Schleicher ASW-28 for FS9

ASW-28 in CVVN livery (JPEG image)

Screen shot by Dennis G.

The Glider

The ASW-28 is the latest standard class development to come from Schleicher’s drawing boards. It is, in itself, a development of the ASW-24, utilizing the same basic fuselage. It employs the latest in design to build strength and crash protection around the cockpit to maximize pilot safety and also comes with the option of a ballistic rescue parachute to further aid this. The ASW-28 owes is excellent flight characteristics to the completely new wing, and thus achieves a maximum glide ratio of 45:1 at 90km/h (50kts).

Specifications
Wingspan: 15m (49.2ft)
Wing Area: 10.5m2 (113ft2)
Aspect ratio: 21.43
Empty weight: 235kg (518lbs)
Max T/O Weight: 525kg (1157lbs)
Wing loading: 29-50kg/m2 (5.9-10.2lbs/ft2)
Max Water Ballast: 180L (47.6galUS)
Maximum speed: 285km/h (158kts)
Stall speed: 70km/h (39kts)
Minimum sink: 0.55m/s (1.0kt)
Maximum glide ratio: 45:1 at 90km/h (50kts)

The Model

After several reincarnations, the model is finally finished (but is it???). What started out as a fairly advanced FSDS model was soon ported over to gmax with the arrival of FS2k2. It then underwent several rebuilds and refinements, bringing it to its current state.

Following the rapid advancement in the knowledge of gmax, the model also followed these developments to where it is now. This includes:

ASW-28 in John Murray (LX) livery (JPEG image)

Screen shot by Trace Lewis

The Panel

The panel is based on a photograph provided by Roland Stuck. It features accurate gauges (designed by who else but Max Roodveldt). A radio is available by pressing Shift+4 which brings up an overlay over the ballast gauge. For a detailed set of instructions on how to use the L-NAV and GPS-NAV instruments, instructions can be found on Max’s website www.fszwever.com. The panel also has the controls to manage the water ballast tanks and simulated winch launch.

The windows are as follows:

The Flight Dynamics

Roland Stuck created the original flight dynamics for FS2k2, setting a new standard by which the virtual soaring community will judge other models for years to come. For FS9, Kris Feldmann has created a flight dynamics model which matches the performance and feel of the 2k2 model, incorporates VET launching and supports FS9’s weight and balance screen.

The Textures

The textures support dynamic reflections and are optimized for maximum frame rates. There are three different liveries to choose from in the Variation menu:

Installation

  1. Make sure that Flight Simulator is not running.
  2. If you have a previous version of this model installed you should delete or archive it first.
  3. If you are already a user of Max’s flight logger and glide computer, you may have customized waypoints and polars installed. In this case make backup copies of Gps-nav.dat and LNAV_polarlist.dat. Both can be found directly in the fs9 root directory. During the unzip step below watch for the overwrite warning for each of those files and choose Cancel to avoid overwriting your custom waypoints and polars (or else copy your backup into place afterwards).
  4. Unzip the archive in your fs9 root directory (for example: C:\Sim\Microsoft\FS2004) with the “use folder names” option active. If you are alerted that existing files may be overwritten, compare the dates of the files shown.
  5. To avoid (harmless) warnings when fs9 starts up, we must make a small change to the fs9.cfg file: Launch Notepad and select File->Open… from the menu. In the file-open dialog, type the following into the File name text box and click Open:
    %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FS9\fs9.cfg

Flying

There is a ballast gauge near the bottom of the panel. Select the amount of ballast you want to use by clicking on the gauge’s figures, but it should work only while the plane is on the ground. Once in the air you can dump the ballast using the switch on the bottom of the gauge or by clicking on the “0” on the gauge to dump and “F” to stop dumping.

There are several techniques available for takeoff:

  1. VET — a simulated winch launch.
    1. Lined up on the runway after your preflight check, click on the VET lamp (left side, round green light) to bring up the VET-Setup window (or use Shift+2) and set the desired release altitude. You may hide the window again after setting or approving the altitude (Shift+2).
    2. Use Shift+3 to bring up the VET-Test window to see some details of what is happening.
    3. Next click the VET switch (beside the VET lamp) to the on position. The light should start blinking yellow.
    4. The VET is actually a turbojet engine and thus takes a while to spool up. After about 20 seconds the plane will start to move and the light will change to solid yellow.
    5. The VET control will operate the elevator, but generally some hand flying can improve the climb. Once the plane is released from the cable the light will turn red and there will be some “buffeting” — once the light turns yellow you’ll again be in control.
    6. Retract the gear (G, or use the black gear lever on the right). You may hide the VET-Test window at any time using Shift+3.
  2. Saved flight — select a flight saved in midair.
    1. Conditions will match those when the flight was saved. Thus if the VET engine was running at the time, it will be running again, etc.
  3. Map — the Flight Simulator map window.
    1. Bring up the simulator’s map window (Alt+W, M) and set the plane’s altitude and airspeed as desired.
    2. Since you will be “magically” changing from a grounded state to an airborne one, the VET’s turbojet engine will start running automatically. Use Ctl+Shift+F1 to kill it.
  4. Slew — Flight Simulator’s slew mode.
    1. Enter slew mode (Y) and set the plane’s altitude and airspeed as desired using the joystick or keyboard (see the Control Assignments window in Flight Simulator).
    2. Since you will be “magically” changing from a grounded state to an airborne one, the VET’s turbojet engine will start running automatically. Use Ctl+Shift+F1 to kill it.

Notes

This release is the result of the contributions of many volunteers. All of the documentation associated with this project is located in the documentation directory including legacy documentation, notes on the operation of the instruments, contacts for each contributor and complete copyright and licensing information.

If you’re not happy with the color of the yawstring you can change it by changing the following line in the panel\panel.cfg file. Go to section:

If you are using the throttle axis of your joystick to control the spoilers, I recommend that you follow the instructions by Al Stirling (in the SOAR Library) on how to correctly calibrate this to avoid the slightly deployed spoilers from occurring. This technique is only available with the full (payware) version of FSUIPC.

If you would like a detailed texturing template in order to do a repaint, please do not hesitate to send Peter an email asking for such.

Links

Max Roodveldt’s site: www.fszwever.com
SOAR Virtual Soaring Society: www.virtualsoaring.org
Peter Franke’s email: pet_fra@hotmail.com

Acknowledgments

Roland Stuck for the original air file and for the help with the panel
Max Roodveldt for designing the gauges
Everyone else for being so patient for this release!

April 2002
Peter Franke

Updated for fs9 August 2004
Kris Feldmann