Microsoft KB Archive/66321

Contents of Aircraft & Scenery Designer README.AD1 File

PSS ID Number: Q66321 Article last modified on 11-08-1994

4.00

MS-DOS

Summary:

Following are the contents of the Aircraft & Scenery Designer Release Notes:

******************************************************   MICROSOFT FLIGHT SIMULATOR Aircraft & Scenery Designer R E L E A S E     N O T E S    ****************************************************** This document contains information not found (or not correctly stated) in the “Aircraft & Scenery Designer User’s Guide.”

General Information
When you install the Aircraft & Scenery Designer into your Flight Simulator directory, a new startup mode is created for you that sets your location to Boeing Field in Seattle, WA, and selects the Boeing 747-400 aircraft. The mode is saved with the 747, so it will load the 747 each time you reset the mode. To change the mode so it will retain any aircraft currently loaded when you reset the mode, use the following steps:


 * 1) From the Mode Library, select the Cessna Skylane RG, and press SPACEBAR.
 * 2) From the Mode menu, choose option D, Create Mode.
 * 3) To name the new mode, press 1 and type “Boeing Field Runway 13R”.
 * 4) To name the DOS file, press 2 and type “boeing”.
 * 5) To turn off option 3, Save the aircraft type as part of the mode file, press 3.
 * 6) To save the mode to disk, press 4.

Memory Issues
Aircraft & Scenery Designer (A&SD) requires 640K of basic memory. A&SD will run with less than 640K but some features will not function. For example, you need as much of your computer’s 640K memory as possible to run Flight Instruction when A&SD is installed. If your RAM memory available is insufficient for certain features, Flight Simulator displays a message to inform you that not enough memory is available.

To maximize the amount of memory available to Flight Simulator:


 * Avoid using Terminate-and-Stay-Resident programs (TSRs).
 * Run Flight Simulator from the DOS prompt, rather than starting it while using Microsoft Windows.
 * Do not increase the default settings in the Setup Configuration menu unless you are sure that you have additional RAM memory available.
 * To obtain additional RAM, do not use any TSRs and minimize the use of device drivers requested in your CONFIG.SYS file.

Enhanced Instrument Panel
To use the enhanced instrument panel, you must have an EGA or VGA video display with at least 256K of video memory, and choose display option H EGA 16 color 640x350 when you answer the startup questions.

CORRECTIONS to the user’s guide:


 * To engage/disengage the Thrust Reversers, press SHIFT+U, rather than SHIFT+BACKSPACE as may appear on pages 68 and 74.
 * The Ground Speed (GS) Indicator is located on the Navigation Display, not the Primary Flight Display as may be noted on page 71.
 * Stabilator Trim: The HOME and END keys on the keypad should be used to adjust trim, but the visual indication of trim is the opposite of the indicator on the Cessna panel, as on a real 747.
 * You cannot adjust the NAV2 bearing value (BRG) by using the V key as with the Cessna panel; the NAV2 needle on the RMI points directly to the VOR station and the BRG value automatically updates as you fly to indicate bearing to station.
 * The fuel remaining (FUEL REM.) value on the EICAS display should be multiplied by 100 to determine pounds of fuel remaining per engine.

NEW FEATURES not documented in the User’s Guide:


