DC8-50 External Views and Jetway

[trauppius]

Add the following text to your airplane.cfg file in FSX and you will get a basic set of outside views (right and left side, landing gear+flaps, passenger view of engines, and aft overhead). Also, a default set of "exits" are defined so that the CTRL-J key will move the jetway to the main exit, and also enable the FSX pushback tug visual.


[CameraDefinition.0]
Title = "Right Side Window"
Guid = {54F54B8A-3EC2-2D4E-8D10-B8F9D0F16ACC}
Description = View of the right wing engines from the passenger cabin
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.5
ShowWeather = Yes
InitialXyz = 3.2, 1.8, 3
InitialPbh = 5, 0, 100
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect=TRUE
ClipMode=Minimum

[CameraDefinition.1]
Title = "Left Side Window"
Guid = {0ae3f864-da10-4e5a-977c-b9bba47d6f7a}
Description = View of the left wing engines from the passenger cabin
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.5
ShowWeather = Yes
InitialXyz = -3.2, 1.8, 3
InitialPbh = 5, 0, 260
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect=TRUE
ClipMode=Minimum

[CameraDefinition.2]
Title = "Landing Gear"
Guid = {96873AAD-621B-4C45-8A58-DEF7B7FCB051}
Description = View of the landing gear and left wing inboard flaps
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = .52
ShowWeather = Yes
InitialXyz = -3.3, -1.8, -11
InitialPbh = 0, 0, 17
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect=TRUE
ClipMode=Minimum

[CameraDefinition.3]
Title = "Tail"
Guid = {5c1df273-034b-4e7f-953a-9d5e26f1646c}
Description = Looking forward from behind the aircraft
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = .75
ShowWeather = Yes
InitialXyz = 0, 7.5, -60.0
InitialPbh = 5, 0, 0
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect=TRUE
ClipMode=Minimum

[CameraDefinition.4]
Title = "Right Wing"
Guid = {C690EAFD-223A-42d0-99E0-681ADF93BB59}
Description = View from the right wing tip looking at the cockpit
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.5
ShowWeather = Yes
InitialXyz = 30.8, 1.6, 4.0
InitialPbh = 6, 0, 270
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect = FALSE
ClipMode=Minimum

[CameraDefinition.5]
Title = "Left Wing"
Guid = {f25dfa2e-fd2e-4b89-81e2-0575cbcb60de}
Description = View from the left wing tip looking at the cockpit
Origin = Center
SnapPbhAdjust = Swivel
SnapPbhReturn = FALSE
PanPbhAdjust = Swivel
PanPbhReturn = FALSE
Track = None
ShowAxis = FALSE
AllowZoom = TRUE
InitialZoom = 0.5
ShowWeather = Yes
InitialXyz = -30.8, 1.6, 4.0
InitialPbh = 6, 0, 90
XyzAdjust = TRUE
Category=Aircraft
MomentumEffect = No
ClipMode=Minimum

[exits]
number_of_exits = 2
exit.0 = 0.4, 39.6, -5.0, 3.0, 0 //openclose rate percent per second, longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum (feet), type (0=Main 1=Cargo 2=Emergency)
exit.1 = 0.4, -38.5, 4.5, -3.0, 1 //openclose rate percent per second, longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum (feet), type (0=Main 1=Cargo 2=Emergency)
exit.2 = 0.4, 33.5, 3.5, -4.0, 2 //openclose rate percent per second, longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum (feet), type (0=Main 1=Cargo 2=Emergency)

Please edit the view positions to your individual preferences.

Todd

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

"TRAUPPIUS" .... just a quick question !

Using our DC8's in FSX, are you seeing any of the visual oddities (like blackened flightdeck windshields, vents, engine intakes, and lights) such as those reported and previewed by "SCOTTY" in the "DC8 AP IN FSX" thread on this forum page ?

Indeed I'd like to see a selection ofimages of our DC8's in FSX .... made using a variety of different PC's and graphics support equipment.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[trauppius]

Yes, I did notice the posting few a few other folks regarding the visual defects of HJG aircraft in FSX. However, I have not experienced any of these defects myself; probably since I am using Windows XP and the DX9 API mode.

Over on the AVSIM and Flightsim FSX forums there are many, many reports such as those reported here at HJG. One of the most unfortunate aspects about FSX is that how well it performs, and what add-ons work, or do not work, is dependent on n.. combinations of FSX version (RTM, SP1, SP2/Acceleration), DX9 or DX10 "preview" mode selection by users with DX10 capable video cards, XP or Vista (lots of bugs and strange behavior in Vista), and, most unfortunately, the video driver in use. There are simply too many variables for anyone to figure out how "fix" the problems for all users. The "fix" is often configuration dependent.

It appears that only aircraft compiled with the FSX SD toolkit are fully FSX compliant and look and function completely as expected; all other conversions and ports usually lose some functionallity in FSX, handle strangely, and or have visual artifacts in the planes and panels.

I would not lose too much sleep trying solve the universal "FSX Problem" and just chip away with useful porting jobs (like the DC8 and 707). The FS community has already found fixes for many of the window and propeller transparency issues of planes recently "broken" by FSX SP2 (the fix usually consists of image toolvariations to tweak the texture's alpha channel).

I should also add that a recent flight with the DC8-50 revealed that the autopilot DESCENT rate thumbwheel did work after about 1 hour of cruise at 31000ft. As reported previously, the ASCENT rate hold did not work during the climbout at 250-300kt. Hope this helps isolate the problem.

Todd

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Thanks for all that "TRAUPPIUS".

There's some very interesting information there.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[luke]

Thanks a bunch for the exit definitions!

If they're for the -50, I bet they'll work for everything except perhaps the 60/70 models. I'll give them a whirl before the end of the year and let you know what I find out.

Cheers!

Luke

[Dan K. Hansen]

Regarding the exit-points, I will return in due time with a complete list of all the co-ordinates for the doors for all our models both Boeing, Douglas and Convair's....

[Dan K. Hansen]

trauppius said:

[exits]
number_of_exits = 2
exit.0 = 0.4, 39.6, -5.0, 3.0, 0 //openclose rate percent per second, longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum (feet), type (0=Main 1=Cargo 2=Emergency)
exit.1 = 0.4, -38.5, 4.5, -3.0, 1 //openclose rate percent per second, longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum (feet), type (0=Main 1=Cargo 2=Emergency)
exit.2 = 0.4, 33.5, 3.5, -4.0, 2 //openclose rate percent per second, longitudinal, lateral, vertical positions from datum (feet), type (0=Main 1=Cargo 2=Emergency)

Just saw this Todd: In your example you have Number of exits to 2 where you indeed have 3....

For what it's worth, I've now got the exit co-ordinates for the Boeing's, and still awaiting the Douglas' and the Convair's.

Once I have them all I will update the aircraft_fsx.cfg's accordingly.