FSX/FSX-SE Aircraft and Panel Design Forum - How To

While looking through the aircraft.cfg and ".air" files for the default 737, 747 and 777 and also looking at as much real world data existed for these planes (from www.boeing.com, www.faa.gov, etc.) it appears that Microsoft has erred.The Operational Empty Weight definition says:"Weight of structure, power plant, furnishings (pax seats, galleys, lavtories, etc)systems, unusable fuel and other items of equipment that are considered an intragal part of a particular aircraft configuration." This includes the minimum required flight crew for that aircraft (pilots and flight attendants).If you look at the aircraft.cfg for these planes, you find additional weight and balance e…

As the question asks....Why do micro$oft still seem to 'refuse', or at the very least, never get round to fully divulging HOW their .air files are structured? Thus allowing plane designers complete control over the Flight Dynamics etc..Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like we have to continually scratch around in the dirt, using trial & error. to only come up with fragments of knowledge.... Would it REALLY be that much of a problem if Micro$oft DID release FULL details concerning the hidden depths of the .air file? It would make so much more sense..... Afterall, why promote that their flight sim can expand with addon planes etc, when they don't help in giving a…

I downloaded this new B717 model and first impressions look great. Getting into the airplane I found some problems from the get go.First, they copied the aircraft.cfg and .air files from the default B737-400 and did not change the parameters to meet a B717. The modeling had the anti-collision and navigation lights floating above the wings and away from the tail. Then I opened the forward door and it opened towards the rear of the plane not towards the front.Again, the modeling and paint (Delta) of the plane looks great but it needs alot of cleanup.

Hi,I've been away from this great hobby for the last 8 months know, I just installed FS2004 and think it is the bests. Prior to my "leave" from the hobby, I started back when FS98 was first released and all the way up to FS2002 until about 8 months ago. My question to all of you is: does anyone out there make an A320 series (freeware) for FS2004? I know that there was a fantastic one made for FS2002 (Project Airbus), but am unaware if it will work in the upgraded version (FS2004). Thank you ,Tom

Guys, forgive me if this has been asked a thousand times, but how do I increase drag in a plane, as a whole, plus, as per flap?Thanks,Andyhttp://www.x-plane.org/users/mirage/signature2.jpghttp://www.x-plane.org/users/mirage/signature2.jpg

Hi all,For the past two days I have been trying to update my FSUIPC to the lastest release and concurrently configure and program a new packageI downloaded at this site called ESOUND.....just do search for "esound" and you will find the lastest release.OK what is ESOUND? It is a dll that you put in your modules dir. What it does is allow you to sense various simulator/aircraft events then play a specified sound wav file. I do not know who wrote the application but plan on finding out so I can ask them some questions.Peter Dowson (guy that created and maintains FSUIPC) provided a nicedocument about how to use ESOUND. But he makes it clear that he does not use it nor wil…

Hi everyone,Does anybody, maybe Eric himself, tell me why this excellent gauge works normally on FS2004 (opening and starting phase) but that no planes appear on the screen despite (in my case) of heavy traffic. I use the FSUIPC (Version 3.07 (September 2003))Unregistered.TKS in advance for any helps.

I am building up my Beaver floatplane mostly be reworking my Renegade cfg file, which was originally a C182 from FS2002. When I increased engine power from 250 hp to 450 hp, I ended up with a wicked torque effect (I think!). The airplane is ok on takeoff run, but as soon as it breaks ground it goes into a roll to the left. This did not occur with the Renegade.What I would like to know is if there is a line in the air file where I can go in and reduce the torque effect? I have AirEd.Thanks,John Woodward

Hi all,I tried to compile the SDK.gau from the sample files included in the FS2002 Panel&Gauges SDK with the makefile. My compiler is the Borland 5.5 free command line compiler (used the make command). The makefile had 2 commands that Windows doesn't accept as a command, namely 'cl' and 'rc'. I changed them into 'bcc32', respectively "brcc32'. Is this correct? Maybe the brcc32 should be 'brc32'? I also got a lot of 'WARNING's from the compiler :-(, and 1 error about the SDK.rc file: a wrong declaration at line 47 (if I remember correctly:-)). As I don't know anything about rc files, can someone help me out please?I did succeed in correcting the first error the compile…

Hi everybody!!OK..this guy is driving you nuts wiuth that story about DVCs...NOW I TELL YOU ,THAT I MANAGED TO MAKE IT WORK!!!Well, the problem was, that I needed for some unknown reasons to include the .bmp in the texture= field of the (vcockpit01) section...Another problem comes to me: gauges are upside down!!!it's a matter of texture mapping, but I have not an option to invert Y axis...but some tutorials I read never mentioned toi swap Y axis....It's also a CFG matter??So AD2002 can build your DVC right, but upside down...Why not designing physically your DVC upside down and then twisting it of 180 deg. with atransfpormation instruction??nobody used that, but if you te…

Could someone explain how the gauge zip files work for FS2004?I found a couple of gauges that I would like to use. The only way they would work was to copy the zip file from the default aircraft into the new aircraft panel file. I also copied over the appropriate lines from the panel.cfg file. I tried extracting only the gauges and their bitmaps but that did not work as the gauges did not show. It seems that using the entire zip file is a lot of baggage to carry just for one or two gauges.Thanks,John Woodward

I'm sure that this has been asked at least 100 times by now but a search here was unproductive.I'm trying to add a mini (as in scaled down) version of the default Garmin to an instrument panel. I can get it do that by creating a new window but I can't get it to lay into an existing one and FS Panel Studio only puts in this little yellow box that doesn't show up when the panel loads. Can someone tell me what's wrong with this syntax (Note the FS9GPS at guage20)://--------------------------------------------------------//--------------------- MAIN PANEL -----------------------//--------------------------------------------------------[Window00]file=main.bmp file_1024=main.…

