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Hello everyone! I'm back again this month with my 6th edition to
Flap's Flap. This time pushing it one step closer to reallity for
you hardcore simulation buffs and Active Camera owners, who like to
perform all checklists in the sim with one more activity that you can
do to help make Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004 even closer to "As
Real As It Gets." Before beginning with the article, I'd like to
thank all my faithful readers out there putting up with the delay,
I've had some personal issues these past couple of months, but I'll
leave it at that, and thank everyone who looks forward to reading my
articles each time they come out.OK, this is for all of us Active Camera users out there. Ready to begin? OK. Now, I'm going to ask you can you guess what activity I'm thinking of that will require the use of Active Camera and make the sim closer to reality? If you guess the walk around, you are correct! You can easily perform this function in the simulator with Active Camera in any aircraft. The plane being used will be familiar to many; if not read the review.
I'm going to open up the first screen shots here with an overhead
view of our airplane. It is DreamFleet's Piper Archer II for me, and
you can use whatever single engine general aviation aircraft you
would like if you don't have this one in your hangar. Can you tell me
what you have to look at the numbered parts of our aircraft? No
cheating and scrolling ahead now, I want to see if you can guess it
yourself first.
What we are going to be inspecting on our Archer II:
If you guessed what we have down here, you are correct. OK, starting off on our walk around, go to the virtual cockpit mode, press X to get out of the cockpit and turn towards the front of the plane. Walk over to the propeller, and check it for any knicks or cracks you might find. This could turn into some very unsafe flying down the road on your journey.
After checking the propeller, you can crouch and check out the nose gear, to make sure that there are no debris and that the pressure is good in the tires and the strut. Once you check the nose gear stand up and walk around to the right (passenger) side of the engine. Here you will check the engine fluids. Now Flight Simulator does not allow you to perform this in the program, so just make a quick pitstop here before checking the next item on the walk around. The Archer, like many newer flightsim planes, does have a detailed engine to look at at least!
We now continue our walk around and go to the passenger side wing. Stop at the aileron, and give it just a little nudge to make sure that it freely moves up and down. Also check to make sure that there is nothing obstructing flap function for this could prove to be a problem on our trip (put the flaps down if you want a closer look at them in operator), and then crouch down and check the main gear, again, making sure that there is no debris and that the pressure seems OK.
Continuing along on our inspection, we will move to the tail, and check the rudder for mobility and make sure that there is nothing that is obstructing that portion of the plane. Also check the stabilator or elevator on the tail to make sure that it is capable of performing its designated function as well.
After checking the tail area, walk around to the pilot's side wing, and check that aileron and flap. Also make one more check of the main gear on that side of the plane, and we should be good to go. Hop aboard and then start your preflight check list, and if all is well, you're golden! Start her up, announce take off intentions, taxi to the runway, and take off to where ever your virtual destination awaits you. I'm sure you'll have a pleasant journey knowing you're aircraft is in tip top shape.
Of course, in real life there are some other things that can be checked but this basic walk around gives a good look at our flightsim plane. Sometimes we should feel lucky to be simming and not doing this in real life, as in real life this simple inspection can provide some challenges, especially during the winter as shown in the photos below!
This technique can be used with the classic aircraft, such as the Douglas DC-3, Ford Trimotor, Curtis Jenny and Piper Cub that came with FS2004. There is just a small change that is needed to be done with the aircraft.cfg file to enable the autopilot in your favorite classic. What do we always do before we change something? Make a back up in case you don't like it! OK, made the back up? Here's how to add autopilot to any aircraft except of course, The Bell 206B helicopter. This may or may not work with other helicopters, but I have not had a chance to try it.
 My system settings for Flight Simulator 2004. |
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Performance on computer systems will vary so please don’t email me
about my FPS too slow if I mention them on mine. Computer system for
this article and all others of Flap’s Flap is the following:
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I'd like to thank my readers again for joining me this month. I'll be back again next month with a flight idea for you airline operation buffs. Have a great month, and see you at the end of April!
Inspired by my article? Email me. I love to hear from my readers.
Now, for some light legal stuff:
Flap’s Flap does not accept any responsibility for varied performance in systems. Please note my system specs and the display properties work fine with MY system. Set your display properties accordingly to your computer. Also, with any How To items that are given in these articles, please use at your own risk! I will hold no responsibility to any damage done to your system. And, as always, remember: Back up your files before changing them!
John J. Thuot II
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Flap's Flap #1
ragtopjohnny01@aol.com
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Flap's Flap #2
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Flap's Flap #3
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Flap's Flap #4
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Flap's Flap #5
