The Gotha package you have just downloaded is unusual in many ways. It is one of a series of seven or more downloads which document through simulation the history and development of the Gotha from a 1914 recreational floatplane design in a popular flying magazine to the most feared heavy bomber in the world in under four years.
Each download has a World War One flight model with maximum challenge and realism avoiding the compromises which are necessary when modelling WW1 aircraft for FS98 and CFS. The omission of many gauges you may regard as essential is not a mistake. They were not present and are not needed. The omission of a trim system is not a mistake either. These aircraft are rigged to be self trimming, but a nasty surprise awaits once the bombs have gone and the fuel runs low.
Full handling notes are supplied. If they say that a technique such as digging the tail skid into the turf for braking works, then it does. The only real compromise in these flight models is that I have provided wheel brakes for use with the Gotha G-II which will need some gentle braking during the landing run due to the low rpm torque and thrust of the huge 4 blade props. Study the _ref.txt file for each Gotha using Notepad. In flight you can call these handling notes by pressing F10 and then choosing the reference tab. You may wish to print them as well.
A Gotha with lots of bombs forward really did fly nose down in level flight, but in practice it usually spent several hours cruise climbing with the fuselage nearly level for minumum drag in the fully loaded climb.
You will need to read several enclosed text files to fly these 'realistic' flight models.
To understand why so many Gothas crashed you will need to drop the bombs. To do this you will need to read 'how to drop bombs in FS2002'. For reasons which will become clear fuel tank selection must also be managed in accordance with that briefing. To fly the Gotha-Ursinus Wasser Doppeldekker torpedo floatplane you will also need to read and understand 'sticky_water.txt'.
Landing any of the later Gothas with bombs gone and low fuel required great skill. In each case the contact point values are set to about double their real world values. I invite you to reduce them, but only after you have mastered the initial challenge. The most demanding aircraft are those from the middle of the war. Once you have mastered landing by day try landing the later Gothas at night to complete your learning experience.
Abbreviated histories are included for some aircraft and may aid your understanding and help to put the simulation into context. The aircraft.cfg is fully commented and can be used to vary fuel and bombload, but knowledge of these last two documents is not required to begin your World War 1 heavy bomber learning experience.
If you take the time and trouble to become properly aquainted with these aircraft I think you will find that they are ideal aircraft for learning VFR navigation techniques. Use an ordinary road map or fly by dead reckoning from airfield to airfield to airfield until you reach destination. They are also ideal for just enjoying the scenery in FS2002 from low level and low speed both by day and on a moonlit night.
