Attention all DC-3 fans !

**donnybalonny** · November 18th, 2015, 23:31

Yes, a transponder would be very nice.

**Javis** · November 19th, 2015, 00:11

Thanks for the comments, gents, much appreciated!

Originally Posted by musterpilot

At least you are keeping with the vintage no dymo label just the sticky piece of paper..

Actually... Pete just came into the cockpit with an old Dymo labelmaker... :

Hehe.... no worries, can be removed just as quick..

Radios are working now too and i just got more code from Warwick to shape the digits into the vertically scrolling white type. Going well ! ( finally.... ;-)

Originally Posted by SeanTK

Quick question, will it have a transponder in the radio stack as well (or somewhere on the panel) so that we can fly in controlled airspace and/or receive flight following?

Certainly !

( although highly inadequate, personally i don't care for flying without default ATC at all )

cheers,
jan

**paulopp** · November 19th, 2015, 00:49

Well, as for the IFR last minute modifications, I sincerely hope that in the end we will not end up with Manfred's modern cockpit layout again... ;-)

Seriously, a 'vintage' style DC-3 without Sperry gyropilot doesn't seem right to me. It's such a fun instrument, anyway, in my modest opinion. I'm sure, too, that many people enjoy flying VFR and do not necessarily want to fly ILS approaches.

Haven't the folks at MAAM implemented a Sperry Mk. III into their gooney bird? Maybe it can serve as a 'inspiration' for programming/coding (I certainly don't want to promulgate plagiarism for sure!).

However, I am not in the position to dictate any terms as I'm grateful for any revitalisation of the good old 3. I'm relieved that the Sperry isn't dropped at all for now. And the WIP looks simply awesome anyhow... Thanks!

**KellyB** · November 19th, 2015, 05:51

Originally Posted by Javis

Thanks again for your input, guys, very helpfull to steer the VVC in the right direction so to speak.

The first ever ILS landing by an airliner already took place in the US in 1938.

Personally, i can not enjoy to virtually fly the DC-3 to the most if not under IFR conditions. I need to be able to see those needles move and follow them and take-off and land in any type of weather condition. If you ask me that's one of the major features that keeps virtual flight interesting and enjoyable. ( no GPS for me let alone FMC... ;-)

Yes, i know what you mean, Kelly, but the implementation of the radios proved rather difficult to stick to that. We just have to move up in time a decade or two, atleast for now. But, hey, 1950's/60's can still be called vintage, don't you think ?

I reject that! I don't want to think what that would make ME!

I am glad to see that the idea of a mid-40's vvc hasn't been abandoned. I continue to be astounded at the quality of work in this project. And hope Bjoern's "toggle" can somehow be implemented to switch between the ages. I still think that steam locomotives and TD's are the proper way to travel.....

**Obie311** · November 20th, 2015, 23:09

Originally Posted by musterpilot

At least you are keeping with the vintage no dymo label just the sticky piece of paper
fantastic
your talents amaze me keep up the good work

The Dymo label was invented in 1958, so if the replacement NavComs are of a vintage later than that, the Dymo would historically credible.

**roger-wilco-66** · November 21st, 2015, 06:37

The label is just a texture that could be changed if one feels the need to do so, I guess.

Cheers,
Mark

**JimH** · November 21st, 2015, 08:47

I hope that no one who flies this plane with the very old virtual cockpit...that is, flying a (now) very old plane, flying in the distant past, flying before Dymo tape...flies over modern scenery. That would be just WRONG!

**Javis** · November 21st, 2015, 08:52

Originally Posted by Obie311

The Dymo label was invented in 1958, so if the replacement NavComs are of a vintage later than that, the Dymo would historically credible.

Interesting, thanks !

What is more (or less) important re the specific virtual era that our VVC will be initially set in is the radio set that is currently being realised and installed. I didn't succeed myself to find a specific date when for the first time the well known and extensively used King KX 170 nav/comm radio combination was introduced. Would be most welcome if anybody here would have an answer to that !

Originally Posted by roger-wilco-66

The label is just a texture that could be changed if one feels the need to do so, I guess.

Well, actually, atm, it's just a bit of fooling around with virtual sellotape, paper and pen and a Dymo labelmaker. Just because it's presently unclear if and when the Sperry AP will be coded. It needs a specialist. The Sperry AP in our ol' Maam-Sim R4D was programmed by Arne Bartels. A wonderful job but did produce some odd behaviour of the aircraft during change of heading. Not sure when exactly we released the first iteration of our R4D but it might well be 10 years ago by now so that goes for Arne's Sperry AP as well. Not sure neither but that might well be the time when XML coding still belonged in the realms of science fiction... Maybe there's a better chance now to get it done. Let's hope so.

