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 FS2002  DOUGLAS DC-7C Seven Seas

 Pan American World Airways 1957

 GMAX Version 7/2003
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Painted by Tom Gibson
All-new plane by Greg Pepper, Max, and Tom Gibson
Metal textures by Greg Pepper

Flight dynamics by FSAviator (true FS2002 flight model with dynamics derived from actual flight manual information).  For maximum accuracy, refer to the Reference page (F10).  This FDE is not designed for AI use - it will not work. Download AI propliners at http://www.calclassic.com/.

AIRCRAFT

1.  Virtual Cockpit complete with wing and engine views.  The VC has also been edited (by Max) to provide higher accuracy.  

If you use my DC-7 Panel version 6 with the latest update (after 7/2003) you may press Ctrl-Shift-1 and Ctrl-Shift-3 to view the wings from the passenger cabin, and Ctrl-Shift-7 and Ctrl-Shift-9 to view from the cockpit.

2.  The front cockpit windows have been shortened for higher accuracy.

3.  Prop reverse (throttle to idle, click reverse lever, allow plane to slow down, throttle to idle to go back to forward thrust)

4.  There are no opening doors on this model.

5.  The working cowl flaps are opened by Ctrl-Shift-V, and closed by Ctrl-Shift-C (both in increments) or use the cowl flaps switches.  Cowl flap drag will only be simulated if you use the switches.

6.  The plane is complete with reflective and night textures (turn on lights with L key, then turn Landing Lights off and on with Ctrl-L).  The ice light (upper fuselage) will turn on with the landing lights.

7.  The landing gear has working compression struts, and retracts as seen in vintage video.

8.  The landing lights light the ground properly, and must be extended before use (press the L key, and then press Shift-W).

9.  The prop blades actually rotate when you change the pitch or feather them; to feather the prop select engine by E1, E2, E3, or E4, then press and hold Ctrl-F2.  Press M--- and Ctrl-Shift-F1 to shut down the ignition and mixture.  Then press E followed by the other 3 numbers so you can operate the other engines.  Or use the feather buttons on the panel.

10.  Contrails whenever you want them (press the I key)

11. FS2002 style nav, landing, and beacon lights (press the L key)

12. FS2002 style visual effects, including touchdown smoke

13. Working NAV2 radio

This plane also features animated landing gear, flaps, ailerons, elevators, and rudder.

SPEED BRAKES

When flying the DC-7, the main gear can be used as a speed brake.  Use the 
spoiler key (/) to lower and raise the main gear (in spot view you will
actually see them come down!).  Do not lower them at more than 260 kts,
and you should be slower than 170 kts to raise them (the hydraulic system
isn't strong enough to raise them at higher speeds).  Thus they are best used
during the descent to landing.  There is a red speed brake handle on the panel as well.

REALISTIC ENGINE START

To start the engines realistically and individually, do this:

1.  Go to Options/Controls/Assignments and set the 4 starters to
Ctrl-1 through Ctrl-4 (or other keys of your choice).
2.  Go to spot view (Shift-S)
3.  Press E3 to select engine #3.
4.  Tap the Ctrl-3 key just enough to keep the prop moving slowly.
5.  Wait for 6 prop blades to pass by.
6.  Quickly press M+++: engine 3 will start.
7.  Press E4 to select engine #1.
8.  Repeat steps 4-6 to start engine #4, using 4 instead of 3.
9.  Repeat steps 4-6 to start engines 2 and 1.
10. Press E1234 to get control of both engines back.
11. Normal start sequence is 3-4-2-1.

CHECKLISTS

Press F10.  Included are Before Starting Engines, Starting Engines, Engine Run-up, 
Before Takeoff, Takeoff Data (V speeds), Climb, Cruise, Before Landing, and After Landing.
Also included is FSAviator's Reference file, with speed limits and climb/cruise powers, among lots of other info.

PANEL:

Please refer to the panel HTML file in the DC7Pnl6/DOCS folder.

SOUND:

Many sounds included are from Reinhold Herrmann, along with startup and shutdown sounds from Tom Gibson.

FLIGHT DYNAMICS, FUEL PLANNING, ETC.

Press F10 to bring up the checklist and FSAviator's Reference file.

