C-97 BETA now available for download!

**papab** · April 14th, 2015, 04:21

Find it in the Warbirds Library:
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforum...7&linkid=19569

Rick

**ryanbatc** · April 14th, 2015, 10:36

Apparently I was living on another planet... didn't even see the WIP thread for this!

Do you know if it works in P3D 2.5?

***srgalahad*** · April 14th, 2015, 12:16

Originally Posted by ryanbatc

Apparently I was living on another planet... didn't even see the WIP thread for this!

Do you know if it works in P3D 2.5?

That's the joy of a public Beta - you get to test it.

***Ferry_vO*** · April 14th, 2015, 12:35

Awesome!

**JimmyRFR** · April 14th, 2015, 13:20

Wow... I'm on my dev laptop away from home atm, but I couldn't resist downloading it to take a peek. Started it up, had a quick takeoff, poked around some... Very, very impressive! The VC textures, especially looking ahead where it counts, are great. And that monitor panel is really concise and nice to use. Great fun to fire up the engines one at a time in an outside view using the panel.

Can't wait to play with it some more when I get home tonight. Thanks very, very much!!

**cavaricooper** · April 14th, 2015, 13:37

Originally Posted by ryanbatc

Apparently I was living on another planet... didn't even see the WIP thread for this!

Do you know if it works in P3D 2.5?

YES

Carl

***Sundog*** · April 14th, 2015, 14:58

Yippee!!! I'm going to have fun making some cross country flights in this bird this weekend. Thanks to everyone who has been working hard to bring this fine airplane to our desktops.

**seejay** · April 14th, 2015, 15:29

A couple of things about the C97.

The Altimeters are inoperative.
Cannot set a course on the VOR indicators.
For the price its a good sim. I hope these things are corrected soon.
Seejay

**papab** · April 14th, 2015, 15:48

It is a BETA!
We all need to test all of the functions!

Rick

**Ian Warren** · April 14th, 2015, 16:08

I'm going in , crank those props will ya

**Double J** · April 14th, 2015, 17:31

Originally Posted by papab

It is a BETA!
We all need to test all of the functions!

Rick

Do we have a running list? Nice bird to fly!

Altimeter settings stick in the thousands.
Reverse props in op.
half the wings are invisible from the cockpit views.

**BendyFlyer** · April 14th, 2015, 17:57

Good so far. Sound and visuals are clean and the sim model appears pretty true to my eye. Handles well and stable in flight. No issues there with flight dynamics.

I cannot get any gauges or switches to show in the main panel, overhead panel and centre pedestal (the surfaces are all blank):

There are no switches for the interior or exterior lights, electrical systems, generators, electrical bus, starters, cowl flaps,
There are no radio navigation, communication radios, transponders. weather radar and or gps or FMC units or systems available. No way of checking whether RMI and VOR/ILS Gauge were operative.
there is reference to the gauges in the panel.cfg file but no display in VC.
There is no autopilot.
The pressure altimeters do not show change in altitude.
The radar altimeter does not show any changes of altitude.

The flap position indicator appears a little oversized.

For information and action I guess, this is really going to be a very nice simulator aeroplane to fly and get to spend time simming with. Great work so far. Understand this is Beta, hope the above helps.

**Double J** · April 14th, 2015, 18:06

Originally Posted by BendyFlyer

Good so far. Sound and visuals are clean and the sim model appears pretty true to my eye. Handles well and stable in flight. No issues there with flight dynamics.

I cannot get any gauges or switches to show in the main panel, overhead panel and centre pedestal (the surfaces are all blank):

There are no switches for the interior or exterior lights, electrical systems, generators, electrical bus, starters, cowl flaps,
There are no radio navigation, communication radios, transponders. weather radar and or gps or FMC units or systems available. No way of checking whether RMI and VOR/ILS Gauge were operative.
there is reference to the gauges in the panel.cfg file but no display in VC.
There is no autopilot.
The pressure altimeters do not show change in altitude.
The radar altimeter does not show any changes of altitude.

The flap position indicator appears a little oversized.

For information and action I guess, this is really going to be a very nice simulator aeroplane to fly and get to spend time simming with. Great work so far. Understand this is Beta, hope the above helps.

Try Shift 4, brings up a pop up panel. Not everything is functional but it makes it flyable.

**Bill Kestell** · April 14th, 2015, 19:09

Manfred ... once again you've outdone yourself. Thanks just doesn't seem adequate ... but it's the best I could come up with.

***WarHorse47*** · April 14th, 2015, 19:19

Originally Posted by papab

It is a BETA!
We all need to test all of the functions!

Rick

Agreed. Great job on the BETA.

Most of the obvious items have already been mentioned.

Two on my list include the need to add VC gauge and cockpit lighting, and a means of entering the ADF frequency.

