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 the serial number for the product.Ê (The serial number is located on your CD jewel case.)

 

 

Once the setup program validates the serial number (new installation) or verifies that you are eligible for an upgrade (upgrade installation), the setup program will continue with the DirectX 7.0 installation.

 

The setup program will perform a check of your system to see if Microsoft DirectX 7.0 is installed.Ê If it is not detected, it will automatically be installed.Ê A window will appear with a status indicator so that you can monitor the progress of the DirectX installation.Ê Once the DirectX setup has been completed, a message will be displayed notifying you of the success of the installation.

 

If DirectX 7.0 is detected on your system then the DirectX installation will be skipped.

 

Following the DirectX 7.0 portion of the installation, the InstallShield¨ Wizard for RCFS 2001 will start.

 

 

The installation program will display the Welcome screen.Ê Follow the prompts to finish the installation of the RCFS 2001 software.Ê Sample screens are provided below for your reference.

 

 

By installing the software, you agree to be bound by the terms of the license agreement.Ê If you disagree with the terms of the license agreement, please return the software to your place of purchase for a refund.Ê (Shipping charges are non-refundable in most cases.)

 

 

Select the destination drive and folder in which to install RCFS or accept the default location.

 

 

Select a name for the Start Menu Program Folder for RCFS 2001 or accept the default.

 

 

After you click Next, the RCFS 2001 program files will be installed on your system.Ê A window will be displayed to notify you of the progress of the installation.

 

After the setup program has finished copying files to your hard drive, the following window will be displayed.

 

Then you will be prompted to reboot your system.Ê Click the Finish button to reboot your computer.Ê *You must reboot your computer before running RCFS 2001 for the first time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Before running RCFS 2001 for the first time, you need to setup the SimStar¨ joystick.Ê Setup is outlined in the following section.

SimStar Joystick Setup

 

Two alternatives exist for connecting the SimStar joystick:

  1. Standard, 15-pin game port
  2. Game Port USB Adapter

 

If you are using a standard, 15-pin game port, refer to the following section titled ãGame Port Method.äÊ If you are using a USB adapter, skip to the section titled ãUSB Adapter Method.ä

 

Game Port Method

Before running RCFS 2001 for the first time you must set up the SimStar joystick.Ê (An entry was added to your list of available game controllers for the SimStar joystick during the installation process.

 

Click Start.

 

 

Click Settings.

 

 

Click Control Panel to open the Windows Control Panel.

 

 

Ê Double-click the Game Controllers icon.

 

 

*If you do not have the Game Controllers Icon in your Control Panel, your gameport is not installed correctly.Ê Refer to the instructions that came with your sound card or game card to correctly install the Windows drivers.Ê If you have no instructions, check the website or call the manufacturer for a copy of the latest drivers and installation instructions.

 

 

Click Add·

 

A screen similar to the following will be displayed.Ê The game controllers in the list may be different on your computer than those shown in the sample below.Ê ãSimStarä should be one of the options in your list.Ê If it is not, refer to the Troubleshooting section of this manual.

 

Select SimStar and click OK.Ê You will be returned to the main Game Controller screen.Ê If the status of your controller is not ãOKä, refer to the Troubleshooting section of this manual.

 

 

 

 

USB Adapter Method

 

Plug the SimStar joystick in to the 15-pin connector on the game port USB adapter.Ê Then plug the USB adapter into a USB port on your computer.Ê Your joystick will automatically be added to the Game Controllers list.Ê The particular USB adapter you are using determines the name that the joystick is assigned.Ê A common name is ãHID-Compliant Device.äÊ Make sure that this entry is the first entry listed in the Game Controllers list and has a status of ãOK.äÊ To check the status of the controller, go into Gaming Options from the Windows Control Panel.

 

 

Congratulations!Ê You are now ready to begin enjoying RCFS 2001!


PROGRAM OPERATION

 

The setup program installs two shortcuts for RCFS 2001 on the Windows desktop.

 

ÊÊÊÊÊÊ RCFS 2001 Airplane Simulator

 

ÊÊÊÊÊÊ RCFS 2001 Helicopter Simulator

 

Additionally, the setup program created a program group which can be accessed by selecting Start | Programs | RCFS.Ê Double-click the desktop shortcut or go through the Start menu to start either program.Ê The first time both programs are run, a message box will appear letting you know that you have to select a video device and display mode.Ê Click OK to dismiss the message box.

 

NOTE: The airplane and helicopter simulators are separate programs.Ê Each simulator maintains its own set of saved preferences that you set while running the simulator.

 

 

You will be taken directly to the RCFS 2001 Options Window.

 

The 3D Device will default to ãDirect3D HALä and the Video Mode will default to ã800 x 600 x 16.äÊ These settings are fine for most users.Ê However, set the video mode to a resolution that provides a good compromise between graphics speed and graphics resolution.Ê Video modes that end in 16 will use 16-bit color while modes that end in 32 will use 32-bit color.Ê Using 32 bit color provides richer graphics but usually degrades performance.Ê More graphics memory is also needed to support 32-bit color.Ê Some video cards do not offer 32-bit color.

 

 

To change the default settings, select the 3D Device and Video Mode.Ê If available, select the ãDirect3D T&L HALä mode; otherwise select the ãDirect3D HALä mode.Ê (If neither of these options are available, refer to the RCFS 2001 Setup Window section of this guide for more help.)Ê Select a video mode from the list.Ê If you are in doubt as to which mode to select, select ã800 x 600 x 32ä or ã800 x 600 x 16.äÊ If neither of these options are available, select ã640 x 480 x 32ä or ã640 x 480 x 16.äÊ However, we encourage you to experiment with the different modes available as they will help balance visual quality and performance.Ê Under most circumstances, higher resolutions result in lower video performance.

 

Click OK once youâve made your selections.Ê You will be taken to the RCFS 2001 Main Window.

 

 

RCFS 2001 Main Window

 

Ten airplanes are included with RCFS 2001.Ê Select the one youâd like to fly from the Aircraft Selection list.Ê The airplane will be animated in the preview pane to the left of the list if your graphics card is capable of displaying Direct3D applications in a window.

 

Four photo-realistic and one standard flying field are included with RCFS 2001.Ê Select the field where youâd like to fly.Ê A training field is included for novice flyers that contains added navigational aids.Ê The field preview will be displayed in the preview pane to the left of the list.Ê The ãStandardä field is provided for users who just meet the minimum system requirements or who do not want any background scenery.Ê It is much less graphically intensive than the photo-realistic fields and demands less power from the computer.

