*****************************************
FS2002 DOUGLAS DC-6 Cloudmaster
American Airlines 1963
GMAX Version 2 5/2003
*****************************************
Built and painted by Greg Pepper, Max, and Tom Gibson, tgibson@sunstroke.sdsu.edu
Flight dynamics by FSAviator (true FS2002 flight model with dynamics derived from actual flight manual information), correct within 3% of the real flying characteristics - see Reference file (F10). This FDE is not designed for AI use - it will not work. Download AI propliners at http://www.calclassic.com/.
VERSION 2 FEATURES:
1. Virtual Cockpit complete with wing views.
If you use my DC-6 Panel, you may press Ctrl-Shift-1 and Ctrl-Shift-3 to view the wings from the cockpit, and Ctrl-Shift-7 and Ctrl-Shift-9 to view from the passenger cabin.
2. The front cockpit windows have been shortened for higher accuracy.
3. Minor cracks fixed in VC.
4. Specular shine added.
FS2002 FEATURES:
AIRCRAFT
1. Virtual Cockpit
2. Prop reverse (throttle to idle, click reverse lever, allow plane to slow down, throttle to idle to go back to forward thrust)
3. There are no opening doors on this model.
4. The working cowl flaps are opened by Ctrl-Shift-V, and closed by Ctrl-Shift-C (both in increments) or use the cowl flaps switches.
5. The plane is complete with reflective and night textures (turn on lights with L key, then turn Landing Lights off and on with Ctrl-L). The ice light (upper fuselage) will turn on with the landing lights.
6. The landing gear has working compression struts, and retracts as seen in vintage video.
7. The landing lights light the ground properly, and must be extended before use (press the L key, and then press Shift-W).
8. The prop blades actually rotate when you change the pitch or feather them; to feather the prop select engine by E1 or E2, then press and hold Ctrl-F2. Press M--- and Ctrl-Shift-F1 to shut down the ignition and mixture. Then press E2 or E1 so you can operate the other engine.
9. Contrails whenever you want them (press the I key)
10. FS2002 style nav, landing, and beacon lights (press the L key)
11. FS2002 style visual effects, including touchdown smoke
12. Working NAV2 radio
This plane also features animated landing gear, flaps, ailerons, elevators, and rudder.
REALISTIC ENGINE START
To start the engines realistically and individually, do this:
1. Go to Options/Controls/Assignments and set the 4 starters to
Ctrl-1 through Ctrl-4 (or other keys of your choice).
2. Go to spot view (Shift-S)
3. Press E3 to select engine #3.
4. Tap the Ctrl-3 key just enough to keep the prop moving slowly.
5. Wait for 6 prop blades to pass by.
6. Quickly press M+++: engine 3 will start.
7. Press E4 to select engine #4.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 to start engine #4,2&1.
9. Press E1234 to get control of all engines back.
10. Normal start sequence is 3-4-2-1.
CHECKLISTS
Included are Before Starting Engines, Starting Engines, Engine Run-up, Before Takeoff, Takeoff Data (V speeds), Climb, Cruise, Before Landing, and After Landing.
Also included is FSAviator's Reference file, with speed limits and climb/cruise powers, among lots of other info.
PANEL:
Please download the DC-6 Panel v6 from www.calclassic.com.
SOUND:
Please download the Prop Sounds from www.calclassic.com.
FLIGHT DYNAMICS, FUEL PLANNING, ETC.
Press F10 to bring up the checklist and FSAviator's Reference file.
WARNING! To have a panel and sounds with this plane, you must either download and install the United DC-6B (complete panel/plane/sound package) or you must also download the DC6 Panel v6 and the Prop Sounds found at www.calclassic.com. It won't work without them unless you change panels and sounds by editing the panel.cfg and sound.cfg files.
WARNING! To have gauges in the Virtual Cockpit you must download the DC-6 Panel v6 or (if already installed before 4/7/03) download the Panel Update from www.calclassic.com.
1. Use an unzipper that keeps stored folders intact. Unzip the file "Unzip this to the main FS2002 folder.zip" into your main FS2002 folder (the one with FS2002.exe in it).
