varn sr-71

[fxsttcb]

I've flown the Stone C5 a lot. Do you know of a really good C5?

I took a peek to see which one I have. Yep! Mike Stone.
I am using Philippe Wallaert's C-5/C-141 panel, I think!(His readme is in the panel folder). That's the only freebie I know of...Don

[angels355]

I took a peek to see which one I have. Yep! Mike Stone.
I am using Philippe Wallaert's C-5/C-141 panel, I think!(His readme is in the panel folder). That's the only freebie I know of...Don

Thank you!

[pvarn]

Thanks for giving this distribution a try guys. Sorry it's complex to install. I broke it into parts so you don't have one 10G download

As far as the autopilot, I believe I mentioned in the manual I suggest using the heading control in the Sandel HSI as a work around. As for the high angle of attack at 92K ft, well... you're lucky you made it that far. The world record in that plane is 85K ft. For those looking for the original AlphaSim freeware distribution, be aware it has no panel or gauges and flies very poorly so my intent was to fix all that.

FSUIPC:
It's mostly recommended for those using the default FSX Jeppeson weather which is poorly suited for airliners and fast aircraft due to improper high altitude temperatures and no wind, pressure, or temperature smoothing. The payware FSUIPC provides smoothing for those things so the sudden shifts don't swap you out of the air. FSUIPC is not needed for any of the controls or gauges in the distribution and you can fly without, but is suggested to help solve severe FSX weather problems. Better yet, with Active Sky 2012 SP1 and no FSUIPC, you'll have smooth and nearly effortless flights. Both AS SP1 and my model have been optimized to work together.

"It's looks are the same, with no real difference from the FS9 Alphasim version." Yes, the 3D model is the exact same model. I did not edit the core 3D or the textures. However, EVERYTHING else is different. I created the sound, most of the panel, the flight model from scratch, created the AB effect. The custom gauges contain special logic so the plane performs similar to real world with it's unique limitations. It's very important to load the fuel per the manual and kneepad since the COG management system relies on that initial loading. In the real world, the plane did not take off with full fuel due to marginal power if there was an engine out on take off, so the plane was not flown by the air force that way. To support the fuel loads for missions over 1.5 hours, there is a built in refueling gauge.

I hope to make further improvements to the panel with a better throttle which does not move in large steps and a more SR-like autopilot without the bugs (like several other gauges on the panel, the AP is a freeware gauge by another developer, chosen mostly for it's simplicity.) I also hope to add bypass door simulation someday, but that is a really huge project as that's the most complicated part of the whole plane.

There are text file tutorials with the distribution. The BECKY flight plan used for training SR pilots "Habus" at Beale complete with a startup save flight location is included with the distribution. Load up the saved flight, print out and follow the tutorial and bring up the checklist in the kneepad. No weather or FSUIPC needed when starting with the saved flight which sets up perfect conditions for 80K ft cruise. Make it through the tutorial flight and you have the skill needed to fly the SR anywhere. Elsewhere in this library is a zip of all the SR-71 flight plans I've created over 10 years of flying it. Many of them (like the world record flights and BECKY training sortie) are based on real world SR missions.

The panel has also been optimized for FSX two seat flights so with some special (minor) panel editing and a flip of a switch, two people can fly on the same plane using direct connect as long as both are using the same FSX version. The panel edits and switch flip solve a problem where the non-FS-default panel gauge features are only controlled by one or the other player so they don't conflict at critical times in the logic switching.

If any of you fly on Vatsim, I fly the SR frequently there and can often be found I/O at Beale. I'm always happy to have company and can assist and answer questions while flying (which is a great way to learn.) We can connect voice using the Vatsim voice client or Ventrilo.

Let me know if I can provide any other assistance.
-Pv-

[angels355]

pvarn,

All I can say is, you're one of the people that make FS the stunning and brilliant simulator that it is. When I installed FSX for the first time this year, the first thing I wanted to do is see the Earth from the highest altitude I could attain in the SR71.

A lot of the SR71 stuff is still classified so I don't ask too many questions from the pilots (only met one so far).

The takeoff fuel load is interesting. In the AF and other branches, it's a matter of routine practice to refuel in flight, there should be more simulations of this in general (not to be confused with the request for "more ukulele music!"). Is there a refueling simulation for the SR71?

Starting with FS98 I used to fly SR71's all the time for fun. But I thought there might be or could be a chance I could become a commercial pilot so started focusing on just planes that are useful toward that goal. Lately however I've been so busy that I haven't been able to do much sim flying at all.

Any way, you're a hero to all of us SR71 sim fans!

[pvarn]

BLUSH!
Thanks. "Hero" might be a bit strong, but I keep trying to crank out the freeware with my limited capabilities as a way of supporting the community and keeping FS use strong as long as I can.