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Installation:

1.  Use an unzipper that keeps stored folders intact.  Unzip the file "Unzip this to the main FS2002 folder.zip" into your main FS2002 folder (the one with FS2002.exe in it).

2.  Refer to the Docs folder found inside the FS2002/AIRCRAFT/DC7Pnl6/DOCS folder for details on the panel, etc.

3.  If you want a smokey engine start, read the fx_engstrtreadme.txt file (improved!  Now has a shorter duration and doesn't include the flames (causes VC flashing).


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After Lockheed introduced the L1049G "Super G" Constellation for TWA, Pan American needed an aircraft that was able to fly non-stop transatlantic services, even westbound with average winds (their current DC-7B service usually required a stop).  Douglas responded by stretching the fuselage by 40 inches and, more importantly, lengthening the wings by inserting a 5 foot extension at each wing root.  This gave the new DC-7C Seven Seas (in a 
clever pun on "7C") not only more room for fuel, but placed the engines further out on the wing, lessening the noise and vibration of the rather loud Wright R-3350 radials.  More powerful engines of 3400 hp each were fitted to the DC-7C, and all these improvments stretched the range to 5635 miles, allowing non-stop routes never before possible with Douglas aircraft.  The first Seven Seas service was introduced by Pan American on June 1, 1956, and a total of 121 DC-7C's were eventually delivered to the airlines.

The DC-7C went on to fly new non-stop routes across the US, as well as in transatlantic, transpacific, and even Great Circle routes over the North Pole.  Lockheed was forced to play catch up to the DC-7C, and finally developed the L1649A Starliner, which was originally supposed to be a turboprop, but ended up with R-3350's and was slightly slower than the Seven Seas, although it had a slightly greater range.  It was introduced too late for substantial orders, however, and Lockheed lost a lot of money on the project.  In service, the DC-7C was not as reliable as the DC-6 series, and was the last piston-engined Douglas 
airliner model introduced.  In fact, when the last KLM DC-7C was delivered in December 1958, the Boeing 707 was already in service, marking the end of an era.  As soon as the jets were in place the airlines either converted the DC-7C's to freighters, or sold them to second tier operators.  Most DC-7C's did not have long lives, and virtually all have been scrapped.

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NOTE: This plane and many other classic airliners can be 
downloaded free from Tom Gibson's Cal Classic web site at - 
http://www.calclassic.com/ 
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Now the legal stuff:

COPYRIGHT 2003 BY TOM GIBSON AND GREG PEPPER, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

REPAINTS:  REPAINTS ARE ALLOWED WITHOUT FURTHER PERMISSION, BUT WE REQUEST THAT THEY ONLY BE UPLOADED TO TOTALLY FREE SITES - I.E. NO CHARGES OR SUBSCRIPTION FEES FOR INCREASED ACCESS.  HOWEVER, IF YOU REPAINT THE PLANE YOU MUST CREDIT ALL OF THE ORIGINAL AUTHORS IN YOUR TEXT FILE AND INCLUDE THIS TEXT FILE.  

YOU MUST REMOVE MY EMAIL ADDRESS FROM ANY REPAINT!

THIS AIRPLANE IS THE PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR, AND CANNOT BE RE-SOLD OR PACKAGED WITH ANY PRODUCT FOR SALE, WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORS.  THIS INCLUDES "FREE" CD COMPILATIONS WITH A CHARGE OF ANY KIND.  THIS IS FREEWARE!!

YOU MAY NOT UPLOAD THIS PLANE TO ANY OTHER SERVER, IT MUST REMAIN ON THE ORIGINAL SERVER.

THIS FILE ARCHIVE OR ANY REPAINTS MUST NOT BE UPLOADED TO A SITE OR LOCATION THAT CLAIMS ANY SORT OF COPYRIGHT ON THE FILE; COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR.  UPLOADING OF THIS FILE TO SUCH A SITE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORS TO VIOLATE THESE TERMS BY THAT SITE. 

THIS FILE ARCHIVE MUST REMAIN INTACT; YOU MAY NOT REMOVE OR UPLOAD PARTS OF THIS ARCHIVE.  THIS ENTIRE TEXT FILE MUST BE INCLUDED IN ANY DISTRIBUTION.  

THE AUTHORS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE THAT YOU MIGHT INCUR AS A RESULT OF USING THESE PRODUCTS.  YOU ASSUME THE RISK OF USE.

