Simviation Forums

This has probably been addressed (many times) before, but ive searched and cannot find a direct answer. I have been downloading some add-on aircraft, while some of them are quite simple to install (after reading the tutorial), some have very odd happenings after attempting to fly the craft. Ive downloaded a few jets, a 707, an md-83, and a couple of others, which were described as the "entire package." When i attempt to fly, the sim loads up and then presents me with a default cessna panel and sounds, and after switching the views i see my md-83 on the rwy whirring like a c172. Ive read the "read me" files that come with the craft, but they are basically general instructions, like the tutorial. Am i just really missing a step here?

When you load a plane and find yourself with either the Cessna panel or sounds (or both) it means that either panel or sounds (or both) folders have no .cfg file inside, and if said .cfg file is there, then it means that there's some fundamental error in it or because of your meddling.


Usually the problem lies in the fact that those planes have both their panel and sounds aliased to default planes (instead of being shipped with adequate ones, both because of weight of the download and because you can always put a custom panel or soundset in it yourself too), but if you changed the name of the folder of the default 737 (used for the sounds, and in the case of twin engined planes like the MD80 for the panel too) or changed the name of the folder of the default 747 (used for the panel in 4 engined add-on planes like the 707) you find yourself using the default Cessna sounds or panel (or both).


Look into the add-on plane's sound folder. There you'll find a "sound.cfg" file, open said file and read it. you'll find something like this:



[fltsim]
alias=b737_400\sound



The structure of the part after the alias command MUST point to an existing folder.


The same is true into a panel.cfg. You'll find something like:



[fltsim]
alias=b737_400\panel



And here too the alias must point to an existing folder.


If the expected folder(s) is(are) not there or has(have) another name, then it's Cessna time.

The other possible thing is you might have downloaded aircraft meant for AI. All AI aircraft have no PANEL folder in them.
But if that is not the case than I have to go along with Ashman. Allot of freeware aircraft will not have there own panels or sound files and will be aliased to another aircraft. That is one of the draw backs from freeware aircraft there are a lot of designers that will make a excellent aircraft than totally mess it up by aliasing the panel and sounds to another aircraft. I do not mind this to much provided they use a similar aircraft but when you have a four engine jet and the panel they use belongs to a Lear that really makes me mad let alone if they use the sound file from the Cessna 9 out of ten times the aircraft winds up in the junk yard.  8-)

Thanks tons guys---how many aggravated clueless simmers would there be without ya'll. Thanks again!