**Javis** · November 21st, 2015, 09:19

Originally Posted by JimH

I hope that no one who flies this plane with the very old virtual cockpit...that is, flying a (now) very old plane, flying in the distant past, flying before Dymo tape...flies over modern scenery. That would be just WRONG!

Yep, but if we'd look at it that way we could just forget about a 'Vintage Virtual Cockpit' for the Dakota all together,couldn't we. You could look at it as a 'preserved aircraft' kept in original state as much as possible. It might probabely be that most DC-3's/C-47's still flying today are equipped with modern nav and flight instruments, and to replicate that in FSX you have the excellent 'modern' VC to fly Manfred's beautiful Dakota's. The 'VVC' that we are trying to realize here however is to simulate what it might've been like to fly the DC-3 in its 'Heydays' when GPS ment nothing else but Go Perfectly Straight. Personally i'd say never mind the scenery.

( btw, a group of dutchies have realised excellent 1960's scenery for many European airports and surroundings, i believe only FS9 compatible though.. )

Amsterdam Schiphol 1962:

**donnybalonny** · November 21st, 2015, 23:40

Originally Posted by JimH

I hope that no one who flies this plane with the very old virtual cockpit...that is, flying a (now) very old plane, flying in the distant past, flying before Dymo tape...flies over modern scenery. That would be just WRONG!

I read this one as an ironic hint to all those that need everything to be a perfect age specific recreation of a DC-3.
But I may be wrong. Those of us not having english as our 1st or 2nd language sometimes/often get lost in this kind of messages.

I hope that your VC will be released and I will happily accept it as it is with an INOP autopilot and the radios that work for you now. I will also accept that you may change things in later releases.

**JimH** · November 22nd, 2015, 11:38

Originally Posted by donnybalonny

I read this one as an ironic hint to all those that need everything to be a perfect age specific recreation of a DC-3.
But I may be wrong. Those of us not having english as our 1st or 2nd language sometimes/often get lost in this kind of messages.

I hope that your VC will be released and I will happily accept it as it is with an INOP autopilot and the radios that work for you now. I will also accept that you may change things in later releases.

I was just attempting a little humor, nothing serious. I find the idea of determining when we are flying the vintage plane to be rather ironic and humorous.
Attempts at humor can sometimes be risky, since the humor can be misunderstood. And on the internet, there's no tone to what one is saying. I sure hope that I didn't sound negative or critical of anyone, in any way.

The plane is fantastic, and it looks like it's going to have a vintage cockpit to match - regardless of when we fly it...now, or in the past.

**donnybalonny** · November 22nd, 2015, 23:39

Thanks for following up. Its nice to know if you understand things the right or wrong way. This time I got it right, but maybe next time I get it wrong. You didnt sound negative to me.
A lot of internet forum problems come from language problems. many off us have english as 2nd, 3rd etc. language, so we get things wrong and native english speakers often misuse their own language. For the native english speakers that dont understand that, try to be an active member of a flightsim forum in Spanish, Dutch, Russian, whatever, for a year.

Back on topic: Are you considering a Christmas release?

**Obie311** · November 23rd, 2015, 19:10

Originally Posted by Javis

<snip>
I didn't succeed myself to find a specific date when for the first time the well known and extensively used King KX 170 nav/comm radio combination was introduced. Would be most welcome if anybody here would have an answer to that ! <snip>

FWIW I have a KX170B/KX175B manual Rev. 1 dated 1 January 1975 so at least the radios predate 1975.

Obie

***huub vink*** · November 23rd, 2015, 22:47

Originally Posted by Javis

II didn't succeed myself to find a specific date when for the first time the well known and extensively used King KX 170 nav/comm radio combination was introduced. Would be most welcome if anybody here would have an answer to that !

Obie311 was correct the set indeed predated 1975. By 5 years actually.

The creative atmosphere at King Radio has yielded many important firsts. King brought the first all solid-state transceiver for airline use to the market in 1966, the KTR 900: the first digital ADF for general aviation, the KDF 800, in 1969; and the first low cost all solid-state TSO'd VHF NAV/COMM unit, the KX 175, in 1970.

Found here, in the Ed King story: http://mcguinn1342.blogspot.nl/2006/...ing-story.html

Cheers,
Huub

**Javis** · November 24th, 2015, 01:57

Thanks, guys ! Appreciated !

