FS2004 MAAM-SIM DC-3 Fuel Tank Selection

MAAM-SIM DC-3 Fuel Tank Selection and autolean modification. This gauge is applicable only to the FS2004 MAAM-SIM Douglas DC-3 (available from Mid Atlantic Air Museum Simulations at maam) or other planes using the MAAM-SIM DC-3 Aircraft.cfg and MaamSim_DC3.air flight dynamics files, such as the Mark Beaumont 'IFR' Panel modification for the MAAM-SIM DC-3 (DCAMAAM4.ZIP, DCAMAAM5.ZIP). It is not calibrated for use with the stock DC-3, or the MAAM-SIM R4D flight dynamics files, or other third party aircraft. Likewise, it is not recommended for use with the MAAM-SIM DC-3 in FS02. The purpose of this gauge is to disable FS2004's default characteristic of setting the fuel flow to the engines from "all" tanks setting, and to simulate the correct auto-rich and auto-lean settings on the mixture controls as desired. By Dave Bitzer and Mark Beaumont.

The purpose of this gauge is to disable FS2004's default characteristic of setting the fuel flow to the engines from "all" tanks setting, and to simulate the correct auto-rich and auto-lean settings on the mixture controls as desired.

The MAAM-SIM DC-3 has working fuel tank selector levers on the ECU panel. There is no "all" position shown on the selectors, which is an accurate representation of the real DC-3 selectors. However, without your knowledge FS2004 may set the engines to draw from "all" tanks, despite the fact that the levers point to the default switch positions (left main for left engine, and right main for right engine). A way to discover this "error" is to watch the fuel quantity gauge. You may see the fuel quantity changing from a tank that is not selected to supply fuel to an engine. Moving the tank selector lever will eliminate the "all" and fix the lever for the duration of that session. This gauge will disable the fuel flow from "all" tanks, by checking to see if the selection is in the "all" condition and if so, changing it to supply fuel to the left engine from the left main tank, and fuel to the right engine from right main tank. It means, however, that you must remember to manually switch tanks (on the ECU) to use fuel from each of them during the flight, as you would do in the real aircraft.

Note that there is no connection between the fuel tank selectors on the ECU and the fuel gauge selector on the main panel, which simply controls the display of tank status on its gauge. Fuel tank selection management is controlled on the ECU.

This gauge may also be used by those pilots who like to fly without checking the "Enable automixture" function in the "Aircraft/Realism Settings" pull-down menu, but want more DC-3 realism than can be achieved with FS2004's simulation of manual mixture control. Its purpose is to replicate the correct auto-rich and auto-lean settings on the mixture controls. Its calibrated range of operation is from 2,000 to 17,000ft. density altitude. In the auto-rich position, it approximates the "Enable automixture" setting on the "Aircraft/Realism Settings" menu. In the auto-lean position, the mixture is leaned to increase the exhaust gas temperature about 30 degrees K. from auto-rich, and will increase achieved miles per gallon. It defaults to the off position, and is enabled in either auto-rich or auto-lean by clicking on the labeled signal light. It will position the MAAM-SIM DC-3 mixture levers in the proper position. Note that the levers do not necessarily line up with the labels on the Throttle Quadrant. Also note that you must extinguish both lights to regain manual control of the mixture. This gauge is added to the Pilot's Instrument Panel, the ECU gauge on the Throttles Panel and is also clickable in the Virtual Cockpit below the Engine Instruments.