Edit....This thing showed up twice...don't ask me why

Hi you all,I am new at this forums and want to introduce:Dieter Paesold50 a3 childrenChemist and physicist (NOT specialist in aerodynamics)hobbys: PPL scholar simaviation (supplement for PPL at the moment, design of aircraft, flighing for fun) model pilot (to train my son) and some elseSome experience in X-Plane at designing aircraft (EMB ERJ 135, Canadair CRJ200LR, Fokker 70, all for Austrian Airlines); since FS9 and XP7 more and more interested in working with MS FlightsimulatorLiving near Linz, Austria, EuropeHope to get an intensive data and know how exchange with you (all).May I ask you some questions already:I work with AirE…

I'm looking to broaden my programming horizons and go into C or C++. I currently have experience in Quick Basic, Visual Basic, HTML, Java, and JavaScript with VB, HTML, and JavaScript being my strongest, but my Java knowledge is growing. I've done a bit in both procedural and object-oriented programming. My question is, in general and in terms of the current programming industry, is it worth learning C anymore or is it more beneficial to go straight to C++? Will not learning C hinder my C++ or will learning C be a waste of time?Thanks[table][tr][td]http://timbo87.home.comcast.net/sig/vulc.jpg[/td][/tr][tr][td] | [link:www.alphasim.co.uk]Alpha Sims] [/td][/tr][/table

Hi all,Can anyone take the time to shed some light on what I do not understand and or am doing wrong in the below things?What I am attempting to do is produce a sound based on when the aircraft exceeds MACH 1. I am using this as a test plateform in order to see if I can reach a point where I understand all that is required to produce a functional XML guage. The original Sonic_bang XML gauge I downloaded simply does not work. Further the download zipfor that gauge included the XMLSoundv1.zip file. That XMLSound.gauwould not load into FS2K2. I got an error message saying that the Simulator could not load the "Third Party Software". So that will explain somewhat why I …

I currently own a 1973 Challenger (Cherokee 180). I'm looking for a MSFS 2K4 model similar to this. The closest I have found is Touradg Morassaei's PA28 Real Dynamic model with a panel from Roger Austli and Ole Egholm. The rpm's are basically good, but it flies too slow. It's off by about 15 or so knots, maybe 20. My plane cruises at around 115 - 120 knots, and this one cruises at less than 100. Also, I am expecting a little more downward pitch when extending the flaps. Does this have to do with the FDE conversion issue I've been reading about? Is there something I can do to maintain the basic flight dynamics and engine rpm levels, but increase the speed (increase…

Which parameters control rapid changes in pitch brought about by altering AP speed and/or deploying flap? Because the change is so rapid the throttles make large changes hunting the 'new' pitch/speed combination before settling down. I guess I need to dampen the rate of pitch change?Thanks in adavnceJackhttp://www.dolphin-star.net/TCA/Paintshop/ybanner_tca_FM.gif

What tools do I need to change a aircrafts cockpit?CheersMark

Hi All air file experts.Does anyone know why the air file from concorde. (Or possibly any air file with Airframe: 5934) REFUSES to stop overspeeding at Mach 2.02+, even when entry: 316 (Mmo) is set to Mach 5. (Or any other number higher than 2.02)?Other air files with differing airframes DO AS THEY ARE TOLD! when i set entry 316 to a higher mach, where-as this concorde airfile is being a pain in the ####! ... What HIDDEN parameter is there that i can tweak that WILL tell the plane to NOT overspeed warn when going faster than Mach 2? (The plane I'm working on can reach Mach 4.5 - 5+ , but starts to warn of overspeeding at Mach 2.04ish.... ) Another clear frustratin…

Hi everyone:I've see that some planes use differents keys to open the doors they are ussualy the Shift E and Shift E + 2The problem cames that how do I open the doors triggered by Shift E + 2 in XLM?Can you pass my some idea about the code in the click area?Thanks a lotHelio Alberto Regalado Moreira

Hi,Found out it is now very easy to make your own atc gauge using the new k-events: >K:ATC;>K:ATC_MENU_0....;>K:ATC_MENU_9.I made the gauge invisible, so you can put it anywhere on your panel at a "familiar" place.I placed it in my fmc.Jan"Procul Negotiis"

Hi everyone:Is there any way to make text to flash when a condition is verificated as true??for example when radio height is equal o less than Desicion heightThanks a lot for any relpyHelio Alberto Regalado Moreira

Hi everyone.I've noticed that when comparing various Mach gauges for useage in a panel i'm working on, they differ somewhat in their reading of exactly what Mach I'm travelling at. The plane i'm working on is Trans-Hypersonic, so it's only when i start to travel very fast that the errors between the gauges becomes noticable..... But even at Mach 1 plus you start to see the errors...)The three Mach gauges are:Concorde default Mach GaugeX-15 freware Mach gauge from the panelThe MFD from the default 777 panel. (Showing Mach bottom left corner)As I start to accelerate, I begin to notice a discrepancy creep in between 3 different gauges. So much so, that when I'm flying at Ma…

Hi,Has anyone had any success in decoding any of the new or changed parameters and eventids for FS9 (FS2004).I have just been going crazy with a special jet engine starting routine programmed using a loop containing1 (>K:Jet_Starter) 1 (>Plus)This no longer works in FS2004 - the N1 rpm does not increase.It appears the only way is to use the (>K:Engine_auto_start) function.Trevor