One thing I encountered was a disconnect between the manual start and the combined throttles. When I attempted a manual start per checklist with engine 3, I got no response so I ended up starting the engines with Ctrl-E. Once back in the VC I wanted to taxi, but only had power to engine 3. I then realized (by the low manifold pressure) that I needed to manually start the remaining engines although the props were turning on all of them. Once I had all the engines powered up, my throttle only added power to one engine. I ended up reloading the aircraft to be able to move all four throttles with my single joystick throttle (hope that makes sense). Not sure what I'm saying here, but I guess it would be nice to have an additional gauge that would synchronize the throttles all four engines after a manual start??

Cheers

**fuzz1** · April 14th, 2015, 20:14

Manfred et al, thanks for an outstanding effort and result. It's probably fair to say that your work and that of the others on the c97
team are more appreciated than you will all ever know.

I think I have a new observation in the spirit of beta commentary.

The outside wing and engine views appear to work great for me...while the aircraft is on the ground. Once airborne these views clip off a good portion
of the wings and engines, in effect you see 'through' the parts. I'm using a TrackIR5 and it may indeed be related to this but what stumps me is why the views are perfect on the ground but
corrupt while flying.

The above is completely ineffective in diminishing my enjoyment of this wonderful bird.

**Alan_A** · April 14th, 2015, 21:40

I noticed the same re: outside views in flight - also using Track IR 5.

I left a note in the other thread about high ground friction in P3D 2.5 but that may in fact be realistic, or may have something to do with Accu-Feel or with P3D itself (I've seen the issue in a few other aircraft).

None of which keeps me from saying - what a fantastic piece of work!

**mjahn** · April 15th, 2015, 01:44

First, many thanks to all for screenshots, videos, paints, and comments. All very much appreciated indeed. Keep them coming.

In the following, I'll reply to some of the comments by quoting snippets. Again, many thanks for acting as testers.

CTD

--I had a routine install up until it asked me to accept the first (I think) gauge. I must have done something wrong to this routine question, because I immediately had a CTD. Now I get a CTD every time I select the C-97. My problem is that I now don't know how to get back to that approval point again (removing the C-97 folder and installing again just gives me the same CTD when selecting the C-97). … by process of elimination I have discovered that the "fsx_event_logger.gau" is what got screwed up. If someone knows how to rectify my issue with it (in the "fsx.cfg" file entry?) please speak up. I merely removed mine to get the C-97 operable, but I'm sure this missing gauge now precludes a bunch of functionality.
The event logger gauge is purely for diagnostic purposes, and you can safely leave it deactivated. Indeed I believe the acceptance status of gauges is written into FSX.cfg, so that's a clue you might want to follow up. However, even refusing a gauge shouldn't lead to a CTD so perhaps there's more here than meets the eye.

VC matters

-- Altimeters inoperative. Thanks, will look it up and report back.

-- Overhead switches and gauges missing. Sorry, that is the current state of the VC. Atm many VC gauge functions have been delegated to the Monitor gauge.

-- need to add VC gauge and cockpit lighting, and a means of entering the ADF frequency. OK, noted.

Cameraviews

-- half the wings are invisible from the cockpit views. That's because they are 2D panel views of the exterior only, not proper VC views. The VC doesn't yet have any wingviews.

Operation

--Reverse props in op. Depends how you trigger it perhaps. Try Monitor > Engines > REV mid click to arm, then L-click REV or key Water Rudder. Should do the trick. Move throttle for speed control. Easily manages bends and corners, too! Personally, I have put water rudder on a joystick button and once REV is armed you are only a button press away from Reverse (even in the air, so watchit!)

Monitor Gauge

--Some of the controls on the shift+4 overhead aren't working. These should all be working. Details pls?

--One thing I encountered was a disconnect between the manual start and the combined throttles. When I attempted a manual start per checklist with engine 3, I got no response so I ended up starting the engines with Ctrl-E. Once back in the VC I wanted to taxi, but only had power to engine 3. I then realized (by the low manifold pressure) that I needed to manually start the remaining engines although the props were turning on all of them. Once I had all the engines powered up, my throttle only added power to one engine. I ended up reloading the aircraft to be able to move all four throttles with my single joystick throttle (hope that makes sense). Not sure what I'm saying here, but I guess it would be nice to have an additional gauge that would synchronize the throttles all four engines after a manual start??
Why, naturally. Click Monitor > Engines to re-select all of them , or R-click any single one. Check the engine numbers all turn bright. Just E should also work, I suppose.

Textures

--I noticed there's no bump map for no.3 texture (vertical stab, engines, pylons and fuel tanks)? I realize this is a beta, so is there a bump.coming or should I make one? will it even work if I do? No, because no BUMP is actually specified for the material. I did have one originally, then dropped it because it blew up the size of the model and had little to show for it, I thought. Might reconsider it for an update, though.

