FS2002 Piper Comanche IFR Trainer
by Chuck Dome and Jorge "eko" Salas

INSTALLATION
------------
To install, simply unzip the piper_ifr_install.zip
ZIP file into the main subfolder
of FS02 (where the FS2002.EXE file resides).
In that way, the custom gauges will be placed automatically in the
correct subfolder. DO NOT unzip the package into the \AIRCRAFT
subfolder of FS02, and be sure to check the "Use Folder Names"
box in WinZip.


AIRCRAFT AND PANEL NOTES
------------------------
This fine Piper Aircraft is by Chuck Dome. Originally, I was just going to
release the IFR Training Panel, but then I decided to incorporate it into
a plane, and hand tune the flight dynamics to have a very stable flyer
to practice IFR stuff.

You can, of course, simply use the IFR panel on your plane of choice. As it
is fairly generic for any single engine prop. The Cessna 182 would be a nice
choice as well. (All you would have to do is add the Virtual Cockpit
entries from the default Cessna 182 panel to my panel config file. Do not
e-mail me asking how to do this! If you don't know, don't do it!)

The Chuck Dome Piper was chosen because it is a good looking plane, which
is EXTREMELY frame rate friendly, and already had some pretty good flight
dynamics to begin with. I also chose it because Chuck makes all of his
work Public Domain, making it very easy to add/modify to his work and
re-release the modification. Thank you Chuck! You ARE the spirit of freeware.

The plane's paintjob has been touched up slightly,
and FS2002 lights have been added.
I hand tweaked the flight dynamics to be even more stable than they
already were, and the plane is quite a nice flyer.

The main purpose of this package is to have an IFR training tool, to practice
this wonderful aspect of flight simming. The panel is brand new from scratch,
based on the C182rg bitmap, using mostly default gauges, but adding some
custom ones for more comprehensive IFR uses.

The plane ONLY comes with this IFR panel, but since the plane has a
rudimentary virtual cockpit with no working gauges, I added a sub-panel, which
you can only acces by pressing SHIFT-3, and that will give you your basic
instruments in the virtual cockpit. Simply go to the virtual cockpit,
press SHIFT-3, and you'll have some instruments along the bottom, to be
able to fly from the VC. Try it, it's neat.


A couple of notes about the panel.

The main flight instruments are all dead center in your field of view.
This is how a pilot typically sees the instruments, and what I wanted.

There is a multi-radio, which tunes COM1, NAV1, NAV2, ADF, and the Transponder.
It also has built-in DME, and VOR/DME code identification.
It is a very handy piece of equipment, and I used it because
that way I could stick the entire radio stack in one small slot.
Simply click on the knob on the left of the radio, to cycle through
the different tunable sections. Then click on the numbers in the LCD
screen to change frequencies. The number buttons on the bottom of the
radio are for "presets" you can program, so that you can have many
standby frequencies pre-programmed into the unit. There is
a document in the "Docs" folder which explains in more detail
the operation of the radio, and how to program it. It is
recommended reading to get the most out of the radio.

The GPS window pops up over the VOR's and "replaces" them,
if you want to do GPS flying.

The NAV instruments look decidedly nice, and have some additional
features not typically found. The VOR's have a digital readout in the bezel,
so you can tune them accurately. There is a standard ADF which is not slaved
and also has a digital readout on the bezel, and below it a dual VOR RMI
which IS slaved to your heading. The switch next to the audio control unit
toggles the green arrow in the RMI to point to VOR1 or VOR2. The digital
readouts in the VOR's and ADF are turned on by clicking in the middle, lower,
left portion of the instrument. (You can see where in the screenshot inside
the screenshots folder.)

The reason for the advanced autopilot is so you can see the heading bug
adjust numerically, and also the course selector numerically.
(Although this is duplicated in the nice VOR.) You can adjust your heading
bug with the autopilot or the HSI, this is nice.

The clock has a GMT toggle, a built in stopwatch, as well as sim rate
and zoom rate capabilities. Play with the buttons, you'll figure it out.

The fuel status gauge shows pounds and gallons for used, remaining, and flow.
You can also see your true and gps groundspeed in knots or MPH, and you also
have a time to empty, and miles/knots to empty readout. Very comprehensive.
Simply click on the buttons to toggle all the functions.

The digital readouts you see everywhere are basically digital
representations of the gauges that are in proximity to them.
They have tooltips, so simply place your mouse over them for an explanation
if your not sure.
This is a great tool to be able to see EXACTLY what your gauge readings are,
and help with the IFR training aspects.

It's a pretty advanced panel, in which you can accurately
(because of all the digital readouts) work on IFR training,
while still using "traditional" instruments.

There are additional docs for the radio, nav instruments, fuel status gauge,
and the digital readouts in the "Docs" folder. Also, in the panel.cfg file,
all gauge credits are listed next to the gauge when known. Check there
for all the gauge authors.

This aircraft and panel are in the public domain, just like Chuck Domes
original copyright. Some of the custom gauges, however, retain the copyright
of the original authors, and are not public domain.

Have fun!

Holler at me if you like it, or have CONSTRUCTIVE suggestions. All flames
will go immediately into my kill file, and I'll never see a message from
you again. :-)


Jorge "eko" Salas
jspx@softhome.net



ADDITIONAL NOTES
----------------
The plane is pretty quick. It will get up to 190 IAS at full throttle,
so go to about 20-23 on the Manifold Pressure to go a bit slower. :-)

The plane has a slight tendancy to "creep" up, which I have tried to
minimize as much as possible by adjusting the flight dynamics,
but I couldn't get rid of it completely.

One notch of flaps, trim set to +10-12 on the digital readout,
rotate at 80 IAS, and begin pulling back on the stick. She takes
off smoothly. Retract gear and establish positive rate of climb
before pulling up the flaps. She will want to jump "up" a bit
once your clean, so don't let it!

Once she's in the air, she is magnificently stable.



// =======================================ORIGINAL README BY CHUCK DOME

11/26/01

Here's my version of a Piper Comanche 250 for FS02. To install, simply
unzip the ZIP file into the main subfolder of FS02 (where the FS2002.EXE file
resides). In that way, the custom gauges will be placed automatically in the
correct subfolder. DO NOT unzip the package into the \AIRCRAFT subfolder of
FS02, and be sure to check the "Use Folder Names" box in WinZip.

Many thanks to Jeff Sargent for inspiration and information.

I hereby declare this aircraft package to be in the Public Domain.
Anyone may use it for any nonviolent purpose, including commerce, without
permission. It should not harm your computer but, if you imagine it has, I
accept no liability.

Chuck Dome
cdome@cfl.rr.com
Visit my home page at http://home.cfl.rr.com/cdfss