I first started this project back in FS2000 days but gave up because of many issues revolving around the fact that the MS flight simulators just don't support true VTOL flight dynamics. Rob Barendregt has recently developed a series of XML VTOL gauges that creat true VTOL performance in FS2004. Most of them are optimized for various payware Harrier's and Osprey's. He recently developed a gauge (RCBhcf10) for Vlad Zhyhulskiy's freeware Osprey. I had redone the Pogo in FSDSv3 and developed a concept to get the bird to sit on it's tail. Briefly, the entire plane is designated as a flap. I then separated the moving parts and designated them as children of the flap. When you hit the flap control the entire airplane rotates around its origin.
I was going to use the V-22 flight dynamics "as is" but Rob was kind enough to customize things specifically for the Pogo. He also created a gauge for the 2D cockpit view that pans the view in tune with the Z axis of the vehicle. (When the plane is on its tail you look straight up and when the plane is horizontal the view is horizontal,etc.) You have a dynamic eyepoint. This works only in the 2D cockpit view and does not work in the VC, so I did not include one. The panel is only a guess as I never found any documentation for it.
INSTALLATION: Unzip Pogo.zip into a temporary folder. Copy the file called Convair Pogo into the Aircraft folder of FS2004. Open the gauges folder and copy the 2 gauges into the Gauges folder of FS2004. The f4f4.gau might already be there so you won't need it. All the custom gauges are installed in the correct folders so that's it. The airplane will show in the Aircraft selection list as Pogo under Convair.
SET UP AND FLIGHT NOTES:When you look at this plane in the selection preview window you will note it sits very high in the window; that is normal. After you select your location and get ready to fly the plane will be sitting well above ground in the horizontal position. That is normal. It should slowly rotate to the vertical position (if not, hit full flaps) Do not save the flight situation until the plane is fully vertical. Give it full throttle and it will lift straight up. You can move it fore and aft with the elevator, left and right with the ailerons and rotate it with the rudder. When it is a couple hundred feet in the air hit flaps up and it will slowly transition to horizontal flight. It then flies in a normal fashion. When you are ready to land, reduce throttle to idle and hit full flaps. As it transitions to vertical you will want to add power to keep it from coming down too hard. Play with the throttle and controls and you can land quite accurately. I have no problem making it hover (about half throttle on my system).
LEGAL: This project is released as freeware but is NOT "Public Domain". You may repaint it and upload to this or another website except for profit. DO NOT modify the flight dynamics or custom gauges and upload anywhere without the express written consent of Rob Barendregt. This airplane should not hurt your computer but I am not responsible if it causes problems.
