FS2002 Douglas Douglas C-47 41-18385 (1942)
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Aircraft no. 4423, a C-47-DL, contract AC15847, fuselage number 224, with the USAAC serial no. 41-18385, tail no. 118385, was ordered in 1941; this numerate lady rolled out of the Douglas plant on 4th June, 1942. She went on to become Cathay Pacific's founding aircraft, after conversion, as the DC-3 "Betsy", registration VR-HDB. She had a brief period as NC58093 under Cathay co-founder Roy Farrell's ownership, after his purchase of her for $30,000 at Bush Field, GA. He played golf at Augusta while the papers were drawn up. Those were the days ...
Based on Jan Visser's legendary DC-3 model for FS2000, updated for FS2002. Side bench seating, transparent cabin windows with authentic gunports, nightlighting, lit 3D interior with opening embarkation door and other details. Includes FS2002 lights fix by Paul Pridwales. Repaint by Mark Beaumont, based on Jan Visser's original textures.
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INSTALLATION
Either:
Unzip C47BETSY.ZIP directly to your main FS2002 folder. The folder 'Douglas C-47 41-18385 (1942)' will be installed in your FS2002/AIRCRAFT folder.
A smoke file will go to FS2002/EFFECTS.
Or:
Unzip to a temporary folder and move the respective folders to your FS2002 directory manually. This way you can ensure that no file is unwittingly overwritten.
Whichever way you do it, your new aircraft will appear in your FS2002 aircraft selection menu under the manufacturer 'Douglas' type 'DC-3', variation '41-18385 (1942)'
No DC-3 sounds are included, but it is highly recommended that you replace the default file, which aliases to the C182, with realistic sounds. If this is not your first DC-3, then you may already have some; but otherwise, recommended are both those found on Trevor "Mr. DC3" Morson's site at www.douglasdc3.com (a must-visit site, in any case) or by sound guru Mike Hambly: search for the file DAKSND1.ZIP. Find this directly at: http://ftp.SurClaro.com/library/sendfile.php?DownloadID=12776.
Or, if you have the MAAM R4D-6, those sounds will do nicely!
You will also wish to install a decent panel; again, if you are a DC-3 buff, you will have a couple by now! I have not installed one here to save filesize but I recommend:
1. The panel by Jorge 'Eko' Salas', which is excellent for most use; I included it in my Cathay Pacific upload CPABETSY.ZIP and you can find it separately too.
2. The panel on which Jorge's panel is based, by Samuel Linnell.
3. The panel included with the MAAM R4D-6, known to every flightsimmer I think. This is a spectacular and very complex panel.
4. The DC-3 panel by James Underwood, which has interesting internal and external views.
5. Pasquale Rinaldi's DC-3 panel for FS2002.
6. The panel, with gorgeous internal views, that shipped with the Dutch Dakota Association's PH-DDZ; it comes with a very comprehensive manual.
7. Having a look at www.dc3airways.com. Join up! There are two training panels there for serious fliers!
Whatever you do, get rid of those C182 default aliases! Fly DC-3! Well, C-47 in this case ...
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OPERATION:
To move the pilots to the cockpit and turn on your navigation lights, press "SHIFT/L".
To open and close the door and deploy the ladder, hit the "/" key.
Smoke can be activated by hitting the "I" key.
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CREDITS:
Jan Visser, for the original aircraft; together with Bill Rambow, Roy Chaffin and others, Jan remains on the leading edge of development within FS. This repaint is originally based on the model of OH-LCH, with subsequent changes, and Jan's permission for this particular upload was separately sought, as this particular lady's configuration is previously unpublished. Most of the incredible textures are Jan's. I simply worked up "Betsy's" old colours from the one photograph of her in her C-47 wartime days that I (or others) have ever found - see below. I fear that in this model she's missing the astrodome that replaced the cockpit hatch in C-47 configuration but, hey, this is freeware and Jan's busy enough getting his new GMAX DC-3 ready for production! At least, I've got the windows right ...
The author of the smoke effect. I do not know who this is, but it is not a standard FS2002 effect.
Paul Pridwales for specifically "fixing" FS2002 lights for this particular model.
Martin Willing, author of "Betsy, The story of a DC-3" for his generosity and assistance. The "real" photograph included with this download of "Betsy" is stolen from his book, which is a highly recommended read for all DC-3 fans. The photograph was originally sourced from Harry Gann, Douglas Historian.
Anyone else whose work might be here that I am unaware of. If anything is here that shouldn't be, please let me know and I'll replace it.
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Enjoy your C-47! This aircraft had a long and fascinating career. Make sure to seek out her other repaints for FS2002. This will be my last, I think, as I've pretty well covered her history! See my site, below, for more information; watch the slideshow you'll find there which will take you through "Betsy"'s career.
This package may not be redistributed or further modified without prior consent from ALL the authors listed in the credits or files. Each has their own policy for distribution and modification, so please ensure all are contacted. Explicitly, no rework or adaptation of this model may be uploaded in any shape or form without the EXPRESS permission of Jan Visser. That's me shouting, not Jan ... but I just want to make that very clear. Thanks.
Visit my own site at:
www.swiremariners.com/cxkaitak.html
to find listings and downloads of Cathay Pacific aircraft and add-ons for FS2002.
