FS2004 Douglas DC-3 Four Fuel Tank Conversion Kit
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The default FS2004 DC-3 is configured for three fuel tanks, whereas by design the C-47/DC-3 had four from which to draw. Many airlines using the DC-3 blanked off, removed or never installed one tank in order to maximize payload; they were usually operating shorter routes than were typical of the C-47 in military service,
This conversion kit gives the option of restoring the aircraft to four-tank configuration, giving greater range for long duration flights. Offering realistic fuel management, this option can replace your default configuration or, alternatively, add one or more four-tank aircraft to your DC-3 collection.
Note that this file is only of use to those pilots who like to set up fuel and payload properly before a flight; pilots using default FS settings of maximum fuel and full payload will find that the aircraft is over maximum takeoff weight in this revised configuration.
- New fuel gauge selector with four positions, all reading correctly on the fuel gauge
- New engine fuel tank selectors (left and right engine), all reading correctly on the ECU panel with four tank positions and one OFF position each
- 804 gallon capacity vs. 604 gallons in the default DC-3
1. You can either change your default DC-3 files to reflect four-tank configuration or, by making a copy of your DC-3 folder and renaming it (or any other folder based on the default DC-3) create new aircraft with the four-tank set-up. If you do the latter, note that if you copy, rather than move, aircraft texture sets to this new folder, then you will need to give each aircraft a unique "TITLE=" entry in the new AIRCRAFT.CFG file or they will not show. Similarly, in each aircraft's line "UI_VARIATION=", you may wish to highlight the fact that this version of your chosen livery has four-tank configuration.
2. Whichever way you do it, the included gauge file "DC3_fuel_4tank.CAB" should go to your main ...\Flight Simulator 9\Gauges\ directory. It will not overwrite any existing gauges. Do not open or unpack it.
3. The included texture file "Douglas_DC3_1_C.BMP" should go into the TEXTURE folder of any and all aircraft you are configuring for four-tank operation. This file is not operationally essential; it simply gives a visual image of the four-tank engine fuel selectors in VC view.
4. The code snippet below should replace the fuel section in the relevant AIRCRAFT.CFG file (back the file up first, just in case):
If you have made your own panel modifications previously, then these gauge numbers or positions (the numbers on the right) may have changed, but please note that all that needs to be altered to install this modification is the name of the gauge itself.
Similarly, if you are using any of Mark Beaumont's panels from DC3_PAN.ZIP or DC3_PAN2.ZIP, then just change the gauge names, not the gauge numbers (which may differ from above) or the positioning numbers that follow them. Note that in Mark's twin panels the FO main window and ECU pop-up window on the FO's side will need to be configured similarly with the new gauge name.
The main thing to remember is that, as with the real DC-3, there is now no "all tanks" option (Microsoft's default DOES have this easy-fly option). You must manually switch the fuel selector switch on the ECU panel to supply fuel from that tank to the engine. It is important to keep the fuel level "balanced" in the aux. tanks as well as in the main tanks. Control+E engine starts, plus any saved flights configured for default "all" tanks should work properly. The fuel select valves will now default to left engine on left main tank, right engine on right main tank.
A few known bugs exist in this release. The aircraft pull-down menu lists a "center" tank (for left aux.) and "center2" (for right aux.). The tooltips list "aux" (left aux.) and "other" (right aux.) over the fuel tank selector levers on the ECU panel. The fuel gauge on the main panel reads correctly, but the tooltip hover will not display digitally the quantity for the right aux. tank. These captions and tooltips seem to be in the aircraft model itself and we are not at liberty, therefore, to change these.
Although the four-tank engine fuel selectors will show visually in virtual cockpit mode should you choose to install the included texture file, you should NOT alter tank configuration while in VC view. Firstly, the MS default is flawed in that the selectors will move anticlockwise only and must travel through OFF to go from aux. to right main, thereby cutting the respective engine dead; secondly, the VC engine fuel selectors are also in the model, not in the panel and so it has been impossible to alter these for four-tank use. Make all adjustments while in 2D panel mode, using the ECU pop-up which is toggled by the relevant simicon.
1. Trevor Morson on DC-3 Fuel Management (first printed in the 'DC-3 Airways' Newsletter):
"Be sure that fuel levels are balanced in each of the main tanks. Always take off drawing fuel from the main tanks, left main tank/left engine, right main tank/right engine. Only switch to aux. tanks (or single aux. tank) when desired cruising altitude is reached. The minimum limit of fuel in each main tank when landing should be 40 gallons and 10 gallons in the aux.
Never take off with less than 60 gallons of fuel in each main tank.
Always burn fuel from the right tank (preferably right engine) for approximately 20 minutes to allow for carburetor return air flow (the left main tank is equippped with a by-pass to the aux. tank so no need to do the same for the left).
5 gallons of fuel in each of the tanks (including aux.) are unusable; this is because there is a standpipe arrangement in each tank incoporated to prevent sedimentation into strainers and carburetors.
A DC-3's fuel capacity is actually 210 gallons in each of the main tanks and 201 gallons in the left aux. tank. A C-47 would have 202 gallons in each of the main tanks and 200 in each of the aux. tanks.
Maximum oil capacity is 2 x 29 gallons. Never take off with less than 22 gallons oil in each tank. Do not begin to taxi until oil temp is 40 degrees."
trev@douglasdc3.com
Visit "The DC-3 Hangar"
www.douglasdc3.com
2. Thanks are also due to Jan "Procul Negotiis" of the SurClaro.com forums for his kind input.