Hmmm.... 1970's..... doesn't sound very encouraging....

Been reading up about Mr.King's story as well on another site. Not very specific about dates there neither, remarkable.... In another article about Cessna and Piper legacy avionics however i read this: " In the 60's and 70's when the KX-170 and 170B were introduced.... " A step closer to my liking...

Anyway, Wozza and me have been putting a lot of effort into our radio set these last couple of days so that's what we're going for. ( courtesy by Hansi, Rob and the DC-2 ("zo komt Jan splinter door de winter" ;-)) Not finished yet, one last pesky problem to tackle, the Nav decimals skip over a digit... Otherwise works fine now and looks like this :

The struggle continues.

cheers,
jan

**Dutcheeseblend** · November 24th, 2015, 02:27

Wow Jan, beautiful! I wish I could do interior texturing as good as you...

**ce_zeta** · November 24th, 2015, 03:53

A truly piece of art, Jan.

***lliaghll*** · November 24th, 2015, 07:03

That is beautiful.

**Obie311** · November 24th, 2015, 19:00

Originally Posted by Javis

Thanks, guys ! Appreciated !

Hmmm.... 1970's..... doesn't sound very encouraging....

Been reading up about Mr.King's story as well on another site. Not very specific about dates there neither, remarkable.... In another article about Cessna and Piper legacy avionics however i read this: " In the 60's and 70's when the KX-170 and 170B were introduced.... " A step closer to my liking...

Anyway, Wozza and me have been putting a lot of effort into our radio set these last couple of days so that's what we're going for. ( courtesy by Hansi, Rob and the DC-2 ("zo komt Jan splinter door de winter" ;-)) Not finished yet, one last pesky problem to tackle, the Nav decimals skip over a digit... Otherwise works fine now and looks like this :

The struggle continues.

cheers,
jan

Well these are a classic in their own right.

I can't speak for Europe but certainly in North America you'd be hard pressed to find a pilot over 40 that hasn't twirled these knobs. And... you didn't need a manual or tutorial to understand how to work them. No dang menus. Totally instinctive.

**stansdds** · November 25th, 2015, 02:18

Originally Posted by Obie311

Well these are a classic in their own right.

I can't speak for Europe but certainly in North America you'd be hard pressed to find a pilot over 40 that hasn't twirled these knobs. And... you didn't need a manual or tutorial to understand how to work them. No dang menus. Totally instinctive.

That's what I like about radios that are not part of a GPS, simple to operate! Combine those radios with a GPS295, 400, 500 (if sufficient space is available), or KLN90 and you have a modern flier or a restored classic.

**PhillRoath** · November 25th, 2015, 05:36

Originally Posted by Javis

Thanks, guys ! Appreciated !

Hmmm.... 1970's..... doesn't sound very encouraging....

Been reading up about Mr.King's story as well on another site. Not very specific about dates there neither, remarkable.... In another article about Cessna and Piper legacy avionics however i read this: " In the 60's and 70's when the KX-170 and 170B were introduced.... " A step closer to my liking...

Anyway, Wozza and me have been putting a lot of effort into our radio set these last couple of days so that's what we're going for. ( courtesy by Hansi, Rob and the DC-2 ("zo komt Jan splinter door de winter" ;-)) Not finished yet, one last pesky problem to tackle, the Nav decimals skip over a digit... Otherwise works fine now and looks like this :

The struggle continues.

cheers,
jan

It appears the COMM 2 and the NAV 2 volume knobs are missing. Just curious,

Phill

**TeiscoDelRay** · November 25th, 2015, 18:52

"If you really want to experience flight in this life then you have to strap a DC-3 to your ass." “Buffalo” Joe McBryan President & Captain Buffalo Airways.

**Ian Warren** · November 25th, 2015, 19:09

I'm only getting to see the doco come drama .. ole Joe Buffalo's boys and girls... a great show .

**Javis** · November 25th, 2015, 20:29

Originally Posted by PhillRoath

It appears the COMM 2 and the NAV 2 volume knobs are missing. Just curious, Phill

Still WIP, Phill.

Originally Posted by TeiscoDelRay

"If you really want to experience flight in this life then you have to strap a DC-3 to your ass."

Amen to that.

**robcap** · November 29th, 2015, 03:05

Jan, I'm always happy to help Jan Splinter through the winter, haha. There's more help in the pipeline.
Even going to install FSX again. Getting all exited about this :-)