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#                                                                  #
# RCBgc-10.zip:  A CableStart Gauge for FS20002 Glider Aircraft    #
#                                                                  #
#                      By Rob Barendregt            27 april 2003  #
#                                                     Release 1.0  #
####################################################################


1. Introduction
===============
Ever wondered how to get airborne with a Glider when postioned on the runway ?

Normally you would go into Slew mode, and with the Slew keys you move to the 
required position and altitude, but you need quite some keystrokes (in the 
proper order and proper interval) and/or joystick movements to have it look anything
like a simulated cable start.

This gauge does exactly that, but then automated ....

So:
- Make sure your glider is in position, with the Parking Brakes SET !
- Click the gauge
- Release the Parking Brakes
- And off you go .......

The gauge smoothly accellerates the glider to appr. 60 knots, lifts of the ground
(and retracts gear if applicable) and gradually gains height whilst maintaining speed.
And when you release the cable (either manually by clicking the gauge again, or
automatically if you reach 1500 Ft AGL) ....  you're on your own !!

Since this gauge depends on usage of the Parking Brakes, I have included my existing
ParkingBrakeSwitch gauge in this archive; this may already be present on your PC.

I also included a stripped version of the CableStart gauge (DISPLAY-ONLY), file
GliderCableStartVC.xml, for use in gliders with a VirtualCockpit.

Notes:
1. This CableStart gauge works in Slew mode, with the obvious disadvantages of Slewing.
   See also section 4: Configuring and using Slew mode.
2. You don't see any visual cable or winch; it's just the logic of towing.
3. I have tested the CableStart gauge for the default FS2K2 Schweizer sailplane and 
   Peter Franke's Schleicher ASW28, but it will probably work for any glider.
   You can download Peter's magnificent ASW28 glider from avsim.com or flightsim.com, 
   file asw28.zip



2. Installation
===============
1. Install all files to the proper FS2002 folders, by extracting all
files in this archive to your main \FS2002 folder with Winzip's 
option "use folder names" enabled.
The result will be that all files are copied to folder \FS2002\Gauges\rcb-gauges

2. Add the gauges to the panel of your aircraft.

Placing the gauges in your panel is done by adding lines to the panel.cfg
file of your aircraft, located in the ...\FS2002\AIRCRAFT\"your aircraft"\PANEL
folder. The simplest way of doing that is by using Notepad.
*** MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR panel.cfg FIRST ***

In the [Window00] section, add the lines:
gauge**=rcb-gauges!GliderCableStart, aaa,bbb,xx,yy
gauge**=rcb-gauges!ParkingBrakeSwitch, aaa,bbb,xx,yy

where '**' are the next free numbers, 'aaa'and 'bbb' are the coordinates 
for the switches on your panel, and 'xx'and 'yy' determines the size of
the switches in pixels.


- FOR THE DEFAULT FS2K2 Schweizer sailplane ONLY:
(file \Fs2002\Aircraft\Schweizr\panel\panel.cfg)

In the [Window00] section, add the lines (use Windows Copy&Paste):
gauge16=rcb-gauges!GliderCableStart, 91,177,35,25
gauge17=rcb-gauges!ParkingBrakeSwitch, 125,177,35,25
 

- FOR PETER's SCHLEICHER ASW28 ONLY ("ballast" panel):
(file \Fs2002\Aircraft\ASW28\panel.bal\panel.cfg)

In the [Window00] section, add the lines (use Windows Copy&Paste):
gauge12=rcb-gauges!GliderCableStart, 347,370,40,30
gauge13=rcb-gauges!ParkingBrakeSwitch, 385,370,40,30

In the [Vcockpit01] section, add the lines (use Windows Copy&Paste):
gauge08=rcb-gauges!GliderCableStartVC, 303,200,60,44
gauge09=rcb-gauges!ParkingBrakeSwitch, 360,200,60,44


- FOR PETER's SCHLEICHER ASW28 ONLY ("DRY" panel):
(file \Fs2002\Aircraft\ASW28\panel\panel.cfg)

In the [Window00] section, add the lines (use Windows Copy&Paste):
gauge10=rcb-gauges!GliderCableStart, 347,370,40,30
gauge11=rcb-gauges!ParkingBrakeSwitch, 385,370,40,30

In the [Vcockpit01] section, add the lines (use Windows Copy&Paste):
gauge08=rcb-gauges!GliderCableStartVC, 303,200,60,44
gauge09=rcb-gauges!ParkingBrakeSwitch, 360,200,60,44


That's all.



