Discover the USA First class simulations

[Roger]

Does anyone have this and is the Beech 18 acceptible quality? http://www.justflight.com/product/discover-the-usa-first-class-simulations

 

[falcon409]

Roger, I don't have this one but I did purchase one several years ago (Discover the Middle East. . .or something similar) and the aircraft that came with the package was worth the price alone, exceptional quality. I don't know if I still have the files for the tour of the middle east, but I sure kept the airplane. . .fly it quite a bit. The screens they show make it appear to be a fairly nice model.

 

[EMatheson]

The Beech 18 is almost nice... that is to say that the model has potential, but retains an unfinished air. The paints are splendid and the modernized VC panel is great. It has awesomely roarty radial sounds. However, there is no cabin and some of the animations are a little rough. I bought it for FS9 awhile ago and had to tweak the animations via aircraft.cfg to make things work... things like prop direction and failure of the tailwheel to retract. Overall, it's a fine attempt, but Miltons version has it outclassed. In FS9, it is also bested (by a smaller margin) by the Aerosoft version, but that doesn't exist for FSX.

 

[SeanTK]

The Beech 18 is almost nice... that is to say that the model has potential, but retains an unfinished air. The paints are splendid and the modernized VC panel is great. It has awesomely roarty radial sounds. However, there is no cabin and some of the animations are a little rough. I bought it for FS9 awhile ago and had to tweak the animations via aircraft.cfg to make things work... things like prop direction and failure of the tailwheel to retract. Overall, it's a fine attempt, but Miltons version has it outclassed. In FS9, it is also bested (by a smaller margin) by the Aerosoft version, but that doesn't exist for FSX.

I have the FCS Beech as well (a more recent purchase for me) and I agree with the above. There are some rough edges to it, but it still can be rather enjoyable. I can post a list of issues on request, but overall, I'd say it's an acceptable product.

 

[WarHorse47]

Hmmm...

When I purchased my CH Combatstick it came with a FCS Discover CD that included the USA (with a Beech D-18) and Europe (with a Piper Pacer). I never installed it and its still in its wrapper.

What basically does it install besides the a/c? New scenery? New flightplans?

Based on the discussion in this thread I'm curious about the Beech D-18, but not so much interested in any more addon scenery.

Can someone enlighten me?

 

[Roger]

I'm only interested in the aircraft as native FsX. It probably installs a whole load of flight plans but I won't be using them... not enough time. I think I'll take a gamble and download. Thanks for all the comments so far

 

[Roger]

The Beech 18 is almost nice... that is to say that the model has potential, but retains an unfinished air. The paints are splendid and the modernized VC panel is great. It has awesomely roarty radial sounds. However, there is no cabin and some of the animations are a little rough. I bought it for FS9 awhile ago and had to tweak the animations via aircraft.cfg to make things work... things like prop direction and failure of the tailwheel to retract. Overall, it's a fine attempt, but Miltons version has it outclassed. In FS9, it is also bested (by a smaller margin) by the Aerosoft version, but that doesn't exist for FSX.

I'd be interested in the cfg changes needed to make the tail wheel retract and prop direction. Otherwise I'm pretty happy with it

 

[Roger]

Sussed out the tail wheel non-retract, there was no time allocated to retract and unretract in contact points. made it 2 seconds each way and it now retracts.

 

[SeanTK]

Also note that there is a tailwheel lock/unlock switch that can be functional in the VC, but you'll need to add the function to have a lockable/unlockable tailwheel in the aircraft config file first.

tailwheel_lock = 1

Feel free to post your edits to enable a retractable tailwheel if you wish. Was planning on investigating that myself but needed more time to figure out what numbers do what.

The only other things I can mention as an advisory are that there is no alternator/generator switch in the VC, so you may encounter an electrical failure partway through flight unless you assign a keystroke. Additionally, there is no switch for the navigation lights in the VC, so you are required to use the 2D panel to activate those lights, at least as far as I can tell in my version.

Finally, you'll notice that the cowl flaps position when comparing their state in the outside view with the position of the levers (and the guidance posted near the levers) is reversed, but that's basically it. Still an enjoyable aircraft.

 

[Roger]

Here are the changed contact points (in red) for tail wheel retraction.

[contact_points]
// forward side height, dmg, radius, Steer,SComp,ratio, damp, time time
point.0=1,-19.0000, 0.00, -0.15, 2000, 0, 0.35, 60.0, 0.20, 2.50, 0.900, 2.00, 2.00, 0, 0, 0
point.1=1, 3.0000, -7.00, -5.40, 2000, 1, 1.00, 0.0, 0.50, 1.50, 0.900, 9.75, 9.75, 2, 300, 300
point.2=1, 3.0000, 7.00, -5.40, 2000, 2, 1.00, 0.0, 0.50, 1.50, 0.900,10.25,10.25, 3, 300, 300
point.3=2, -1.5000,-23.80, 1.50, 1500, 0, 0.00, 0.0, 0.00, 0.00, 0.000, 0.00, 0.00, 5, 0, 0
point.4=2, -1.5000, 23.80, 1.50, 1500, 0, 0.00, 0.0, 0.00, 0.00, 0.000, 0.00, 0.00, 6, 0, 0

I use Shift/ L for the vc light but after no noticeable change I edited in the Shockwave vc light. Shadows are enabled in Dx10 by default.

Overall I am happy with the aircraft and will probably fly it fairly often.

 

[b52bob]

I actually flew the around the world flights and it was a blast. Didn't use the Electra, too slow, but used Aliots Citation X for longer flights and Lionharts turboprop for shorter ones. Those long overwater flights went much faster with the 8x rate, just make sure you answer atc in a timely manner or they will cancel your ifr. Also watch atc in Switzerland, they vectored me right into a mountain.

