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Post by Col7777 on Nov 30, 2008 6:38:29 GMT -5
What routes did it take, did it have a schedule or just add-lib flights it managed to pick up?
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Post by johnhinson on Nov 30, 2008 9:51:15 GMT -5
What routes did it take, did it have a schedule or just add-lib flights it managed to pick up? I seem to remember reading that a lot of their work was military contracts from Lyneham into Europe and the Far East, but they must have done ad-hoc contracts as well. Later they developed passenger work in Scotland as A C E Scotland with a L749 but I think that was for only one season before they ceased trading. They also operated a DC-4, there is a repaint for the FS Berlin model although sadly most of the FS Berlin repaints for British operators have not been re-done for Jens' marvellous model. The 749 was maintaind at Coventry (an excuse for you to fly there) but (again from what I think I remember reading) the DC-4 was maintained by Dan-Air at Lasham. John
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Post by Col7777 on Nov 30, 2008 17:57:30 GMT -5
Thank you John, you are a walking encyclopedia, fantastic mate. I'll make up a few fictional flight plans for it.
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Post by johnhinson on Dec 1, 2008 8:59:39 GMT -5
Thank you John, you are a walking encyclopedia, fantastic mate. I'll make up a few fictional flight plans for it. Steady now! I'm only telling you what I remember reading - if I could find the book I could possibly tell you more. John
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Post by noisyspeedbird on Dec 4, 2008 7:41:55 GMT -5
This fantastically rambling collection of the history of Baginton (Coventry) has a few bits on Ace Freighters at Coventry, plus some brilliant period photos and stories. www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/id48.htm
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Post by Col7777 on Dec 4, 2008 10:49:34 GMT -5
WOW!
Thanks for that noisy, you sure gave us some good information in that lot, that was great.
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Post by ashaman on Dec 20, 2008 10:13:57 GMT -5
I'm bumping this up, and ask forgiveness if it annoys someone, to ask a question. I am a lover of everything Constellation related, and use almost exclusively these planes on FS. Ever since the flight dynamics update of the L-049 were upgraded to L-749, and began using this last version as well, I felt that a modification of the original panel might be called for to be used better under this version of the Connie, to include the reverse thrust the L-749 were equipped with. To attain this personal goal, I've tried a porting of the thrust levers and reverse lights from the Starliner, but even if the transplant was successful, the plane still proceed forward when I apply power to the engines with the reverse engaged ( as the tooltips balloons state). I even tried to edit the .air file to include the before then absent Reverse Thrust key ( copied form the Starliner as well) and even applied it a negative number of -33, but nothing changed. The plane still goes straight ahead when in reverse. Obviously I'm doing something wrong, or not doing something. Could someone give ma a pointer in the right direction?
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Dec 20, 2008 11:34:58 GMT -5
Hi,
Two problems with this approach so far.
1. The reverse gauge in the Starliner does not actually do the prop pitch changing - it just tells the main gauge (SimL1649A.xml) to do it. You probably shouldn't add that gauge to the 749, since it does a LOT of other things.
2. The key to adding prop reverse is in the aircraft.cfg file, not the AIR file.
You need to change the following lines in the Propeller section:
prop_reverse_available=1 min_rpm_for_feather=700.0 beta_feather=-64 power_absorbed_cf=0.1 minimum_on_ground_beta=1 minimum_reverse_beta=-14
I would use a self contained gauge like the Convair panel T handle, or just use the keyboard (press and hold Ctrl F2 for a second or two to engage reverse pitch, then press Ctrl F4 to come out of reverse).
Hope this helps,
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Post by ashaman on Dec 20, 2008 12:00:53 GMT -5
Well, the implanted gauges can be taken away easily, the problem is that in the aircraft.cfg, the lines you suggest, are already there... ...well, beside the minimum_reverse_beta= that is set on -14.3, but I don't think that a .3 difference might be the cause of not working of the reverse... or is it? Not working indeed, because even the F2 key is useless, the plane refuses the reverse... and I'm officially stumped. I would try the implant of the Convair gauge you suggested, but if the plane should reverse using the F2 key (and it doesn't) then the problem would not be solved by a simple gauge. Remains the question, what I'm doing wrong? PS Ehm... the suggestion of using the CTRL-F2 combination only brings the engines to shutdown after the props are put on feather. I would add that the fuel pumps were on too.
