F.A.Q.'s and KNOWN PROBLEMS


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F.A.Q.'s and KNOWN PROBLEMS


Model, Aircraft.cfg, FDE, Animations, Lights, Documentation:


1. RED GLOW: The first time you use the "L" key to turn on all lights, a red glow appears on the left side of the aircraft.  Simply hit "L" twice to eliminate the red glow.


2. FOWLER FLAPS:  The Dash 7 flaps extend to 15, then 25 degrees with the leading and trailing edge aligned with each other.  On 45 degrees, the trailing edge flap drops 20 degrees alone.  Because of a gauge programming issue, we had to fold the trailing edge flap during the 15/25 cycle for the gauge to read correctly.  Hopefully we can correct this in the next release.


3. COCKPIT NIGHT LIGHT:  If your light does not show, open you Flight Sim, go to Options/Settings/Display/Aircraft and change LIGHTS to 8.


4. ALTITUDE SET GAUGE:  We are using a modified default gauge for setting the altitude for the AP.  If when scrolling you notice that the 1000's/10,000's digits roll up on 6-7 versus 9-0, this indicates you have gone negative in your altitude setting. Correct this by scrolling in a positive direction until the problem disappears. If you need help determining correct setting, switch to the default Mooney which shows a negative sign, if negative.


5. CRASHING TO THE DESKTOP:  If you are having this problem, reload the gauges from the zip to the FS2002 Gauges folder.


6. ATC RECOGNIZING THE GRONLANDSFLY LIVERY:   Open the aircraft.cfg and change atc_airline=Greenland Air to atc_airline=GREENLANDAIR in the Fltsim.0 section.

Also be sure you have a flight number(you can choose any number) (for example: atc_flight_number=621) or ATC will only refer to you by tail number.


PANEL:


1. GPWS: The sounds on the GPWS can get annoying.  If you would like them turned off, do the following.  In your FS2002 Sounds folder, find and rename the following files that  to quiet down that GPWS:

toolowflaps

tolowgear

whoop

terrain1

terrain2

dontsink

glideslope

pullup



2. OIL PRESSURE/TEMP GAUGES:  These gauges seem to react differently for different systems.  They sometimes show no movement, sometimes they are pegged at max readings.  For me, if I open the default Cessna 172 and then the Dash 7, they work fine.  We have not pinpointed the problem as of yet.  We will keep after them though.


3. CLARITY: Very nice readability above 1024X768



SOUNDS:


1. LOUDNESS OF ENGINES: Some testers reported that engine sounds are too loud.  (Remember you have 4 turboprop engines within 24 feet of your ears).  Our Dash 7 Pilot says the engines are so loud in the cockpit, you cannot hear anything else except the clunk of the nose gear when fully retracted, and the Idle Gate throwing upon touchdown.  We tried for a balance of realism and a simming experience that allows other things to be heard though more in the background.  Adjust your Options/Settings/Sounds sliders to your liking.


2. POPPING AND CRACKLING IN SOUNDS: Five reports of this issue so far. Check this link to see if your system fits the description:

http://www.flightsimonline.com/faqs/%20http://www.warp2search.net/article.php?sid=6990&mode=thread&order=0



TEXTURES:


1. BLURRIES:  If you experience this problem with the DXT3 textures as you first pan around the aircraft, try this workaround.  Zoom tightly toward the aircraft all the way, then zoom out.  The textures should now be crisp.  If you still have problems, try setting texture size to MASSIVE for 1024 textures.  If you still have problems, make sure that you are running Directx 8.0 or later.  If you are still having problems, download the optional 8 bit or 16 bit textures.  If you are still having problems, ensure you have the latest drivers for your card.  You do have at least 32 meg of memory on your video card, don't you? … and your CPU is 450mhz or faster? If you really want beautiful textures without the blurries and do not want/need reflective textures, try the 256 color optional texture download.


2. BLACK TEXURES AND VOODOO CARDS:  If you have a VOODOO video card, download the optional 8 or 16 bit textures from AVSIM to correct the problem. File names are: dhc78.zip and dhc716.zip.


