TURN WORD WRAP ON
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 FS2002 BOEING C-97A Stratofreighter
 U.S. Air Force
 1501st Air Transport Wing
 Radar equipped

 GMAX Version 1  7/2003
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Built by Greg Pepper

Painted by Dave McQueen.

Technical and testing help from Dave McQueen

Flight dynamics by FSAviator (true FS2002 flight model with dynamics derived from actual flight manual information), correct within 3% of the real flying characteristics - see Reference file (F10).  This FDE is not designed for AI use - it will not work.  Download AI propliners at http://www.calclassic.com/.

FS2002 FEATURES:

AIRCRAFT

1.  Virtual Cockpit -  lighted at night with "L" key.

2.  There are no opening doors on this model.

3.  The working cowl flaps are opened by Ctrl-Shift-V, and closed by Ctrl-Shift-C (both in increments) or use the cowl flaps switch.  Note:  COWL FLAPS MUST BE CLOSED FOR ENGINE START, OR WHEN YOU WANT TO SELECT A SINGLE ENGINE!  This is due to an unfortunate gauge interaction.

4.  The plane is complete with reflective textures.

5.  The landing gear has working compression struts, and retracts as seen in vintage video.

6.  The landing lights light the ground properly, and must be extended before use (press the L key, and then press Shift-W).

7.  Contrails whenever you want them (press the I key)

8. FS2002 style nav, landing, and beacon lights (press the L key)

9. FS2002 style visual effects, including touchdown smoke

10. Working NAV2 radio

This plane also features animated landing gear, flaps, ailerons, elevators, and rudder.

REALISTIC ENGINE START

To start the engines realistically and individually, do this:

COWL FLAPS CLOSED

1.  Go to Options/Controls/Assignments and set the 4 starters to
Ctrl-1 through Ctrl-4 (or other keys of your choice).
2.  Go to spot view (Shift-S)
3.  Press E3 to select engine #3.
4.  Tap the Ctrl-3 key just enough to keep the prop moving slowly.
5.  Wait for 6 prop blades to pass by.
6.  Quickly press M+++: engine 3 will start.
7.  Press E4 to select engine #4.
8.  Repeat steps 4-6 to start engine #4.
9.  Repeat steps 3-6 to start engines #2 and #1.
10. Press E1234 to get control of both engines back.
11. Normal start sequence is 3-4-2-1.

COWL FLAPS OPEN

PANEL:

Panel is included, by Greg Pepper

SOUND:

Sounds assembled by Dave McQueen.

FLIGHT DYNAMICS, FUEL PLANNING, ETC.

Press F10 to bring up FSAviator's Reference file for details on power settings, etc.

Read the "Read before flitght.txt" file by FSAviator for details on how to fly this plane.

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Installation:

1.  Use an unzipper that keeps stored folders intact.  Unzip the file and move the unzipped folder that contains the sub-folders -- "GMAX2607" -- into the aircraft folder in FS2002. Unzip the GAUGES folder if needed and copy the gauge files to the FS2002 GAUGES folder


2.  If you want a smokey engine start, read the fx_engstrtreadme.txt file (improved!  Now has a shorter duration and doesn't include the flames (causes VC flashing).

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When Boeing developed the B-29 Stratofortress during WW II, it was soon realized that it was the beginning of a new plateau of aircraft technology. The USAAF and Boeing soon realized that an impressive transport aircraft could be developed from the bomber, and the Model 367 (C-97) was flying by the end of the war. The B-29's wings, engines, and tail were mated with a completely new fuselage, whose dimensions at that time looked fantastic. The front looked bluff and unstreamlined, but the maximum speed was calculated to be as high as the bomber's. The plane was tailored to the military's needs, but as the war was winding down, the aircraft manufacturer began to think of ways this new technology could be translated into an airliner derivative. 

C-97A #92607 operated out of Travis Air Force Base (Fairfield, California) with the 1501st Air Transport Wing flying the Pacific during the 1950s.

Taken from "http://www.militarymuseum.org/TravisAFB" :

Travis AFB is named in honor of Brigadier General Robert F. Travis, who was killed in a B-29 crash at the installation on 5 August 1950. At the time of his death, the general was commander of the 9th Heavy Bombardment Wing and was the base's commanding general. Formal dedication ceremonies were held on 21 April 1951.
 