 

RCFS 2001 includes the ability to customize any of the included aircraft. However, you can always return to the preset defaults whenever you like.Ê If youâd like to customize any aircraft setup, select the aircraft from the list then click the Aircraft Setup· button below the list.Ê This will take you to the Aircraft Setup window.Ê The configuration parameters are described in the Aircraft Setup section of this manual.

 

The first time you run the program, you MUST calibrate the joystick.Ê Click the Calibrate Joystick· button to bring up the Joystick Calibration window.

 

Click the Options· button to set various options relating to display, sound and to the joystick.Ê See the Program Setup section of this manual for an explanation of all the options available.

 

Click the Environment button to set wind and other environment-related options. See the Program Setup section of this manual for an explanation of all the options available.

 

When you are ready to fly, click the Fly! button.

 

To exit RCFS 2001, click the Exit button.

 

NOTE:Ê Before flying for the first time, you must pick a display driver and mode from the Options screen.Ê You must also establish SimStar as your joystick on the Joystick Setup screen.Ê The program will remindÊ you if you forget to do this.


AIRPLANE SETUP

 

This section explains how to customize airplane parameters.Ê Each airplane has its own configuration.Ê To get to the Aircraft Setup window, click on the Aircraft Setup button from the Main window while running the airplane simulator.

 

It is not necessary to customize the aircraft models, although the ability to customize the models is a powerful option.Ê The default configurations are set up to realistically portray each model.Ê However, you may want to configure the model to closely match your model to achieve a more realistic simulation of your own model.

 

The shaded numbers beside each parameter show the default value for that parameter.

 

 

RCFS 2001 Airplane Setup Window

 

 

The Aircraft Setup window contains two tabs: the Aircraft Properties tab and the Control Properties tab, which are described below.

 

Aircraft Properties (Airplane)

 

 

Parameter

Description

Low Limit

Upper Limit

Image Size (inches)

Sets the visual wingspan of the model.Ê Adjusting this parameter does not affect the flight characteristics of the model.Ê It only affects the graphical size.Ê As a result, a larger model is perceived to fly more slowly and be more sensitive to control inputs than a smaller model when all other parameters remain the same.Ê We recommend that you keep this at about 100 inches or the default values for most realistic flight.

36

200

Wing Surface Area (inches)

Total surface area of the main wing(s).Ê This affects surface loading, stall speed and general performance of the aircraft.

200

3000

Airfoil Camber

Sets the relative shape of the wing airfoil.Ê A value of 0 represents a completely symmetrical wing.Ê A value of 50 represents a flat-bottom airfoil.Ê Numbers higher than 50Ê represents increasingly under cambered airfoils.Ê As a general rule, numbers above 50 will be extremely rare, with most airplanes falling in the 0 to 20 range.Ê This variable affects stability, stall speed, trims and greatly affects overall aircraft characteristics.

0

100

Prop Diameter (inches)

Sets the prop diameter. ÊThis affects thrust and RPM.Ê It usually needs to be set to the diameter that would typically be used on the engine in the airplane you are flying.Ê The simulator will not allow for a prop that is too large in diameter for the airplane image size, as the prop may hit the ground.

NOTE: Larger diameter props will typically provide faster acceleration but require more horsepower.

3

30

Prop Pitch (inches)

Sets the propeller pitch.Ê This affects the speed at which the propeller is able to continue to provide thrust.

NOTE: Higher pitch will typically allow faster speeds.

3

25

Static RPM

The maximum RPM the engine will turn the above diameter and pitch propeller while sitting on the ground.

NOTE: You must be reasonable in propeller selection versus static RPM in order to simulate reasonable horsepower.

4000

30000

Horsepower

This is a calculated value.Ê The calculation uses prop diameter, prop pitch and static RPM to determine horsepower.

 

 

Weight (pounds)

The weight of the model.

1

40

Stall AOA (Angle of Attack in degrees)

The pitch angle at which the aircraft will stall.

NOTE: This has substantial effect on spin, snap roll and elevator control properties.Ê Use care when adjusting this value.

8

20

Snap/Spin Rate

The rate of rotation when the aircraft executes a snap roll or spins.Ê A higher number yields a quicker snap/spin.

0

100

Stall Speed (MPH)

The speed at which the aircraft will stall.Ê This is the end result of a number of aerodynamic factors, including wing area, weight, airfoil camber and stall AOA.

 

 

Flat Plate Drag (approx. square inches)

The relative amount of frontal area associated with the aircraft.

2

100

Fuel Supply (minutes)

The amount of fuel in the aircraft when the simulator starts or when the simulator resets.

1

20

Braking Factor

If the model has brakes, set this value to a value other than 0.Ê A higher value yields stronger braking.

0

100

Engine Sound

Controls which engine sound is associated with the aircraft.Ê This does not affect aircraft performance.Ê It only applies to the audio.

 

 

Retracts

Indicates whether the aircraft is equipped with retractable landing gear.Ê If the aircraft is configured as having retracts, the simulator will not start with the gear up.

 

 

Three Channel

Indicates that this aircraft uses a three-channel radio.Ê An airplane flown with three channels is an airplane without aileron control.Ê In this type of aircraft, the rudder both rolls and yaws the airplane, due to dihedral effects (roll stability.)Ê If you are simulating a three-channel airplane, it is important that the roll stability value be high enough to induce adequate roll with rudder input.Ê We suggest a value around 50.Ê Typically, a three-channel airplane will also have a non-symmetrical wing (cambered) and will have pitch stability values in the 20 to 50 range.Ê Most three-channel airplanes are relatively low performance, trainer type, high-wingÊ airplanes.Ê The system will automatically set the aileron sensitivity to a value of 0 as the aircraft does not have ailerons.

 

 

Roll Inertia

Sets the tendency for the aircraft to continue rolling after controls are released.Ê A lower number results in the roll stopping quicker.

NOTE: All inertia values are usually set very low for typical model aircraft.

0

100

Pitch Inertia

Sets the tendency for the aircraft to continue pitching after controls are released.Ê A lower number results in the pitch stopping quicker.

NOTE: All inertia values are usually set very low for typical model aircraft.

0

100

Yaw Inertia

Sets the tendency for the aircraft to continue yawing after controls are released.Ê A higher lower results in the yaw stopping quicker.

NOTE: All inertia values are usually set very low for typical model aircraft.

0

100

 

Control Properties (Airplane)

 

In the table below, the low rate, DTR and transfer point parameters apply to aileron, elevator and rudder.