 * While a checklist is featured on the EICAS display, you can press SHIFT+Z to restart the checklist to scan the current flight situation and highlight in green the next operation.
 * If you have set values in the Winds menu, a wind direction and velocity indicator will appear in the lower-left of the Navigation Display. The top digits display the wind direction at your current altitude, and the bottom digits display the wind velocity. The arrow points direction of the wind, relative to the heading of the aircraft.
 * As you descend for a landing, you will hear tones at 150, 85, and 75 feet above the runway. These tones are from the Ground Proximity Warning System that alerts the pilot of proximity to the runway.
 * If you set the Speed Brakes to Arm status on landing approach, they will engage an auto-braking system when you touch down on the runway. The Parking Brake Indicator will turn on and braking-effect will be applied to aid in stopping the landing roll. To disengage the auto-braking and turn off the Parking Brake Indicator after landing, press the PERIOD key, or SHIFT+PERIOD. Note: you cannot arm the speed brakes while on the runway.
 * In the center of the Attitude Indicator on the Primary Flight Display, there are two white bars with a dot in the middle, representing the wings of your aircraft. This miniature airplane can be adjusted up or down by pressing SHIFT and the PLUS or MINUS key (on the numeric keypad, not the keyboard).
 * The Autopilot (A/P) status is displayed above the Navigation Display.
 * The mouse can be used to control the following on enhanced instrument panel: throttle, flaps, landing gear, speed brakes, A/P, NAV1, NAV2, ADF.

Static Scenery Designer
With option 3, Auto-Load Static Scenery, you can automatically load new scenery as you fly from one area into another, if you have defined boundaries for the scenery files with the Define Scenery Boundary option.

If you have dynamic scenery associated with the static scenery (both static and dynamic files have the same DOS filename), the dynamic scenery will be loaded when the static scenery is automatically loaded.

For best results, you should slightly overlap the boundaries of the adjacent static scenery areas. The scenery-loading rule to note is that the adjacent-area scenery file will not be automatically loaded until you fly beyond the boundary of the currently-loaded scenery file.

Miscellaneous Notes

 * VORs and markers (Navigation Aids) that you insert into scenery will be placed within 128 meters of the location where you add them, but NDBs and ILSs will be placed exactly where you add them. The deviation with VORs is due to constraints associated with current Flight Simulator scenery.
 * The values for option 0, Location System, on the Design preferences menu are not saved in your CONFIG.AD1 file; they are only used to change locations in Static Scenery Designer.
 * The accuracy of the Latitude/Longitude options will vary, depending on your location within the scenery.
 * The default grid size in Design Preferences menu is set to 528 feet, so each square on the grid is equal to 1/10 mile.
 * While working in Object Sizing And Color Design area of the Buildings Editor, you can press SHIFT+TAB to select the previous surface.
 * Mountains created with the Static Scenery Designer will generate ridge-lift for the sailplane, if you:
 * Select at least 20 mph of Level 1 wind in the Winds menu.
 * Set the wind direction so it blows directly into the mountain.
 * Fly the sailplane directly above the slope of the mountain; no lift is generated if you fly outside the base region of the mountain.
 * Stay in the sailplane’s Cockpit View; no lift if not in Cockpit View.
 * Static Scenery special effects:
 * The windsock will move if you have set Surface Winds in the Winds menu. Setting the turbulence value (TURB) will make it flutter.
 * The deciduous tree will change colors with each season that you select in the Enviro menu, if you use the default color when you add the tree to the scenery. The default color appears dark green in Preview Viewing Mode, while the color box in the menu may display another color. If you want the tree to stay the same color in every season, select a different color than the default color.
 * If you record a demo that enters the Aircraft Designer, the demo playback will stop when it enters the Aircraft Designer. Do not enter the Aircraft Designer when recording demos.
 * To maintain level flight for an extended period of time, use the Altitude Lock feature of the Autopilot.
 * If you use the Flight Instruction feature when your computer has limited memory available, you will have best results if option X, Lesson Mode, is set to Student Control, as it uses less memory.
 * The following items are saved in your CONFIG.AD1 file for use in subsequent Flight Simulator sessions, when you choose ENTER in the Setup Configuration or Design Preferences menus:
 * The name of static scenery file to load when you start Flight Simulator.
 * Status of Scenery Designer menu options 2,3,5,6, and 7.
 * Memory allocations requested in the Setup Configuration menu.
 * All Design Preferences menu items except location coordinates.

Additional reference words: asd A&SD

KBCategory: kbother KBSubcategory: ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.