FlightSim.Com How To: Swap Out The Wilco PIC 767 For OpenSky 767

How To Swap Out The Wilco 767 For A Project OpenSky 767

By Peter James

NOTE: I took screen shots in a variety of quality levels. Please note actual product may look far better than in these screen shots. Some pictures are lower quality to save loading time. If your monitor is not running in 32-bit resolution, you will not see same quality.

INTRODUCTION

As most of you know, my favorite product of 2000 was Pilot In Command. I gave it the highest score I have ever given any FS2000 review. Just short of perfection, I have been toying with the idea of replacing that 767's visual model with a better one. Project OpenSky has been getting a lot of attention with their nice 767s for FS2000, so I tried one of theirs.

The results were mixed. Overall, I was able to replace the Wilco 767, with a different visual model, yet retain the Wilco functionality, full panel functions, and of course, sounds. I even kept the Wilco flight model, which is certainly a viable one, and is needed for the FMS and autopilot to work as well as it does. All that changed was a visual external model, which I hoped I would be happy with. I was at first, but then began thinking all over again. But before your eyes, here is the easy way to complete the task, should you choose to do the same thing as I. It can't hurt to try, right?

The first step is to open the Wilco 767 aircraft's config file. Click the picture to enlarge viewing.

Copy all parts contained under the [electrical] heading.

The first step involves copying the Wilco [electrical] headings from the aircraft.cfg file to the aircraft.cfg file of your new airplane you want to use. Then you have to tell that new airplane what flight model to use. It's that simple! All you have to know is how to edit aircraft.cfg files, and if the dummy typing here can do it, so can you. You know how to use Explorer, right? You're 99% done then.

Open your OpenSky 767's aircraft.cfg file.

Paste the stuff you captured in your copy command a minute ago. Save and exit.

After doing this stuff (importing some new jets to look at, and editing the configs) for about a half an hour, my excitement dwindled as I discovered the OpenSky jets are far too stubby to be a true -300 model. Also, the windows are too big, the main problem Wilco had too! Drat. There's always a flaw somewhere. So, my escape to another model really had not helped my quest for the perfect 767. The OpenSky model has some beauty about it. Smoothness. Better texture quality. Awesome engines. But darn it, it's too stubby and has large windows.

Copy the Wilco 767 .air file.

Paste that .air file into the OpenSky 767 main folder. Now, edit the aircraft.cfg file and tell it to use the Wilco flight model as shown here.

There's the result! Voila! Beautiful 767. But, stubby with windows oversized...hmmm...

The original Wilco 767 with the same oversized windows. These are not official Boeing windows, guys.

The Wilco 767 showing jaggies and a rougher look.

The polished look of the OpenSky model. What great engines!

After the effort I had enough material to do up this How-To?? article. But, I have since gone back to my versions of the Wilco product, that have fixed the goofy window sizes. Oh well. Also, as much as I love the OpenSky shape, and smoothness, its dimensions are not as realistic as the Wilco 767.

My version of Wilco's 767 PIC with reduced window sizes. Overall body dimensions far more realistic, when compared to the real thing. I'll just stick to this me thinks...

You be the judge. You can read all about it in my editorial where I get down and dirty with aircraft designers. If OpenSky would only fix this current version, I'd go back to theirs I think. However, at present, the Wilco 767 landing gear operates better, tilting bogies, et al. You gotta have that. This technique for swapping in visual models of other aircraft to go with a favorite flight model, panel and soundset ought to work just fine, with one warning. MOST flight models will have the aircraft stand on the ground at a different level than the one you're using, so be aware of this. It just so happens the OpenSky version and the Wilco version sit the same height on the ground so no wheels appear to float, nor sink into the tarmac. I wouldn't mind knowing how this technique works for you with other airplanes, so drop me a line if you want.

Peter James / FlightSim.Com / Cheyenne Pilot
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