Installation:
Copy the f747shtc main folder and all of its components to your
FSX/SimObjects/airplanes folder. Copy the contents of the Smoke
folder into your FSX Effects folder (overwrite if prompted).
Flying:
When you select the aircraft from the aircraft list you can first
view the stats that dictate normal flights. Do Not exceed these
stats. Print them or write them down before your first flight. This
aircraft has been modified to fly as close to the real thing as
possible, including the cruise altitude and IAS. Because this 747 is
actually carrying another wing, and vertical stabilizer, it does not
fly like a normal 747. If you exceed the limits you will run into
trouble. In other words, never exceed 270 KIAS or Flight Levels
above 15,000 feet. Fly low altitude airway routes to Air Force Bases
only. This aircraft could fly a lot further if it could fly higher
and faster, but don't try it. Everything in the dynamics area has
been altered in order to create the most realistic flight
characteristics possible. That includes the weight and balance,
wing area, tail area, and engine ratings: all following real-world
specs. Just like the real-world, it takes a long time to fly at 260
or 270 KIAS, but you will also see that the aircraft body is fairly
level at these speeds from 13,000 to 15,000 feet, due to the
increased wing area by adding the shuttle. Since all flights are
eastward, there is usually a tail wind. Real-world flight plans for
the SCA avoid any adverse weather, but this plane will fly through
almost anything if you run into such a situation, mainly due to the
increased wing area. Keep in mind that you have one of only three
Space Shuttles as your cargo, plus four souls on board. Because I am
not an aircraft designer or graphic manipulator, the Shuttle carried
by this SCA is the Enterprise, which was used only during the initial
test phase of the Shuttle program ... now on display at the
Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy
Center at Dulles International Airport. Although the model is not
accurate, the weight of the Shuttle is. In fact, the weight of this
SCA (N905NA) is to specs as well.
Credits:
Model Design: Sandro Bernardini
FSX Modifier: Eric Buchmann
Sounds: Emil Serafino Jr.
Real-World Dynamics: Douglas E. Trapp