 

Parameter

Description

Low Value

High Value

Aileron Sensitivity

Determines how sensitive the controls are in roll.Ê Higher numbers yield higher sensitivity and faster roll rates.

0

100

Elevator Sensitivity

Determines how sensitive the controls are in pitch.Ê Higher numbers yield higher sensitivity and faster pitch rates.

NOTE: If the elevator sensitivity is set too low, the aircraft may not be able to perform spins and snap rolls, as the elevator authority may be insufficient to reach stall AOA.

0

100

Rudder Sensitivity

Determines how sensitive the controls are in yaw.Ê Higher numbers yield higher sensitivity and faster yaw rates as well as greater amounts of yaw or skid

0

100

Low Rate

Indicates the percentage of high rate for control sensitivity.Ê For example, setting the value to 50 would yield a control sensitivity equal to 50% of the control sensitivity at high rate.

NOTE: An airplane which will readily spin or snap readily at high rate may not spin or snap at all at low rate.Ê Typical low rate values are in the 50% to 75% range.

0

100

DTR

DTR stands for Dual Travel Ratio.Ê This is a system of control input which is a variation on exponential control.Ê It has various names depending on the manufacturer of the radio that you may use (e.g. ãVTRä.)Ê The effect of DTR is to give you low rate sensitivities near center of stick travel, while still allowing high rate sensitivities at the extremes of stick travel.Ê The sensitivity of the controls near neutral will be determined by the low rate setting.Ê The total travel at full stick will be determined by the respective control sensitivity.Ê What happens is the stick sensitivity is the equivalent of low rate out to a point in stick travel (see transfer point below) and then proceeds in a straight line from that point to the full sensitivity maximum throw.Ê While high and low rate switch continues to function with DTR selected, selection of DTR will generally eliminate the need for their use.

 

 

Transfer Point

The point in percentage of stick travel at which the slope of the controls changes from the low rate slope to the high rate slope.Ê This is usually 75% to 80% of travel and is actually not even adjustable in many radio control systems.

0

100

Roll Stability

Roll stability is the tendency for the aircraft to roll itself back to level flight.Ê It approximates the effect of dihedral in the wing.Ê It also causes the airplane to roll with the application of rudder.Ê Higher numbers equal more tendency to level itself in the roll axis, and increases the rolling effect of the rudder.

0

100

Pitch Stability

Pitch stability is the tendency for the aircraft to ãlevelä itself in the horizontal, or pitch axis.Ê It actually is the tendency of the model to seek its trimmed airspeed.Ê So if the model starts to pick up speed in a dive, that speed will pull the nose up, while if it is losing speed in a climb, it drops the nose to increase the speed.Ê It also tends to make the model pitch up in knife-edge flight.Ê Higher numbers yield in a greater tendency to level itself in the pitch axis, and increase the rolling pitch up in knife edge flight.

NOTE: Pitch stability can cause a model which is slightly overpowered to be difficult to trim in the pitch axis due to the engine forcing the airplane to fly faster than its trimmed airspeed.Ê If you are having difficulty with the airplane always climbing and you are unable to trim this tendency out of the model, you most likely need to reduce engine performance (power) or reduce the pitch stability value.

0

100

 

Revert To Defaults Button ö Will restore all the parameters on the selected screen to the default values.

 

Cancel button ö Cancels any changes that were made and returns to the previous window.

 

OK button ö Saves any changes that were made and returns to the previous window.

 

Apply button ö Saves any changes that were made (on both setup screens) but does not close the window.

 


HELICOPTER SETUP

 

This section explains how to customize helicopter parameters.Ê Each helicopter has its own configuration.Ê To get to the Aircraft Setup window, click on the Aircraft Setup button from the Main window while running the helicopter simulator.

 

It is not necessary to customize the aircraft models, although the ability to customize the models is a powerful option.Ê The default configurations are set up to realistically portray each model.Ê However, you may want to configure the model to closely match your model to achieve a more realistic simulation of your own model.

 

The shaded numbers beside each parameter show the default value for that parameter.

 

 

RCFS 2001 Helicopter Setup Window

 

 

The Helicopter Setup window contains four tabs: Aircraft Properties, Control Properties, Throttle-Pitch Curve 1 and Throttle-Pitch Curve 2, which are described below.

 

Aircraft Properties (Helicopter)

 

 

Parameter

Description

Low Limit

Upper Limit

Image Size (inches)

Sets the visual rotor diameter of the model.Ê Adjusting this parameter does not affect the flight characteristics of the model.Ê It only affects the graphical size.Ê As a result, a larger model is perceived to fly more slowly and be more responsive to control inputs than a smaller model when all other parameters remain the same.

36

200

Rotor Diameter (inches)

Diameter of the rotor in inches ö for aerodynamic purposes.

36

100

Rotor Inertia

Sets the tendency for the rotor to continue spinning as power is decreased or cut completely.Ê A lower number results in the rotor blades spinning up and/or slowing down faster.Ê Higher inertia values will cause it to take longer to get the rotor blades up to speed initially but will result in easier auto-rotation.

0

100

Horsepower

Horsepower at peak RPM.Ê (A typical 0.60 engine will have approximately 2 horsepower)

0.1

5.0

Peak RPM

RPM at peak horsepower.Ê This will typically be in the range of 15,000 RPM for a non-piped 0.60 and 17,000 RPM for a piped 0.60.

5000

20000

Gear Ratio

The ratio between engine speed and main rotor speed.Ê This value will vary as a result of torque curve and peak engine horsepower of various types of engines as well as rotor diameters, etc.Ê As a general rule, this would be in vicinity of 9:1 and could be adjusted to allow the engine run at peak horsepower RPM with appropriate rotor speed.

5

12

Front Plate Area (approx. sq. inches)

Effective frontal area.Ê (This imparts drag.)

2

100

Side Plate Area (approx. sq. inches)

Effective side area.Ê (This imparts drag.)

2

100

Top Plate Area (approx. sq. inches)

Effective top area.Ê (This imparts drag.)

20

200

Weight (lbs.)

The weight of the model.

1

40

Fuel Supply (minutes)

The amount of fuel in the aircraft when the simulator starts or when the simulator resets.

1

20

Engine Sound

Controls which engine sound is associated with the aircraft.Ê This does not affect aircraft performance.Ê It only applies to the audio.

 

 

Roll Inertia

Sets the tendency for the aircraft to continue rolling after controls are released.Ê A lower number results in the roll stopping quicker.

NOTE: All inertia values are usually set very low for typical model aircraft.