**DaveB** · April 15th, 2015, 03:38

Manfred..

Re certain things not working on the overhead(Shift+4).. I was probably unlucky that the second thing I tried didn't work. I've been through them all again just and on the MISC panel.. CA (I presume CAbin lights) isn't clickable. On the BOOM panel.. it's probably my ignorance as much as anything else but of the bottom 4 selections.. PDI, UGD, AGF, UAGFD.. only PDI seems to be 'live'. I don't know what the others mean anyway

I tried reversing the props (with no noticeable effect) but couldn't remember what you'd put here!! dimwit!

ATB
DaveB

**ZsoltB** · April 15th, 2015, 03:45

**mjahn** · April 15th, 2015, 04:26

Wow, nice B-45. Link please?

Point of information: a quick way to explore a tanker rendezvous is to use Jerry Beckwith's AIFormation. Make the Stratotanker fly at a constant speed (Monitor > Autopilot > Speed > mid-click current value, then adjust) to make the task a little easier -- but that said it is still hellishly difficult.

Here is a question I've been meaning to ask, Do any of you guys use TacPack and have any information on how to code the boom so that a receiver aircraft can extend it?

Dave, you are right, cabin lights have not yet been done. PDI is the boomer's Pilot Direction Information lights, D (down), U (up), A (aft), F (forward) G (green) represent the letters on the station 350 and 750 belly appendages and will light up when the corresponding belly lights are ON. The idea is when you put yourself in the boomer's position you can still see which lights are active. In Contact mode some of them flash in random sequence, just to simulate what they might show during actual contact. Put her on AP and move underneath in spot view, then go through the Boomer procedures as described in the Checklist and you will get a proper lightshow.

**ZsoltB** · April 15th, 2015, 04:33

Originally Posted by mjahn

Wow, nice B-45. Link please?

Point of information: a quick way to explore a tanker rendezvous is to use Jerry Beckwith's AIFormation. Make the Stratotanker fly at a constant speed (Monitor > Autopilot > Speed > click current value, then adjust) to make the task a little easier -- but that said it is still hellishly difficult.

Any of you guys use TacPack and have any information on how to code the boom so that a receiver aircraft can extend it?

Dave, you are right, cabin lights have not yet been done. PDI is the boomer's Pilot Direction Information lights, D (down), U (up), A (aft), F (forward) G (green) represent the letters on the station 350 and 750 belly appendages and will light up when the corresponding belly lights are ON. In Contact mode some of them do it randomly. Put her on AP and move underneath in spot view, then go through the Boomer procedures as described in the Checklist, and you will get a proper lightshow.

http://secure.simmarket.com/virtavia...nado-fsx.phtml

**HvyEng** · April 15th, 2015, 05:04

Hello All,
The boards we have been using for development are now open for any and all Beta feedback and discussions.
They can be found at:

http://teamstrat.proboards.com/

The boards have been around for a while, and are hosted by proboards, please register to see all of the sections. They have simply been rearranged and cleaned up for the Strat project.

We are all SOH fans and will continue to monitor and respond to these boards also. The goal of the separate board is to grow into an FS Stratocruser /Stratotanker/Stratolifter resource for the Strat lover in all of us.

Looking forward to all of your feedback!

--Dan
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**DaveB** · April 15th, 2015, 05:21

Dave, you are right, cabin lights have not yet been done. PDI is the boomer's Pilot Direction Information lights, D (down), U (up), A (aft), F (forward) G (green) represent the letters on the station 350 and 750 belly appendages and will light up when the corresponding belly lights are ON. The idea is when you put yourself in the boomer's position you can still see which lights are active. In Contact mode some of them flash in random sequence, just to simulate what they might show during actual contact. Put her on AP and move underneath in spot view, then go through the Boomer procedures as described in the Checklist and you will get a proper lightshow.

Cheers Manfred

I'd already had a fair goof outside to see what happened with the lights at various settings on the BOOM panel.. eg Ready, Contact e t c and had guessed the other letters along the bottom corresponded in some way with this.. U=Up, A=Aft e t c. Are these other sections 'live' in multiplayer so that (for example) the team in the tanker can hit the U letter to indicate to the receiver he has to move UP? It's this I can't fathom at the moment.

I have Jerry Beckwith's AirTrafficFX which I must learn to use properly (rather than for quick formations) so I can add the tanker as AI. I remember how difficult taking fuel was with Lago's Tornado. I think the only aircraft I ever managed to successfully take fuel in was a 1-11!!

Rgr your last Dan

ATB
DaveB

**DaveWG** · April 15th, 2015, 06:05

Originally Posted by mjahn

Here is a question I've been meaning to ask, Do any of you guys use TacPack and have any information on how to code the boom so that a receiver aircraft can extend it?

The info is available in the online SDK. http://forums.vrsimulations.com/supp...#Tanker_Models