FS2002 Douglas Douglas C-47 Dakota Royal Air Force (2)
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This download features two aircraft; the Douglas C-47 Dakota ZA947 of the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire and a second aircraft, N147DC, a private Dakota in RAF colours operated by "Aces High". Both aircraft are familiar sights at annual airshows in the UK and other parts of Europe.
This information about ZA947 is to be found on the RAF's BBMF website:
"Douglas C-47 Dakota ZA947 was built in March 1942 and issued to the United States Army Air Force. In September that year the aircraft was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and served mainly in Canada, but was latterly used in Europe until declared surplus to requirements in 1971.
The Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) at Farnborough already had a Dakota on strength but as this was due for retirement, the RCAF aircraft was purchased and allocated the serial KG661, as the aircraft had carried the serial 661 with the Canadians. During her time with the RAE, KG661 was used for a variety of tasks, including sonobuoy dropping through holes cut in the fuselage and launching remotely piloted vehicles.
For some time, however, there had been some doubt about the issued serial; research showed that the original Dakota KG661 had been destroyed in an accident, so the aircraft was allocated a new number ZA947. Cleared for para-dropping, she often displayed in this role or appeared in the static park at airshows. In 1992 the Defence Research Agency, the successors to the RAE, declared her surplus to requirements and offered the aircraft for disposal.
The aircraft was adopted by Strike Command and issued to the BBMF in March 1993. After engineering and structural work by Air Atlantique at Coventry, the aircraft was flown to RAF Marham for painting in the colours that Flight Lieutenant David Lord's aircraft carried during the Arnhem campaign. Importantly the Dakota earns her keep in the training of new aircrew and in keeping the pilots of the Lancaster current during the winter months when the bomber is out of action.
In 1994 ZA947 took part in the 50th Anniversary of Operation Overlord, dropping the first parachutists of the day onto Ranville DZ near Pegasus Bridge. This was followed by the 50th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden where again the first parachutists of the day were dropped from ZA947 onto Ginkel Heath near Arnhem. In 1995 the Dakota returned to Holland for various flypasts around the Arnhem area before participating in the VE-Day fly-past over London.
The aircraft has continued to be the workhorse of the BBMF participating in displays both in the United Kingdom and the continent as well as fulfilling her normal tasks of crew training and support. In 1998, during a Minor servicing with Air Atlantique at Coventry, the aircraft markings were changed to YS-H of 77 Squadron from Fassberg in Germany and two trips were made to Berlin and one to Hamburg in support of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The aircraft returned to Germany for similar commemorations of the end of the operation in 1999."
The RAF retired its last Dakota (apart from the BBMF aircraft) in 1970.
The other aircraft featured here is today used mainly for film work and private hire and changes livery accordingly. It is owned by a civil operator and hangared at the "Aces High Flying Museum" of North Weald, Epping, Essex. She has the civil registration N147DC and the military registration TS423. She was originally buit as a C-47A-75-DL (c/n 19347) for the USAAF and was registered as 42-100884.
These repaints are based, by his generous permission, on Jan Visser's legendary DC-3 model for FS2000, updated for FS2002. The model features side bench seating, transparent cabin windows with authentic ports, nightlighting, lit 3D interior with opening embarkation door and other details. Includes FS2002 lights fix by Paul Pridwales. Repaints are by Mark Beaumont, based on Jan Visser's original textures.
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INSTALLATION
Either:
Unzip C47RAF2.ZIP directly to your main FS2002 folder. The folder 'Douglas C-47 Dakota RAF (2)' 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 'C-47 Dakota', variations 'RAF BBMF' and 'Aces High'.
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 except in my US C-47 rendition C47BETSY.ZIP. Most of the incredible textures are Jan's. I simply worked up the RAF colours from available photographs - I have never seen either of the aircraft first-hand, I regret - and so I hope that they are reasonably accurately rendered. I fear that in this model the aircraft is 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! Various odd bits here and there will, no doubt, also upset the purist; but these are, after all, for flying, not for staring at all day!
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.
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 Dakota! Maybe you can stage your own airshow now ...
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.
