Copyright (c) 2012 KENWIGAIR.  All rights reserved.


SUMMARY

FSX  Four panels for the MD-80-87 (SGA MD-80 and MD-87 Series, or similar).  Sub-panels/popups include GPS, Radio/Pedestal w/ radar, Overhead, CDU or FMC, TCAS, HUD and V-Speeds.  Analogue, "glass" and "PFD/EFIS" types constructed by adapting the classic bitmaps for the MD-8X from Paul Golding, Leon Seale and Marco Spada.  Gauges by Paul Golding, Ken Mitchell, Philippe Wallaert, Jacob Larsen, Garrett Smith, Paul Scarratt, Eric Marciano, Matt Smith, Stefan Liebe, Doug Dawson, Richard Probst, Tom Wood, Targan Uzman and Pierre Fasseaux.  Compatible with FS9.  By Ken Wigginton.

INSTALL

1.  Extract the four panels (FSX_MD-80-87_Panels.zip) into your MD-8X folder.  Edit your aircraft cfg. to reflect which of my four panels you wish your MD-8X to utilize, as follows:

panel=KW_MD-80_GoldingSeale_ANALOGUE

OR

panel=KW_MD-80_GoldingSpada_GLASS

OR

panel=KW_MD-80_GoldingSpada_PFD

OR

panel=KW_MD-87_GoldingSeale

2.  Place the gauges in the FSX_MD-80-87_Gauges.zip/FSX_MD-80-87_Gauges folder in your main FSX "Gauges" folder.  

3.  Extract the FSX_MD-80-87_Sound.zip to your main FSX "Sound" folder.  

4.  Sample aircraft configs for the SGA MD-80 and SGA MD-87 are separately available (absent your aircraft).  These may be used to give you guidance for interfacing with my panels with regard to radios, altimeters, ASIs, fuel tank selectors, smoke/contrail systems, GPWS and GWS when using non-SGA or non-OEM/SGA platforms.  Or, these configs may be used directly for linking with the SGA models.  They are copied from my SGA MD-80 and SGA MD-87 hangars.  

5.  For those already familiar with add-on aircraft and panel installations, the foregoing is routine.  However, for those that are new to this, Microsoft Flight Simulator's file structure and the task of editing config files can seem a bit daunting.  If this is you, I highly recommend that you seek guidance from the FLIGHTSIM.COM Newcomer Services Forum here: http://www.flightsim.com/vbfs/forumdisplay.php?51-Newcomer-Services

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1.  Each panel comes complete with its own sub-panels and popups accessible by Shift+2-9 keyboard commands and icons.  Essential pop-ups (GPS, Radio Stack/Throttle and Overhead) are sequenced Shift+2-4 and are also accessed by visible icons.  Additional popups (FMC/CDUs, Radar, V-Speeds and TCAS) are sequenced Shift+5-9 and are also accessed by invisible icons along the kneeboard (lower limits of the Main Panel).  Look for invisible icons accessing these on top of FMC/CDU screen images and knobs.  PDF and PDF/EFIS type panels have large PFD and MFD popups accessed by clicking at the top of their bezels.  Please take a moment when you first load your MD-8X with one of my panels to open the aircraft cockpit views to familiarize yourself with the available sub-panels and popups.

2.  Panels incorporate default Microsoft FS engine starting functions.  You may simply start the engines utilizing Ctrl+E or manually operate the fuel pumps, fuel valves and starters.  (An APU is included, but activation is not required for starting the engines.  Neither are having the fuel pumps activated.)  Here is the operation that I utilize with ALL third-party aircraft and panels for trouble free loading and starting:

Load the flight with a default twin-engine airplane, with the battery, alternator and avionics switches on and the engines off.  (I use either the FSX Boeing 737-800 or Beech Baron.)  After the flight is loaded, open the aircraft menu and switch to the plane you wish to fly.  After the new plane appears, turn on the APU and fuel pumps.  Do not click the fuel valves or starters.  Enter Ctrl+E.  FSX will do the rest of the work for you and sequence the starters and fuel valves.  If difficulty in starting occurs, reload the new aircraft.

3.  Panels include Eric Marciano's freeware radar system.  An unregistered, freeware copy of FSUIPC is required to be installed and activated for this radar to show AI aircraft within its range.  You may obtain a copy here: http://www.schiratti.com/dowson.html  

4.  Panels include Jacob Larsen's V-Speeds gauge.  This gauge calculates the V1, V2 and V3 take off speeds, regardless of load or flap settings and produces a readout (just above the attitude gauge or ADI in my panels).  It also includes aural sounds for 80 knots, V1, Vrotate, and V2 speeds.  To use this gauge, simply open the pop-up and click on the readout before takeoff.  This will activate the aural sounds.  You may keep the readout open or close it.

5.  Panels include Jacob Larsen's panel light switch on the overhead.  This switch has multiple settings and is operated by left and right mouse clicks. 

