It’s great to see that the devs are keeping this project up. I am glad I spent money on this mod, it’s really one of the best out there.
4 Likes
I’d be happy to be able to fly it in the career mode !!!
1 Like
The da42 is currently 25% off on the Orbx.
5 Likes
Has anyone done this? I always leave my reactivity to 100% for every plane I fly (honeycomb alpha). 30% seems very, very low no?
1 Like
I like 100% aswell. I think the 30% number comes from our tester recommendations.
Is there any way without state saving to start cold and dark with the alternator switches in the off position? I can edit the Apron.flt to have the fuel valves closed, but even comparing the file with the stock DA62, I can’t get those switches to be off at the start of a flight.
“L:ALT_MASTER:1/2” in the flt files. i think.
i still dont understand why you’d want them to be off. They are slaved to the engine masters.
You’re gonna end up forgetting them.
I’m used to doing it in the DA62 - it’s second nature by now.
Edit: That line might be a local or sim variable, but it doesn’t exist in the apron.flt file. I already have the alternator.0/1 lines in the [Electrical.0] section set to False, but the switches still start on.
It’s not a deal breaker - I just turn them off during preflight right now. I don’t turn them on until the engine is started and stabilized for a few seconds.
For the VI, DA42IN.xml, line 778 and 796.
For the TDII, DA42TDIIN.xml, line 759 and 777.
1 Like
I’ll check it tonight when I get home - thanks!
Not sure about the DA42…only flew that one for two flights while we were deciding on upgrade to the PA32-301 with two TDi engines or simply improve the airplane we know and already owned:
But there the starting procedure was to check ALT 1 and 2 OFF before starting the IO-540 to further decrease any potential damage to the 2 bus systems we had.
Only after the engine was stabilized the two ALT switches would be turned on and the two warning lights had to extingush at that time.
Perhaps that PA32 doesnt have alternator load balancing/protection
That did it - thanks! That, plus my steering angle tweak to 50°, and I’m one happy pilot!
1 Like
Load balancing it certainly did not have, it was simply a split installation for added protection for IFR flight. One single alternator could run almost everything, I forget which items needed to be shut down if one failed.
Realistically at that point in a GA single I would change plans anyway and simply find a nearby airport to troubleshoot on the ground.
Got this plane earlier this week, what a beauty! Been flying it through the Andes. Challenging because some of the peaks get up to 22000ft and the DA42 can’t get up that high. But that’s part of the fun I think.
Lovely sounds, the handling is so easy and the random failures make sure you keep on the edge of your seat.
2 Likes
I agree, it’s lovely. I agree about the taxiing but it’s very simplified. The real thing has a free castering nosewheel which means you have to steer with differential braking at low speeds. It would be nice to have this option for us with expensive rudder pedals.
1 Like
Its more of a spring loaded wheel.
i guess if the springs are worn out then it would be just castoring.
MSFS cant do anything like that unfortunately.
You can have free castering, but not with a spring return. It’s not in the SDK, but as a carry-over from previous sims, if you set the steering to 180°, it sets the gear as a free caster. I just tested this on my copy of the VI and it still works after all the updates.
Personally, I like to “install a field modification” by adding or adjusting positive steering to all nose and tail wheels that will allow me to pivot on the inside main wheel when turning. Any more than that causes the plane to react in weird ways, including not being able to move when you think you should be turning. Any less and you don’t get the minimum turning radius. For the geometry of this plane, if you do the trig, you get 50.88°, but I set it to an even 50°. That puts my turning center maybe an inch outside the main gear. If may not be realistic, but it sure helps ground handling when all you have is a twist stick for rudder input.
the da40 will have a quick toggle system for castoring, braking and nose wheel steering.