FSX/P3D Boeing B-50 Superfortress

A complete and stunning Boeing B-50 Superfortress freeware add-on for all versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator X and all versions of Lockheed Martin's Prepar3D including P3Dv4 and the latest P3Dv5.

​The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was a post-WWII derivative of the B-29 Superfortress. It had a larger tail fin and more powerful 3,500 h.p. Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major engines. Significantly faster than its predecessor, it could carry more payload at higher altitudes (35,000+).

In the simulator, you can fly the aircraft either as an 'A' type (using a B-29 type glass cone) or as a 'D' (and later) type, both with or without long-range tanks. Three liveries are provided for the exterior model, while the interior model, in this version, is largely provisional only, cannibalizing various parts of Team Strat's C-97 model.

Gun turrets are moveable either from the Shift-4 'Monitor' panel or, in P3D, by mouse-clicks. Created by 'Team 50' - models, textures, and Monitor gauge by Manfred Jahn, sound set by Ted Wolfgang, and research, testing, and tweaking by Marc Roth. The flight dynamics are largely based on the 'generic' C-97 design originally created by Wayne Tudor (RIP).

Even though only one model file is included, you can access four variants and freely assign any of the liveries in the aircraft.cfg. If the title= line contains the string "(A)", the model will display the A-type nose, if there is a "(D)" the plane will have the D type nose, and if you specify "(ALR)" or "(DLR)" the plane will additionally be fitted with long-range tanks. If the title line contains no version specifics, the model will have the A-type nose and no long-range tanks.

Repaints and models Included

• B-50 Ridgeway
• B-50D City of Ridgeway (DLR)
• RB-50G Project Haystack (DLR)
• B-50A Lucky Lady II
• WB-50D 90285 (DLR)

In addition to the features above, this B-50 pack also includes a custom Boeing B-50 Bomber four-engine HD sound pack by Aaron Swindle / Skysong Soundworks. The sound pack has been included with the pack so there is no additional installation.

Also included is the Boeing WB-50D Weather/Recce Superfortress model developed by Manfred Jahn. The WB-50D (s/n 90285) has no gun turrets and comes in MATS arctic markings. This is a bonus extra to the package and released by the original developer.

INSTALLATION

1. Extract the zip to a temporary folder or open it in Windows Explorer.
2. Copy the zip's "Boeing_B-50" folder to your flight sim's "SimObjects\Airplanes" folder.
3. Copy the contents of the folder "Effects" to your flight sim's root "Effects" folder.
4. As always, on first loading the plane, you will be prompted to accept certain gauge modules as trusted software. These are widely used FS modules (see credits, below). It's fairly safe to click accept.

EXTRAS

Folder "Extras" in the zip contains a basic Paintkit and two AI ground vehicles (a Follow Me Jeep and a Crew Bus). Instructions on setup details can be found in the respective subfolders.

NOTES

(1) Use the 'Monitor' gauge (Shift-4) to handle most aircraft functions. Click the Help buttons in Monitor to show help screens for the subpanels. Get individual tooltips by hovering the mouse over click spots (you may need to be in the windowed mode to see them). Note that some of the Help placards still refer to original placards found in the C-97. Note on abbreviations: "L", "R", and "mid" in Help screens and tooltips refer to clicking the left, right, and middle mouse buttons, respectively.

(2) Flying tips. Click Monitor > Misc > Chk to call up the standard checklist.

(3) Key assignments. Ctrl-W or whichever key or button you have currently assigned for 'water-rudder' will first arm and then trigger some very powerful engine reversing. Click again to toggle it OFF.

(4) Crew Calls have now been set ON by default. To turn them off, unclick the asterisk on the loudspeaker icon at the bottom of Monitor > Flight. The crew calls are editable wav files in Boeing_B-50\panel\DSDSounds\. See file 00__dsd_fsx_xml_sound.txt for help. Altitude callouts have been implemented for 500, 400, ..., 100, 50, 40, 30, 10 feet AGL.

(5) Automixture (in FS Settings > Realism > Engines > enable auto mixture) may be left on or off. If OFF, you will get sim prompts when changing altitude. You can then either adjust mixture manually or mid-click Monitor > Engines > Mixture value for "set best".

(6) P3D only functions. Several click spots have been activated for Spot View mouse actions:

• nose wheels: show/hide ground equipment (GPU).
• cockpit windows: open/close Monitor window
• upper cowl flap: R open, L close cowls incrementally
• flaps: R increase, L decrease incrementally
• turrets: L turn left, R turn right, Mid = swivel up/down
• belly radar: open/close bomb bay doors
• rear starboard door: open/close exits
• any spinner (hold for 5 secs/20 blades, then release): start engine

(7) NOT yet working in P3D V4:

• Monitor > Misc: GPU battery charging (reloading the plane may be needed)
• Sometimes the cockpit windows cast an odd reflection on the fuselage (if you know a reason or cure for this, let us know).

Developer: Manfred Jahn