2. Refer to the Docs folder found inside the FS2002/AIRCRAFT/DC6Pnl6/DOCS folder for details on the panel, etc.
3. If you want a smokey engine start, read the fx_engstrtreadme.txt file (improved! Now has a shorter duration and doesn't include the flames (causes VC flashing).
***************************************************************************
Douglas Aircraft knew it had a winner with the DC-4, since it was obvious
that with hundreds of military examples it would become the standard
post-war long distance airliner. However, the presence of the Lockheed
L-049, which was generating significant orders, led Douglas to decide
to develop a stretched and improved version of the DC-4. Since the two
major advantages of the L-049 were speed and pressurization, the new DC-6
would be powered by new and powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engines,
stretched by almost 7 feet over the DC-4, and would be pressurized to
allow the plane to fly at fuel-economical high altitude, which also
avoided the worst weather. Since this decision was made during WWII, it's
not surprising that the actual DC-6 prototype was built to a USAAF
requirement, the XC-112. The first flight didn't occur until February 15,
1946, however, and with the end of the war the military had little use for
the plane. Douglas quickly converted it into a commercial project, which
became the DC-6.
The airlines had seen the potential of the XC-112 long before the war
ended, and orders were placed as early as September 1944 for post-war
deliveries. American Airlines received the first plane (from it's 50 plane
order) in November 1946, with United Air Lines following with it's 20 plane
order. However, United had the honor of introducing the DC-6 into scheduled
service, on the one-stop US transcontinental route, making the flight in only
10 hours. This compares quite favorably with the 11 hours taken by the L-049
Connie and 14 hours by the DC-4. The DC-6 did have one black mark on it's
record; the plane was grounded for 4 months from November 12, 1947 following
two internal fuselage fires. The last DC-6 was delivered to Braniff on
November 2, 1951, the production line being used instead for the stretched
DC-6B, with better economics (although slightly reduced performance). A total
of 175 DC-6's were produced, and proved to be very reliable performers.
Because of this reliability and ruggedness, many DC-6's are still flying
today, mostly in cargo work.
NOTE: This plane and many other classic airliners can be
downloaded free from Tom Gibson's Classic Airliner WEB site at -
http://www.calclassic.com/
**************************************************************************
Now the legal stuff:
COPYRIGHT 2003 BY TOM GIBSON AND HARRY FOLLAS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
REPAINTS: REPAINTS ARE ALLOWED WITHOUT FURTHER PERMISSION, BUT WE PREFER THAT THEY ONLY BE UPLOADED TO TOTALLY FREE SITES - I.E. NO CHARGES OR SUBSCRIPTION FEES FOR INCREASED ACCESS. HOWEVER, IF YOU REPAINT THE PLANE YOU MUST CREDIT ALL OF THE ORIGINAL AUTHORS IN YOUR TEXT FILE AND INCLUDE THIS TEXT FILE.
THIS AIRPLANE IS THE PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR, AND CANNOT BE RE-SOLD OR PACKAGED WITH ANY PRODUCT FOR SALE, WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORS. THIS INCLUDES "FREE" CD COMPILATIONS WITH A CHARGE OF ANY KIND. THIS IS FREEWARE!!
YOU MAY NOT UPLOAD THIS PLANE TO ANY OTHER SERVER, IT MUST REMAIN ON THE ORIGINAL SERVER.
THIS FILE ARCHIVE OR ANY REPAINTS MUST NOT BE UPLOADED TO A SITE OR LOCATION THAT CLAIMS ANY SORT OF COPYRIGHT ON THE FILE; COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR. UPLOADING OF THIS FILE TO SUCH A SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORS TO VIOLATE THESE TERMS BY THAT SITE.
THIS FILE ARCHIVE MUST REMAIN INTACT; YOU MAY NOT REMOVE OR UPLOAD PARTS OF THIS ARCHIVE. THIS ENTIRE TEXT FILE MUST BE INCLUDED IN ANY DISTRIBUTION.
THE AUTHORS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT YOU MIGHT INCUR AS A RESULT OF USING THESE PRODUCTS. YOU ASSUME THE RISK OF USE.
