FS2004 MAAM-SIM DC-3 Fuel Tank Selection and Autolean Modification
==================================================================

This gauge is applicable only to the FS2004 MAAM-SIM DC-3 (available from Mid Atlantic Air Museum Simulations at www.maam.org) or other planes using the MAAM-SIM DC-3 AIRCRAFT.CFG and  MaamSim_DC3.air flight dynamics files, such as the Mark Beaumont 'IFR' Panel modification for the MAAM-SIM DC-3.  It is not calibrated for use with the stock DC-3, or the MAAM-SIM R4D flight dynamics files, or other third party aircraft. Likewise, it is not recommended for use with the MAAM-SIM DC-3 in FS2002.

The purpose of this gauge is to disable FS2004's default characteristic of setting the fuel flow to the engines from "all" tanks setting, and to simulate the correct auto-rich and auto-lean settings on the mixture controls as desired. 

The MAAM-SIM DC-3 has working fuel tank selector levers on the ECU panel.  There is no "all" position shown on the selectors, which is an accurate representation of the real DC-3 selectors.  However, without your knowledge FS2004 may set the engines to draw from "all" tanks, despite the fact that the levers point to the default switch positions (left main for left engine, and right main for right engine).  A way to discover this "error" is to watch the fuel quantity gauge. You may see the fuel quantity changing from a tank that is not selected to supply fuel to an engine. Moving the tank selector lever will eliminate the "all" and fix the lever for the duration of that session. This gauge will disable the fuel flow from "all" tanks, by checking to see if the selection is in the "all" condition and if so, changing it to supply fuel to the left engine from the left main tank, and fuel to the right engine from right main tank. It means, however, that you must remember to manually switch tanks (on the ECU) to use fuel from each of them during the flight, as you would do in the real aircraft.

Note that there is no connection between the fuel tank selectors on the ECU and the fuel gauge selector on the main panel, which simply controls the display of tank status on its gauge.  Fuel tank selection management is controlled on the ECU.

This gauge may also be used by those pilots who like to fly without checking the "Enable automixture" function in the "Aircraft/Realism Settings" pull-down menu, but want more DC-3 realism than can be achieved with FS2004's simulation of manual mixture control. Its purpose is to replicate the correct auto-rich and auto-lean settings on the mixture controls. Its calibrated range of operation is from 2,000 to 17,000ft. density altitude.  In the auto-rich position, it approximates the "Enable automixture" setting on the "Aircraft/Realism Settings" menu.  In the auto-lean position, the mixture is leaned to increase the exhaust gas temperature about 30 degrees K. from auto-rich, and will increase achieved miles per gallon.  It defaults to the off position, and is enabled in either auto-rich or auto-lean by clicking on the labeled signal light.  It will position the MAAM-SIM DC-3 mixture levers in the proper position.  Note that the levers do not necessarily line up with the labels on the Throttle Quadrant.  Also note that you must extinguish both lights to regain manual control of the mixture. This gauge is added to the Pilot's Instrument Panel, the ECU gauge on the Throttles Panel and is also clickable in the Virtual Cockpit below the Engine Instruments.

By Dave Bitzer and Mark Beaumont.

File name: DCAMAAM6.ZIP

________________________________________

 
INSTALLATION:

This gauge requires prior installation of the FS2004/FS2002 MAAM-SIM DC-3, available from Mid Atlantic Air Museum Simulations (MAAM-SIM) at www.maam.org.  

1. Unzip DCAMAAM6.ZIP to a temporary location on your hard drive, ensuring that you retain folder names when unzipping.

2. Within the folder 'Aircraft' in this download, you will find one folder corresponding to the 'MAAM-SIM DC-3 Passenger' folder within your ...\Flight Simulator 9\AIRCRAFT directory.  It contains a replacement PANEL.CFG file (and backup of the original) for insertion into your ...\Flight Simulator 9\AIRCRAFT\MAAM-SIM DC-3 Passenger\panel folder.  Move these files into place accordingly. As you have a backup, you are safe to overwrite the existing PANEL.CFG.

If you have installed Mark Beaumont's 'IFR' panel for the MAAM-SIM DC-3, thereby having created a new folder 'MAAM-SIM DC-3 IFR' within ...\Flight Simulator 9\AIRCRAFT\, then do the same as above with the panel folders/files in the corresponding folder 'MAAM-SIM DC-3 IFR' within this download. There are no backups of these, as they are not regarded as being necessary; but back up your originals if you so prefer.

3. Move the file 'DC3_automix_MAAM.cab' within the 'Gauges' folder to ....\Flight Simulator 9\GAUGES.  Do NOT unzip this file, move it 'as is'.

4. It is suggested that you keep a copy of this README, for future reference, in any aircraft folder where you have installed this gauge,  Other files in this download may be discarded.

Note: if you have previously made your own personal modifications to the standard 'MAAM-SIM DC-3 Passenger' panel or to Mark Beaumont's 'IFR' panels for the MAAM-SIM DC-3, then you will need to manually configure the entries for this gauge to avoid overwriting your own changes.  The gauge is installed in the Pilot Panel, Quadrant and the Vcockpit03. You can, of course, refer to the PANEL.CFG files included here for exact gauge names and sizing and placement details.

