Then came a big surprise when I installed it as supplied in FS2004 (it crashed my FS2004 at first use):
The aircraft is not as frame rate friendly as, for example, the Plane-Design versions.
I think a good question for Mr Munro is did he fly the Dambuster Raid from RAF Coningsby because that is what FCS think. Merlin XX engines as well. Seems to fly without a Flight Engineer and I am not sure its got a front gunner and certainly it has no prone bombaimer. That really is first class stuff?????
The above image is at a modern day RAF Coningsby, home of PA474. Functionally the Upkeep weapon does not appear to do anything and it cannot visually be removed so one lands with it each time thus breaking the squadron standing orders.
I already knew from magazine images, the cockpit was nothing like the DB Lancasters of 1943. I have never in all of my research seen a British Lancaster with vertical, one above the other, gauges at dash level, including a direction indicator that is nothing like the reality of 1943. Then a "g" gauge where the pocket watch holder should be.
For a start, the magneto switches do not work on the 2D panel, only in the VC do the slow running switches work and they incorrectly totally control start up. You can do a manual start by lifting the start button cover and pressing the "red" (red?) start button - that action incorrectly begins the start sequence for the selected engine. If you had correctly closed the master cocks for each engine at shut down, the start button action will visually open the main fuel #### and the engine starts. AP2062 is quite clear that you select #2 tank first, open the main fuel #### for the engine to be started (all others shut), turn on ingition for the engine and then press the start button. Not sure Mr Munro would be at home in this cockpit because it does not comply with how he was trained. I could not have made my film with this Lancaster.
If you see #### in the text it thinks I am swearing when using the correct term c_o_c_k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMYGHAwiN0M
Interestingly you have to use the forward view blocking overlay panels to achieve a near correct start which in my view is like reading the manual as you go. I noted also FCS say in the "manual" that you start with #3 engine. I wonder what is the real truth given that a number of films show a start with port #2 and that engine, from AP2062, has more equipment associated with it.
However it "looks" just ok as a flyable option in my Plane-Design DB Lancaster file, but then again Mr Munro did not make it much further than the Dutch coast so there really is little point if one is going to attack the Moehne of Eder Dams. Below AJ-W is heading out at "60 feet" for the Dutch Coast at Texel (my Plane-Design panel in use).
Nice prop image!!!!!!!!
Footnote: the package also contains the flying Canadian Lancaster but not with the Canadian gauges used in that aircraft or its dual column controls in the virtual cockpit. They only use one panel layout for all supplied aircraft, wow what a short cut!
If I had bought this package I would be returning it for a refund. Plane-Design is way ahead even if it was designed in 2005, his research was far better. FCS has been uninstalled and I did not even bother to instal it in FSX.
Cheers
, put training and trying the obvious in small lake areas , .
