Imaginary Saucer-shaped fan-lift two-seat transport inspired by The Jetsons TV cartoon series.
Installing:
Drop the JetsonIV folder into your main Aircraft folder.
Drop the entire nn-gauges folder into your main Gauges folder.
Drop the fx_heathaze.fx file into your main Effects folder.
Flying:
Apply parking brake.
CTRL E to start engines. Wait for both engines to spin up.
For a conventional takeoff, select one notch of flap otherwise you could be going by road. Full throttle. Lose the flaps once established in the climb.
For a very short takeoff, apply full flap then full throttle. The aircraft will lift off at around 20 knots.
For an even shorter takeoff, apply a smidgin of reverse thrust, dab the brakes and firewall the throttle as the aircraft tips back. You will be off the ground in less than the aircraft's length. :-)
If you wish to pootle around at 20 knots or so, reduce throttle to roughly half and steer using lots of rudder. Use the other controls to keep the aircraft relatively level for maximum stability in this mode.
If you just want to get moving, lose the flaps as soon as you lift off (F5) and adjust throttle for a 220 knot cruise. Absolute top speed (FS2002) is about 290 knots.
For a conventional landing just close the throttle and line up with the runway. Below 130 knots, you can apply one notch of flap to shorten the landing roll. You can also use reverse thrust as you touch down (F2). If you use reverse thrust, press F1 (or blip the throttle) as soon as you stop and apply the brakes. You can also use partial reverse thrust to 'spill' any residual thrust. I find seven taps of the F2 key will stop the aircraft and hold it steady.
For a STOL landing, close the throttle and allow the speed to fall off to below 130 knots and apply one stage of flaps. As the speed drops apply the next two stages of flap at roughly 70 knots and 50 knots respectively (you will need to experiment here, notes refer to FS2002 only). As you drop below 30 knots apply full flap and add power otherwise you'll stall. If you do stall just add a little more power. A stall in this aircraft is almost a non-event. In the near-hover mode at roughly 20 knots use plenty of rudder to steer and try to keep pitch and bank to a minimum for maximum stability. Should you experience loss of stability, lose one notch of flap and apply full power briefly than re-apply full flaps as soon as things are stable again. As you touch down, close the throttle and apply the brakes or use a small amount of reverse thrust.
She is very stable and can perform the most amazing high alpha tricks like super tight turns at high or low speeds and sitting on her tail and hovering etc. By hauling her back to 85 degrees Alpha (with full flap) you can actually fly along at below 6 knots with perfect stability. Not sure how USEFUL this ability is... but it's fun. :-)
This is not intended in any way to be a serious design but Back in the seventies I made a disk shaped RC model that flew very well and had similar astonishing low speed capabilities. This was without the benefit of lift fans or even a proper wing section. This model is a cross between that, the Avrocar and something that Judy Jetson would have in the garage.
Thanks to:
Milton Shupe for showing me how to get the nosewheel steering to work.
William Ortis for constant help and encouragement and for hunting down a tutorial on making a virtual cockpit and for having the bravery to make and distribute his wonderful flying machines.
John Woodside for showing me that all the tutorials I had been looking at were flawed and for not laughing when it turned out that it was mostly my fault after all...
Nick Needham for his AIJetSmokeFXControl.xml gauge and permission to distribute FX based upon his work.
All at Simviation.
This package is FREEWARE and must remain so. You may redistribute the entire unaltered zipped package to anyone and anywhere except fsplanet.
