RCFS 2001

 

 

R/C Airplane & Helicopter Simulator

 

Dave Brown Products, Inc.

&

Tim Gleason

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Userâs Guide

 

 

 

 

March 30, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Contact Information.. 4

Introduction.. 5

Getting The Most Out of RCFS 2001. 5

Features. 6

System Requirements. 7

Hardware.. 7

Software.. 7

PROGRAM INSTALLATION.. 8

Microsoft¨ DirectX¨ 7.0. 8

RCFS 2001ú... 8

Installation.. 9

SimStar Joystick Setup. 15

Game Port Method.. 15

USB Adapter Method.. 19

PROGRAM OPERATION.. 20

RCFS 2001 Main Window... 22

AIRPLANE SETUP. 24

RCFS 2001 Airplane Setup Window... 24

HELICOPTER SETUP. 32

RCFS 2001 Helicopter Setup Window... 32

PROGRAM SETUP. 39

RCFS 2001 Options Window... 39

Environment Options Window... 46

Joystick Setup Window... 47

Keyboard Functions/Shortcuts. 50

Troubleshooting.. 52

Installation.. 52

Joystick.. 52

Video.. 70

Audio.. 72

Trademarks and Acknowledgements. 73

Credits. 74

License Agreement.. 75

 


Contact Information

 

Before calling for technical support, please refer to the Userâs Guide Troubleshooting section to see if your problem has already been addressed there.Ê If your problem is not addressed there, please visit our website at http://www.dbproducts.com for the most recent Troubleshooting tips and for any program updates that may be available for download.

 

When corresponding please be as specific as you can about the problem you are experiencing.Ê If you receive an error message, write down the error message exactly as it appears on your computer monitor.Ê Also try and record the sequence of events that lead up to the problem.Ê The more specific you can be, the more quickly we will be able to solve the problem.

 

 

 

 

Technical Support Contact Methods

 

 

E-mailÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ techsupport@dbproducts.com

 

InternetÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ http://www.dbproducts.com

 

TelephoneÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ (614) 314-8477 or (513) 738-1576, 8:30 a.m. ö 5 p.m. EST, Monday -Friday

 

FAXÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ (513) 738-0152

 

U.S. PostÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Dave Brown Products, Inc.

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ 4560 Layhigh Rd.

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Hamilton, OH 45013

 

 

 

You must agree to the license agreement provided at the end of this document before installing the RCFS 2001 software.


Introduction

 

Welcome to RCFS 2001ú!Ê RCFS 2001 continues the tradition of excellence in radio controlled flight simulation software from Dave Brown Products, Inc.Ê RCFS 2001 is a complete rewrite of the RCFS PCú simulator, designed to take advantage of todayâs modern PC processors and 3D graphics accelerators.

 

RCFS 2001 represents a new era of flight simulation by Dave Brown Products, Inc.Ê RCFS 2001 was created with the latest software tools and utilizing the latest 3D graphics development technology for the Microsoft¨ Windows¨ platform of operating systems (Windows 95, 98, ME and 2000.)Ê RCFS 2001 makes use of the Microsoft¨ DirectX¨ family of technologies to achieve an incredible level of realism.

 

Visually appealing, 3D graphics are highly desirable, but so are realistic flight physics.Ê The real-time physics engine in RCFS 2001 was developed by world-renowned R/C modeler Dave Brown and accurately simulates real-world flight dynamics.Ê These flight dynamics are calculated in real-time and we believe they provide the most realistic R/C flight experience available.

 

Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the Userâs Guide.Ê All of the features RCFS 2001 has to offer are documented here, as well as potential issues that may arise.

 

Check the readme.txt file on the compact disc for possible late-breaking information that did not make it into the userâs guide.

 

Getting The Most Out of RCFS 2001

 

RCFS 2001 is a native Microsoft Windows application.Ê This means that while RCFS is running, other applications can run as well.Ê RCFS 2001 requires a significant amount of computing horsepower, so follow these simple guidelines to get the best performance out of RCFS 2001.

 

*ÊÊ Make sure you system meets the minimum system requirements below.

*ÊÊ Close any running applications before running RCFS 2001.

*ÊÊ Disable any screen saver you may have running.

*ÊÊ Disable power management features in Windows Control Panel.

*ÊÊ Close any internet-based chat programs.


Features

 

 

RCFS 2001 offers the following features:

 

*ÊÊ An immersive 3D world and 3D aircraft models created using a computer-aided design program,Ê for a truly realistic simulation designed to take advantage of 3D hardware acceleration.