_____________________________________________

 
OPERATION:

The operation of the "no all tanks" feature is automatic, and cannot be turned off.  It simply prevents the plane from remaining in the "all tanks" condition which the game sets from time to time, usually when the Control+E key is used to start the engines, or if you are using a saved flight from another plane that had the "all" tanks positions saved.  The resulting realism has been known to cause the engines to quit even though there is still a lot of fuel on board in unselected tanks.

The "Aircraft" pull-down menu's "Realism Settings" for "Enable automixture" must be unchecked to take advantage of the Autolean features.   Using the game's "Enable automixture" is approximately equivalent to using the AUTORICH position for the duration of the flight.
 
Note that the new gauge with lights and labels to the right of the mixture levers is on the lower right hand side the pilot's panel and optionally, on the pop-up ECU and in the VC (under the engine instruments on the left side).  Default starting conditions are with the auto mixture control, and lights, off.  If either light is on, you may click it to turn it off. A Control-E start is not pretty if there is a light on, as FS2004 fights the gauge for control of the mixture.

After completing the DC-3 checklist, start, take-off (and land) full rich under manual control (except at high altitude airports, where auto-rich is appropriate).  On achieving 2,000 ft ASL, you may engage AUTO RICH for climb by clicking on the labeled red light, and then later click the light labeled AUTO LEAN for cruise (or final climb). Auto-lean normally gives 5 to 10 % more mpg than auto-rich for a given TAS, but the engine will run hotter. Note that on climb or descent, you won't have to adjust the mixture, but you will still have to increase the throttle as you climb to maintain MP, and reduce throttle to maintain MP as you descend. On approach, you may return to AUTO RICH, or shut off the auto control by clicking the 'on' light to 'off', and then move the levers to full up. You must also be sure to click the 'on' light 'off' in order to cut the engines by leaning them out with the mixture control.

For this release there are not separate auto mixture controls for the left and right engines. If you have an emergency and need to control the mixture levers separately, you must turn off the auto control and move the levers individually to the EMER RICH position.  Unlike the Beaumont and Bitzer autolean gauge for the stock DC-3 and the Beaumont and Bitzer modified AIRCRAFT.CFG file, this gauge has no control over the mixture levers position, so you cannot rely on their position to know the status of the fuel mixture.  Check the lights. The levers will simply show the percent of full rich as defined by Microsoft.

The gauge was calibrated to work best with the MAAM-SIM DC-3 MaamSim_DC3.air and AIRCRAFT.CFG files. Any changes to flight dynamics, (power, thrust, lift, drag, engine cooling, etc.) may require re-calibration of the gauge for satisfactory performance. Specific versions for modified flight dynamics may be released in due course.

_____________________________________________


LEGAL:

This gauge is freeware. It may not be used as part of any commercial package. There is no warranty, so use it at your own risk.

Although Mark Beaumont has recently been invited to join the MAAM-SIM development team, please note that this gauge was under testing before that time in cooperation with independent developer Dave Bitzer of DC-3 Airways.  Thus, it is private work, is not an official MAAM-SIM download and is not supported by MAAM-SIM.

_____________________________________________

1st September 2004

Package prepared by:

Dave Bitzer DCA-910
bitzer7@comcast.net

Mark Beaumont DCA-1054
VP Fleet
DC-3 Airways
MABeaumont@aol.com 

Other work to date for the DC-3 by Beaumont and Bitzer, excluding repaints:

DC3_PAN.ZIP       Modified VFR and IFR panels with FO views (Beaumont)
DC3_PAN2.ZIP      Upgrade for DC3_PAN.ZIP plus a single IFR panel (Beaumont)
DC3_PAN3.ZIP      Further IFR upgrade adds new ATC panel, Radio CD and more (Beaumont)
DC3PAINT.ZIP      Repaint templates for the stock FS2004 DC-3 (Beaumont)
DC3_3TK.ZIP       Modification removing the "all" tanks default selection
DC3_4TK.ZIP       Conversion to 4-tank operation and no "all" tanks selection
DC3_3MX.ZIP	  Automix gauge for 3-tank operation
DC3_4MX.ZIP	  Automix gauge for 4-tank operation
DC3_3TKF.ZIP      Full 3-tank aircraft with IFR panel and all fuel mods.
DC3_4TKF.ZIP      Full 4-tank aircraft with IFR panel and all fuel mods.
DC3_BB3.ZIP       Improved aircraft.cfg file for the stock FS2004 3-tank DC-3
DC3_BB4.ZIP       Full 4-tank aircraft with IFR panel, revised flight dynamics, all fuel mods.
DC3_COMM.ZIP      Comms pack for Mark Beaumont's IFR panel, above (Beaumont)
DC3_KNEE.ZIP      Revised kneeboard, primarily for DC-3 Airways (Beaumont)

DCAMAAM4.ZIP      IFR single panel modification for the MAAM-SIM DC-3 (Beaumont)
DCAMAAM5.ZIP      Recommended update to DCAMAAM5.ZIP
MAAMkit1.zip      Repaint templates for the MAAM-SIM DC-3 (Beaumont)
