Engine troubles and tribulations

[Travis]

Well . . .

I started messing around with my downloaded V-22s config file, and I decided to change the engines from turbine to prop, but I couldn't get them to run when I started the simulator.

I ended up copying the engines from the Beechcraft Kingair into the V22 file (engines, prop and all) and then switching the fuel type, but still nothing happened.

Does anyone know why this won't work?  Is there something in the file I might have missed, or does it have something to do with the *.air file or the *.mdl file?  I'm at a total loss here, anything will help . . .

[FSTipster]

It's almost certainly the gauges in the panel.

The engine gauges tend to be engine-type specific. If you've successfully changed the engine type in the aircrft.cfg (you won't need to access the .air file under normal circumstances), then some of the gauges, which can include starter switches, simply won't work.

You'd need to install a prop panel to fly it.

[Travis]

Okay, I did what was suggested: replaced the engines with the ones from the Kingair and then took the panel from the same aircraft and copied it into the V22 folder, but still nothing happened--the aircraft was DOA.

Now what?

[Brett_Henderson]

I believe you can eliminate any panel problems by hitting  Ctrl+E

That turns everything on and starts the engines redardless of any gauges or switches you have (or don't)

You can use a copy of just about any .air file (almost) to get the engines running... All the meaningful parameters  (that you're likey to notice or even care about) are defined or redefined by the aircraft.cfg file.

[FSTipster]

When you say you "copied the engines", you do mean you amended the enties in the aircraft.cfg file do you?

If you do, and you've copied the entire panel, you need to make sure you'v changed everything in the way of engine parameters in the aircraft.cfg for it to work. The likely culprit is the electrical system which may be running on a different voltage (and yes - all this is taken into account in the gauges).

[Travis]

Okay, I've tracked down the problem--its the .air file.

The aircraft wouldn't work even when I changed all the electrical systems, so I took the process a step further and copied the .air file from the Kingair to the V22.  That got me past the engine problem (they work now) but it gave me another issue.

The engines on the V22 rotate to vertical by the use of the flaps and spoilers.  The problem is that when I switched the .air files, it also overwrote the ability for the engines to register the rotation.  They still move on the model, but there is no upward lift.  I don't know of any way to fix this, so I'm thinking of abandoning the project until I can find a good resource for editing the .air files themselves, but I would still appreciate any suggestions.

Anyone?

[IanK]

Hello Ender_Baron,

there is a good .air file resource here with links to a discussion board.

Air File Editors
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/hsors/FS_Soft/fsairfile.html

Air File Board, post March 2003
http://www.avhistory.org/scripts/MegaBBS/logon.asp

Ian