 

*ÊÊ Ten different airplanes representing a cross-section of the different types of models available.

 

*ÊÊ Four different helicopter models.

 

*ÊÊ Four photo-realistic flying fields with one flying field established as a novice training field.

 

*ÊÊ One non-photo-realistic flying field.

 

*ÊÊ Aircraft customization.

 

*ÊÊ The ability to ãwalkä around in the 3D world.Ê You decide exactly where you want to stand at the flying field.

 

*ÊÊ Pylon course and limbo bar.

 

*ÊÊ An option to fly in the fog for a new, fun challenge.

 

*ÊÊ Real engine sounds recorded from actual R/C engines.

 

*ÊÊ The flexibility to set up your transmitter (joystick) as you like.

 

*ÊÊ Keyboard shortcuts to toggle on and off most program options while flying.

 

*ÊÊ Variable zoom system allowing the user to zoom in and out on the aircraft.

 

*ÊÊ Wind, field elevation and temperature parameters.

 

*ÊÊ Customized, variable video modes based on the capabilities reported by the userâs computer system.


System Requirements

 

In order to run RCFS 2001, you must have at least 40MB of free hard disk space AND your system must meet the following minimum requirements.Ê See note at bottom of page for DirectX disk space requirements.

 

 

Hardware

Minimum

*Ê Pentium 266 MMX or equivalent

*Ê 16 MB RAM

*Ê 50 MB free hard disk space

*Ê 4MB graphics card that supports 16-bit color and has DirectX 7.0 compatible drivers.

*Ê Game port (with Windows compatible drivers correctly installed) or game port USB adapter

*Ê 4X CD-ROM Drive

*Ê Windows compatible mouse & keyboard

 

Recommended

*Ê Pentium 400 or higher (or equivalent)

*Ê 64 MB RAM

*Ê 50 MB free hard disk space

*Ê 16 MB 3D graphics accelerator that supports 32-bit color and has DirectX 7.0 compatible drivers.)

*Ê Sound Card (with Windows compatible drivers correctly installed)

*Ê Game port (with Windows compatible drivers correctly installed)

*Ê 4X CD-ROM Drive

*Ê Windows compatible mouse & keyboard

 

 

Software

 

*Ê Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me or Windows 2000

*Ê DirectX 7.0 or higher*

 

* DirectX 7.0 is included on the RCFS 2001 CD-ROM and DirectX 7.0 will be automatically installed if it is not found on your PC.Ê The DirectX installation process will require approximately 50 MB of free space on your hard drive. After installation, DirectX will take approximately 15 MB of hard drive space.


PROGRAM INSTALLATION

 

You will need to perform the following steps to get RCFS 2001 up and running.Ê With the exception of the joystick setup and calibration, the steps run in an automated fashion.

 

  1. Microsoft DirectX 7.0 installation (if needed)
  2. RCFS 2001 installation
  3. Joystick setup and calibration

 

Microsoft¨ DirectX¨ 7.0

The installation program will automatically install DirectX 7.0 on your system if it is not already installed.Ê RCFS 2001 will not run without DirectX 7.0.Ê By allowing the setup program to install DirectX 7.0, you must agree to the terms of the DirectX 7.0 End User License Agreement (EULA) found in the \directx folder on the CD-ROM.Ê The filename is directx end user eula.txt.

 

RCFS 2001ú

Insert the RCFS 2001 CD into your CD-ROM drive.Ê If Autoplay is enabled on your system, the installation program will automatically start a few seconds after you insert the CD and close the CD drawer.Ê If the installation program does not start within 20 seconds, use the following procedure to start the software installation process.Ê Otherwise, skip to the Installation section below.

 

Click Start on the Windows Taskbar.

 

 

Click Run·

 

 

Type D:\rcsetup.exe (Substitute your CD-ROM drive letter for D if it is not D) and click OK.

 

 

 

Installation

 

You will be prompted to selectÊ an upgrade installation or a new installation.Ê You must own a previous copy of RCFS to have qualified for the upgrade.Ê You may also view the Userâs Guide at this time.

 

If you chose to do an upgrade installation, the setup program will search your hard disk for a previous version of RCFS.Ê The program will prompt you to insert the floppy disk for the old version of RCFS if the setup program cannot find an old RCFS installation on your hard drive.

 

 

If you requested a new installation, you will be prompted to enter th