Simviation Forums

My first current problem is exporting a Gmax aircraft to FS.  I have followed all of the steps and copied the correct files but the program tells me that it can't find makemdl.dll.  I'm not sure what to do next.

The second is airfile information. None of the books that I own carry info sufficiently detailed to create an airfile.  Does anyone have any links to sites that provide this info.

Thanks in advance.

Will

Will .air files you'll need AirEd, available for download here
The gmax thing is a mystery to me, sorry.

Mark

Will. I never liked Gmax or to be more accurate it doesn't like me.

I did experiment with it when FS2002 was first released & know the basics for both FS2002/4 & CFS2. First - make sure you installed the Gamepack files correctly as described in this topic. http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=airc;action=display;num=1037563242

I tried exporting the default Dash 8 first. This was successful in both FS2002 & CFS2 & I posted shots at the time to prove it. The Gmax source files for the Dash 8 & the 2 other default AI only aircraft are included in the FS2002\gmax\Samples\Aircraft folder. You will find sample AIR file + Aircraft.cfg for most types in the FS2002\aircraft\templates folder. These will need renaming & editing appropriately for use in your project.

Export problems can be caused by all sorts of things. These very often give the error message you describe even if the Gamepack is correctly installed. Check out the most common ones here. http://thegreatptmd.tripod.com/exporter/expoerror.htm
Although originally developed for use with CFS2 I found that using MiddleMan from the same site makes export easier for both sims.

Will,
The AIR file thing is shrouded in mystery - if you look at one with AirEd, you'll see more 'unknown's than anything else! What I have done is to use an AIR file from a plane most like what I was trying to create, and use that one as a template, tweaking as you go along. Once you've got the beast more or less how you want it, you can further tweak the CFG file to fine tune.

Good luck!

Thanks Doug.  I think it was a cone problem, I had built a zepplin etc...

For your airfile issues, I would recommend downloading the airfile workbook, found at the airfile editors site in my signature.  It was originally developed for the 1% airfile system, but I find it usefull in developing airfiles and aircraft.cfgs without worrying about super accuracy.

Ender and Microlight, thankyou for your help.  I think that the major problem is that I've never flown a Blenheim, or anything else for that matter.  I'll never know if it feels right LOL...

Will

I think this is the same for most FS designers. Just don't take it as gospel when you see an aircraft posted with "realistic" or "authentic" flight dynamics, especially with rare or vintage types. Punch in all the data you can find but in the end, if you never flew a particular type for real (or have it tested by someone who did) you will never be 100% certain it's anything like the real thing.