This 1960's era Beechcraft Super "G"18 is an all-new original flight simulation model created from scratch using AutoCAD and GMAX by Greg Pepper. Bluestream Airlines textures are original and were created with FSRepaint with support from DXT.bmp and Paint Shop Pro. Some of the gauges are stock FS2002 gauges while many others were custom made using Blue Sky's Easy Gauge. Default Beech Baron sound files were also used. I recommend down loading Beech 18 sound files by Aaron R. Swindle "Skysong Soundsworks". The 2D and 3D panels are also original and use photos from real Beech 18's. The panel layouts and flight dynamics were developed from a 1954 Beechcraft Super "E"18 owners manual.
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Important: This is Freeware! It may not be used commercially in any way. This simulation is made for the sole purpose of entertainment for fellow flight simmers. It may NOT be sold, uploaded or distributed in any form or on any disk or CD, regardless of whether the disk or CD is allegedly "non-profit". I reserve ALL rights to this model.
E-mail: gpepper@gordersouth.com (Note: technical advice and changes are not possible. Unfortunately I do not have the technical knowledge or time to provide help. I am very sorry if it does not work with your sim installation.) This model has been tested on two computers. The first was equipped with an Intel 700 MHz PIII with 256 megs of ram and a Gforce 256 video card. The second was an Intel 1.8 GHZ PIIII with 512 megs of ram and a Gforce TI200 video card. The model performed well on both machines. The Bluestream Airlines version was tested on an Athlon xp1800+ with 256meg-ram and an ATI ragepro128 4x.
TO INSTALL: Use a decompression program like Winzip to unzip the downloaded file to a temporary directory; then use Windows Explorer to copy the Bluestream Beech G18-S folder to the Flight Sim 2002/2004 aircraft folder. Copy the contents of the "Gauges" folder found inside "Bluestream Beech G18-S Panel" folder into the FS2002/FS2004 "Gauges" folder. For Fs9(FS2004) add a new section to the Fs9.cfg file. The new section must read:
[old modules]
FSSound.dll=1
FSUIPC.dll=1
That's it: it should be ready to go.
About the model:
This is the fourth gMAX model I have created. With the first, many concessions to detail were made to keep the "polygon" count down and provide acceptable performance. With each successive model, more detail (and more polygons) was added without any noticeable decline in performance. With this model, the decision was made from the vary outset to add as much detail as practical and let the polygon count fall where it may. This model has 28,043 polygons and 220 individual parts. Surpassingly it flies very well on both a 700 MHz and 1.8 GHZ machine.
The model represents the most accurate representation of a Beech Super 18, as I know how to make. Before anyone starts counting rivets and e mailing me on what I did wrong, let me say, "I know it's not perfect." I have titled it as a "Super G 18" but in reality it combines aspects of the "Super E18 and Super H18". In reality this was not that uncommon with real Beech 18's. Many older "Twin Beech's" were retrofitted with more modern components. Even the Beechcraft factory modified many "18's".
As nice as a well-detailed exterior model is to look at, to me the look and feel of the cockpit does more to give the pilot the feeling he is flying one airplane or another. A great deal of attention was given to get the 2D and 3D cockpits right. Having said that, I know that some of the switches and controls are not exactly like the real Beech 18 or located where they should be. I had to make several compromises in building the panels and cockpits. These compromises were due to my lack of gauge building knowledge and experience with the new Easy Gauge program and the limitations of FS2002 and a lack of "good" information in MS's SDK. I do feel however the basic "look" and "feel" of a Beech 18 cockpit was captured. If you ever have flown a "real" beech 18, you will fell right at home.
The cowl flaps, gear suspension, wheels and passenger door are animated as well as the usual gear, flaps, and control surfaces. The 3D "Virtual" cockpit features many moving controls and "live" instruments.
About the Real Beechcraft Super "G"18:
Produced from 1939 to 1969
Wartime Beech 18's were designated C-45's & AT-11's USAAF & USN production (approx. 5,200 but scarce today) all these and subsequent models had two P&W R985 Wasp Jr. engines of 450 hp each.
Post-war civil model designated D18's production (1035)
1950's through 1969, Civil Super E18S (460), G18S (156) & H18 (40) taildragger production. Factory trigear H18 (109) and trigear conversions of E18S (68), G18S (12), H18 (3), C-45H (99) miscellaneous models (19) & D18S (39) for a grand total of 350 trigear 18's.