0

100

Pitch Inertia

Sets the tendency for the aircraft to continue pitching after controls are released.Ê A lower number results in the pitch stopping quicker.

NOTE: All inertia values are usually set very low for typical model aircraft.

0

100

Yaw Inertia

Sets the tendency for the aircraft to continue yawing after controls are released.Ê A higher lower results in the yaw stopping quicker.

NOTE: All inertia values are usually set very low for typical model aircraft.

0

100

 

Control Properties (Helicopter)

 

In the table below, the sensitivity, low rate, DTR and transfer point parameters apply to aileron, elevator and rudder.

 

Parameter

Description

Low Value

High Value

Sensitivity

Determines how sensitive the controls are in roll, pitch and yaw.Ê Higher numbers yield higher sensitivity and faster rates.

0

100

Low Rate

Indicates the percentage of high rate for control sensitivity.Ê For example, setting the value to 50 would yield a control sensitivity equal to 50% of the control sensitivity at high rate.Ê These values are only used if DTR is enabled.

0

100

DTR

DTR stands for Dual Travel Ratio.Ê This is a system of control input which is a variation on exponential control.Ê It has various names depending on the manufacturer of the radio that you may use (e.g. ãVTRä.)Ê The effect of DTR is to give you low rate sensitivities near center of stick travel, while still allowing high rate sensitivities at the extremes of stick travel.Ê The sensitivity of the controls near neutral will be determined by the low rate setting.Ê The total travel at full stick will be determined by the respective control sensitivity.Ê What happens is the stick sensitivity is the equivalent of low rate out to a point in stick travel (see transfer point below) and then proceeds in a straight line from that point to the full sensitivity maximum throw.

 

 

Transfer Point

The point in percentage of stick travel at which the slope of the controls changes from the low rate slope to the high rate slope.Ê This is usually 75% to 80% of travel and is actually not even adjustable in many radio control systems.

0

100

Hover Stability

Hover stability is the tendency for the helicopter to bring itself back to level flight.Ê Higher numbers equal a greater tendency to level itself or hold itself level.

0

100

Speed Stability

Speed stability is the tendency for the helicopter to pitch up in forward flight.Ê This pitch up tends to slow the helicopter down and requires more forward stick to maintain forward flight.Ê Lower values result in less forward stick to maintain airspeed and make it more difficult to slow down and translate from forward flight back to hover.

0

100

Weathervane Stability

Weathervane stability is the tendency of the helicopter to turn the nose into the relative wind.Ê It is the equivalent of increasing and decreasing the fixed vertical fin area of the model.Ê Higher values tend to make the tail follow the nose better in forward flight but make hovering more difficult as it tends to yaw the model excessively.Ê This needs to be set as a compromise between better forward flight performance versus ease of hovering.

0

100

Throttle-Pitch Curves (Helicopter)

 

The Throttle-Pitch Curves windows allow you to configure two sets of throttle and pitch curves.Ê Use the sliders to set all 17 points for each curve.

PROGRAM SETUP

 

RCFS 2001 Options Window

 

3D Device - A list of Direct3D devices that were found on the system.

 

The choices available here are dependent on the video hardware and video hardware drivers you have installed in your system.Ê Because graphics card manufacturers are not limited in how they may name their 3D devices, a finite list of values cannot be presented.Ê However, some of the most common device names are:

*ÊÊ RGB Emulation

*ÊÊ Direct3D HAL

*ÊÊ Direct3D T&L HAL

 

The 3D device you select will largely determine the graphics performance of RCFS 2001.Ê Since RCFS 2001 was written to take advantage of 3D hardware acceleration, you should always select a hardware device when available.Ê Direct3D HAL and Direct3D T&L HAL are both hardware-accelerated devices.Ê They are preferred over RGB emulation.Ê RGB emulation has no support for hardware acceleration.Ê All 3D operations are emulated in software, which is much slower than hardware acceleration.Ê The simulator will function using RGB emulation, only at a much lower frame rate.Ê In this case, you will probably find that performance is acceptable only when using the Standard flying field.

 

Available Video Modes ö A list of available screen resolutions given in Width x Height x Color Depth.

 

The list is specific to the selected 3D device.Ê Itâs important to note that the listed video modes are modes supported by your graphics card.Ê Your display monitor may not be able to support the maximum resolutions of your graphics card.Ê Color depth is usually 8, 16, 24, or 32 bits.Ê If your graphics card supports color depth or 32 bits then select this mode to achieve the highest visual quality RCFS 2001 has to offer.Ê In general, higher resolution video modes require more computing power to achieve acceptable frame rates.Ê You should experiment with the modes to find out which one is right for you.

 

Warning:Ê If you have an add-on 3D accelerator installed in your system, such as the Diamond Monster card or the 3dfx V2 1000 card, the device list will show 1024 x 768 x 16 as a valid video mode.Ê Unfortunately, RCFS 2001 cannot run in this mode because there is not enough display memory installed on the card to create all the needed video buffers.Ê In this case, 800 x 600 x 16 is the maximum mode compatible with RCFS 2001.

 

It is also possible that higher resolution video modes will not work in RCFS if the graphics card does not have enough installed memory.Ê In this case, an error message will be displayed and you will need to select a lower resolution mode.

 

Visual Effects ö Controls the level of graphics detail and graphics options.

 

Feel free to experiment with these settings.Ê Some may produce effects that you desire while others may not.Ê You are in control!Ê Placing a check mark in the box will turn on its related option.

 

Gouraud Shading (pronounced ãGarrowä) ö Turns on the Gouraud shading model that makes 3D models look visually ãsmooth.äÊ If this option is not checked, flat shading is used and the models will have a faceted look to them.

 

Specular Highlights ö Turns on specular highlights (or reflections.)Ê Checking this option will create highlights on the aircraftâsâs surface, making the aircraft appear shiny.

 

Dithering ö Turns on dithering, which improves the visual quality of the scene.

 

Anti-aliasing ö Turns on anti-aliasing if the graphics accelerator supports it.Ê Anti-aliasing is a technique to smooth jagged edges of polygons in a 3D scene, resulting in a ãsofterä look.Ê Some 3D video cards do not support anti-aliasing.

 

Reference Grid ö Turns on the reference grid which adds latitude and longitude lines to the simulator world.Ê The grid is included as a means to more easily determine the orientation of the aircraft in 3D space.

 

Overhead View ö Turns on the overhead view window, which will be displayed in the top, right-hand corner of the main simulator window.

