The "Lady
Southern Cross"
for
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004
In August 2004,
Australian Flight Simulator enthusiast, Eric Davis, approached model builder,
Paul Clawson, to see if he would build the Altair "Lady Southern
Cross" for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. Paul agreed and he and
Eric spent four months researching the model and instrument panel. Tim
Kalina, a regular contributor to these pages, assisted with photographs
of various Lockheed instrument panels. The most suitable was found to
be that of a Sirius and this became the basis of an instrument panel designed
by Eric. This panel went through three versions before Eric was happy
to release it. The resulting panel is a compromise between using the correct
gauges and making a background that does not look out of place in the
simulator.
Paul Clawson's
Altair model can be downloaded from any of the following sites:
Eric Davis'
Altair instrument panel can be downloaded from any of the following sites:
Help
for Beginners
www.flightsim.com
On the main page, scroll down until you see the green bar which
says - "Go To Lockheed File", click this and on the menu page you will
find -
Help For New Flightsimmers
FS2004 FAQ
FS2004 Forum
Before you can get to the main menu you will probably have to join,
which is free as long as you do not want "Premium Membership". Avsim,
Surclaro, and Simviation all have similar Forum, Help and Tutorial
pages.
The Altair in FS2002
Although the Altair was designed for FS2004, it can be flown in
FS2002 with limitations. Due to differences between the sims, it
needs more power to begin to roll. Applying the brakes, unless done
very carefully, causes it to nose over, resulting in a crash and
reboot. There is no adjustment for brake pressure in this sim. However,
it does fly OK, and if you land without using brakes it slows down
fairly quickly, with flaps down. Paul Clawson's panel loads without
any gauges as he referenced them to three aircraft which are not
available in FS2002. Eric Davis' panel will work in FS2002, but
needs to have the GPS changed as well as the landing gear lights.
This is easy as the gauges are already in the sim. Due to the brake
problem, most simmers will become frustrated and fly something else.
However, it is possible to take off using another aircraft type
and then swap to the Altair.
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Special Thanks to:
Paul
Clawson
Eric Davis
Tim Kalina
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