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Dec 20, 2008 18:21:02 GMT -5
Hi,
If those lines are already there then it's the gauge that's the problem.
You need to add a little throttle once you press Ctrl F2. Do that immediately and the engines won't stall.
Hope this helps,
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Post by ashaman on Dec 20, 2008 23:05:35 GMT -5
Hi, You need to add a little throttle once you press Ctrl F2. Do that immediately and the engines won't stall. Hope this helps, I tried it already, it did not help. Believe me, I tried them all before annoy the heck out of you people, posting here. Tried F2 ( nothing), tried CTRL-F2 at idle ( shutdown), tried CTRL-F2 giving throttle ( plane keeps crawling onward and actually accelerates instead of slowing down)... Should I simply resign in having a reverse-less L-749?
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Dec 21, 2008 0:25:31 GMT -5
Hi,
I found it is something else in that Propeller section, although I have no idea what. If I replace the entire Propeller section with that of FSAviator's Starliner FD, it stops fine. I have no idea what it will do to the rest of the FD though.
[propeller] propeller_type=0 propeller_blades=4 gear_reduction_ratio=1.0 propeller_diameter=8.8 propeller_moi=26.8 beta_max=65.0 beta_min=15.0 prop_sync_available=1 prop_deice_available=1 prop_feathering_available=1 prop_reverse_available=1 min_rpm_for_feather=700.0 beta_feather=-64 power_absorbed_cf=0.1 minimum_on_ground_beta=1 minimum_reverse_beta=-14 defeathering_accumulators_available=1 prop_auto_feathering_available=1 min_gov_rpm=650.000000 prop_tc=0.010000 fixed_pitch_beta=20.000000 low_speed_theory_limit=80.000000
Hope this helps,
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Post by ashaman on Dec 21, 2008 8:20:19 GMT -5
I found it is something else in that Propeller section, although I have no idea what. If I replace the entire Propeller section with that of FSAviator's Starliner FD, it stops fine. I have no idea what it will do to the rest of the FD though. Thank you for the suggestion, I'll try it ASAP, but... a question remains, wouldn't that be like mounting the propeller of the Starliner on the L-749? That and some of the parameters I read in the attached suggested propeller section are quite odd. Propeller blades equal four ( on a Constellation?), prop diameter equal 8.8... ...gear reduction ratio equal 1... I'll try it on anyway ( as soon I return home), but I'm skeptic it will give the same performances. We'll see. PS I'm simply asking this out of curiosity, but if this Frankensteining with the props makes the reverse works, wouldn't be the same if I pasted the propeller section of the Starliner 2.1 then?
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Post by Tom/CalClassic on Dec 21, 2008 10:42:32 GMT -5
Hi,
Yes, probably.
FS handles geared props poorly, so for maximum accuracy FSAviator created his own prop numbers that yielded real life results.
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Post by ashaman on Dec 21, 2008 12:50:54 GMT -5
Well, as suggested and hypothesized, after I've double-slashed ( not deleted, for reasons of easy rollback if needed) the whole old and semi-original propeller section and pasted for a trial the propeller section of the Starliner 2.1... now the reverse engages ( as long I'm not at idle while engaging reverse, though. If I'm at idle engines shut down on me). I am here scratching my head about the property of this modification though, and can't help but asking myself what would the people who designed the Connie think about it, while at the same time can't help but wonder what will happen under the point of view of performances in flight. I guess tomorrow ( when I'll have a little time to spend on the sim) I'll have to put the upgraded plane through a new certification session. Maybe later I'll try the lines Tom suggested as well. As long they work, and work as well, or even better than the actuals, I have no qualms changing them ( I'm way beyond the point of no return on that matter). ;D I'll have to find that Convair reverse gauge as well. Thank you all for the help. PS What the heck is the problem with the almost similar old propeller section, though... I wish Santa will bring me the answer. ;D
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