 

Fog ö Adds fog to the flying field.

 

Animated Propeller ö Turning on this option will show a spinning prop on the aircraft in the simulator.

 

Display flight Data ö Enables the display of:

 

(AIRPLANE)

 

*ÊÊ Dist ö the distance, in feet, the aircraft is from the pilot.Ê Radio range of the aircraft is approximately 2700 ft.

*ÊÊ TAS.Ê True Airspeed in MPH.Ê The speed that air flows over the aircraft from nose to tail.

*ÊÊ Alt.Ê The altitude of the aircraft above the ground, in feet.

*ÊÊ Fuel.Ê Number of minutes of fuel remaining.Ê The powerplant shuts down when the fuel supply has been exhausted.

*ÊÊ Rate.Ê The status of the dual rate switches for the ailerons and elevator.Ê High means that the controls are operating at 100% of capability.

*ÊÊ => nnn <=.Ê The number between the brackets will read 1 to 360 and represents the direction that the pilot is looking.Ê This is not the direction that the aircraft is traveling.

 

(HELICOPTER)

 

*ÊÊ Dist, TAS, Alt, Fuel,Ê =>nnn<= ö see above.

*ÊÊ Engine RPM

*ÊÊ Rotor RPM

*ÊÊ HdgHold ö Heading hold.Ê Locks the helicopter onto the heading by eliminating the weathervane effect of the tail boom.

*ÊÊ PitchCurve ö The active throttle and pitch curve (1 or 2.)

*ÊÊ ThrHold ö Throttle hold for auto-rotation.Ê This keeps the engine at idle while allowing the collective pitch to work for auto-rotation practice.

 

Refer to the following two images o see how these values are displayed.

 

 

 

 

Field Objects ö Adds a pylon course and limbo bar to the field.

 

Extra Flight Dataö Displays additional data on the screen:

 

(AIRPLANE)

 

*ÊÊ RealPitch ö The pitch angle of the airplane.Ê This number is useful for helping to set up for a tail slide, among other things.

*ÊÊ RealYaw.Ê The yaw angle of the airplane.Ê This number is also useful for helping to set up for any maneuver which requires real vertical flight.

*ÊÊ FPS.Ê Frames Per Second.Ê Indicates how many times per second the graphics are being redrawn on the computer.Ê This is a useful indicator for how the system is performing.

*ÊÊ The four vertical numbers on the left side of the window are readings of the actual values being reported by the joystick.Ê Ideally, the numbers should all read zero when all axes are centered and the throttle is closed.Ê For axes other than throttle, values range from ö512 to +512.Ê The throttle values range from 0 to 1024.Ê If the numbers get too far from zero you need to recalibrate your joystick.Ê To calibrate, go to the Options window and click the Joystick button.Ê When the Joystick Setup window appears, click the Calibrate button and follow the on-screen prompts.Ê It is rare to have all numbers read zero but they should be close to zero.

 

(HELICOPTER)

 

*ÊÊ FPS ö See description above.

*ÊÊ See description above for the four vertical numbers on the left side of the window.

 

Refer to the following two images o see how these values are displayed.

 

 

 

 

Sound Effects ö Enables engine sound.

 

Joystick button ö Displays the Joystick Setup window.

 

Cancel button ö Cancels any changes that were made and returns to the previous window.

 

OK button ö Saves any changes that were made and returns to the previous window.


Environment Options Window

 

Initial Pilot Location ö There are five different locations from where to pilot the aircraft.

 

Initial Aircraft Position ö The airplane can start out on either end of the runway.

 

Wind Setup ö Allows for adjustment of wind speed and direction.

 

Atmosphere ö Allows for adjustment to the field elevation and temperature.Ê These parameters affect engine performance.Ê You may also turn on extra clouds.

 

Cancel button ö Cancels any changes that were made and returns to the previous window.

 

OK button ö Saves any changes that were made and returns to the previous window.

 

 

Joystick Setup Window

 

Active Game Controller ö Displays the name of the active game controller that has been set up in the Control Panel Gaming Options.

 

Stick Swapping ö Allows for the interchange of the horizontal and vertical stick functions.Ê By default, the stick functions are mapped according to the following tables.

 

(AIRPLANE)

 

 

Horizontal Axis

Vertical Axis

Left Stick

Rudder

Throttle

Right Stick

Ailerons

Elevator

 

 

Control Movement

Result

Left stick Forward

Increase throttle

Left stick Back

Decrease throttle

Left stick to the Left

Left rudder (yaw left)

Left stick to the right

Right rudder (yaw right)

 

 

Right stick Forward

Down elevator (pitch down)

Right stick Back

Up elevator (pitch up)

Right stick to the Left

Left aileron up, right aileron down (roll left)

Right stick to the Right

Right aileron up, left aileron down (roll right)

 

 

(HELICOPTER)

 

 

Horizontal Axis

Vertical Axis

Left Stick

Yaw

Throttle/Collective Pitch

Right Stick

Cyclic Roll

Cyclic Pitch

 

 

Control Movement

Result

Left stick Forward

Affects throttle and pitch based on the throttle and pitch curve in use.

Left stick Back

Affects throttle and pitch based on the throttle and pitch curve in use.

Left stick to the Left

Yaw left

Left stick to the right

Yaw right

 

 

Right stick Forward

Pitch nose down

Right stick Back

Pitch nose up

Right stick to the Left

Roll left

Right stick to the Right

Roll right

 

 

Select Controller Type ö Indicates the joystick type in use.

 

Indicate whether you are using the new style SimStar joystick with toggle switches (shown above), or the old style Dave Brown transmitter with push buttons.

 

Servo Reversing ö Provides the ability to reverse the direction of operation for each axis on the joystick.

 

Switch Reversing ö Provides the ability to reverse the switch functions if a joystick with toggle switches is in use.Ê The default switch states are shown in the following tables.

 

(AIRPLANE)

 

Switch

Function

Switch Away from You

Switch Toward You

1

Landing gear

Gear down

Gear up

2

Elevator rate

High Rate

Low Rate

3

Aileron rate

High Rate

Low Rate

 

(HELICOPTER)

 

Switch

Function

Switch Away from You

Switch Toward You

1

Throttle Hold

Off

On

2

Throttle/Pitch Curve

1

2

3

Heading Hold

Off

On

 

 

Cancel button ö Cancels any changes that were made on this screen and returns to the previous window.

 

OK button ö Saves any changes that were made and returns to the previous window.