6.  Each of this series has dual NAV 1 and 2 radios (under the glareshield and in the radio stack).  Both are fully capable of receiving NAV signals; however, to do so has required amending the aircraft config with the result that, when tuning the radio stack NAV 1, you will be tuning the ACTIVE frequency.  In other words, to load frequencies to NAV 1 from the stack, load the standby frequency first, toggle frequencies, then tune the active.  NAV 2 is switchable from under the glareshield, but only tunable from the radio stack.

7.  Only two pop-ups obscure the icons which access them:  All "overheads" have invisible "close" or "x" toggles on the lower right.  The PFD panel's throttle/radio stack has an invisible close icon on the left side of the throttle box below the spoiler handle. 

8.  All essential switches (battery, starters, fuel pumps, alternators/generators, lights, pitot) are operable/clickable in the overhead. Please take time to locate these and distinguish them from the non-essential functions which are static.    

CREDITS

This project would not be possible but for the seminal work of Paul Golding, Leon Seale and Marco Spada.  Their "blue" and "pink" MD-8X panels are THE standard.  I have carefully edited their original bitmaps to a minimum to accomodate FSX compatible gauges and have added my night lighting effects.

In addition to Paul Golding, thank you to the following for the use of their gauges:

Ken Mitchell - It would be difficult to imagine an FS airliner cockpit, whether jet or prop, Boeing, Airbus or McDonnell-Douglas without Mitch's gauges.

Philippe Wallaert - A prolific panel maker and builder of many "go-to" gauges for my panels.  His autopilot components are at the top of my panel making tool-box. 

Jacob Larsen - Originator of the incorporated V-Speed gauge, VSI/TCAS and annunciators used by my panels.  Author of the wonderfully complex FSX Maersk Air Boeing 737-2L9 available at FLIGHTSIM.COM: jela737m.zip

Garrett Smith - Author of the best freeware FMC around.  It is better than many payware models.  Available at FLIGHTSIM.COM: fmc-1.zip

Paul Scarratt - An icon in the FS world.  Author of gauges used by everyone everywhere.  

Eric Marciano - THE author of radar systems.  Exceedingly generous with his freeware radar used by me and many others which competes with his greatly enhanced payware systems available here: http://emarciano.free.fr/En/RadarHome.htm 

Matt Smith - Prolific 757 painter and default gauge fixer.  Matt has taken Stefan Liebe's altitude call-outs gauge and refined it.  His "CALLOUT_SmallJets" is incorporated in my MD-80-87 panels. 

Stefan Liebe - Stefan brought call-outs to FSX.  He is also the author of the best A321 gauge enhancement package around.  I use it exclusively in my A321s and in my A319s and A318s.  Available at FLIGHTSIM.COM: a32x_v1.zip 

Doug Dawson - The man behind the sound.dll.  We simply wouldn't have sound in the FS world without Doug.

Richard Probst - The first face I would carve on the Mount Rushmore of the FS world.  Richard's 727 and 737-200 panels set the gold standard.  They are still unmatched.  His analogue gauges are indispensable in any tri-jet configuration or twin-engine setup.  For me, FS went from being a "computer game" to a compelling hobby went I strapped on one of Richard's 727's and took off for Kai Tak.

Tom Woods - Author of the essential F16 HUD.

Targan Uzman - Author of many "can't find it anywhere else" switches, annunciators and gauges.

Pierre Fasseaux - Major panel builder and author of a wonderful assortment of gauges, including must-have Bendix radio sets and Davtron clocks/chronometers.  

COMPATIBILITY

There appears to be much misunderstanding and myth about compatibility of FS2004 and FSX panels.  Here's the skinny:  FSX will not execute FS'98 gauges.  FS2004 panels are only incompatible with FSX in so much as FS'98 gauges have been carried forward into their configs.  Fortunately, for most of these, substitutes are available and often with better graphics.  That's 98% of it.  FSX also doesn't like early sound.dlls.  And, sometimes, logic gauges written with FS'98 syntax have been carried forward.  Substitute the FS'98 gauges, remove or replace incompatible sound.dlls and logic gauges and you have an FSX compatible panel.

On the other hand, FS2004 will not execute ACE.xml gauges, which are native and unique to FSX.  FS2004 will execute "ordinary" XML gauges.  

So, configure panels without FS'98 or ACE.xml gauges (in the middle, where the bulk of available freeware gauges are found) and you have an FS2004/FSX cross-compatible panel.  This is where I build MY panels.  Another way of putting it is that I reconfigure FS2000-2004 panels for an FSX audience.

LEGAL

This panel package is FREEWARE.  Commercial utilization, in any manner, is strictly prohibited.  Redistribution, in whole or in part, shall require the express, written consent of Ken Wigginton.  Authors and artists whose works have contributed to, or supported, this project retain their rights.

Ken Wigginton
kenwig0556@aol.com
August 8, 2012