DC-8 problems |
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jdetrick
Check-In Staff Joined: 01 Nov 2013 Points: 33 |
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Posted: 01 Nov 2013 at 1:13am |
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I want to preface this by saying that I like this product. It just needs more work. I also want to state that I have a lot of knowledge on this subject as I flew them for 20 years. Both as a Professional Flight Engineer and a First Officer. I also worked as a mechanic on them for 5 years. These are all problems that should have been caught by beta testers. So here goes, it's long list.
Initial Observations on the DC-8
Enginners Panel:
Overhead:
Main Instrument panels:
I think that if these are corrected a good product will turn into a classic outstanding project. |
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Paul Golding
P/UT Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Location: EGMC Points: 119 |
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Hi John, I hope you're well?......also, 1. Should caging the standby ADI, cage the main ADI too, or should their respective cage knobs only cage the ADI they're attached to?
2. On the few (2) flights I did last night, I saw the brake hydraulic pressure indicator needle pass through the yellow, green and red bands before settling past the red. 3. At full flaps, the flap position indicator needle passes the full flaps label and stops at the 8 o'clock position. I think John has probably mentioned everything else I noted, aside from a few more aesthetic observations. a. The steering main bogey seems to be either in-line or turned; I couldn't see it gradually move from in-line as the rate or turn was increased. b. VC camera position/views. These are a real issue for me with most add-ons, and the DC-8 is no exception. It's like they were set up with zero consideration for the end user i.e. just how far away is the eyepoint set for both the pedestal and the engineers panels? here's no way these can be used, let alone read without adjustment. And the overhead isn't much better. c. VC pilots eyepoint. I haven't yet figured out what the issue is here and will spend more time looking at the extensive collection of photos I've taken (and had taken) in both a 50 series and the 60 series simulator. But it seemed to me that the top of the left pillar was only inches from my left eye and yet I didn't need to make much effort to glance down at the instruments. Last night I settled for moving the eyepoint backwards a few steps and reducing the zoom from the correct 1.0 to 0.9 and whilst this was very useable, it placed the left pillar where it just wouldn't be. d. VC sounds are in short supply, not just the fans etc that John mentioned, but switch clicks, gear rumble.....stuff that adds atmosphere. e. As noted in another thread, the DC-8 loads with engines off, regardless of any saved flight setting (I'll admit to not reading the config tools though, so maybe there's something in there). Like John said above, this could develop in to a very nice product with a little TLC. Cheers. Paul P.S. John, when did Douglas introduce that nasty trim horn? I was expecting to hear it. |
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jdetrick
Check-In Staff Joined: 01 Nov 2013 Points: 33 |
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Paul, nice to hear from you. I forgot about the stab trim aural warning. I think it's always been there. How I forget such an annoying sound? I have to correct a couple of my observations. The normal N2 position was up front, with N1 being on the engineers panel. The inner bug on the airspeed indicator is set at V2 for takeoff. The normal profile has you holding V2+10 till 1000ft AGL. The 3 engine takeoff has you holding V2 till 1000ft AGL. I'm sorry for the inaccurate info. The last time I flew the 8 was two years ago and I have since transitioned to the B767. You tend to dump a lot of info when you move to another aircraft. Especially two that are so different. I may get together some of my info for the profiles for flying this thing and post them. This thing is flown much differently than a modern jet. The main ADI did not have a caging function. At least not the later variants with a Sperry ADI. The standby was caged on shutdown and uncaged during the captains preflight.
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flyforever
P/UT Joined: 02 Aug 2012 Location: us Points: 121 |
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Another point of annoyance is the absence of 2d windows( gps notwithstanding). When flying in IFR conditions, especially on low approaches, and using the autopilot, it's tough not having the autopilot controls easily accessible. I've tried using FSPanel studio to create a 2d autopilot window, but I am not having any luck. I'd like someone to tell me if they succeeded in creating a 2 d window for the autopilot.
Also, at times it appears that the panels has difficulty going through a screen refresh, thus creating a slight lag. tc |
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FV
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Paul Golding
P/UT Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Location: EGMC Points: 119 |
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And you John; I've still got all the info and photos from the long forgotten DF DC-8 project. It's going to be interesting to see how these may get used to re-texture some of this DC-8
As for the stall horn, adjusting the trim was the first thing I did when the DC-8 loaded LOL!!! I did some reading last night to see if was a feature added to later variants only, but couldn't see anything. I assumed it was in all models.