Keyboard Functions/Shortcuts

 

Several keyboard functions/shortcuts are included to perform helpful functions while flying the simulator.Ê (These are not case sensitive; uppercase and lowercase letters both work.)

 

Up Arrow ö Moves the pilot closer to the aircraft

 

Down Arrow ö Moves the pilot away from the aircraft

 

Left Arrow ö Rotates the pilot around the aircraft at a constant radius in a clockwise manner

 

Right Arrow ö Rotates the pilot around the aircraft at a constant radius in a counter-clockwise manner

 

Home ö Returns the pilot to the starting location

 

1 ö Zoom in one step at a time

 

2 ö Zoom out one step at a time

 

3 ö Normal Zoom

 

4 ö Full zoom in

 

5 ö Full zoom out

 

D ö Toggles latitude and longitude reference grid on/off

 

F ö Toggles field objects on/off

 

G ö Toggles fog on/off

 

H ö Toggles specular highlights on/off

 

I ö Toggles the display information on/off

 

L ö Toggles between Flat and Gouraud shading

 

O ö Toggles overhead view on/off

 

P or Pause ö Pauses the simulation (Press ãPä again to resume)

 

R ö Toggles spinning prop on/off

 

S ö Toggles sound on/offÊ (Sound must be turned on via the Setup screen for sound to work.)

 

U ö Toggles clouds on/off

 

V ö Toggles extra flight data on/off

 

W ö Toggles wind on/off (wind speed must be greater than 0 for this to work.)

 

X or Esc ö Exit simulator and return to Main RCFS 2001 screen

 

Space Bar ö Resets the simulation

 

Print Screen ö Takes a screen shot that may be pasted into other Windows applications.

 


Troubleshooting

 

Installation

 

When I insert the CD, the installation program does not start automatically.

Make sure the ãauto insert notificationä is turned on for your CD-ROM drive.Ê Right click on the ÎMy Computerâ icon on the Windows desktop and select Properties from the pop-up menu.Ê Select the Device Manager tab and find the CD-ROM section.Ê Expand the CD-ROM section by clicking on the plus (+) sign.Ê Right-click on your CD-ROM drive and select Properties from the pop-up menu.Ê Select the Settings tab to display the following screen:

 

 

Make sure the ÎAuto insert notificationâ box is checked.

 

Note: Some CD-ROM drives will not consistently work with auto insert even when auto insert is turned on.

 

 

Joystick

 

There is no Game Controller icon in the Control Panel.

Most likely you do not have a game controller in your computer or you do not have the game controller configured correctly in Windows.Ê To check if you have a game controller installed in Windows, right-click on the ÎMy Computerâ icon and select Properties.Ê Click the Device Manager tab and expand the ÎSound, video and game controllersâ section by clicking on the plus (+) sign next to it.Ê If you do not see ÎSound, video and game controllersâ in the device list or if no joystick/game controller device exists in this section, then you do not have your game controller setup correctly in Windows.Ê Refer to the documentation that came with your sound/game card for instructions on how to install the drivers for the game controller.Ê You may want to contact a computer systems professional to handle this task if you are uncomfortable doing it.

 

 

How do I setup the SimStar joystick?

Refer to the Joystick Setup section of this manual.

 

Can I use a Game Port USB adapter?

Yes.Ê Refer to the Joystick Setup section of this manual.

 

SimStar is not listed in my list of available game controllers in Windows.

The SimStar joystick should have been added to the list of available game controller types when the program was installed.Ê However, if it is not listed, use the following procedure to install it.

 

Click Start.

 

 

Click Settings.

 

 

Click Control Panel to open the Windows Control Panel.

 

 

Ê Double-click the Game Controllers icon.

 

 

*If you do not have the Game Controllers Icon in your Control Panel, your gameport is not installed correctly.Ê Refer to the instructions that came with your sound card or game card to correctly install the Windows drivers.Ê If you have no instructions, check the website or call the manufacturer for a copy of the latest drivers and installation instructions.

 

 

Click Add·

 

 

Click Add Other·

 

 

Click Have Disk·

 

 

Click Browse· and navigate to the directory where you installed RCFS 2001.Ê (The default location is ãc:\Program Files\Dave Brown Products\RCFS 2001.ä)

 

 

The name SimStar.infÊ will appear in the ÎFile name:â window.Ê Click OK.

 

 

Click OK.

 

 

Click OK to add the joystick.

 

 

 

Click Finish to complete installation.

 

Can I use a ãregularä joystick or do I have to use the SimStar joystick?

The SimStar joystick is currently the only joystick supported by Dave Brown Products, Inc.Ê The SimStar joystick is designed to give you a realistic R/C flying experience.Ê You may be able to successfully use another joystick.Ê You will need to experiment to see if it is possible.

 

Does the SimStar joystick or RCFS 2001 support Force Feedback?

No.

 

What do the toggle switches/push buttons do on the SimStar joystick?

The topmost, leftmost switch controls retractable landing gear.

The bottom, left switch toggles the low rate for the elevator.

The rightmost switch toggles the low rate for the ailerons.

 

Can the functions assigned to the toggle switches/push buttons be reassigned?

Not in this version of RCFS.

 

When the simulator starts, I advance the throttle and nothing happens.

  1. Check to make sure the simulation is not paused.
  2. If using a standard game port, check to make sure you have SimStar defined as the current joystick in the RCFS 2001 Joystick Setup screen.Ê If not, add the joystick using the procedure outlined in the Joystick Setup section of this manual.Ê If using a USB adapter, make sure that the device is listed in the Control Panel Gaming Options and has a status of ãOK.ä

 

The sticks do not control the correct axes of rotation or donât operate in the direction in which Iâd like.

Go to the Joystick Setup screen in RCFS 2001, select the joystick mode and reverse any axes that you desire to reverse in order to come up with your desired stick configuration.

 

When I go into Game Controllers in the Windows Control Panel, the game controller testing screen pops up and each time I exit, it pops back up, leaving me in a position where I canât get out of the Game Controllers screen.

Before going into the Game Controllers applet, make sure that all the toggle switches on the SimStar controller are in their upright position, that is, toggled away from you.

 

When I go into Game Controllers in the Windows Control Panel, more than one game controller is listed and SimStar (or your USB adapter device name) is not the first game controller in the list.Ê How do I get Windows to recognize SimStar (or your USB adapter device) as the game controller I want to use?

Hereâs an example of this problem:

 

 

Use the following procedure to correct this problem:

 

Click the Advanced tab at the top of the window.

 

 

Highlight the game controller listed before SimStar and click the Change· button.

