folders" mode when
asked (do NOT use "replace"). Should you have any misgivings about this procedure play it safe,
enter the source subfolders individually and copy the files to the appropriate FSX destination
folders.
(3) Users of a currently installed C-47 by M. Jahn should move the old folder "Douglas_C-47" to a
safe backup location outside FSX. Then, if you want to use previously downloaded paints, copy the
[fltsim] sections you want over to the new FSX folder ("Douglas_C-47_V2"). Remember to edit the
copied [fltsim] sections, giving them their appropriate number in sequence and referencing the new
sim, kb_checklist and kb_reference values. Additionally, as mentioned above, old paints need a bit
of editing for the nose and the props to show up correctly.
(4) In the Flight Simulator's aircraft selection menu, the single aircraft provided will show up as
"Douglas C-47R Skytrain EATS 315221". I am using the 'R' to stand for Reloaded or V2.
SIM-OUTHOUSE C-47 EXPANSION PACKS
In order to use Sim-Outhouse's Add-Ons Library you have to be registered as a member.
Membership is free at http://www.sim-outhouse.com
(1) For Ted "Tufun" Wolfgang's sound pack download "TW Radial Twin Sound Package.zip" and
follow the instructions in the Readme.
Another excellent sound set has been created by Adam Murphy of Skyhigh Flight Simulations at
http://skyhighflightsim.webs.com
(2) For Gordon "Gman" Madison's alternate VC texture sets download VCtextures_C47.zip and
follow the instructions given in the Readme.
(3) For Gordon's paintkit download the package Paintkit_C47.zip and follow the instructions given
in the Readme.
FSX OPERATION NOTES
(1) Fly this aircraft according to its checklist, which is accessible in two different formats, one
via Shift-F10 and the other via a click on the pilot's clipboard. The Shift-F10 checklist has
FSX-specific tips and is suitable for beginners; the pilot's clipboard version has no FSX tips
and is suitable for more experienced users.
(1) Control Panel. While this model has no 2D panel, you can activate a two-page Control
Panel popup via Shift-2 (page 1) and Shift-3 (page 2). The default size of these pages have
been adjusted for 16:9 monitors. If the pages appear squashed you can temporarily drag their
edges for better display. Alternatively, use Notepad to edit the panel.cfg, which allows
predefined settings for 4:3 and 16:10 ratio screens to be used.
Page 1 has a payload and fuel manager (aircraft needs to be on ground with parking brakes
set for it to work). Select Total Payload and Total Fuel options "EMPTY" to put the aircraft
into a "cold and dark" state.
Page 2 presents a tabular display of all major settings and readouts including failure
warnings and context-sensitive tips. We suggest keeping page 2 of the Control panel
open and monitoring the various readouts, warnings, and tips (hover the mouse
pointer over the item in question for options) until you have become thoroughly
familiar with the Do's and Don'ts of handling this plane.
(2) Failure conditions. The main failure conditions (which are partly dependent on FSX's
Realism Settings) are battery depletion and engine failure, both of which can happen fairly
quickly. The battery can be replenished by middle-clicking the battery item on page 2 of the
Control panel, or (when on ground with parking brakes SET) by flipping the Ground Power
switch on the overhead panel (FSXA only). Engine stress is signaled on page 2 of the
Control Panel by a numeric counter decrementing from 100% to 0, with the final red zero
flagging impending failure. Engine stress can only be cured by reducing MAP and RPM to
the acceptable 'green' ranges indicated on the respective gauges.
(3) Control Panel settings and VC switches usually act on both left and right clicks, the mouse
wheel, and occasionally also middle clicks. Side windows, pilot's yoke, overhead spotlights,
call sign, wipers, and pilot's clipboard are also clickable - click them and see what they do.
(4) Engine Start. You can choose one of four startup procedures. (i) Ctrl-E will work in many
situations, but it will not produce the realistic slow period-style engine start we all want. (ii)
For a slow engine start, open page 2 of the Control Panel and go through the eight steps
detailed in the mini-tutorial engstart.jpg or in the PDF version of this Readme. (iii) Use the
relevant switches of the Engine Start section on the VC's overhead panel (mid-click the
Starter button for best results). (iv) Use the mini-icons accessible via Shift-7 in any view,
including spot.
Note, proper engine start sequence is 2 - 1.
(5) In the VC, propeller control, throttle, and mixture levers can be linked by middle-clicking
any one of them. To unlink, middle-click again.
(6) Cowl flaps open/close in intervals by clicking the "cht" (cylinder head temperature) item on
the Control Panel or on pressing Shift-Ctrl-V / Shift-Ctrl-C. The recommended settings are
listed in the checklist.
(7) The angle of the landing lights cones on the runway can be changed by pressing Shift-Ctrl-
Num8/Num2 respectively.
(8) The port passenger/freight door can be opened/closed by pressing Shift-E. The second
freight door opens on Shift-E-2. Steps appear on Shift-E-3 (parking brake needs to be set).
Paratrooper door opens/closes via Shift-E-4.
(9) Flip battery switch OFF and apply parking brakes to display wheel chocks and let the pilots
take a break.
(10) For detailed instructions on how to operate the Garmins consult the docs in subfolder
"Documentation". When operating the Garmins, use left/right clicks on ON/OFF knob to
decrease/increase the brightness of the display. Similarly, use left/right clicks to scroll
through multiple pages. Generally, right=next and left=previous. For the NAV/GPS link
switch click the CDI button on the Garmin.
CREDITS
We want to thank Janiek Arp and Hans Kaiser for testing, Doug Dawson for his fsx_event_logger
gauge, Marcel Felde for tips on 3D GPS construction, Don Kuhn for allowing us to create 3D code
for the GNS430/530 packs available at www.fs2x.com, Jan Visser for tips on volumetric side-view
props, and the community of developers at FSDeveloper.com.
DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT
THE AUTHORS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT YOU MIGHT INCUR AS A
RESULT OF INSTALLING THIS ARCHIVE. YOU ASSUME THE RISK OF USE.
The C-47 models were created under Microsoft's Game Content Usage Rules using assets from
Flight Simulator X Deluxe Edition, (c) Microsoft Corporation. See www.xbox.com/en-
US/Community/Developer/Rules
Redistributing this archive with any files added, removed or modified is prohibited.
This archive (or any parts of it) may NOT be included in other packages without the written
permission of the authors.
No specific charge may be made for this archive and it may not be uploaded to any server that
specifies that the server owners hold a copyright (of any sort) on this archive when stored on that
server. You may NOT use the archive (or any parts of it) for commercial purpose without all the
authors' explicit, written permission in advance. This includes "free" CD or DVD compilations with
a charge of any kind.
All Rights Reserved.
28 October 2013
Manfred Jahn (Manfred [dot] Jahn [at] uni-koeln [dot] de)