"E, G, & H" Airframe modifications such as single vertical stabilizer, revised nose, extended nose, raised cabin, floats, wing tips and engine modifications such as intake & exhaust changes, turboprop power or horizontally opposed engine power.
Distinguishing features of the categories:
"A" & "B" Pre-war and wartime production both had short & stubby overwing engine nacelles and the landing gear strut forks had a distinctive circular flat surface as the forks bent downward. The wing leading edge between the engines and fuselage continued at the same angle as outboard of the engines.
"C" & "D")Post-war aircraft had longer overwing engine nacelles, new landing gear forks (rounded as fork bent downward) and new wheels and brakes. The wing leading edge at the inboard side of each engine nacelle was extended forward to a point about six inches ahead of where the earlier models attached to the nose section. Flush riveting was used on the nacelles, cowling and nacelle fairing as well as the nose section and on the leading edge of the top and bottom of the wings. The leading edge of the stabilizer was raised a degree and a half from its previous setting of 3.5 degrees negative to the longitudinal axis and full feathering Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 22D30 propellers were available.
"E" "G" & "H" Super 18's have a higher cabin which meant the fuselage top came over the top of the horizontal stabilizer and that the cabin windows would be larger, different shaped eyebrow windows, different shaped nose, squared off wing tips, and new landing gear, wheels & brakes. However, to complicate model identification, many improvements were incorporated into earlier models through STC modifications. The only way to be certain of the original Beech 18 model is to ascertain its Beech c/n and model from the dataplate or records.
Maximum gross weight ranges (numerous variables affect exact allowed maximum gross weight).
Pre-war 6500 lbs. to 7200 lbs.
Wartime production 7660 lbs. to 8727 lbs.
Post-war civil D18S, C-45H and C-45J 8500 lbs. to 9500 lbs.
Super E18S, G18S & H18 taildragger 9300 lbs. to 9900 lbs.
Factory tri-gear H18 9900 lbs.
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Flying the Beech "Super G18":
Starting:
Close cabin door with "Shift E" keys
Cowl flaps "Open" (throttle quadrant window)
Set parking break "ON"
Open the lower electrical panel and set the master battery switch to "ON"
Check battery voltage gauge (left side of electrical panel)
Set engine 2 left and right mag switches to "ON"
Turn on right engine fuel pump & check fuel pressure gauge
Open throttle quadrant window (if not already open) and place engine 2 mixture lever to "Full Rich"
Move engine 2 start switch to "START" (you may have to keep clicking the switch like you have to do with the Baron)
When engine starts, check oil pressure
Turn on right generator and check right amp gauge for output.
Shut off right fuel pump
Repeat procedure for left engine
Turn on avionics master and lights
Take off:
Set 1 notch of flaps
Prop levers full forward
Both fuel pumps on
Adjust mixture levers for max power
Release breaks
Advance throttles slowly to full power (sea level you should get about 36.5 inches of manifold pressure and 2300 RPM. (Just liked the real one, you have to stay an the rudder peddles to keep it straight)
The tail will come up between 60 and 70 knots.
Rotate at about 100 knots
After you get a positive rate of climb, retract the gear
Reduce power to 32 inches and 2000 RPM
Flaps "up", fuel pumps "off"
Cruse:
Set cruse power (25 to 30 inches @ 1800 RPM)
Adjust Cowl flaps to keep cylinder head temp in the green
Landing:
Reduce power
Gear can be lowered below 160 kts
Flaps can be lowered below 140 Kts
Fly approach and down wind at about 120 kts and 2 notches of flaps
Base leg 110 kts with 3 notches of flaps, fuel pumps "ON"
Final approach with full flaps, approach speed around 100 knots, and about 90 over the fence. Beech 18's were generally NOT "3" pointed. Due to a weak tail wheel gear and heavy loads commonly carried, it's best to "wheel" land it and let the tail come down on it's own. After you get all 3 gear planted, pull the sick all the way back to "pin" the tail wheel and carefully apply the breaks.
Turn off fuel pumps and open cowl flaps
It's important that you practice your approaches and get the airspeed right on! The airplane stalls at 73 KTS with full flaps and has a bad "floating" tendency while in ground effect if you're going to fast. As with most tail wheel airplanes, "the landing isn't finished until the hanger door is closed!"
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DISCLAIMER
It is inconceivable that anything in these files could cause problems with your computer, however: there is absolutely NO warranty or guarantee of any kind, expressed or implied, for any problems arising from the use of these files. This includes, but is not limited to, any hardware and/or software problems. All use of these programs and their related files is at the users own risk.