As far as refueling "simulation" are you referring to something like Falcon4 or Warthog? I'm not sure that level of detail is possible in FS, but it's possible to get closer than what I have done in the SR. There is one or more refueling gauges available which will require the pilot to fly formation with an AI aircraft. I think the payware Alphasim does something similar. Some of the code to make that happen requires the FSX Acceleration to have gauge control of the AI. I wanted the refueling gauge in this plane to work with the Deluxe so more pilots can fly it for free. On Vatsim, I have coordinated with other pilots flying formation with KC tankers which works and acts close enough. Just the high speed weather jouncing formation flying for the time required to fuel is nerve wracking enough for me not to want to go to the next level. Also, I'm not sure the refueling gauges maintain the balance properly since I have not tried them.

I think the only classified information which would have any affect on simmers might be the recon stuff which is of limited value to me. The pilot manual though redacted a little has a wealth of detail how the plane was flown and it's flight capabilities. The real world pilots don't act like they have gag orders when I talk to them and the books written by them are quite detailed.

Feed the need for speed friends
-Pv-

[angels355]

BLUSH!
Thanks. "Hero" might be a bit strong, but I keep trying to crank out the freeware with my limited capabilities as a way of supporting the community and keeping FS use strong as long as I can.
-

Hero, yes hero! Especially now when FS needs heroes more than ever! I've flown for many years in freeware aircraft, wishing I could properly thank these freeware developers (and Nels). You just have no idea how you have made our sim world richer!

[pvarn]

Thanks again. Let me know if anyone need more help flying the model.
-Pv-

[pvarn]

Currently being tested is an update which completely removes pilot intervention of the fuel CG transfer system, making it fully automatic and improving the flight stability. The result is a less bouncy, less aggressive autopilot. I've also replaced the broken kneepad text files with htm files which display properly and are easier to read. I'll try to remember to announce the update where when it becomes available in the next week or less.

Thank you to everyone interested in flying the fastest human piloted ram jet in the world. Fly fast and high.
-Pv-

[pvarn]

I'm hoping to have an update posted this week. Here is the current list of latest improvements from the distribution README:

- Various existing gauge bug squishes.

- Many Manual corrections and additions.

- Autopilot panel has been replaced with controls from the concorde.gau gauge set. This solves the
bug in the previous autopilot panel where the left of the heading set window turned heading off
and on, and the right side incremented only. The positions of the Mach and IAS controls are
optimized for easier IAS-Mach conversion switching.

- Leading edge heat signature. Uses the (until now) unused FS strobe light and an XML gauge
to light the 3D model nose and engine spikes red above 300 degrees C. On the main panel, the
unused strobe light switch is removed to avoid conflict.

- In a step toward a more realistic panel, the old and confusing
spike auto-manual switch has been removed and replaced with a more realistic gauge with spike
and bypass door knobs (the bypass doors are not yet implemented.) See manual for operation details.

- There is now a clickable Autopilot Master Mode rotary knob on the main panel near the engine gauges.
Not only does this reproduce a similar feature in the real plane, but it relieves the necessity to
leave the AP window open all the time to see what mode you're in or make a change to the mode.
See the manual for operating details.

- Throttle gauge has been rebuilt to remove the incremental jumps and is now perfectly smooth.

- A more consistent night lighting has been applied to all the gauges where possible. As a result,
the panel is more uniform when dark despite the numerous sources for the gauges.

- The previous Concorde fuel pump switch has been removed and replaced with a custom pump gauge in
the fuel panel. This removes the problems caused when inadvertently placing the Concorde pump in
Auto mode. The new pump gauge has three positions. The default "Auto" position keeps the SR-71
fuel balanced properly and automatically without pilot intervention. See manual for details.

- Revised the CG and the CG control to nearly eliminate the need
for the pilot to adjust the fuel balance in flight when fuel is loaded on the ground properly.

- The revised and refined balance system allowed tweaks to the autopilot
so it is less bouncy (over aggressive.) Trim and lift is also
now more accurate to real world. "Thargoids" still exist.

- The FS default Ground Proximity call-outs "Don't Sink", "Sink Rate", and "Flaps" are now
totally under control without the need to rename or delete the wav
files. They now occur at the right time and "flaps" does not occur. If you would like your
other aircraft to use these callouts properly and consequently not rename-delete the FS callout files,
consult the "[gpws]" section of this aircraft.cfg file which should be easy to understand and use
in your other aircraft.

- Added Total Aircraft Weight display to the fuel panel.

- ILS tracking is MUCH improved.

- Kneepad checklist and reference files have been converted to htm (web)
files so they display properly and look better.

- Smoothed out the sound a bit more.

- The main panel engine RPM analog and digital displays have been combined into one gauge to
make better use of the space.

- The "xFeed Open" lamp on the Fuel Annunciator is now operational. It has special meaning and associated button click.
See the Manual for more information.

-Pv-

[angels355]

Thanks Pvarn, that's exciting. I wonder, for those of us that have broadband would you consider uploading the full package for one download? Where can we download it?