FS2002 Model (from the same perspective as the upper half of the background photo used throughout this documentation)
Ever since I saw this plane in the 1982 edition of William Greens compilation The
Observers Book of AIRCRAFT I fell in love with this unusual aircraft. That was
at age 15.
I intended to build a 1:10th scale radio controlled model of this airplane and over the years
saved money to buy the appropriate RC hardware, two 4cc OS MAX glowplug engines for power and
sat down and drew scale plans from the tiny 3-side views in the book. I even got a hold of
some Dornier PR pamphlets and posters to enhance my knowledge of the details of this aircraft.
However, I never actually started to build the thing, having become wary of the dangers to
radio controlled airplane models the ground always wins when they come down too fast
In the mean time PC flight simulation has taken the place of my former hobby, and the dream
started to take on a new shape: To create a 1:1 scale virtual D-IBUF for FS98.
Some years ago I contacted the Alfred Wegener Institute for polar research via the Internet,
as the AWI was the last proven home of the aircraft to my knowledge, though rumours had it
that it had moved to the Technical University of Braunschweig. Norbert Mueller of the AWI sent
me name and email address of its current pilot at the TU Braunschweig, Rolf Hankers, who in
turn sent me name and phone number of its maintenance engineer and co-pilot, Helmut Schulz. I am in greatest
debt to Helmut for his patience and kindness in all my numerous questions and requests. In
July 1999 I was able to drive up to the Research Airport of Braunschweig (which harbours all
that is of crucial importance in German aviation research and administration) for an extended
photo session and a bout of photocopying the most important parts of the Pilots Operating
Handbook (POH). My wife Petra was of great help particularly in this photocopying bit! Helmut
also lent me some 1:10th scale Dornier drawings as an excellent basis for my design.
My original intent of producing the most detailed ever FS98 plane model however failed bitterly
due to the limitations of mdl file size, and I had to reduce the original number of geometrical
points roughly by half to allow for a resolution still capable of fitting into the limitations
of Aircraft Factory 99. Additionally I had to scrap all those nice transparent windows... Nevertheless
I believe to have captured most details well:
Both the real and the FS2002 Dornier 128-6 in original Dornier roll-out livery. The real aircraft was probably photographed at the Dornier home airport of Oberpfaffenhofen in Bavaria and was fully loaded. Thus its gear struts are almost completely compressed, whereas the visual model of my virtual aircraft assumes to be empty apart from a full load of fuel and thus aims its nose a little more towards the sky. The bits I assume to be blue in color due to some photos may tend towards violet on the real aircraft.
Here the current state of this aircraft:
Both the real and the FS2002 Dornier 128-6 of the Technical University of Braunschweig in the
same spot at approx. the same time - just entering the taxiway in front of its hangar on the
Research Airport of Braunschweig (exquisitely created by Christian Anhalt).
When it came time for a fitting panel I realised that what I intended to do create a
95% true to life turboprop simulation for FS98 would not work due to no fitting gauges
being available in current FS98 panels. As the name already suggests turboprop aircraft have
propellers, driven by powerful engines, and thus also suffer from the adverse effects of propellers
on directional stability particularly at takeoff and slow flying speeds. This strongly suggested
usage of the FS98 reciprocating aircraft model, but that would give me no indication of gas
generator rpm (Ng) nor any correct readings of the Interstage Turbine Temperature (ITT) which
the FS98 jet model could give me. So I had to learn the art of gauge (C++) programming as well
to be able to put this package together.
At the top is a potpuri composed of components of the real panel:
At the bottom is the FS2002 rendition of the components depicted above, plus
the Outside Air Temperature gauge which is not visible in the image of the real panel due to
it occupying the upper left corner of the windscreen. You will find a detailed explanation
of the panel by clicking here.
After FS2002 has been around for quite some time now here comes my update and partial rebuild to function properly in this magnificent sim,
taking advantage of various improvements including the usage of a turbocharged FS2002 model to correctly simulate the constant high
altitude performance of this aircraft's flat rated PT6A-110 turboprop engines. Sadly though FS2002 still does not contain a proper
turboprop model as it creates too much residual thrust for the correct propeller spool up time - you can actually take off with power levers at idle!
So I just stuck with the turbocharged piston engine.
After mastering the art of gmax aircraft design I shall attempt a complete rebuild for FS2002 / FS2004 to fulfil my orignal intent of a high resolution
model of this aircraft. But that is sure to take a looong time ...