 

 

Change the ID of the game controller to an ID that is HIGHER than the SimStar ID, then click the OK button.

 

 

When you return to the Advanced screen, the game controller that you just changed will no longer be listed.Ê This is a bug in Windows 95/98.

 

Click the General tab, then click the Advanced tab.

 

 

When you return to the Advanced screen, the game controller will now be in the list at the ID you selected.

 

Now, highlight the SimStar joystick and click the Change· button.

 

 

Change the ID of the SimStar joystick to ID 1 and click the OK button.

 

 

Again, since we changed the SimStar joystick ID it is now missing from the list because of the Windows 95/98 bug.

 

Click the General tab.

 

 

When you return to the General screen, SimStar will now be shown as the first game controller in the list but will be shown as Not Connected.Ê Yet another Windows 95/98 bug!

 

Highlight SimStar in the Game Controller box and click the Advanced tab again.

 

 

Highlight the non-SimStar game controller (4-button flight yoke in the case of this example) and click the Change button.

 

Change the ID to any number other than 1 and click the OK button to return to the Advanced screen.

 

Click the General tab.

 

 

SimStar will now be listed as the first game controller in the list and its status will read ãOK.ä

 

If the status is not ãOKä, you will need to restart your computer to make the change take effect.

 

When I bring up Game Controllers in Control Panel, SimStar is listed as the first or only game controller in the list but its status is ãNot Connected.ä

 

  1. Make sure the joystick is firmly plugged into the gameport.
  2. Restart the computer.

 

 

Video

General Information

You should always make sure you are using the most current driver offered by the manufacturer of your video card for best performance.Ê Video card manufacturers regularly update video drivers to fix bugs and make performance improvements.Ê In most cases, these drivers are posted on the manufacturerâs website and are available for free download.

 

RCFS was written using technology that is designed to take advantage of 3D hardware acceleration.Ê You must have a 3D accelerator installed in your system to get acceptable performance out of RCFS 2001.Ê Several thousand polygons are being manipulated per second, along with comples flight algorithms so a 3D graphics accelerator is essential.

 

When I try to run the simulator, I get the following error message: ãERROR ö Z-buffer enumeration failed.ä

Your card does not have enough memory to run RCFS 2001 in the video mode you selected.Ê You will need to select a video mode with a lower resolution and/or lower color depth.Ê The last number (16 in the case of this example) is the color depth.Ê The reason the mode shows up in the list is because the card can function in this mode if an application is not using a depth buffer.Ê Since RCFS 2001 must use a depth buffer to accurately render the 3D scene, you canât run RCFS 2001 in the mode you selected.

 

I get the following error message: ãThere is an insufficient amount of video memory to run RCFS wit the hardware device."

Your card does not have enough memory to run RCFS 2001 in the video mode you selected.Ê You will need to select a video mode with a lower resolution and/or lower color depth.Ê The last number (16 in the case of this example) is the color depth.

 

When I enable the clouds option, the clouds show up in strange, changing colors.

Some video card drivers do not correctly implement the function by which the clouds are done in RCFS.Ê Make sure you have the latest driver for your video card installed (check the manufacturer website.)Ê However, this still may not clear up the problem, in which case you will have to get used to the strange cloud effect or turn the clouds off altogether.

 

Why are the pylons and limbo pole missing from the field?

You do not have the option turned on in the Options screen.Ê Turn them on there or press the ãFä key while in the simulator to toggle them on.

 

Why is the flying field enveloped in fog?

The fog option is turned on.Ê Fog may be turned on or off in the Options screen.Ê It may also be toggled on/off while in the simulator by pressing the ãGä key.

 

What is Gouraud shading, dithering, specular highlights and anti-aliasing?

These are terms associated with 3D modeling and programming.Ê Experiment with each option to see how it affects the scene.

 

The simulator is running in aÊ ãchoppyä manner.Ê The airplane seems to ãjumpä around the screen and is difficult to fly.

Your computer system is not able to run RCFS 2001 at a frame rate where the animation seems smooth.Ê Try the following to help the situation:

*ÊÊ Make sure your system meets the minimum system requirements.Ê See the System Requirements section of this manual.

*ÊÊ Make sure that you have selected a hardware device in the Options screen and not RGB Emulation.Ê (RGB Emulation may be the only option in your list.Ê If this is the case then your video card/driver does not support DirectX hardware acceleration and does not meet the minimum system requirements.Ê In this case you should consider purchasing a 3D graphics accelerator and/or upgrading your system processor.)

*ÊÊ Close any other open applications that may be running.

*ÊÊ Make sure all power management features are disabled in the Windows Control Panel.

*ÊÊ On the Options screen, turn off anti-aliasing, animated propeller, display flight data and field objects.

*ÊÊ Turn off the overhead view by pressing the ãOä key.

*ÊÊ Use the standard field instead of the photo-realistic flying field.

 

Audio

 

General Information

In order to hear sound in RCFS 2001 you need to have a sound card installed in your system (see System Requirements) and it must be setup correctly in Windows.Ê Refer to the documentation that came with your computer system or sound card on how to install your sound card drivers.Ê In general, if you can hear sound while using other Windows-based programs you should be able to hear sound in RCFS 2001.

 

I donât hear any sound in the simulator.

This could be a result of a number of things.Ê Try the following remedies to correct the problem:

  1. Make sure the sound is turned on in RCFS 2001.Ê Go to the Options screen and click the box next to ãSoundä (the box should have an x in it.)
  2. Make sure your speakers are plugged into your sound card, that the speakers are turned on and that the volume is turned up on the speakers AND in Windows.
  3. Make sure that your sound card is correctly configured in Windows.Ê See General Information above.

Trademarks and Acknowledgements

 

 

InstallShield ö Registered trademark of InstallShield Software Corp.

 

Microsoft Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows 2000, DirectX ö Registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

 

RCFS and RCFS 2001 ö Trademark of Dave Brown Products, Inc.


Credits

 

 

Thanks to:

 

Dave Brown

Dayne Jordan, Kyle Miller, Mike Gardner and Earl Davis of the Columbus Aero R/C Club for providing engine sounds.

Paul Clements for providing engine sounds.

Mark Lanterman for packaging design, advertising design and for program testing.

Chris Gleason for program testing.

Connie Gleason

Sally Brown

 


License Agreement

 

 

THIS IS A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND DAVE BROWN PRODUCTS, INC. BY INSTALLING THIS SOFTWARE YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT.Ê IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT INSTALL THE SOFTWARE.Ê YOU SHOULD PROMPTLY RETURN THE ENTIRE PACKAGE TO YOUR PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR A FULL REFUND.

