FSX Canadair CL215 V3

Canadair CL215 v3.0X Multirole amphibious aircraft. Tested with FSX SP1 but works also with SP2 and Acceleration. This is an update of the model and textures released in October 2008. The Canadair Cl-215 made its maiden flight on 23 October 1967. The first delivery was to the French civil protection agency in June 1969. Production of CL-215s continued through to 1990 with 125 built. This amphibious aircraft serves a number of roles in a number of countries, ranging from forest fire fighting to oil spill control on the open sea. Nicknamed the "Waterbomber" or "Super Scooper". Package includes aircraft model with 2D panel and 3D VC by Massimo Taccoli. Eight variation of textures by massimo Taccoli with help by Michel Gerard. FD files by Dennis Seeley. Gauges, by Dennis Seeley and Massimo Taccoli. Sound files with permission by Dave Eckert.

Visual Models V.3.01, 3.02, 3.03 by Massimo Taccoli.
Textures By Massimo Taccoli and Michel Gerard.
Flight Dynamics by D.G. Seeley.
Gauges by Dennis Seeley and Massimo Taccoli.
P&W R2800 Double Wasp engines Sound files used with permission of Dave Eckert.

The Canadair Cl-215 made its maiden flight on 23 October 1967. The first delivery was to the French civil protection agency in June 1969. Production of CL-215s continued through to 1990 with 125 built. This amphibious aircraft serves a number of roles in a number of countries, ranging from forest fire fighting to oil spill control on the open sea. Nicknamed the "Waterbomber" or "Super Scooper," the aircraft can skim lakes, open water or reservoirs to fill its tanks with water. The water is mixed with additives and then dropped on wildfires and occasionally structure fires. The aircraft has a 2,673 l (1,410 US gal) fluid capacity, and is able to fill its tanks from a source as shallow as two metres in a mere 12 seconds.

This model made with the program fsds 3:51 is an following update to that published in 2008 and was compiled with makemdl for FSX. Tested with FSX sp1 but works seamlessly with the new SP2 version with accelerator but only with the graphics libraries DirectX9.

This new version of the 3D model has been updated in several details in the light of extra information gave to me by Michel Gerard who oversaw the revision of the textures with new details. The model was revised by making several changes to the external part of it. Were added and / or corrected several details the result of a careful examination of the photographic material found by Michel. The cabin has a virtual VC with levers, handwheels and pedals animated, with doors opening, access ladder, engine cooling flabels are animated, and also the propeller blades with the possibility of blades pitch change. The cabin also has virtual instruments illuminated at night, landing and taxi lights emitting of light beam.

The study of the many photos of the various operators of the aircraft revealed some differences between various models used, which led to the decision to build three different versions of the model, differences are not substantial but are surely characteristic. Particularly in three versions that I distinguished with the numbers 301, 302, 303, will show the location of the landing lights on the wing leading edge or recessed in position beneath the wings, the presence or absence of observation bubble windows immediately behind the trailing edge wing and the presence or absence of the radar antenna bulb to nose of the plane.

To represent these three variants I have prepared in collaboration with Michel Gerard, which in particular he made the basic textures for a French model. The eight sets of texture in part new and part existing but updated are listed here below:

1) Model of the French Civil Protection F-ZBBV in two variants, with the early and late markings.
2) Model used in Greece.
3) Model used in Canada by two different operators, one of the CONIFAIR organization for the Quebec province the other of Newfoundland province.
4) Model used by CEGISA company a civil operator in Spain.
5) Model used in the past in Italy by the Sorem company .
6) Model with the colors of the Royal Thai Navy. (*)

As soon as I have time I'll release a paintkit update for those who want to repaint the model.

The flight characteristics and performance were made taking into account the official aircraft data.

2D panel and the 3D is a fairly realistic interpretation of the effective layout even if the design does not always correspond to that of the instruments installed on real aircraft panel.
The gauges were made by Dennis Seeley and myself and are in XML format.

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Installation
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To install this model into FSX follow this simple procedure:
If present remove the former CL215 model version .

Extract the here provided zip file in a temporary folder copy the folder Canadair CL215 into the Airplane folder of FSX. Then copy the contents of effects folder (three files) inside of FSX effects folder.
Each folder contains a texture image of the model that will be shown as a variation of Canadair CL215 model in the aircraft selection menu.

Then launch FSX and you'll find eight Canadair Cl215 models in the Free flight menu under Bombardier/Canadair as aircraft manufacturer.

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Effects
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Who want to exchange the installed water effect with the retardant effect (red) , just make copy and paste of the following lines of text in the corresponding section of aircraft.cfg.

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[smokesystem]
// Red water retardardant
smoke.0 = -25.91, -8, 0, fx_water_dump_R.fx
smoke.1 = -25.91, -5, 3.92, fx_water_dump_R.fx
smoke.2 = -25.91, -5, -3.92, fx_water_dump_R.fx

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Note: aircraft.cfg file can be edited with a simple text editor , windows notepad is the right program to use.

That's all and have a good time!

Double check everything before e-mailing me! the most of problems I am asked to solve are due to not having read readme files!!

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Credits
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Wish to thank Michel Gerard for his help with the textures in the creation of this new version of the model.
(*) I also want to thank Kittisak Rukkaew for his repaint of the CL215 with the colors of the Royal Thai Navy to which I inspired myself to make the corresponding set of texture present in this new version of the model.

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Versions History
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Version 1.0 November 2001
Version 2.0 January 2002
Version 3.0 February 2008
Version 3.0x December 2009 (present version with revised model details and textures)

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Dump water operation and advices.
Important to read.

In the aircraft.cfg file have been added appropriate-sized auxiliary (drop) fuel tanks to represent the fire retardant payload.

Because of this IT IS VERY IMPORTANT to remember to adjust the total fuel load to keep it below the MTOW for land or water takeoffs. These are given in the Performance section of the ircraft.cfg file. Not correcting those values would be difficult to take off from the runway with the overveight and impossible to take off or even move when floating in the water.

Using of drop tanks to simulate the water tank weight give realistic feeling of weight decrease when the water/fire retardant is dropped.

It seems that there is not a valid solution to restore the weight of water/fire retardant in the tanks, or we have not found one. The only valid solution is to select a different aircraft and the select again the CL215.

However It is possible to simulate water tank refill and drop using the water dump panel and perform water dumping operation with water dropping effect, but you cannot feel the effect of weight decrease when the water/fire retardant is dropped if you don't use the right weight in the auxiliary water tanks. This is only possible when you load initially aircraft and adjust the auxiliary fuel tanks with the appropriate quantity that should be maintained below the MTOW, Max Take OFF Weight.

M.Taccoli.