FS2004 Douglas DC-3 Four Fuel Tank Automixture Gauge
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For four-tank operation, this gauge may be of interest to those pilots who like to fly without checking the "Enable automixture" function in the "Aircraft/Realism Settings" pull-down menu, but want more DC-3 realism than can be achieved with FS2004's simulation of mixture control. It requires prior installation of Beaumont and Bitzer's Douglas DC-3 Four Fuel Tank Conversion Kit, to be found in DC3_4TK.ZIP.
This gauge replaces the ECU gauge on the Throttles Panel. Its purpose is to replicate the auto-rich and auto-lean settings on the mixture controls, including a fully functional mixture control. Its calibrated range of operation is from 3000 to 12000ft. density altitude. In the auto-rich position, it approximates the checked "Enable automixture" setting on the "Aircraft/Realism Settings" menu. In the auto-lean position, the mixture is leaned to increase the exhaust gas temperature about 30 degrees K. from auto-rich, and will increase achieved miles per gallon.
These instructions presume that you have already installed the 4-tank configuration by Beaumont and Bitzer (DC3_4TK.ZIP) and are now adding this new feature to that aircraft folder.
1. Make a backup of the existing PANEL.CFG in the PANEL folder.
2. Open the PANEL.CFG file using NOTEPAD and find the following entry under [Window03]
(this last instruction is actually an omission from the DC3_4TK.ZIP README which we include here on the basis that you have already installed the file and should make this change. It gives you the correct fuel gauge and fuel gauge selector in virtual cockpit mode).
4. The included gauge file "DC3_automix_4tank.CAB" should go to your main ...\Flight Simulator 9\Gauges\ directory. It will not overwrite any existing gauges. Do not open or unpack it.
5. Copy the included texture file "Douglas_DC3_2_C.BMP" into the TEXTURE folder of any aircraft you intend to use with this modification and overwrite (or back up the original if you so wish). The only change to the stock bitmap is the addition of the mixture labels on the side bar of the ECU when in VC mode; which bar exists already, but which Microsoft left blank. This is a cosmetic, rather than essential, part of the installation. In fact, any of your DC-3 aircraft will benefit from it visually.
The installation is now complete.
If you have made your own panel modifications previously, then these gauge numbers, sizes or positions (the numbers on the right) may have changed, but please note that all that needs to be altered to install this modification is the name of the gauge itself.
Similarly, if you are using any of Mark Beaumont's panels from DC3_PAN.ZIP or DC3_PAN2.ZIP, then just change the gauge names, not the gauge numbers (which may differ from above) or the positioning and sizing numbers that follow them. Note that in Mark's twin panels the FO main window on the FO's side will need to be configured similarly with the new gauge name.
The "Aircraft" pull-down menu's "Realism Settings" for "Enable automixture" must be unchecked.
Note the new (realistic) labels to the right of the mixture levers on the pop-up ECU, and the little green light/switch, attached to the label bar on a small bracket, that glows when the unit is under automatic control. Default starting conditions are full up mixture levers, and green light off. If it is on, you may click it to turn it off. (You cannot turn it on by clicking it).
We should point out that there is no "little green light" on the real aircraft, but we have added this to replicate selection of the detents on the mixture levers travel that are not present in FS2004. It seems that there are no little green men on Mars, either, but since you believed in those for so long perhaps you'll believe in this!
After completing the DC-3 checklist, start, take-off and land full rich under manual control (except at high altitude airports, where auto-rich is appropriate). On achieving 3,000 ft ASL, you may engage AUTO RICH for climb by clicking on the label to the right of the mixture control, and then click AUTO LEAN for cruise (or final climb). Auto-lean normally gives 5 to 10 % more mpg than auto-rich for a given TAS, but the engine will run hotter. Note that on climb, you won't have to adjust the mixture, but you will still have to increase the throttle as you climb to maintain MP, and reduce throttle to maintain MP as you descend. On approach, you may return to AUTO RICH, or shut off the auto control by clicking the green light, and then move the levers to full up.
Click the CUTOFF label to cut the engines by leaning them out.
For this first release there are not separate auto controls for the left and right engines. If you have an emergency and need to control the mixture levers separately, you must turn off the auto control and move the levers individually, or click the EMER RICH label. Doing so will disable auto control, and move the levers to EMER RICH. This label is sometimes hidden behind the mixture control lever, so it is marked with a "_+_" sign on the tooltip hand.
In AUTO RICH, the mixture levers move to approximately 80% of full rich, and in AUTO LEAN, the levers move to approximately 20% of full rich. This simulates them going to a "detent" position.
Note that in the AUTO modes, although the mixture levers do not move, the tooltip hovering on each lever will show the percentage mixture lever setting corresponding to the controlled level for that environmental condition.
The gauge was calibrated to work best with the "stock" .air and aircraft.cfg files. Any changes to flight dynamics, (power, thrust, lift, drag, engine cooling, etc.) may require recalibration of the gauge for satisfactory performance. Specific versions for modified flight dynamics may be released in due course.
Other work to date for the DC-3 by Beaumont and Bitzer:
DC3_PAN.ZIP Modified VFR and IFR panels with FO views (Beaumont)
DC3_PAN2.ZIP Upgrade for DC3_PAN.ZIP plus a single IFR panel (Beaumont)
DC3_3TK.ZIP Modification removing the "all" tanks default selection
DC3_4TK.ZIP Conversion to 4-tank operation and no "all" tanks selection
DC3_3MX.ZIP Automix gauge for 3-tank operation
