Boeing 717

Freeware Version 5.1

by Roy Chaffin

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU READ THIS DOCUMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY

Manual edited by: Bill Rambow

For use with FS2000, and compatible with all known 3D graphics cards.

This panel is designed to be used at a minimum of 1024 x 768 (but will work at 800 x 600)

Microsoft FS2000 Patch **ESSENTIAL**

This panel is graphic intensive, and is intended only for higher end PC's. Slower machines will work, but with very slow frame rates.  It was built and tested on a PII 450mhz, Geforce Pro powered PC and it should perform as well, if not better than the FS2000 default aircraft.

Version 5.1

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This panel was Designed and Developed by Roy Chaffin
(roy@roychaffin.com) http://www.roychaffin.com/rcs-panels.html

 

This is an upgrade of a panel and aircraft originally designed and built for FS98, modified to make it compatible with FS2000.  As such it does not take advantage of all the features of FS2000, and depending on which aircraft is used, some gauges may not function properly. Once a proper, full-function FS2000 B-717 aircraft is built, everything will work. (FS2000 Aircraft Designers Apply Within ;-)

The original panel was based on the only available cockpit photo of the B717 at the time and models as closely as possible the actual cockpit. Some changes were made to enable you to fly it successfully with FS98, and now FS2000. Many gauges have been specially modified, and some designed specifically to make this panel reasonably realistic.

Gauges produced by several other developers have been used to create this panel, in particular MS default gauges for FS2000. None of these have been modified in any way.  Some modifications have been made to FS98 gauges, but this does not take away from the hard work put in by many people in developing the original versions.

Please ensure that you read the full list of credits later in this file.

The Weather Radar Gauge was modified by Roy Chaffin from a gauge designed by Guntram Strasser and is FREEWARE, however if you wish to use it in any product for financial gain, or modify it in any way (including the Bitmaps), a fee of $10 must be sent to register it to:- Guntram Strasser / Omega Solutions, Keplerstrasse 90, A-8020 GRAZ, AUSTRIA. Contact Phone: 0043-316-6096-209 MET 8:00 - 17:00

This panel and aircraft are FREEWARE, produced for your enjoyment.

LEGAL NOTICE
Copyright and Distribution
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This panel is released as Freeware. Copyright (C) Roy Chaffin. As freeware you are permitted to distribute this archive subject to the following conditions:

- The archive must be distributed without modification to the contents of the archive. Redistributing this archive with any files added, removed or modified is prohibited.

- The inclusion of any individual file from this archive in another archive without the prior written permission of the author is prohibited. This means, for example, that you may not upload an archive that uses this panel or any of its gauges or include it in it's entirety in a package.
- No charge may be made for this archive or any of its contents.  It must remain Freeware..
- The work of other authors and developers included in this archive is used with their permission, under the conditions they have set forth. They are Freeware and must remain so.  Their original copyrights and conditions apply and may be read in their enclosed docs.

- The authors' rights and wishes concerning this archive must be respected.  Legal action against violators of these provisions will be pursued vigorously.

Attention Software Pirates:  In case none of the above registers with you, let me put it this way:   This is Freeware.  It has been produced and provided solely for the enjoyment of Flight Simmers.  Neither I nor any of the gauge programmers and others who have contributed their hard work to this project expect to make a cent from it.  I will, however, happily take your money in the form of legal compensation if you pirate this work!

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CONTENTS

A. Software Requirements
B. Installation
C. Panel Features and Operations
D. Credits
E. Disclaimer


A.   Software Requirements

To use this panel you NEED :

1. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000.
2. Microsoft FS2000 patch installed.
3. 3D Accelerator is required.
4. WinZip v7 or better
5. A PC that is capable of running FS2000 properly.  Note: FS2000 requires up to 400 mbs of free hard drive space for a Swap File, even with 256 mbs of RAM.


B.  Installation:

The Zip file contains the Aircraft, the Panel, and the Gauges

Unzip rc71751f.zip to a Temporary folder, then proceed as follows:

Copy the "B717-200 RCS2000 v5.1 Freeware" folder and it contents into the Aircraft subfolder of FS 2000.

Copy the files contained in the "Gauges" folder into the FS2000 Gauges subfolder.



C.   Panel Features and Operation

Note:  In order to avoid problems, it is strongly suggested that you read these instructions carefully.

This panel has four "flat panel" Multi-Function Displays (MFD's) two of which are switchable.

Numbered from left to right, they function as follows:

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MFD 1 is the Primary Flight Display including electronic readouts of the Altimeter, Vertical Speed Indicator, Heading Indicator, Attitude Indicator, and Flight Director.

A mouse Hot Spot is located at the bottom right hand corner of the MFD 1 surround to enable you to change Barometric Pressure for the Altimeter.