 

[banjoman1960]

Here are the changed contact points (in red) for tail wheel retraction.

[contact_points]
// forward side height, dmg, radius, Steer,SComp,ratio, damp, time time
point.0=1,-19.0000, 0.00, -0.15, 2000, 0, 0.35, 60.0, 0.20, 2.50, 0.900, 2.00, 2.00, 0, 0, 0
point.1=1, 3.0000, -7.00, -5.40, 2000, 1, 1.00, 0.0, 0.50, 1.50, 0.900, 9.75, 9.75, 2, 300, 300
point.2=1, 3.0000, 7.00, -5.40, 2000, 2, 1.00, 0.0, 0.50, 1.50, 0.900,10.25,10.25, 3, 300, 300
point.3=2, -1.5000,-23.80, 1.50, 1500, 0, 0.00, 0.0, 0.00, 0.00, 0.000, 0.00, 0.00, 5, 0, 0
point.4=2, -1.5000, 23.80, 1.50, 1500, 0, 0.00, 0.0, 0.00, 0.00, 0.000, 0.00, 0.00, 6, 0, 0

I use Shift/ L for the vc light but after no noticeable change I edited in the Shockwave vc light. Shadows are enabled in Dx10 by default.

Overall I am happy with the aircraft and will probably fly it fairly often.

thank´s for this fix.....

cheers
ralf

 

[Milton Shupe]

From the screen shots, I really like the looks of the exterior modeling. Hopefully the interior is equally nice. I may buy this one myself.

I have the D18S on the list for a redo as it is now 9 years old (June 2005 release) and really dated but it will be at least 2 years out and not FSX native (by me).

 

[Badger85]

I like the FCS Beech 18 because of the 3D gauges inside of the virtual cockpit. VC panel textures could use some work, but I think the VC looks the best out of all of the payware Beech 18 options out there (Flysimware, CR-1 Software, Aerosoft [FS2004]).

One thing is really bothering me about the FCS Beech 18 though. The VC panel lighting looks terrible. I think this may be an oversight on FCS's part because Aircraft.cfg lists "fcs_Beech18_fx_vclight.fx" as the file that should be controlling VC night lighting, but the installation does not place any such file (for FS9 or FSX) into the Effects folder. I tried a new installation into a blank folder and confirmed that nothing gets written to an Effects folder in the process (only to SimObjects). I also tried Googling the "fcs_Beech18_fx_vclight" file name and literally nothing comes up on the web.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? I'd really like to fly this aircraft, but the lack of decent VC lighting is a deal-breaker. I've tried substituting other vclight files but they all look wrong in the FCS Beech 18 (either the GPS and radio panels get illuminated with an annoying bright light or the gauges look too dark). Alternatively, does anyone have a copy of this elusive "fcs_Beech18_fx_vclight" file?

I've tried searching the FCS website for a patch or update, but can't find any. Your help would be appreciated!

 

[Badger85]

Sorry to double post, but I've come up with a passable temporary "solution" to the lighting problem in the VC for the FCS Beech 18.

Here it is:

1. Make a backup of the Aircraft.cfg file in the "FCS_DUSA_Beech18" folder in FSX.
2. Open the Aircraft.cfg file in Notepad and replace the line that reads "light.2 = 4, 3.2, 0, 2.0, fcs_Beech18_fx_vclight" with "light.2 = 10, 3.2, 0, 2.0, fx_vclighth" instead (no quotes).
3. When you load the Beech 18 at night, hit "L" (turns on all lights) and then "Shift+L" (turns off panel lights). This will turn on a cabin light for night flying but turn off the annoying white sheen on the GPS and radio panels.

I have personally replaced "fx_vclighth" in Step 2 with "fx_a2a_c172_vclight_dim" from the A2A C172. Not everybody may have that aircraft addon so that's why I put in the default overhead light in Step 2. Feel free to try other VC lights that you may have in your Effects folder to get a better effect. Just remember to hit "L" and then "Shift+L" to remove the panel light effect and only leave the cabin light. You want the cabin light to be light enough to see the instruments but dark enough so your night vision isn't completely ruined.

You can use this workaround method to fly completely from the VC without going into the 2D panel for the light switches. I'll explain this. The VC of the Beech 18 was designed poorly because some light switches are accessible only from the 2D panel. Some of the light switches don't even seem to have any effect in the exterior view. I've experimented with the lights and here's what I found:

• PANEL -- Switch in 2D Panel Only, Has Effect in Exterior View
• BCN -- Both in VC and 2D, Has Effect (kind of like a taxi light effect)
• LAND -- Both VC and 2D, Has Effect
• TAXI -- 2D Only, No Effect
• NAV -- 2D Only, Has Effect
• STROBE -- 2D Only, No Effect
• RECOG -- VC Only, Has Effect

The reason I say this is to show that when you hit "L" all of these lights are turned on. Then you can turn off panel lights by clicking "Shift + L" and turn off the landing light via the VC switch. You can use the beacon light as a sort of taxi light from the VC as well. You really don't need to go into the 2D panel at all because panel light can be controlled by Shift+L, taxi and strobe lights have no effect in exterior view, and nav light can just stay on for the entire flight once you hit "L" at the beginning of the flight until you hit "L" again at the end of your flight to turn everything off completely.

So that's my temporary solution for fixing interior night lighting and only controlling lights via the VC in the FCS Beech 18. Of course it's not perfect, and I welcome any other suggestions (as well as answers to my original question about the missing FCS .fx file).

 

[Portia911]

Thanks for the lights solution, Alex. I have that (FCS) Beech 18, but never flew it much because I didn't like the modern avionics/GPS. Always liked the external engine sounds on that one!

I take it from your interest in this that you weren't able to get the CnD start to work on the Milton version(s)? If so, that's a shame.