boeing 707 from the download section crashes

[Gypsy_Baron]

[quote]I just downloaded the boing 707 from the download section with it

[Gypsy_Baron]

I did some additional testing tonight and moved all
of the gauges that came with the 707-420 panel
into the aircrafts "panel" folder. Everything seems
to function OK in that configuration.

I have all the 7072K2PN.zip panels gauges installed
in the FS9 "gauges" folder for use on a couple of other
707's in my inventory.

I really can't say what the cause of the original problem
was but it's gone now and the panel works as advertised.

[bougnat]

George CARTY sent me 2 files and now eveything is OK. He made a great job.

Thanks to him.


Fran

[Nav]

Thanks for the information, Gypsy and bougnat - but I'll wait a while, maybe the designers will sort it out.

[RollerBall]

he he

bet you'll have to go and change your underwear after that  :D

[RollerBall]

The package has now been updated and all is well.

You can sleep easy now, gentlemen

[Nav]

Yes, RollerBall, the Mitchell in 'virtual', landing in windy conditions, gives a whole new meaning to 'sense of motion'  :)

Wasn't actually losing sleep over the 707 - but I'd still like to have it on my machine in working order.  I can now confirm that it downloads OK.  But the bad news is that, IMO, it is still a 'dog' - several glitches and one pretty basic design fault.

1.  I tend to engage 'heading hold' quite soon after takeoff, so that I can concentrate on getting the trim and power and rate of climb right.  As Gypsy_Baron pointed out, this involves 'flying blind' while you call up the autopilot.  You THEN find that clicking the pointer round to 'HDG' just doesn't work!  I finally solved that problem by using the old 'Ctrl-H' key command, and thankfully got back to an 'outside view' before I actually crashed!

2.  Then came the NEXT problem.  I got the trim and rate of climb roughly right, and switched to autopilot view again.  There is a 'rate of climb' wheel on the autopilot, but that doesn't work either (well, more accurately, you never find out whether it works or not!).  When you run the mouse over it, + and - signs appear, but there is no 'readout' as to what rate of climb you are setting, or whether it is 'setting' anything at all.

3.  So you give up on the autopilot and dive back into the pilot's seat and go back to flying visual.   The next thing that happens is that the 'icing' warning starts blinking.  You go 'blind' again, call up the overhead panel, and switch on the de-icing - but the blasted light goes ON blinking at you....

4.  I finally made it up to 15,000 feet and thought I'd try the autopilot again - just to the extent of switching on the 'altitude hold'.  As soon as I did this all four engines died on me!  I gave up at this point, I don't know whether the two events were  connected or whether two glitches occurred together.

5.  For some reason, you can only go from the lefthand seat to the righthand one via the Engineer's panel.  I can't see why you would want to go to the second pilot's seat anyway, though......

Anyway, my verdict so far is, 'Shows promise, must work harder..."     A working autopilot in a sub-panel would make all the difference - but at the moment it is just about unflyable unless you fly 'visual' ALL the time.

I'm beginning to think that the best thing about this download - apart from the fact that the aeroplane looks great - is that it is pretty straightforward to delete it!

[GC707]

Sorry if I disappointed a lot of people - it works now thank goodness!  There was a flaw in 707SERVER.GAU to do with loading INS data which caused FS to crash if no INS file was present...

Now as to NAV's criticisms:

1.  The autopilot is designed to duplicate that present in the real aircraft.  I admit it's a shock for pilot used to glass cockpits and FMC's.  Also, do not take off with the 'altitude hold' switch on.

2.  The rate of climb rate adjusts vertical speed in units of 100 fpm - maybe it would be easier to understand with a 'bug' on the VSI, but I don't know if the real aircraft had a VSI bug...

3.  Good point - the icing indicator goes on whenever ice could be present - maybe I should reprogram it to turn off when the de-icing equipment is on...

4.  The engines cut out above 20,000 feet unless the fuel boost pumps are on (flight engineer panel)

5.  To switch between pilot and co-pilot panels click 'WHEEL WELL FIRE'.

[RollerBall]

Thanks for coming onto the forum GC.

An ambitious project and taken all round a pretty fair effort I think.

Highly complex panels are not my cup of tea unfortunately (bet you're a Fanda Dash 8 fan!) as starting engines and all that stuff doesn't add to my pleasure and time is always limited (OK I admit it - it's probably an age thing  ??? ).

Also I don't like the way you've put the registration onto the wings as decals - makes for a poor quality image IMHO. Worthwhile mapping all the wing surfaces in the textures and painting them properly I think. Same thing applies to the BOAC logos on the engine booms - the textures flash when viwed, which is not a good thing.

I think maybe you've concentrated on the panel as being the main source of the flying experience, and nothing wrong with that as you can see from my earlier comments. Trouble is because of it's complexity you will find that people either love or loathe it!

Anyway, best of luck with the project which I'm sure will meet with a lot of success  ;)

[GC707]

I didn't have time to make a visual model from scratch (it took so long to do all the panel functionality) so I modified an existing GMAX model - this model had only one 'upper' and one 'lower' texture for the wing, and only one texture for engine pylon for both left and right side.  I'm too much of a GMAX newbie to reassign UVW tables to two separate areas for left and right, so to add lettering I had to  use decals.

The GMAX source code is available for download at http://www.surclaro.com/download.php?op=getit&lid=11610 so if any GMAX users want to have a go at improving it, do so by all means!

[Nav]

Hi! GC, hope I haven't offended you too deeply!

[GC707]

Heading Hold not working????? I must check this out - it SHOULD be working...

And I got the images from the Pilot's Operating Handbook - there seems to be no IAS hold function there.  I may have to sacrifice the realism of a no popups panel for the sake of functionality re the autopilot though.

[Nav]

Great, GC -

[Gary R.]

To Mister Carty.

Would it be possiible to delete your included INS gauge and replace it with the Civa Delco Carousel package available @ simufly.com?  Also, I have in my panel.design floder here a few very nice sperry a/p gauges. would it be possible for me to remove the one you included and add one of my freeware sperrys in a pop-up window?

Thanks for a great effort.  

PS. Will this panel work in FS9 installed in an HJG 707?  I don't care if the visual models aren't quite there, I don't fly from outside the a/c. I just want to hear American, Delta, or United being called to me by atc.  Thanks

[Gary R.]

Problem I'm having is that all four throttles do not respond to my throttle lever, only one does. I know there's a way to edit the aircraft cfg to allow that but I forget.  Also, plane loads with the two in-board engines off.  I checked the POH and tried to start them but noluck. I even tried cont. E in desparation. I am hangering this 707 till I get some answers.