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flyforever
P/UT Joined: 02 Aug 2012 Location: us Points: 121 |
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I failed to mention that the acceleration of the aircraft during takeoff feels great. In fact, it's one of the few planes that provide that "heavy load" inertia upon setting full throttles. The gauges are easy to read for some great flying...
tc |
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FV
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Paul Golding
P/UT Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Location: EGMC Points: 119 |
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Aside from thinking you should be off AP and hand flying the FD, this kind of thing can be easily fixed by JF including better VC camera settings. To me at least, the first 2 should be nicely zoomed in views of the radio/ap part of the pedestal and the OH.......these zoomed out panoramic views are useless for actually flying the plane IMO. Paul
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flyforever
P/UT Joined: 02 Aug 2012 Location: us Points: 121 |
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I totally agree, Paul. I guess the location of the autopilot in the vc is at times a problem for virtual pilots. For example, the location of the autopilot on top center that is found on other aircrafts makes switching within the vc environment a natural experience.
tc |
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FV
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David Rogers
Check-In Staff Joined: 10 May 2009 Location: Durham, UK Points: 6 |
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Hi,
Regarding the AP access; it's worth noting that this aircarft is using pure default FSX standard AP variables, so if the AP controls are hard to access in the VC, you can always assign keyboard shortcuts to control them. Eg.... I use:- AP Master: 'Z' Hdg Hold: 'H' Nav Hold: 'N' Alt Hold: 'K' Heading Bug (-): '[' Heading Bug (+): ']' VS (-): NUM* VS (+): NUM. etc etc . (some of these, like the 'H' key replace some standard FS key assignments that I don't use). Makes for a far more intuitive operation of the AP, at workload intensive moments. It's a good'ish plane so far but typical Aeroplane Heaven (if it was made by them of course!); as Paul said, total lack of sound immersion using XML sounds, so all switches etc have no sounds and make the cockpit feel very cold and unimmersive. Definitely needs some work...... (and also, yes take the autothrottle out; it should not have one, that's just default FSX AP code!). ...but these planes typically don't get improved much. :( (Still awaiting a SP for the DC-6B)....
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David.
AIR SOLUTIONS (UK) LTD |
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Jesse
Check-In Staff Joined: 30 Oct 2013 Points: 5 |
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Two things that bug me are:
1)The flap speed is ridiculously fast when you select the first notch, they literally launch themselves out of the wing! 2) Idle reverse, or the lack of. When you select reverse thrust (or press F2) the blocker doors should swing all the way into position. Not move incrementally depending on the amount of reverse thrust needed.
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flyforever
P/UT Joined: 02 Aug 2012 Location: us Points: 121 |
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That's good to know that standard keys can program the autopilot. On some planes, this is not possible, thus the need for a 2d panel.
tony |
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FV
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Magic
Check-In Staff Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Location: Frankfurt Points: 3 |
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Hi there!
Hmmm...apparently I seem to be the only one having issues with the altitude indicator. While flying at 5.000ft it reads just a little less than 2000ft...even when the correct pressure is dialed in. The spread remains even when flying under the standard pressure above the transition altitude... Did I miss anything while setting up the ship (pitot heat is on etc.)? |
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"Altidue above and runway behind are useless...!" Al "Tex" Johnston
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Jeremyh
Check-In Staff Joined: 20 Apr 2010 Location: UK Points: 16 |
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Has nobody else noticed the issue with the DC-8 where only the wings and engines are showing and the whole body is missing
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Jeremy
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Jeremyh
Check-In Staff Joined: 20 Apr 2010 Location: UK Points: 16 |
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anyone got a fix
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Jeremy
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Paul Golding
P/UT Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Location: EGMC Points: 119 |
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Might be useful if you stated which model/livery? Obviously nobody else seen this so far.
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jdetrick
Check-In Staff Joined: 01 Nov 2013 Points: 33 |
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This aircraft was normally hand flown on approaches. With the exception of a coupled ILS approach. The autopilot more often than not was disconnected and the approach was hand flown. Remember, this was a early generation autopilot. Pilots were expected to know how to fly. Hand flying this thing down to minimums demanded constant attention and a high degree of skill. For those of you with real world IFR experience, there was no VNAV capabilities. Doing non precision approaches, this was a dive and drive type of aircraft. Be configured and on speed before the final approach fix, push it over to 1500ft fpm rate of descent till 1000ft agl then 1000 fpm till your mda. Then at vdp, if you had the runway in sight, maneuver and descend, final flaps and land. It could be quite a handful on three engines.
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hifly
Chief Pilot Joined: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Hastings UK Points: 1012 |
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[QUOTE=Jeremyh]Has nobody else noticed the issue with the DC-8 where only the wings and engines are showing and the whole body is missing[/QUOTE
Did you close all other programmes including anti virus during installation? Maybe you could uninstall and re-install Good luck.
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Must Fly!
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staxx
Check-In Staff Joined: 02 Nov 2013 Location: Sweden Points: 7 |
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Not only you. I also have this problem, and I have contacted support. Even after two reinstall, the problem is still there. Guess we have to wait until after the weekend for some solution. |
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Paul Golding
P/UT Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Location: EGMC Points: 119 |
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.....or you could look at what others say and try helping yourself? Just Flight won't wave a magic wand. Exactly which models does this affect, and as mentioned above, have you installed SP1 & 2, or Acceleration?
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oleandreasen
Check-In Staff Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Location: Denmark Points: 32 |
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I do believe that this specific problem was described in the support section of the DC-8, and had to do with you needing Admin rights for installation. See the text from the support section
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