This text README was designed using Windows Notepad and a Microsoft Sans Serif, regular style, #10 fonts with Word Wrap enabled.
Nicks Space Shuttle Landing Challenge
ADVENTURE PACK
and
UPDATE to VERSION 1.2
Adventure Synopsis:
During the de-orbit re-entry burn there was malfunction. The orbiter started to skip across the atmosphere during re-entry and at one point the spacecraft started to nose toward deep space. You managed to get control of the spacecraft and stabilize the re-entry flight path. Your crew is OK but a bit shaken up from the ride and in the process of re-gaining control, the shuttle has re-entered so far off course it will be impossible to follow standard procedures and land at the programmed site. Since the shuttle is a glider and you have no way to correct the re-entry position. You will now have to deal with landing the shuttle at a location that is not designed for the purpose. There may be weather and air traffic problems which you have to navigate and overcome.
NASA, your crew and the entire world is counting on you to get the shuttle down on the ground safely. The safety of your crew is your primary concern and you may have to sacrifice the shuttle to save them. NASA agrees that the safety of the crew comes first but also wants the shuttle back in one piece and not water ditched,... if possible.
CAN YOU DO IT???
==========================================================
PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT ALL THE WAY TO THE END AS IT PROVIDES ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AS WELL AS UPDATES YOUR PRODUCT CORRECTLY.
This will not take long to read and it should provide you with everything you need...
YOU MUST HAVE MY ORIGINAL: NICK'S SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING CHALLENGE (NSC.ZIP) ***AND*** MY VERSION 1.1 UPDATE (NSCUP1.zip) CORRECTLY INSTALLED *** BEFORE*** RUNNING THIS UPDATE!!!
You can get NSC.zip and NSCUP1.zip at: SurClaro.com, SurClaro, SIMVITATION.com or SIRCLARO.com
IF YOU ARE INSTALLING MY SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING CHALLENGE FOR THE FIRST TIME, PLEASE READ AND INSTALL (NSC.zip) FIRST, READ AND INSTALL (NSCUP1.zip) SECOND, and THEN INSTALL THIS PACKAGE.
This adventure pack will provide a set of 8 all new challenge flights for the space shuttle.
The version 1.2 update adds a reference list of the flights to the kneeboard (F-10, then click the Reference Tab on the kneeboard) for you to refer to while in flight. There are flying tips for landing the shuttle included in the reference list and tips on locating landing sites in the area of each challenge flight.
The update also provides some minor changes to the shuttles flight and landing dynamics making it perform a bit more realistic in different weather conditions.
In this update I provided 2 aircraft.cfg update files. In the first one I increased the landing gear strut tolerance in feet per second on landing. The shuttle is a bit easier to put down without damage to the struts using that version. The second version updates the shuttle to 1.2 but leaves the strut tolerance @ NASA spec. The instructions below will provide you with the choice during the update process. You can always overwrite what you choose and try it both ways using the provided installers.
To this comment I recieved in email and a few similar ones:
COMMENT: I landed the shuttle, No problem. It's easy. I do not see what is so difficult about landing it. Perhaps your shuttle is not designed as realistic as you think it is.
Answer: OK, Now lets get real... Now that you have landed over and over again without any crashes or errors, please go to your REALISM SETTINGS in the simulator and move the sliders from EASY to REALISTIC. Please see the RealismSettings.jpg image with this package for a visual of the settings you should be flying with my shuttle package. Now email me back and tell me how easy it is. If you can land the shuttle **25** times in a row in almost any condition/circumstance without missing the runway, running off the end or damaging a strut, you belong in the space program training to fly the real shuttle.
******************************************
A few more questions answered:
COMMENT: Where is the drag chute?
A: The addition of a drag chute requires an entire new 3D model be made. (.mdl file) I did not make the model being used for this simulation and it does not have a drag chute built into it. Use the speed brake (100%) to simulate the drag of the chute being deployed.
**************************************
COMMENT: Can you make an entire shuttle launch sequence with the SRB's and main tank?
A: Yes, I can.. and it would be set up to launch and fly like the real shuttle, however, if I were to build an entire new shuttle it would take 6 months to a year (or longer) because I would include a very detailed model with all the trimmings, a VC cockpit, cargo bay views, proper landing gear. That type of detail would require I charge for the package and I doubt it could be cheap. Such a package would probably sell for 75 to100 dollars after mass production.
*****************************************
IMPORTANT NOTE:
MAKE SURE UNLIMITED FUEL IS UNCHECKED IN THE REALISM SETTINGS OR YOU WILL FLY FOREVER AT MACH... and never be able to land.
The original .mdl file (not textures) is by: Matthew Moxon (shutpack.zip)
The included original panel is by: Tom Kellner (shuttlepan.zip)
MANY THANKS to Matthew Moxon and Tom Kellner for their freeware contributions that made this combination freeware package/adventure possible. I claim no absolutely rights to their work.
The .air file and aircraft.cfg files were significantly modified by Nick Needham using NASA specifications to provide the correct (best simulated re-entry glide/landing for FS2X) flight dynamics for the orbiter using NASA's original engineering data for the real orbiters.
Shuttle Discovery repainted textures by Nick Needham
Minor .bmp visual modifications, eye-point and GPS programming corrections to Tom's panel for use with FS2004 by Nick Needham
Shuttle landing FX by Nick Needham
Sound package put together from snippets I found here and there, which work well for this scenario
Adventures Designed by Nick Needham
*****************************************
Special thanks to NASA (JPL) for the mechanical/aeronautical engineering data and advice that allowed the FS2X simulated flight and landing dynamics of this aircraft to be fairly accurate and realistic.
