These three aircraft were very carefully crafted for the Operation Tidal Wave mission, a recreation of a portion of the Ploesti Raid.
All three are equipped with a permanent bomb bay fuel tank and carry a payload of 4-1000 pound bombs. The bomb bay tanks hold 800 gallons of additional fuel for a total fuel load of 3144 gallons for each aircraft.
The visual models are by Krzyzstof Malinowski. "Hail Columbia" is intended as the player's aircraft. The other two aircraft, while flyable, are intended as AI versions and have no virtual cockpit and minimal features to preserve frame rates.
Features of "Hail Columbia" include animated roll-up bomb bay doors (activated by the spoiler key), animated waist gunners (activated by the "open canopy" key), rolling wheels, working main gear suspension, and a custom gun package identical to the aircraft actually used in this raid. The four forward firing guns are harmonized to converge downward directly in front of the aircraft at a ten degree angle. They were intended to take out flak guns.
The panel was designed specifically for this aircraft and includes an autopilot and other tools to allow the mission to be flow successfully. It also includes two bomb sights, one for low level bombing and another for high altitude missions. The high level bombsight is activated by using a key or button assigned to "LOOK DOWN." Activate the low level bombsight by using a key or button assigned to "LOOK LEFT UP." The forward guns will strike at the aimpoint of the reticle when using the low level bombsight. This sight is calibrated to work at 225 mph indicated airspeed at an altitude of 200-300 feet above the ground (AGL). That's how you'll be running the mission (see detailed mission instructions for more information).
FLIGHT DYNAMICS
The flight model for "Hail Columbia" was created using version 2.82.66 of the Flight Model Workbook. Aircraft Container Manager was used to determine the precise locations of station loads, engine locations, wheel sizes, and contact points. A great deal of testing was done to verify performance. Please read the checklist and pilot's notes for details on how to fly this aircraft.
The flight model for the AI versions was developed with version 2.80.57 of the Flight Model Workbook. Other aspects are the same as "Hail Columbia."
REALITY X
The "Hail Columbia" incorporates the RealityX features, which will work if you have installed the RealityX plug-in available at AvHistory.org. Please read the aircraft checklist for operational guidelines and limitations. Visit www.avhistory.org for details on RealityX.
TOOLS
The Flight Model Workbook is freeware and available at www.mudpond.us. The author is Jerry Beckwith.
Aircraft Container Manager is payware (but ridiculously cheap) and is available at aircraftmanager.com.
The dp file was created using the stock Microsoft B-24D as a starting point. All weapons have been configured to AvHistory standards. DP Editor by Yusaku Homma was used to create the final dp file.
The panel was made using FS Panel Studio (the full version), available at http://www.fspanelstudio.com.
The excellent copy of the actual B-24D pilot's operational handbook was provided by Scott Johnson.
sjohns28@columbus.rr.com
INSTALLATION
Place the AIRCRAFT and GAUGES folders in your main CFS2 directory. That's all there is to it.
A custom sound package which uses stock sounds is easily configured. To activate the custom sound set, copy ONLY the wave files from your A6M2 Zero\sound folder into the sound folder for "Hail Columbia." Delete the existing "sound.cfg" and rename the file "custom_sound.cfg" to "sound.cfg." That's it. This sound set reconfigures the sound.cfg file to have four engines and changes the profiles of the combustion sounds. It's a much fuller sound than than aliasing to the Zero.
FREEWARE. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. NO SELLING FOR PROFIT, EVER.