Although today Travis is the home of the largest airlift organization in the Air Force, it began as an isolated airstrip with a few tar paper shacks set in the middle of a wind-swept prairie during World War II. Activated on 11 May 1943, the field was named Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base, after the two closest--mostly agricultural--towns. Planned shortly after Pearl Harbor, the base served as home for medium bombers and fighters assigned to defend the West Coast. The first runway and temporary buildings were constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the summer of 1942. They were used initially by Army and Navy fighter planes for takeoff and landing practice. For a few months, the outline of an aircraft carrier's deck was painted on the runway to help newly-commissioned Navy pilots practice maneuvers. The strong local prevailing winds nearly duplicated those at sea.
 
Shortly after construction began, however, the base's potential as a major aerial port and supply transfer point for the Pacific theater led the Army Air Corps to assign it to the newly-designated Air Transport Command. The base officially opened 1 June 1943, with a primary mission of servicing and ferrying tactical aircraft from California across the Pacific to the war zone. By 1945, the base had become the West Coast's largest aerial port. The airlift of troops and supplies to occupied Japan and Korea, and the processing of war-weary returning GIs, had become the primary mission. On 1 June 1948, the Military Air Transport Service assumed jurisdiction. In July, two of the base's air transport squadrons left for Europe to assist in the Berlin Airlift.
 
On 1 May 1949, the Strategic Air Command became the parent major command for the base, turning it into a major long-range reconnaissance and intercontinental bombing installation. For the next nine years, airlift operations became secondary while the base served as home for SAC bombers such as the B-29, B-36, and eventually, the B-52. During this period, new hangers appeared, runways were added and widened, and permanent barracks and family living quarters were built. The base grew to its present size which encompasses 6,258 acres.
 
MATS resumed command of Travis AFB on 1 July 1958, after SAC's new dispersal policy led to the transfer of the 14th Air Division to Beale AFB, California. The base became headquarters the 1501st Air Transport Wing--1955; for MATS's Western Transport Air Force (later Twenty-Second Air Force)--1958; and the 60th Military Airlift Wing (later the 60th Airlift Wing, later the 60th Air Mobility Wing)--1966. The 60th replaced the 1501st as the host unit on Travis on 8 January 1966. The 349 MAW (USAF Reserve) joined with the 60th when it moved from Hamilton AFB, California, in 1969.
 
NOTE: Civilian versions of this plane and/or many other classic airliners can be 
downloaded free from Tom Gibson's Classic Airliner WEB site at - 
http://www.calclassic.com/ 


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Now the legal stuff:

COPYRIGHT 2003 BY GREG PEPPER, DAVE MCQUEEN,  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

REPAINTS:  REPAINTS ARE ALLOWED WITHOUT FURTHER PERMISSION, BUT WE PREFER THAT THEY ONLY BE UPLOADED TO TOTALLY FREE SITES - I.E. NO CHARGES OR SUBSCRIPTION FEES FOR INCREASED ACCESS.  HOWEVER, IF YOU REPAINT THE PLANE YOU MUST CREDIT ALL OF THE ORIGINAL AUTHORS IN YOUR TEXT FILE AND INCLUDE THIS TEXT FILE.

THIS AIRPLANE IS THE PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR, AND CANNOT BE RE-SOLD OR PACKAGED WITH ANY PRODUCT FOR SALE, WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORS.  THIS INCLUDES "FREE" CD COMPILATIONS WITH A CHARGE OF ANY KIND.  THIS IS FREEWARE!!

YOU MAY NOT UPLOAD THIS PLANE TO ANY OTHER SERVER, IT MUST REMAIN ON THE ORIGINAL SERVER.

THIS FILE ARCHIVE OR ANY REPAINTS MUST NOT BE UPLOADED TO A SITE OR LOCATION THAT CLAIMS ANY SORT OF COPYRIGHT ON THE FILE; COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR.  UPLOADING OF THIS FILE TO SUCH A SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORS TO VIOLATE THESE TERMS BY THAT SITE. 

THIS FILE ARCHIVE MUST REMAIN INTACT; YOU MAY NOT REMOVE OR UPLOAD PARTS OF THIS ARCHIVE.  THIS ENTIRE TEXT FILE MUST BE INCLUDED IN ANY DISTRIBUTION.  

THE AUTHORS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT YOU MIGHT INCUR AS A RESULT OF USING THESE PRODUCTS.  YOU ASSUME THE RISK OF USE.