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Douglas DC-3 PLUNA CX-BDB for FS2000
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So,after you have finished reading this document,load up your FS2K PLUNA DC-3 CX-BDB and see for yourself.
If you have not done so already,take a look at the DC-3 Airways homepage at http://www.dc3airways.com.You will not only have the opportunity to join up as a pilot but you will also find a wealth of information about flying and operating the DC-3 with special emphasis on how navigation was done in the days that 'GPS' stood for Grandma's Perfect Stew.
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FIRST AND FOREMOST : The opening and closing of the pax door,subsequently the removal of the 'rolling steps' if available,on all my FS2000 DC-3 models is triggered by activating/deactivating the NAVIGATION LIGHTS i.e : nav lights OFF = door open/steps present,nav lights ON = door closed/steps away. It seems that there are still quite a few simmers outthere who don't bother to read a readme file and don't bother to switch their nav lights on. So,hopefully,by putting this subject at the top of this document,the message will come through at last. You can read a detailed description about the display conditions a bit further down.
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INSTALLATION & PREPARATION :
Unzip this archive into your FS2000 root folder. If you make sure Winzip has the 'use folder names' option checked it will put everything in the right place for you.
As a default the panel- and sound.cfg files point to the default 2 engined recip panel and C182 sound but i'm sure you want something better then that.
As this particular DC-3 model is based on my FS2000 Douglas R4D-6 NATS model which comes with the exquisite R4D/DC-3 panel by Bill Rambow and Roy Chaffin and also features a genuine DC-3 sound suite, it is of course HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you use THIS panel and sound suite to fly your DC-3 DCA N1776 with.
If you have the FS2000 version of our Douglas R4D-6 NATS already installed this is very easy to accomplish :
After you have unzipped this archive into your FS2000 root folder open your FS2000/Aircraft folder and look for a folder named 'Douglas DC-3 DCA N1776'. Open this folder and you'll see an additional folder called 'R4D PanelSound'. Open it and cut and paste the panel.cfg file which you'll find in there into the Douglas DC-3 DCA N1776/ Panel folder (overwrite when prompted) and the sound.cfg file into the Douglas DC-3 DCA N1776/Sound folder (again overwrite when prompted). You can delete the no longer used 'R4D PanelSound' folder now.
That's it. Now you have the most realistic and detailed DC-3 cockpit ever produced for FS to fly your DC-3 DCA N1776 with, and a nice DC-3 genuine sound suite to put the icing on the cake.
If you DO NOT have our FS2000 Douglas R4D-6 NATS package installed you DO NOT know what you're missing !!
Please consider spending some time and effort to download and install our FS2000 Douglas R4D-6 NATS v4.0 package. You need both files which are called 'wjrdc34a.zip' and 'wjrdc34b.zip'. In addition you might also want to download the latest 'Visual Model Upgrade' with the file name 'r4dv40up.zip'.
There is an easier, better way, though. You can save all the download time and help support another worthy cause by purchasing the Donation-ware CD from the Mid Atlantic Air Museum. It contains all of the latest files for the R4D packages for FS2000, as well as FS98, CFS, and CFS2. All are self-installing. Also included are three genuine WW-II era manuals for the C-47 (DC-3), hundreds of photos, a film clip of the R4D in flight and much more. It is $25 and all proceeds go to the MAAM engine replacement fund to help get the R4D #819 back in the air. It will be shipped anywhere in the world for a $4.95 fee. You can read more about it and order it on-line here: http://www.avialantic.com/shop/entrypage.html
For realistic operation of your DC-3 DCA N1776 model, and subsequently the R4D panel, please refer to the excellent Douglas R4D-6 NATS MANUAL written by Bill Rambow. In addition,and like suggested above, you may want to read another excellent and detailed description of operating a Douglas DC-3 by visiting the 'DC-3 Airways' homepage. You will find 'Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Flying A DC-3 But Were Afraid To Ask' right there !
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SOME NOTES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT THE MODEL :
As with the FS2000 Douglas R4D-6 NATS model, you'll find many details featured in this DC-3 DCA N1776 model. To name but a few : wheel blocks, Remove Before Flight flags, control surfaces locks,open pax entrance door and 'rolling steps', all displayed when the aircraft is in complete shut-down configuration.
While the blocks, locks, and RBF flags are activated by shutting down engine #1, the open door and rolling steps are displayed when you switch off your nav lights. In addition to this, the pilots will have left the cockpit.
SO, VERY IMPORTANT : NEVER fly without your navigation lights ON or switch them off during flight !! Looks pretty silly flying about with the steps still stuck to the entrance, they are supposed to be 'rolling' steps not 'flying' steps.....Also, when using the R4D panel, NEVER switch the navigation lights on/off via the 'L' key ! Always use the panel's NAV LIGHT SWITCHES otherwise it will mess up their sequence and you'll end up with an awkward looking 'nightlighted' panel during daylight.
Just use the EXACT SAME WAY of operating this DC-3 model as you have grown accustomed to flying our Douglas R4D-6 NATS model and you'll be all right !
IT IS ALWAYS BEST to first select the FS2K default Start-up Situation (Flights/Select Flights/Default Flight-Meigs Field ), turn off the Magneto switch (ignition key) of the Cessna to ensure that the R4D panel's magneto levers are properly positioned for start-up, and then choose your DC-3 DCA N1776 model.
An easy way to create your own proper Start-Up situation flight using this DC-3 DCA N1776 model is explained in the 'v40upgrade.txt' which you'll find inside your FS2000/Aircraft/Douglas R4D-6 NATS v4.0 folder once you have downloaded and installed the R4D Visual Model Upgrade (r4dv40up.zip)
LEGAL STUFF :
All files are copyright Jan Visser. .All rights reserved.
These files are released as FREEWARE and as such you are permitted to distribute this archive subject to the following conditions:
The archive must be distributed without modification to the contents of the archive. Redistributing this archive with any files added, removed or modified is prohibited. No charge may be made for this archive or any of its contents. It must remain FREEWARE.. The authors' rights and wishes concerning this archive must be respected. Legal action against violators of these provisions will be pursued vigorously.
Have a nice flight with your PLUNA DC-3 CX-BDB, keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down and keep the pantry tidy.
Thank you for taking the time to read this document.
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Jan Visser
Krommenie, Holland
January, 2001
jg.visser@chello.nl