*****************************************
PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE LIMITATION:
Unless otherwise specified in writing, the software provided herein is for your personal and non-commercial use. You may not modify, copy, distribute, transmit, display, perform, reproduce, publish, license, to create derivative works from in order to transfer and sell any information, software, products or services obtained from the use or review of this software package.
NO UNAUTHORIZED DUPLICATION, MODIFICATION OR REPACKAGING IS PERMITTED WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT AND/OR THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE AUTHOR(S) WHOS WORK IS INCLUDED AND DEFINED HEREIN AND HERETO. AS FREEWARE THIS GAUGE/EFFECT OR ANY OF THE INDIVIDUAL CONTENTS OF THE FILE(S) CANNOT BE REPRODUCED, IN PART OR WHOLE, FOR ANOTHER FREEWARE PACKAGE OR USED IN ANY PACKAGE THAT REQUIRES, SUGGESTS OR PERPETUATES A PURCHASE OR SALE OR ANY FORM OF COMPENSATION OR TRADE.
DISTRIBUTION
Only the websites and/or companies I have given expressed written consent to distribute this effects package are authorized to distribute it as FREEWARE. An authorized distributor falls under the same distribution guidelines as defined above. The end user is authorized to use this package strictly for personal use in conjunction with MS Flight Simulators. Proper acquisition of expressed written consent is required before reusing this package, in part, in whole or in any other fashion in order to avoid legal issues from unauthorized reproduction and distribution.
DISCLAIMER:
All Microsoft products and the effects code used in the custom designed effects/.cfg files contained herein are the property of Microsoft Corporation through the terms of the Flight Simulator End User License Agreement and are protected by registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. No intent to defraud or illegally use the Microsoft trademark, its software, code, name or secure any income or compensation from the production of this effects package is expressed or implied with the creation of this effects package and supporting files. Any other company names, names of authors or their work displayed in this package are for reference only. Unless otherwise specified, no connection to them or their products is expressed or implied. The author of this software or the site it was downloaded from is not responsible for any damage that may result from its installation or use.
*************************** KNOWN ISSUES *******************************
The original model (.mdl file) is old and was originally designed for FS98/2000/2002. It has some small visual anomalies which I could not correct. It is also shy of some texture calls that could have been a bit better detailed. I did the best I could in repainting this aircraft based on what I had to work with.
I do not own FS2002 and can not test this package with it. I hope this package works with that version of Flight Simulator without issues.
The following files will AUTOMATICALLY install the UPDATED files to their proper locations. I provided two automatic installation files in this package located inside the following folders:
NicksShCh1.2_UP2004
NicksShCh1.2_UP2002
1.
Open the correct folder and inside you will find 2 .exe files:
UP1.2_HIGH_STRUTS
UP1.2_NORM_STRUTS
Choose HIGH_STRUTS for a higer tolerance to the drop fps @ landing (easier and less landing crashes)
Choose NORM_STRUTS to keep the NASA specification for the reat main gear suspension. (max 18fps drop rate)
Simply double click the .exe file of your choice and a WinZip box will appear that will automatically update/install the needed files to the proper directories inside of the Flight Simulator locations as shown below:
For FS9 (FS2004) Users:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9
For FS2002 users:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002
2.
When the Winzip window appears MAKE SURE there is a check in the box "OVERWRITE FILES WITHOUT PROMPTING". If you do not put a check in the box to allow the files to overwrite, the product WILL NOT update.
NOTE: If your version of Flight Simulator 2002 or 2004 is located on your hard drive other than where I have indicated above you MUST use the browse button of the Winzip self extractor and browse the extractor manually to the correct location. YOUR FLIGHT SIM INSTALLATION IS PROBABLY WHERE I INDICATED ABOVE AND THE WINZIP SELF EXTRACTOR DOES NOT NEED THE BE BROWSED. MANUAL BROWSING IS ONLY REQUIRED FOR ADVANCED USERS WHO HAVE MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR INSTALLED IN A NON-DEFAULT LOCATION.
3.
Click "UNZIP" on the Winzip self extractor box and that will allow the contents to extract directly and update your space shuttle product.
SPECIAL NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO REVERT OR SWITCH THE REAR STRUT LANDING TOLERANCE AT ANY TIME, SIMPLY RUN THE WINZIP INSTALLER FOR THE VERSION OF THE REAR LANDING GEAR YOU WISH TO USE.
The files are now installed and you are updated to: Nicks Space Shuttle Landing Challenge, Version 1.2
For ease of installation I the provided the following files in the BONUS_FX folder of this package:
FS2004FX.exe -and- FS2002FX.exe.
1.
Simply double click the .exe file for your version of Flight Simulator and a WinZip box will appear that will automatically install the needed files to the proper directories inside of the Flight Simulator locations as shown below:
For FS9 (FS2004) Users:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9
For FS2002 users:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2002
2.
When the Winzip window appears click "unzip" and allow the contents to extract directly into the directories. If your version of Flight Simulator is located other than where I have indicated above you MUST browse it manually to the correct location. MAKE SURE there is a check in the box "OVERWRITE FILES WITHOUT PROMPTING"
3.
Confirm Flight Simulator is set to detect crashes and damage in the REALISM settings area of the sim. (see the RealismSettings.jpg file located in this package for details)
NOTE:
If you do not like the massive crash effects, you may use one of the winzip .exe files in the RESTORE folder inside the BONUS_FX directory to revert back to the original Flight Simulator crash effects files
This update added a kneeboard reference for ALL the challenge flights AND tips on flying and landing the shuttle. If you wish to brief the details of a flight or review the landing process, press F-10 in the simulation and when the kneeboard appears, click the REFERENCE tab. Scroll down to the subject you wish to review.
