FloatDC3.zip (Number 16) Dakota Floatplane Package. Copyright C. Trev Morson. Douglas XC-47DL (DC-3) Air Alaska. Original Model by John Kelly Flight Model FDE by Mike Vidal. Float Conversion by Barry Blaisdell. Proposed by and Artwork by Trev(DC-3)Morson. FSFS Required !! On unzipping this package you will find several files for your enjoyment in flying the Dakota in FS5. They are as follows : DC3Float 0 to 9 'af' files= Put in 'Texture' (fltsim5 sub dir) DC3Float.Air file= Put in 'Pilots' (fltsim5 sub dir) ****************** "OPTIONAL FILES" ******************** DC3Air.zip (unzip to find DC3Float.Air= an alternative Air file) This will erase the prop disks if you so prefer. DC3LAKE.stn file= Put into 'Pilots' (fltsim5 sub dir) for a pre-set situation. This of course is optional but it puts you on Lake Michigan with the Chicago skyline behind you (just off Meigs Airfield) Go into 'Situation' (FS5) and you will find it once installed. Whether you use the default panel or any add-on panel, this will still work. TREVDC3.pcx file= A photo of this aircraft and the situation it is in (mentioned above). DC3s.pcx file= Another photo of my favourite Dakota (since I,m frequently being asked) Although this file here ties with it. Prop.wav file= First, Re-name your original Prop.wav to anything you want, found in= 'Sound' (fltsim5 sub dir) Then install the Prop.wav sound provided here in the same place. This again is optional but it is the best Pratt+Whitney DC-3 sound for FS5 anywhere on-line. Created by Jan Visser. Screetch.wav file= First, Re-Name your original Screetch.wav to anything you want, found in= 'Sound' (fltsim5 sub dir) Then install the Screetch.wav sound provided here in the same place. This sound I created as a variation of the default 'Splash' sound. It will give the effect of surfing on the water. (More) DC-3pnl.gif file. This is a photo of the Vip Panel for the Dakota by VIP products. Read the txt within the Photo regarding how to obtain this great product by Kenneth K Kerr. The WEB site for all VIP add-ons is : http://ourworld.compuserve.com:80/homepages/sqp TIPS******TIPS*******TIPS********TIPS********TIPS*********TIPS Some people experience sound problems when they have bigger sound files in there 'Sound' (Fltsim5 sub dir). It may be due to a memory problem in FS5. Therefore I suggest that if you do experience difficulties check the total number of KB's in that sub-dir (Sounds) and Try not to have it exceed 280KB. I myself have alot of sound files and I usually keep any I'm not using in a temporary dir away from FS5. ....It's a good idea to click on 'Ignore crash' setting in FS5. Only because its stops any unrealistic crashes on the water with the Floatplane. FS5 was not set up as well as FS4 was regarding Floatplane flying and I hope this will change for when Microsoft release FS6. This aircraft acts and behaves like a Floatplane should, for example it needs a longer distance to take off from the water because of added weight and more drag. It will rotate at around 100 knots with flaps up and full throttle. For landing come in straight and level at around 80 knots with full flaps and she will be fine. You will find that it Taxis nicely for a DC-3 and the view is also a little better as the tail is not dragging but straight and level. (Note all the wheels and original gear struts have been re-moved as was done for the real one). The gear is obviously non-retractable and so the strobe lights work when flaps are down rather than gear down. It flies a little slower than your normal DC-3/C-47 but thats how it is with Floatplanes. To stop the aircraft you can use the brakes if you want although in real life Floatplanes coasted to a stop as they had no brakes as such. But there there if you want them. Now.....load it up and experience another side of FS5 in this delightful and very rare aircraft. I've spoken to many in the forum who have discovered places that they thought didnt exist in FS5. Nice too for those of you who have the PCW Resort from SIMGAM Forum. (More) **************** HISTORY and RESEARCH **************** Only one C-47 with floats was built by Douglas. It was a special order from the US Army during WW2. The Model was XC-47DL. The X designated it was a special procurement and the DL specified that it was built at the Douglas Long Beach Plant. No commercial version of the DC-3 on Floats was ever built by Douglas. That is not to say that DC-3's or C-47's were ever converted by other Aviation Companies. The original was sold as Army surplus. EDO Corporation made the floats and reportedly made 150 pairs of Floats. The majority of these were never used. The version supplied here is of AIr Alaska in a fictional livery. I painted it in this scheme only because several people who helped on the research of this rare version of Dakota would seem to recall one being flown by Air Alaska as a Charter service. I also included Cabin window curtains, Engine detail, and some 3D gradient effects. The serial number of this version is borrowed...... as it is from a Graveyard C-47/DC-3 hulk in some baron place here in the U.S. and so it seemed fitting to choose that if only to have the poor thing flying again. People who helped in the research of this rare bird are: William R Odell (former DC-3 pilot retired) Douglas Jacobson (PR dept. of Douglas Aircraft) Warren Basler (head of Basler Aviation in Oshkosh WI) Andy Cardadeiro (SIMGAM Forum) Several books on the DC-3/C-47 were also scrutinized and at times seemed to contradict other research books. Others on the CIS SIMGAM Forum also helped so forgive me if I neglected to mention you. But thanks to all of you there. ( This is Just one in my fleet of 46 Dakotas. ) Other Dakotas Available by me are:........................... Air Atlantique DC-3 El Venado Colombia DC-3 Ecuadorian Air Force C-47 US Navy C-47 RAF D-Day Markings C-47 NASA C-47 Air BVI DC-3 Northwest Airlines DC-3 USAF AACS Dayglo C-47 Cambrian Airways DC-3 Lake Central DC-3 Lufthansa DC-3 Trans Australia Airlines DC-3 PCW Resort DC-3 Canadian Pacific Airlines DC-3 All are available in CIS SIMGAM Forum ....Section 23. (MORE) My sincere Thanks go to Barry Blaisdell who did the MAGNIFCENT Float conversion. He had to work from my child-like diagrams but did an excellent job. He did everything I asked for including pcx's of the floats within FSFS, surfaces for 3D effects and fulfilled alot of my requests throughout the project. (As well as sending a ton of E-Mails to + fro). You might want to check out his aircraft in SIMGAM too. Thanks again Barry........Wonderful work. His CIS address is: Barry Blaisdell,CIS 74644,534 I would like to thank Mike Vidal for the use of his excellent Flight Model. And..the FDE he did on this Float version. This Guy is a total FDE guru !!!! Thanks Mike. Thanks to John Kelly for the Original design of the DC-3, and his help on the research although confusing at times. This Aircraft was Beta tested by my good friend : Capt. William R Odell. A former DC-3 pilot and this file is dedicated to his wife who is suffering at this time. My thanks and thoughts to them. ****** LEGAL ***************** This may be freely distributed to any BBS or FTP site providing this txt file is with it. But it is prohibited from being uploaded to the CIS FS FORUM or Tekmate. Permission from myself is needed before any of my Aircraft are loaded on to CD-Rom. This file is not to be sold for profit in any way shape or form. It is Freeware. Copyright C. Trev(DC-3)Morson. CIS 103214,3307 Thankyou for downloading.......Enjoy.