As travel by air developed and matured, navigation over long distances also developed and improved. In the early days, however, air navigation essentially used ship navigation techniques adapted for aircraft. Without "landmarks", the navigators used Ded Reckoning (DR) and the stars.
Celestial or Astronomical Navigation provides a means of obtaining Lines of Position (LOPs) from the stars. Crossing LOPs will fix a position. It requires a chart, and a planned course on that chart, with waypoints specified by Latitude and Longitude, an assumed time of arrival at each waypoint, and stars (including the Sun, Moon, or planets) in view.
In the 1940s, extensive tables of star positions were made available to air navigators to be used with sextants to obtain these LOPs. In the tables, all times involved are GMT. This data is available from the Internet in "ready to use" form. This gauge simulates the sextant, and the process by which one obtains a LOP, or crossing LOPs to obtain a position, or fix.
Can be used with any FS2004 aircraft. Includes comprehensive browser-based manual and references.
By Dave Bitzer and Mark Beaumont.
File name: DC3_BBSX.ZIP
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INSTALLATION:
Within the folder 'Sextant Manual' in this download, clicking on the file 'index.html' will give you access to the full manual in browser-based format. Installation instructions are to be found there. For your convenience, however, these instructions are repeated below in NOTEPAD format.
After installation, it is recommended that you create a shortcut on your desktop to this 'index.html' file for ease of access.
These particular instructions are for installing the sextant in the stock DC-3 that comes with FS2004, since it is a natural addition for period flying. We note, however, that it works even better with the Beaumont & Bitzer modifications to the stock DC-3, and thus highly recommend that you add the sextant to a DC-3 configured with our 4-tank, autolean and flight dynamics modifications. See www.swiremariners.com/dc3.html for details of modifications to date. With these additional modifications, you will be able to experience sextant-based navigation over realistic ranges, speeds, fuel loads, and altitudes.
Specific instructions are also included below for installation of this gauge in the MAAM-SIM R4D-6/DC-3A.
Note, however, that the sextant can be installed to any FS2004 aircraft. If installing to another aircraft, or to a modified DC-3 as described above, the [WindowXX] and [gaugeXX] numbers given below (which, we repeat, are for the stock DC-3) may be different. Please be careful to execute any necessary changes.
INSTALLATION IN THE DEFAULT FS2004 DC-3:
1. Unzip the downloaded file 'DC3_BBSX.zip' into a temporary folder.
2. Move the gauge 'BB_sextant.cab' to your 'Flight Simulator 9\Gauges' folder without unzipping it.
3. Move the folder 'Sextant Manual' to your 'Flight Simulator 9\Aircraft' folder.
4. Move all remaining files to your 'My Documents\Flight Simulator Files' folder.
5. Make a copy of whichever aircraft's 'panel.cfg' you intend to edit and name it 'panelBK.cfg'
6. If you want to keep the GPS gauge in the aircraft (not recommended), go to step 7. Otherwise, edit the 'panel.cfg' file by replacing the panel window that has the GPS gauge in it with the following:
NOTE: in the section '[Window Titles]' near the very top of the file, change the descriptive line that says "Window02=GPS" to read "Window02=Sextant".
The GPS icon on the main panel may now be used to call up the sextant window. Alternatively, a new sextant icon is provided for your use. Under the section [Window00], replace:
gauge38=SimIcons1024!GPS Icon, 106, 725
with:
gauge38=BB_sextant!icon, 106,725,19,19
Important: if you use this new icon, change the 'ident=225' line (see window entry, above) to 'ident=18'
7. Skip this step if you did step 6. If you want to use the sextant in addition to the GPS, or are adding the sextant to a panel with no GPS, then the panel entry should be as follows, where [Window07] is the next higher number at the bottom of the stack of 2D windows:
NOTE: in the section '[Window Titles]' near the very top of the file, add a descriptive line under the other entries that says "Window07=Sextant", the number 07 corresponding to the new window you have configured.
Given that you are keeping the GPS, you will need to add a sextant icon on the main panel. Add a line at the bottom of section [Window00] that reads
gauge43=BB_sextant!icon, 129,725,19,19
43 being the next number higher than the last gauge number in the section.
That completes the installation. This position is correct for the stock DC-3. For another example, the correct position for the Lockheed Vega 5C is 685,560 instead of 132,725.
8. For those who are interested, a capability exists while flying to call up the sextant manual from the kneeboard or, if you are online, to access the Celestial Navigation Data Base at the US Naval Observatory. This enables the user to obtain the position of any of the bright stars at any time, without pausing the game. This simulates a look-up in the astronomical data tables of the information desired.
With a modified aircraft "reference" file, one may click the kneeboard icon in the main window, select the "reference" option, and click on either the 'Sextant Manual' or the 'Contact USNO' hyperlinks. The capability exists also to access the 'FAA' site and download the approach plate to the FS kneeboard while in flight, without pausing the game. This simulates the user looking up the approach plate after he determines the active runway on descent/approach.
To achieve this capability during the installation, again taking the Douglas DC-3 as an example:
Open that aircraft folder, rename the original 'Douglas_DC3_ref.htm' as 'Douglas_DC3_refBK.htm', and then move the 'Douglas_DC3_ref.htm' file from the "Aircraft\Sextant Manual" folder to the "Aircraft\Douglas_DC3" folder.
(Note on operation: there is a quirk in the MS software, in that you cannot write a carriage return to the link, so the system will not let you do further editing after you have selected the "Month" from the pull-down menu. So, select the month last, and click the "go" button immediately afterwards).
