DC-3 Airways Virtual Airline
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Float Plane Files

The Aircraft

You must install two files to place the Float version of the DC-3 into your FS2004 Aircraft Directory:

Note that you must install the MAAM-SIM R4D/DC-3 into FS2004 before attempting to install the float-plane files.

Panel

The XC-47 aliases (links to) the standard MAAM-SIM R4D panel. However, you may install your favorite DC-3 panel as with any other DC-3.

Be aware of the type of radios on your new panel, however. The XC-47 is aliased to the R4D panel. Those radios do not have the standby frequency function. If your new panel has radios with a standby frequency capability, such as the Bendix stack, a small change is needed in the aircraft.cfg file or they will not function properly. Here's how to change the aircraft.cfg file to accommodate standby-frequency radios. (Backup your aircraft.cfg file first)

  1. Close Flight Simulator.
  2. Open the XC-47 aircraft.cfg file with NOTEPAD.
  3. Scroll down to the [Radios] section.
  4. It should look like this:
    5. [Radios]
    // Radio Type=available, standby frequency, has glide slope
    Audio.1=1
    Com.1=1, 0
    Com.2=1, 0
    Nav.1=1, 0, 1
    Nav.2=1, 0, 1
    Adf.1=1
    Transponder.1=1
    Marker.1=1
  5. Make the four changes shown below in red, then save the aircraft.cfg file.
    6. [Radios]
    // Radio Type=available, standby frequency, has glide slope
    Audio.1=1
    Com.1=1, 1
     Com.2=1, 1
     Nav.1=1, 1
     Nav.2=1, 1
     Adf.1=1
    Transponder.1=1
    Marker.1=1

If you are unsure how to do that, seek help on our Forum. Many will be happy to assist you.

Textures

Now you will want to replace MAAM-SIM's olive-drab military textures with Mark Beaumont's DCA Textures.

Here, you have two simple options:

  • Download and install the dcamaama.zip DCA textures from AVSIM.com. This 13 MB file set includes both the bare-metal and the Classic DCA textures.

  • If your computer is a bit on the slow side, consider installing the DXT version of the textures. Download the dcamaam8.zip DXT files, also from AVSIM.com. These are slightly lower in quality, but still excellent. This file set, is again for both liveries. Note that you must first install the DCAmaama.zip textures.

Raising and Lowering the Rudder

While taxiing in the water you steer your aircraft by rudders mounted at the rear of your floats. However, you must raise these rudders for takeoff, landing, and of course while moving about on land in this amphibious aircraft.

Here, again, you have two options to raise or lower your rudders.

  • Microsoft's solution is to press the SHIFT-W key combination on the keyboard.
  • DCA has a better solution. Dave Bitzer and Norman Hancock designed a custom panel-mount handle for this function. It can be installed on any panel. If you are not comfortable about installing gauges seek help on our Forum.
    Note, however, that this Rudder gauge cannot be installed on a panel that is aliased. It only functions when on the panel of a float plane.

Installing your float plane, changing textures, and adding rudder control is not difficult. However, if you do run into problems, go immediately to our Forum for help. It's a very friendly place.