3. Operation of  the gauges
===========================
Both switches have an indicator light and can be clicked (see also their Tooltips).

- ParkingBrakeSwitch.xml (PARK)
  OFF:   Parking Brakes are released. Click to set.
  GREEN: Parking Brakes are set. Click to release.

- GliderCableStart.xml (CABLE)
  RED:   Gauge cannot be activated (see OFF).
  OFF:   Click the switch to activate the gauge.
         The gauge can only be activated when the Parking Brakes are SET, the glider
         is on the ground AND is not moving.
  GREEN (Flashing): Releasing the Parking Brakes starts the actual towing.
         If you click the gauge again, the gauge is de-activated.
  GREEN (Steady): The towing is active.
         If you click the gauge again, the gauge is de-activated (== the cable is released)
         Or wait untill 1500 Ft AGL is reached, which de-activates the gauge automatically.

Note: the switches cannot be clicked in VirtualCockpit mode !!



4: Configuring and using Slew mode
==================================           

As said, the CableStart gauge operates in the FS2K2 Slew mode, which has a few disadvantages.

1. During Slew mode, sounds are disabled.
2. Your control surfaces are inoperative during Slew mode.
3. When the towing starts, the gauge enables/disables the Slew mode a few times, to
   get the glider in a proper horizontal position (normally one wing rests on the ground).
4. When the cable is released in the air (== Slew mode de-activated), the glider airspeed
   is set to appr. 80 Knots. See NOTE below.
   So be ready for the "bump" :-)
5. IMPORTANT:  make sure that your joystick/yoke is perfectly centered when Slew mode is
   activated. If not, the glider will drift/rotate during towing, or will not reach/maintain
   the programmed speed. And of course don't use the Slewing keyboard keys as well !
   My advice is to disable all Slew Axis in FS2K2; you can do that in FS2K2 via
   Options-Controls-Assignments, tab Joystick Axis, button Slew.
   Click the Event in the Assignment list, and click DeleteJoystickAssignment.
   And do this for all Slew axis for all controllers.
   This is my preferred setup, since you can always use the keyboard keys for Slewing
   manually without being disturbed by a non-centered or "jittering" controller.

NOTE:
In fact the function of starting an aircraft at a certain speed after de-activating
Slew mode when airborne, after starting Slew with the aircraft parked on the ground,
is a feature (or bug :-) ???) of FS2K2.
Ever tried Slewing an aircraft over a non-flat surface, where the aircraft shoots away
after you de-activate Slew mode ???  (TIP: Press F1 before you press "Y" to de-activate)
But I do think this is an intended feature, since the "start" speed depends on the type
of aircraft. 80 Knots for Gliders, 120 Knots for GA aircraft, 250 Knots for jets.
    



5. Copyrights and Disclaimer
============================
These gauges are freeware, and are available for your personal use.
They may NOT be sold, re-distributed, or (re-)uploaded to another website
(in ANY shape or form) without my explicite, written permission.

If you want to bundle these gauges with your (freeware !!) panel, you 
may do so AFTER my written permission, provided you include this 
README file AS-IS, without modification.

And obviously, installing & using these gauges is at your own risk !!



I hope you enjoy using this CableStart gauge.
And I'm always open to questions, or suggestions for improvement
(no guarantee that I will make them though).

But PLEASE, before asking me questions, make sure that the answer cannot
be found in this Readme file.

If you're interested in my other freeware stuff: do a search for files rcb* 
on avsim.com or flightsim.com, and you'll know that FS2K2 is my hobby  (or 
my addiction :-) ?? )


Rob Barendregt, The Netherlands
Email: rc.barendregt@planet.nl

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