IMPORTANT! This panel is of any real use only to registered users of Tony Dambrosio's shareware TOP AVIONICS realCRT gauges (and the ND navigation database, which needed only to activate the MAP/PLAN modes and use the FMC).

I have included below the original "readme" file from Bill Alexander, the author of the FS9 panel update, which I have further modified, and changed the wording of the installation instructions somewhat to apply to my file package.
I thought this to be the best way to make sure that the original credits of this panel's long development history remain intact.  I wish to add my thanks to all of those whose work I simply built upon.

Please note that in addition to completely new panel bitmaps, I have updated several other gauges, besides, of course, adding the realCRT gauges and the FMC.
Also note that there are a few gauges, mostly just lighted status indicators, which may not appear on your panel if the aircraft they were imported from does not happen to be already installed in your fs9---rest assured that none of them are essential---they were added to my own personal panel for my own personal use and, as I was not able to secure permission from their developers to upload them, I could not ethically include them in the provided 'gauges' folder.

NOTE! When the aircraft simulation first opens, either at first start, or after you have "Reset Flight, and when turning off either the A/T and/or the AP, the FMA must be reset (you can't miss the rapidly blinking 'Throttle" and/or 'AP' lighted red signs). The 'RE SET' button graphic is active and clickable.
(This panel instrumentation has been simplified so that all gauge functions can be accessed directly with a mouse click, or, of course, the standard FS keyboard commands. (Don't forget, however, that the landing lights on the SGA MD-8x sim have to be operated with your assigned "Tailhook" keyboard command!)

Thank you, and enjoy this beautiful panel, which is only befitting to this aircraft that flies so beautifully!

George Colacicco
[email protected]

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ORIGINAL TEXT:

The McDonnell Douglas MD-80 Series Control Panel for FS2004 (fs9).

Version #1  April, 2006 modified for FS2004 by Bill Alexander(with Jim Waters help) with kind permission from Tom Dennis (fs2002md80s.zip  released in April 2003).

Firstly, my sisncere thank you to Tom Dennis of our own AVSIM for his permission to make this file available as freeware for fs9 use. Thank you Tom. Your paint of this Eric Ernst original(for which you recieved his blessings) is beautiful. All the credit for the paint, shadow effects, crackle effect belong to Tom Dennis: [email protected] or [email protected] 

This is my FIRST attempt at making a DECENT MD80/90 panel, which is a remake of an FS 98 through FS 2002 panel, now useable in fs9 (FS2004).  Some new features have been added and some gauges have been changed.  Features are Rob Barendregt Taxi Speed and Pushback gauges (version 1).  A complete repaint of the main panel by Tom Dennis.  FS2004 SIMICONS all moved logically by Jim Waters, and Chuck Dome's (public domain) mini GPS, which was part of the fs98 through fs2002 versions. I left it there because it gives you a quick view of the  direction/range to your destination ONLY after loading an fs9 flight plan using the GPS planning mode---You don't have to be in "GPS mode" (i.e. change your NAN/GPS switch setting), as this gauge will activate automatically whenever a flight plan has been loaded.  If you haven't loaded a GPS flight plan, this gauge will not show any information until you do!  If you are already in flight without a plan and want to see this gauge functioning, you may load a GPS flight plan inflight at any time, without checking the "move aircraft to departure point" option in fs9.

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Installation:

1.  First, unzip contents into a temporary directory and copy and paste from there.
2.  Place all of the individual panel files in the "panel" folder of the fs9 'Aircraft' of your choice. (If you wish to archive your current panel configuration, you may want to first move of your present panel.cfg file, and all of its attendant bitmap files, to a backup folder).
3.  Place all of the individual gauge files, as they are (do not unzip any cab files!), into your fs9 "Gauges" folder.
4.  Important! Note that separate 'MD-80' and 'rcb-gauges' folders are incuded.  Copy and paste both FOLDERS, as they are, into your fs9 "Gauges" folder (So that both new folders will be separate sub-folders within the main fs9 "Gauges" folder).

That's it enjoy!
***************


Additional INFO:

I have included all three of Rob Barendregt files with his permission.  They are already in the gauge folder that is produced when you unzip the file.  However, his zip files contain his copywrite info as well as user instructions.  Any questions regarding the useage of the taxi speed and/or the pushback gauge should be emailed to him.  Unfortunately I offer no support on those gauges.  On a personal note I feel that the instructions for the useage are quite easy and it is a great addition to 3rd party panels.  


Acknowledgements: 

I saw a need for a decent looking/performing MD80 panel for fs9 (fs2004) after searching for months. This panel was only one of a very few that looked and performed well in FS98 to FS2002, where I originally used it. With that in mind, I would like to thank the original designer of this FS98 Panel, Eric Ernst whom gave permission to Tom Dennis (above) as part of a group effort under Tom Dennis,  Fleet Director of Evergreen International VAC (Virtual Aircraft Company).  I only updated the panel for FS2004 with Tom's kind permission. Thank you Tom.  Many thanks to Rob Barendregt for his excellent Taxi Speed and Pushback gauges, and to Dai Griffiths of Dragon Flight Design for the YG-7500 Radar Altimeter. A Word document is included for this radar altimeter.

I would also like to thank Jim Waters for his help in this project - basically in tutoring me in panel/gauges coordinate mapping and moving the fs2004 SIMICONS to a more logical area of the panel. He also has an excellent MD80 panel you can download from avsim called: MD80ver2.zip. It is only one of very few MD80 panels for fs9 (fs2004) that looks and performs well. Personally, I now use both Jim's MD80ver2.zip  and this one on all my MD80 through MD90 aircraft.  

This file was originally tested on a 2.4 Ghz Pentium 4 Processor with 512 RAM and a Sound Blaster Live Sound Card and have experienced no problems what-so-ever with this file on that PC.  I have since upgraded my PC to a 3.4 Ghz Hyper-Threading P4 Processor with 1 Gb of DDR400 RAM and upgraded my Video Card from an Nvidia GeForce 64 Mb to an Nvidia 6600GT 256Mb DDR3 card in preparation for the soon to be released Microsoft FSX. All files I create are used by myself weeks before uploading to the internet to avoid making any patches or updates.  However, if an update or patch is warranted it will follow shortly after initial release.  These files are a USE at YOUR OWN RISK release.


LEGAL INFORMATION:

These files are strickly FREEWARE and under no circumstances can they be used to make money or profit in anyway from their sale.  They are not to be included on any Flight Sim Add-on  without explicit permission from the authors.  Any control panels created by myself were most likely made using FREEWARE Gauges with permission from their authors.   Any repaints were made using exsisting textures and/or paint schemes as reference to the released repaint.  There are many contributers to our Great Hobby please respect their copywrite issues as well if they are somehow releated or referenced back to this file.  For your convienience a General Product Licence is included with this package.


COMMENTS & QUESTIONS:

Can be sent to my email address:
Bill Alexander: [email protected]  

Thanks again to Jim Waters: [email protected]