The capability may exist in the near future to also use the Beaumont DC-3 Airways kneeboard to access the Sextant Manual, and these sites, from any aircraft. Although the reference file supplied is for the DC-3, it is an example of the type of file that could be made for any of the FS9 aircraft.
INSTALLATION IN THE MAAM-SIM R4D-6 (or DC-3A):
1. Unzip the downloaded file 'DC3_BBSX.zip' into a temporary folder.
2. Move the gauge 'BB_sextant.cab' to your 'Flight Simulator 9\Gauges' folder without unzipping it.
3. Move the folder 'Sextant Manual' to your 'Flight Simulator 9\Aircraft' folder.
4. Move all remaining files to your 'My Documents\Flight Simulator Files' folder.
5. Make a copy of 'MAAM-SIM R4D-6\Panel\panel.cfg' (or, if you are modifying the DC-3A, 'MAAM-SIM DC-3 Passenger\Panel\panel.cfg') and name it 'panelBK.cfg'
6. If you want to keep the GPS gauge in the aircraft, go to step 7. Otherwise, edit the 'panel.cfg' file by replacing the panel window that has the GPS gauge in it with the following:
NOTE: in the section '[Window Titles]' near the very top of the file, change the descriptive line that says "Window08=GPS" to read "Window08=Sextant".
The GPS icon on the main panel may now be used to call up the sextant window.
7. Skip this step if you did step 6. If you want to use the sextant in addition to the GPS, then the panel entry should be as follows, where [Window11] would be the next higher number at the bottom of the stack of 2D windows:
NOTE: in the section '[Window Titles]' near the very top of the file, add a descriptive line under the other entries that says "Window11=Sextant", 11 being the number corresponding to the new window you have configured.
Given that you are keeping the GPS, you will need to add a sextant icon on the main panel. Add a line at the bottom of section [Window00] that reads
gauge20=BB_sextant!icon2, 28,749,17,18
where gauge20 would be the next number higher than the last gauge number in the section. We mention this in case you have already made your own gauge additions to the panel. This will place the icon at the bottom right of the icon stack for the MAAM-SIM R4D-6 (or MAAM-SIM DC-3A).
That completes the installation.
One neat thing about using the MAAM-SIM R4D-6 specifically (or, indeed, the freeware add-on XC-47C or other suitable variants) is the astrodome. In the VC mode, you may move your eyepoint into the dome, and then, by clicking on Views, Instrument Panel, and selecting Sextant, you bring the Sextant on screen in the astrodome. In the sextant window, right click and select "undock window" to uncheck. Then you may drag it wherever you wish, and take sun or star shots.
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UNINSTALL:
If for any reason you want to remove all traces of the sextant from your aircraft:
1. If you modified the DC-3 aircraft's reference file, delete the "Aircraft\Douglas_DC3\Douglas_DC3_ref.htm" file, and rename the file "Aircraft\Douglas_DC3\Douglas_DC3_refBK.htm" as "Aircraft\Douglas_DC3\Douglas_DC3_ref.htm". If you modified another aircraft's reference file, please do likewise.
2. Delete the three AA_113r.* files in the "My Documents\Flight Simulator Files" folder.
3. Delete the "Sextant Manual" folder in the "Aircraft" folder
4. Delete the "BB_Sextant.cab" file from the "Gauges" folder
5. Delete the "panel.cfg" file in the folder of the aircraft you installed the gauge in, and then rename the original file "panelBK.cfg" as "panel.cfg"
This completes the uninstallation and the removal of the unzipped 'DC3_BBSX' files.
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Version 1.0. December 2004
Package prepared by:
Dave Bitzer DCA-910
bitzer7@comcast.net
Mark Beaumont DCA-1054
VP Fleet
DC-3 Airways
MABeaumont@aol.com
Other work to date for the DC-3 by Beaumont and Bitzer, excluding repaints:
DC3_PAN.ZIP Modified VFR and IFR panels with FO views (Beaumont)
DC3_PAN2.ZIP Upgrade for DC3_PAN.ZIP plus a single IFR panel (Beaumont)
DC3_PAN3.ZIP Further IFR upgrade adds new ATC panel, Radio CD and more (Beaumont)
DC3PAINT.ZIP Repaint templates for the stock FS2004 DC-3 (Beaumont)
DC3_3TK.ZIP Modification removing the "all" tanks default selection
DC3_4TK.ZIP Conversion to 4-tank operation and no "all" tanks selection
DC3_3MX.ZIP Automix gauge for 3-tank operation
DC3_4MX.ZIP Automix gauge for 4-tank operation
DC3_3TKF.ZIP Full 3-tank aircraft with IFR panel and all fuel mods.
DC3_4TKF.ZIP Full 4-tank aircraft with IFR panel and all fuel mods.
DC3_BB3.ZIP Improved aircraft.cfg file for the stock FS2004 3-tank DC-3
DC3_BB4.ZIP Full 4-tank aircraft with IFR panel, revised flight dynamics, all fuel mods.
DC3_COMM.ZIP Comms pack for Mark Beaumont's IFR panel, above (Beaumont)
DCA_KNEE.ZIP Revised kneeboard Version 2.0, primarily for DC-3 Airways (Beaumont)
DCAMAAM4.ZIP IFR single panel modification for the MAAM-SIM DC-3 (Beaumont)
DCAMAAM5.ZIP Recommended update to DCAMAAM4.ZIP (Beaumont)
DCAMAAM6.ZIP Automix gauge for the MAAM-SIM DC-3
DCAMAAM7.ZIP Water rudders gauge for the MAAM-SIM XC-47C (Beaumont)
MAAMkit1.zip Repaint templates for the MAAM-SIM DC-3 (Beaumont)