 

This software program, any printed materials, any on-line or electronic documentation, and any and all copies and derivative works of such software program and materials (the "Program") are the copyrighted work of Dave Brown Products, Inc., its subsidiaries, licensors and/or its suppliers. All use of the Program is governed by the terms of the End User License Agreement which is provided below ("EULA"). The Program is solely for use by end users according to the terms of the License Agreement. Any use, reproduction or redistribution of the Program not in accordance with the terms of the License Agreement is expressly prohibited.

 

END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT (EULA)

 

Limited Use License. Dave Brown Products, Inc. ("Dave Brown Products") hereby grants, and by installing the Program you thereby accept, a limited, non-exclusive license and right to install and use one (1) copy of the Program for your personal use on either a home or portable computer. You may not network the Program or otherwise install it or use it on more than one computer at a time. The Program is licensed, not sold. Your license confers no title or ownership in the Program.

 

Ownership. All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the Program and any and all copies thereof (including but not limited to any titles, computer code, themes, objects, characters, character names, stories, text, dialog, catch phrases, locations, concepts, artwork, animations, sounds, musical compositions, audio-visual effects, methods of operation, moral rights, any related documentation, and "applets" incorporated into the Program) are owned by Dave Brown Products or its licensors. The Program is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America, international copyright treaties and conventions and other laws. All rights are reserved. The Program may contain certain licensed materials and Dave Brown Products' licensors may act to protect their rights in the event of any violation of this Agreement.

 

Responsibilities of End User.

A.      Subject to the grant of license hereinabove, you may not, in whole or in part, copy, photocopy, reproduce, translate, reverse engineer, derive source code from, modify, disassemble, decompile, or create derivative works based on the Program, or remove any proprietary notices or labels on the Program without the prior consent, in writing, of Dave Brown Products.

B.      The Program is licensed to you as a single product. Its component parts may not be separated for use on more than one computer.

C.      You are entitled to use the Program for your own personal use, but you are not entitled to:

i.                     sell or transfer reproductions of the Program to other parties in any way, nor to rent, lease or license the Program to others;

ii.                   exploit the Program or any of its parts for any commercial purpose including, but not limited to, use at a cyber cafŽ, computer gaming center or any other location-based site;

iii.                  install the Program on a network file server or install the Program on a computer for the purpose of multi-user access to the program across a network.

D.      You must back-up to another secure location, on a regular basis, any data files concerning your use of the Program as Dave Brown Products has no liability for lost or corrupted data.

 

Program Transfer. You may permanently transfer all of your rights under this License Agreement, provided the recipient agrees to the terms of this License Agreement and you agree to remove the Program from your home or portable computer.Ê If you purchased the Program as an Upgrade, then you must permanently transfer all prior versions of the Product as well.

 

Termination. This License Agreement is effective until terminated. You may terminate the License Agreement at any time by destroying the Program.Ê Dave Brown Products may, at its discretion, terminate this License Agreement in the event that you fail to comply with the terms and conditions contained herein. In such event, you must immediately destroy the Program.

 

Export Controls. The Program may not be re-exported, downloaded or otherwise exported into (or to a national or resident of) any country to which the U.S. has embargoed goods, or to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Commerce Department's Table of Denial Orders. By installing the Program, you are agreeing to the foregoing and you are representing and warranting that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of any such country or on any such list.

 

Limited Warranty. DAVE BROWN PRODUCTS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM and MANUAL(S). AND MANUAL(S) ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NONINFRINGEMENT. ANY WARRANTY AGAINST INFRINGEMENT THAT MAY BE PROVIDED IN SECTION 2-312(3) OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE AND/OR IN ANY OTHER COMPARABLE STATE STATUTE IS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. The entire risk arising out of use or performance of the Program remains with you, however Dave Brown Products warrants up to and including 90 days from the date of your purchase of the Program that the master disk on which the Program is furnished shall be free from defects in material and workmanship. In the event that the master disk proves to be defective during that time period, and upon presentation to Dave Brown Products of proof of purchase of the defective Program, Dave Brown Products will at its option 1) correct any defect, 2) provide you with a product of equal or lesser value, or 3) refund your money.

 

Limitation of Liability. NEITHER Dave Brown Products, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES OR LICENSORS SHALL BE LIABLE IN ANY WAY FOR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PROGRAM INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF GOODWILL, WORK STOPPAGE, COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION, DATA LOSS, DATA CORRUPTION OR ANY AND ALL OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, or allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the

above limitations may not apply to you.

 

Equitable Remedies. You hereby agree that Dave Brown Products would be irreparably damaged if the terms of this License Agreement were not specifically enforced, and therefore you agree that Dave Brown Products shall be entitled, without bond, other security, or proof of damages, to appropriate equitable remedies with respect to breaches of this License Agreement, in addition to such other remedies as Dave Brown Products may otherwise have available to it under applicable laws.

 

General. This License Agreement shall be deemed to have been made and executed in the State of Ohio and any dispute arising hereunder shall be resolved in accordance with the law of the State of Ohio. You agree that any claim asserted in any legal proceeding by one of the parties against the other shall be commenced and maintained in any state or federal court located in the State of Ohio, Hamilton County, having subject matter jurisdiction with respect to the dispute between the parties. This License Agreement may be amended, altered or modified only by an instrument in writing specifying such amendment, alteration or modification, which is executed by both parties. In the event that any provision of this License Agreement shall be held by a court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible and the remaining portions of this License Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.Ê You hereby acknowledge that you have read and understand the foregoing License Agreement and agree that the action of installing the Program is an acknowledgment of your agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of the License Agreement contained herein. You also acknowledge and agree that this License Agreement is the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between Dave Brown Products and you and that the License Agreement supersedes any prior or contemporaneous agreement, either oral or written (including inconsistent statements in written materials and online help accompanying the Program), and any other communications between Dave Brown Products and you.

 

MEDIA REPLACEMENT POLICY

 

NOTE: To replace defective CD-ROM(s) please send all CD-ROM(s) and a copy of your dated sales receipt to the following fulfillment address, if less than 90 days from your purchase.Ê After 90 days from your purchase, for replacement of defective Programs, you must also include a $15.00 check payable to Dave Brown Products, Inc. for shipping and handling fees along with all CD-ROM(s).

 

Dave Brown Products, Inc.

4560 Layhigh Rd.

Hamilton, OH 45013

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