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MFD 2 can be switched using the knobs on the bottom of the MFD frame from Navigation Display (ND) to EICAS 1 or EICAS 2, Engine Instrument Crew Alert System displays.

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MFD 3 , in addition to the same functions as 2, will display the FS2K GPS;  Checklists including Before Takeoff, Takeoff, Cruise, Approach, and Landing:  or Weather Radar (simulated) displays.  Note: When the panel is first loaded you should switch MFD 3 to display Engine Instruments

Please note: The Weather Radar is a moving FAKE, and does not display your selected weather.

For instructions on the use of the GPS see the MSFS HELP file.

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MFD 4 contains the Com and Nav radio readouts, which may be adjusted with the mouse. 

A graphic display of flap, spoiler and gear condition is located just below the radio readouts.  When the gear is in transit, the indicator lights blink.  Steady green indicate gear down and locked, of course.  The same holds true for the spoiler indicator.  The flap indicator lights  glow steadily for full flaps, are off for flaps up, and blink for intermediate settings.

Digital trim readout (pitch), digital OAT, and wind direction and strength indicator round out the MFD 4 display.

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IMPORTANT

The MFD's should be toggled by the use of the "Special Button Switches" to the left of the panel, or the knobs under the MFD's. Using the Keyboard and Shift + Number keys will cause the display to do strange things, and should not be used.

A light on the button means that display is active.  Before switching to another MFD 3 display (GPS, Weather, or Checklists) turn off the previous display using the buttons.   The sane applies to the clock and compass, which occupy the same space--turn one off before switching the other on, otherwise the indicator lights will not indicate the true conditon of the feature.

"GPS"   can be toggled with the "GPS" button,  "Check Lists with the "CK" button,  "Weather Radar" with the "WR" button, Wiskey Compass with the "CMPS" button, and centerpost Clock  with the "CLOCK" button.

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The B-717 panel is equipped with a Fire Panel.  Each engine has it's own fire extinguisher system.   Once activated, the affected engine will automatically be shut down.  Once the fire extinguisher handle has been reset, the engine may be restarted normally.  The mouse click points to test, discharge, and reset the system is shown below:

 
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An enhancement added to this version of the panel is a working, fully mouse activated quadrant.   Features, which can be key command as well as mouse activated, including an Autobrake (see FS Help for operating instructions),  Power Levers, Flap Actuator Lever, Spoiler Actuator Lever and Indicator, and Landing Gear Lever.

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Version 5.1 introduces a rebuilt overhead panel and an Engine Starting and Shutdown system.

IMPORTANT!!!  AVIONICS MASTER SWITCH - You must turn on the Avionics Master Switch on the Overhead Panel when loading the panel for use, and each time when restarting engines, otherwise your MFD's will appear like this..........

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D.    Credits:

"Special thanks" to:-

My friend and colleague Bill Rambow, for the production of the internal views, for editing the readme, transforming it into this html Manual--plus, and most importantly, for being the sounding board for all the ideas.

To Steve Small for the time and effort in developing the Flight Dynamics in this version.  The aircraft is now fairly close to the performance of the proper aircraft.

Christian Kögler for the use of his working "Fire Panel", originally designed for Eric W. Ernst.

Alex Bashkatov for his Aircraft Config gauge

Guntram Strasser for his Weather Radar

To Microsoft for FS2000 (with NO SDK!), and their gauges

To Eric C. Johnson for the original aircraft design

To Nathan Tenney for the aircraft textures and moving parts

Lastly, to anyone I might have forgotten

E.   DISCLAIMER

You do not need to register this software it is FREEWARE, but protected by copyright. If you like it use it, if not, delete it.

Should you wish to modify the Weather gauge, or use it for commercial gain you must register it.Please see the details above.

I accept absolutely no responsibility for YOUR use of this software.There is no reason that it should in anyway damage your machine, but if it does hard luck. If you don't accept this risk don't use it.

If you wish to use any gauges either as is, or modified, or any part of this panel in any panel you wish to publish even as FREEWARE you must gain prior written permission from Roy Chaffin by contacting him by email at roy@roychaffin.com before even considering release.

RCS gauges are protected by an internal security system that will render them useless if hacked, and cause other strange things to happen. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

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THIS PANEL HAS BEEN DEVELOPED BY A FLIGHT SIMULATOR ENTHUSIAST TO INCREASE THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO PARTAKE IN THE HOBBY. HOPEFULLY IT MIGHT INSPIRE OTHER DESIGNERS TO ATTEMPT BETTER AND GREATER THINGS.

IF YOU LIKE IT USE IT, ENJOY IT, AND TELL ME BY E-MAIL.  IF NOT, DUMP IT, BUT PLEASE DO TELL ME WHAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE SO IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE IN FUTURE PANELS.

Please remember the only thing FREEWARE developers get for all their hard work is your comments. So don't be shy.

Roy Chaffin "roy@roychaffin.com"

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