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Swiss Air Force Lear Jet T-781 on VATSIM Network
A kind of a revival of a unique jet at Zurichs "Unique" Airport
latest update: fixed "not loading livery" issue. The three available liveries work again.
The Swiss Airforce had a pair of Lear Jets, T-781 (until 2006) and T-782 (until 1996). This military version is known as C21A while the same civilian jet is LJ35. Because VATAWARE did not know the C21A type code, I had "registered" it there as a LJ35. It was fun to get T-781 in the air again, leaving and landing at the nice detailed Zurich airport scenery (FreeZ) for 40 hours of simulation flying. The model works great on the international VATSIM network. Although my old computer is a permanent performance bottleneck, it is great fun to see this thing cruise along with Boeings and Airbuses. For that I increased power and tank size by a dozen percent and reduced weight by the same. Yes, that is considered cheating, but fun it is.
A few words about T-781 are here:
http://www.lw.admin.ch/internet/luftwaffe/de/home/themen/history/mittelaus/learjet.html
and here:
http://www.airpic.ch/category/swiss-air-force/out-of-service/learjet-35a/
Original T-781 images can be found here:
http://www.planeboys.de/sxf/Airlines/special%20flights/gvmt/sw_yu/switzerland/lj35a.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Swissaf.learjet35a.t-781.arp.jpg
a Google search on "Swiss Airforce T-781" yields some interesting results. Also Wikipedia is up to date:
Main cockpit view (default)
This T-781 is based on a 3d model made and posted by acmertz1 on http://forums.x-plane.org in October 2011 for X-Plane version 9.7, it had a very basic instrument panel. I enjoyed the model, but soon changed to a new panel with parts from various sources. Now it is time to give back something to the original author, and here is:
-a thoroughly GIMPed new cockpit from several photo image sources, instruments removed and replaced by X-Plane parts
-Standard old style instruments for "real IFR training" as real as it gets at a desk
-2000x2000 pixel cockpit panel, can be reduced during flight to 1200x1000 to noticably increase frame rate, stays fully flyable
-FMC, map, ECAM, HUD, System Computer and swappable second HSI may turn this cockpit into high tech or old style depending on your preferences. (update: discarded the camera)
-after a while in 2d mode, I re-built the cockpit in 3d
Downside: to run 3d mode, I use a second joystick.
Plus: 2d mode is as good as 3d, with the real 3d views when you turn the pilots head.
Another downside: due to a software error, PlaneMaker displays the 2d cockpit in the 3d cockpit object. This generates some useless artifacts, since both cockpits are not identical (intentionally!).
The cockpit stays fully flyable at 1050x1050 but of course the wide screen look is nicer. What I like about it is that I can fly it "old style" and have the high tech stuff just available. And when there is a lot of traffic, the radar display is nice to have. You may actually switch off FMS and EFIS during flight to really depend upon your own navigation. I know that most regular pilots may need the map but my own digital ICAO map is in a second computer, see here.
Controls are moving 3d elements (in 3d mode)
The cockpit is fully visible and operational from the outside.
The cockpit in 2d mode. Switching from 2d to 3d and back is possible all the time.
Cockpit in 3d. Now the FMS is between seats, checklists also. In 3d there is no HUD function, but you may still flip the sun visors.
Here is the complete X-Plane model file with all stuff inside. Should work easily on Linux. Usually works on Windows, with Winzip7 or the like. I have no idea about Macs.
C-21A with liveries for US and Swiss Air Force
LJ35-T781_22FEB2012a.tgz.tar.gz
GNU Compressed Tar Archive File [25.4 MB]
Download
The original source file from acmertz1 with the basic cockpit is here:
http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=14917
Just copy the tar file contents into the X-Plane Aircraft directory and try it out.
Original USAF paint job by acmertz1 is still included, as well as his blank livery for future additions.
Following are 2000x1000 pixel images that have unfortunately been reduced for internet presentation. Click the images for a slightly larger size.
This is a flight sim plane model that can be opened with all systems off. In X-Plane, remove the tick mark for "Settings / Operations&Warnings / Start each flight with engines running" so the airplane is in a shut down state when you open it.
Position EDDF south ramp, GA parking area. X-Plane has just been launched. Pilot enters aircraft with a flash light, searching for the main battery switch.
He finds it, on the bottom left. Flip the switch to activate main electricity bus 1.
Aaaaahhh we got LIGHT. The main bus 1 is now ON. All lights are on; this is an X-Plane default and we need to adjust it.
Top row, left to right:
- EFIS brightness
- Instruments
- Switches
- Artificial horizon
Bottom row, left to right:
- cockpit brightness
- left and center spot
- transponder and bottom spot
- last one does not work (X-Plane draws it also outside of aircraft - wrong)
Switch on BAT2 on bottom row, AVIONICS A/P and HYD on middle row
Switch on all 4 generators. 1 and 2 are regular, 3 and 4 are needed for internal supply of EFIS and FMC.
Switch off both CAM switches. The onboard camera is funny, but never needed. It eats a lot of CPU time. The middle switch supplies the camera, and the rightmost switch supplies camera AND HUD.
Lights adjusted, A/P to "ON"
FMS overrides EFIS which overrides CHK
FMS is the flight management system/computer, EFIS is an information system and CHK displays checklists. While you are not familiar with these, I recommend you turn ALL THREE to MAX LEFT. Then all three are at "page 1". To cycle through all pages, use the three buttons. Try it out and see what is possible. The display accepts a number of simultaneous overlays.
Again: to avoid/remove confusion, turn all three to the left.
Turn the right "CAM" switch together with "HUD PWR" on if you want to use the Head-up display.
Turn on "Power FMS" next to the CAM switches and see what the FMS does: it displays a map on the EFIS screen and activates the large FMC panel. You can also turn the FMS knob to the left and then activate "FUEL" on the bottom row of the EFIS display (this would be ECAM mode).
Turning FMS to the left, stepping EFIS to the right cycles through useful information screens like Joystick raw data, altimeter settings, NAV settings.
EFIS page 1 is a computer diagnostic. It reads raw bit information from joystick and graphics card.
- HDG, PITCH, ROLL are from joystick. Move these to zero to align your rudder, ailerons and elevator
- FTIM is the frame time = 1/framerate ; should better stay well below 50[ms]
At the same time, whenever this page is shown, X-Plane shows numerical values for all instrument brightness knobs (for debugging purpose)
EFIS page 2 gives all altimeter settings:
- radar altimeter readout
- radar alt setting (decision height)
- QNH in hPa
- QNH in inHg (for USA)
Page 3 is a lot easier to set the autopilot with. Use the three knobs for SPD, HDG, VVS. For ALT use standard display on instrument panel.
Page 4 displays a rough guesstimate for a good speed depending upon the selected altitude in the ALT setting (here: 26000ft).
The RNAV units are hard to operate during flight. Use page 5 to set the standby frequencies with the red round knobs, then swap with the gray square button.
Page six displays the checklist that you have activated with the "CHK" knob. Nine lists are available.
Here is a checklist that displays red flags according to what the autopilot is set to. Some checklists do have some of these flags. You may display the FMS approach map over the checklist, having both features at the same time.
Onboard camera; use three knobs top right to adjust zoom and pan.
NOTE: camera removed FEB2012
The HSI button on the left of the right side HSI swaps it for an RMI instrument which I like better but is not standard.
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