Grob Twin III Acro (beta) self-launching version - for fs2002 only...
rev.1 - sound files added and corrected (02/13/03)
rev.2 - small fuel tank added (02/15/03)
After releasing the original Grob Twin III (09/02) I got mostly two
questions: can you take out those horrible bars and can you add something
to let the beast take-off from every airfield. I did get me a copy of
FSDS2 - and had to start the Twin from scratch again - so the first part
was easy; the take-off part proved more difficult.
A couple of years ago Milos Koch released a powered take-off with VET
"Virtual Engine Technology" but somehow his add-on isn't too compatible
with fs2002 so I decided to do some redesigning. Both the air and cfg
files had to be adjusted to achieve this so please be careful when
tempering with those files - perhaps you also should keep away from the
panel.cfg too because the order of the windows is rather important.
Be careful too when trying to use this gauge in another airplane - without
the nessecary changes to the air, cfg and panel.cfg files it might not
work at all or give some rather nice unexpected results.
Don't blame me - I did warn you...
Should you have any problems or questions regarding this way of take-off
perhaps you could report it to the SOAR message board - it could save me
from having to answer the same question more then once...
Installing: just start the *.exe and point it to your fs2002 main folder -
everything will be installed in the correct place(s) with one exception:
Important: the following lines must be part of the fs2002.cfg file (it's
in the main fs2002 folder)
[OLDMODULES]
FSSound.dll=1
Load the fs2002.cfg file into Wordpad and check - if not there (from a
previous add-on) add these lines and save or you wan't be able to hear the
audio-vario and you'll get an error message when starting up fs2002. Don't
say I didn't warn you... Go to Flights | Select a Flight | Other and select Default Flight
Megs Field - once the Cessna has arrived kill the engine by pulling the
mixture knob and switching the magnetos off - wait a couple of seconds for
the engine to die.
Go to Flights | Select a Flight | My Saved Flights and select Test
Grob Twin VET (front) youll be in the front seat of the Twin on
Bern-Belp, Switzerland ready to take-off to fly those wonderful Alps up
ahead in the distance.
At the right side of the panel you'll notice a switch with a green burning
lamp above it - that's the take-off switch. Please read the following
carefully or you might scratch this ship - or even worse...
Click the green lamp and on the top-left of the screen a small window will
show up reading "450" or "1500" depending on the unit system you're using:
it's either 450 meters or 1500 feet. It's the release altitude of the
winch start above the airfield. Clicking the arrows allows you to adjust
this altitude.
We're ready for take-off: flick the switch. The lamp will turn yellow and
start to blink. You'll have about 20 seconds to sit back and grab the
stick. Once the lamp stops blinking the Twin will start moving - be ready
to give some left or right stick to catch the wind - DON'T pull or push.
After reaching release altitude the Twin will level off and the lamp turns
to red - the gauge needs some time to stabilize the Twin and switch of the
virtual engine. Wait for the lamp to turn off and you'll be ready to fly.
Some do's and don'ts: you can switch off as long as the lamp is blinking
but doing so while taking-off usually ends in disaster. Restarting the
situation before the lamp is switched off won't do the Twin any good
either. Once started you should let the procedure run till it's finished.
Don't try to slew this plane to a start-up altitude - it'll cause the
plane to take-off on it's own once released - and the final results won't
be unpredictable - it'll crash...
Here's how I use it myself: after setting the altitude and flicking the
switch I set the other gauges and move to the spot view (Shift + S) and
watch the Twin take-off. A little side wind might bank the plane but I'll
just correct it once the plane is clear of the ground - I just keep it
from tilting in any direction.
Selecting "Test Grob Twin VET (rear)" will put you into the rear seat
where you can either be the teacher or the passenger...
All the gauges switch between Metric and Imperial Units depending on the
sims settings - use "Options | Settings | International... | Units of
Measure" - one day soon it'll all be Metric - feet are for walking only...
No difficult instruments this time - just the standard equipment - it's a
training ship ain't it?
Only a(n)
Compass...
Airspeed indicator...
Audio vario...
Switch mute on/off while decending...
Knob on/off - volume...
Switch temp/vertical speed/bat...
Switch damping...
Altitude indicator...
Kohlmans knob (bottom/left)...
Knob (center) - toggle between sea- & airfield level...
Slip and turn indicator...
Non-linear vario...
G-meter...
Knob (bottom/left) - reset...
Yaw-string...
Autorudder should be off to really enjoy...
Proportional airbrake handle...
To make good use of this instrument you really should use a setup with a
throttle lever - either separate or as part of a joystick. Don't forget
to set it up accordingly - the throttle lever must be connected to the
spoiler function in the sims joystick settings...
Elevator trim handle...
Logger switch...
On (green) - recorder on...
Off (red) - recorder off...
"Recorder on" lets the SOARRec module create a log file to be viewed
with Flight Viewer. Flight Viewer is a flight planning utility available
from my website FSZwever - the address you'll find below...
Personally I love to fly from the virtual cockpit view (with 0.50 zoom)
'cause it gives me the opportunity to look around using the "Hat Switch"
on the joystick. The only drawback: you can't set the instruments from
this view - you have to return to cockpit view to do so...
And the view from the rear seat might be even better...
credits:
Jordon Pollock & Colin Graham - for the original cockpit images...
Roland Stuck - for the original air file...
David Eckert - for the original pilot figure (he likes to keep track)...
Milos Kock - for the original VET concept...
Zweefvliegclub Flevo Biddinghuizen - for the real Grob Twin III Acro...
FSUIPC module by Pete Dowson...
FSSound module by Daniel Steiner...
everything else is my own - including all the possible (and avoidable)
errors...
Max Roodveldt, Huizen, Netherlands, februari 2003.
Visit my website FSZwever and don't forget to visit our Virtual Soaring
Society SOAR
"you might need us and we most certainly need you..."