3. REFLECTIONS: If you running the DXT3 standard textures and see no reflections, ensure you have Reflections turned on in your Options/Settings/Display area of FS2002.


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ's)


1. Q: Why can't I request a livery from the Dash 7 team?

A: We have a project plan with a limited time schedule.  We have six liveries planned.  We have made a Re-Paint Kit available and encourage re-painters to help paint every livery ever flown on the Dash 7.


2. Q:  I have a problem that I can't fix.  Can you guys help?

A:  We hope that with the problems listed above and the question/answers listed below that your question/problem will be resolved or at least understood.  If not, and you can not find help on the forums, then you may contact us about the issue.  This may not be the fastest resolution method available because of our mail volume, and we would hope that other avenues of help would get you going sooner.  Check the AVSIM, Flightsim, and Simviation forums for a faster response.  The Dash 7 Members will be in and out of those forums frequently.


3. Q:  When the Dash 7 loads, it takes a second for the textures to paint in.  Is this normal?

A:  Yes it is.  We have tried to provide a high-quality product throughout the Dash 7 model, panel, sounds and textures.  This puts more demand on your computer but creates a much more pleasing end product.  We hope the tradeoff of instant load for a high quality product is worth the load time. You can also try the optional 8-bit textures. Except for reflectivity, you will not notice a difference in color or detail, but the smaller size will run much better for you.


4. Q:  The Dash 7 is advertised as a Short TakeOff  and Landing (STOL) aircraft.  What are the landing and takeoff runway length limits?

A:  Avoid sidewalks and alleys ….. :-)  … and runways shorter than 900 feet.  Once skilled at flying the Dash 7, depending on weight, you will love the challenge of the 1200-foot runways.  Trying to land and takeoff in 1200 feet without backing up is quite difficult.  :-)


5. Q:  The Taxi Backward works great (holding down F2), but when I come out of that, the Dash 7 lunges forward.  How can I better control that situation?

A:  Pull your throttle, prop, and Idle levers back and hold the brakes until the engines spool down.


6. Q:  What exactly are the flap settings and Vspeeds for the Dash 7?

A:  You'll find them by weights listed in the reference text.


7. Q:  What are the ideal trim settings for the Dash 7 for takeoff and cruise?

A:  Depending on weight distribution, set elevator trim to zero to -2 for takeoff at 15-degree flaps.  After liftoff and positive rate of climb, retract gear then flaps, and begin rolling trim downward toward -5.  Initial climb out at 1280 RPM and 100% torque.  Then, reduce RPM to 1210, torque to 92%.  To level out, reduce power to 80-85 % and set trim around -6.  Normal realistic climb-out is at 1900 FPM at 110 KIAS.  Expect cruise at 180-185KIAS below 8000 ASL. See reference check list in Flight Sim.


8. Q:  I get up to -10 degree nose down attitude on approach.  Can this be right?

A:  You bet!  That's the Dash 7 way, designed for 7 degree/1000FPM descents.  Try the London City ILS approach.  Watch your flap deployment speeds, keep the power on (30-50%) as you go 25 and 45 degrees cause it will slow quickly.  Final approach speeds over the fence should be around 90 KIAS and touchdown at 85 KIAS.  See the reference for details based on weight and flaps settings.


9. Q:  How do I open the passenger door?

A:  Shift + E


10. Q:  Before I land, I set AutoSpoilers on, but they do not deploy upon landing.  What am I doing wrong here?

A:  Be sure to hit F1 to set to idle before touchdown and the spoilers should deploy.


11. Q:  I know that my approach was at 45 degree flaps, but when I look in spot view after landing, they are set at 25 degrees.  What's going on here?

A:  The Dash 7 automatically retracts flaps to 25 degrees upon touchdown to reduce lift for more effective braking.


12. Q:  I see spoiler lights flash when on the ground but never in the air.  Why are the roll spoiler lights not working when I see the spoilers functioning in spot view?

A:  The spoiler lights are designed to function only when on the ground.


13. Q:  What is that little flap on the fuselage tail of the Dash 7?

A:  Tail bumper.


14. Q:  Your 3D transparent cabin windows look great.  Why are there no passengers?

A:  What? Mess up the new carpet?  LOL  How many simmers want to give up 10FPS for 50 passengers and 50 seats?  The next version will include cargo and a few passengers.


15. Q:  Why did you decide to do Gronlandsfly instead of a more popular airline?  Why Tyrolean?

A:  Gronlandsfly color scheme on my favorite aircraft is what inspired the project.  They were also instrumental in allowing us to get detailed reference pictures for the project.  Our Dash 7 pilots who provided technical input and support flew Dash 7's for Tyrolean which also had great paint schemes.  :-)


16. Q:  Greenland Air has cargo doors on the port side.  Where's yours?

A:  Release 2 will have a large cargo door on the front port side.


17. Q:  I have a mid-range computer with an older video card.  Will I be better off with the 16-bit textures?

A:  Hard to say, but you have two options to try.  Download and install the 16-bit textures.  Save the standard DXT3 textures beforehand just in case.  If that is no better, then try the optional 8 bit textures.  This will significantly reduce memory and video card requirements.


18. Q:  The roll spoilers work great, but why are the dump spoilers activated with them in a turn?

A:  There are no animation tags that differentiate the spoilers unfortunately, so for now, we live with them.  :-/


19. Q:  Why do you have lights inside the engine nacelles?

A:  I don't.  Unfortunately, Fsim does not differentiate a textured side as being inside versus outside.  Therefore, you will see sunlit internal textured surfaces.


20. Q:  Will you do a B777 or A380 for me?

A:  AFK  BRB


21. Q:  What aircraft are you doing next?

A:  There are no plans to do another aircraft.


22. Q:  Would you mind if I suggested some improvements?

A:  Yes, very much so.  There will be no changes made, no new liveries painted, and no requests honored.  The next release is planned, in progress and will be done per the plan.  We hope you enjoy the end product of our labor and try to accept it as is.  If you are not happy with our 2000 hours of development and testing, please do yourself a favor and delete the Dash 7.  It would make me sick to think that you have more anxieties over a freeware product than we had in 6 months of development.  :-)


23. Q: When starting the engines or during shutdown, the props seem to stop for a few

           moments. Why is this?

A:  In prop animation, there are three sequences: Still (stop or very slow movement). Slow (slow spin transition to Blurred or Still), and Blurred (fast take-off, cruise speeds) typically a mesh. The stopped moment you see is the wagon wheel effect in concert with your refresh rate.


24. Q: Your props look great! However, I notice that the writing is backwards on one side.

A:  Great observation. You passed the details test! :-) Explanation is, I have only one useable bitmap for the prop, one side. The leading edge of the prop is different from the trailing edge. To place the bitmap properly on both sides, one side had to be reversed, therefore backwards writing.


25. Q: Why is there no virtual cockpit in the Dash 7?

A:  Because to do a VC of quality will require another 300-500 hours of work. The VC is a project within itself and requires the same level of detail and commitment as the aircraft package did. We thought we should share the Dash 7 sometime before 2004 arrived. :-) The VC is planned for the second release, hopefully in December 2002.


26. Q: My textures come out black and I have a very nice Voodoo III Video card. How come?

A:  I do not know, but if you download and install the 8-bit or 16-bit textures, they should work fine.


27. Q: Why do you offer optional texture sets?

A:  Not -required … these are for those who do not want the standard packaged DXT3 with reflec   

     tivity or folks with low-end systems who need less demanding textures, or those who want the 

     best detail and reflectivity available. Differences are detail level (8-bit offers less detail - all   

     others same), size of textures (noted in matrix), reflectivity control (32-bit has various reflective

     shades with some strong localized reflections, DXT3 has one shade for all), and trueness/richness 

     of colors (without reflections give best color vividness).  Best detail and color with reflectivity is

     the 32-bit set. DXT3 as the standard set offers the best compromise with reflectivity/glossiness

     and color and the size is just slightly larger than the 8-bit textures.

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