Charger

[SeanTK]

Some recent frustrations with the updated Tu-154 caused me to look for another complex Soviet addon, and this is the result....







Cockpit with the nose up in "supersonic mode".


This is a Tupolev Tu-144D "Charger" (known as the "Concorde-ski" in some circles) made by an independent developer for FSX. This is version 3.5 (FSX-only) but there also is a version 2 available for FS2004. I had avoided it for a while due to a lack of English-guidance especially with the joystick setup, but I was able to dig through some posts on the Project Tupolev forums (unassociated with the addon as far as I know) and found some PDFs that contained translations for most items.

I've spent the last few days figuring out the joystick setup utility on this one. It differed from the Project Tupolev one, and wasn't user friendly, but I got there in the end. Now I've been spending time learning the systems and just flying around. I have the startup and basic systems down, but I think I'll be out of luck on the big INS on the center console until I can find some English language guidance. Luckily, there is a quick align utility, but I've noticed it seems to be approx 8 degrees off from the FS-reported mag heading, though I can compensate for that, and I may be able to figure out the INS enough to correct things in the coming weeks too.

Challenging, and fun. Let me know what you think!

[Ian Warren]

I thought looked better than the Concorde, having that more aggressive look, the chase to better between the two really had both there ups and downs .. Love to see this one do the Conkers world tour and see it in Christchurch but that will never happen , gone both .. Cool Screens Sean

[Kiwia1spad]

Thats one cool looking charger... i do like the look of it

[SeanTK]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Jan 29 2014,6:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought looked better than the Concorde, having that more aggressive look, the chase to better between the two really had both there ups and downs .. Love to see this one do the Conkers world tour and see it in Christchurch but that will never happen , gone both .. Cool Screens Sean

NASA actually used one as a flying lab up until '97 or so. With that being said, this is probably the one Russian aircraft I wouldn't fly on in real life. There were innumerable problems with this thing, and it caused the Soviet government at the time to limit passenger numbers until finally taking it out of passenger service after only around 55 "revenue" flights. There's some very interesting history on Wiki about the Tu-144, and it sounds like Tu-144 development even negatively impacted Tu-154 development until the former was cancelled.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-144

[Ian Warren]

I do have a small book on the type, probably more info than 'Wiki' ... I should check to see what they have at Amazon-pedia .... I did not no NASA got there grubby little mitts on one or something that did not get glued in my brain case as wall-paper .

[SeanTK]

It's an incredibly fun aircraft after you get used to the joystick panel and of course the systems. Unfortunately, I keep crashing the aircraft after experiencing "mach tuck" when I push it too much at lower altitudes. Getting used to the altitude thing too....here I am doodling along at 30,000 feet in "Tu-154 mode" when I should be going straight up to 60k. Also, as an intercontinental aircraft should, it has altimeters in both metric and imperial measurements, which makes things a bit easier in terms of following ATC directions.

There's really cool working gauge above the captain's backup attitude indicator that traces a recommended flight profile, and you basically line up a yellow triangle with the white line(s) that trace upwards as you gain altitude and airspeed.

Regarding the VC on this model, almost every switch/button in the VC works except for the engineers panel (but that's easier to use as a 2D pop-up anyway).

With landing (only have done a few landings so far after pattern work), I'm getting used to having to do a final approach speed 100 km/h faster than the Tu-154, but it really behaves nicely when you get into ground effect, luckily.

Yes....I'm obviously really enjoying it!

[Ian Warren]

Sean .. you got to quit thinking your in Paris 1973 , still recall the front page off the Christchurch Star newspaper with that infamous crash .... quit trying to repeat it

[Splitpin]

All the tech stuff aside ....GREAT screens.

[Kiwia1spad]

Where does one find this charger.... i want it if posible

[Nzeddy]

Just installed the plane... I crashed just shorty after takeoff. LOL

[Ian Warren]

QUOTE (Nzeddy @ Jan 31 2014,12:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just installed the plane... I crashed just shorty after takeoff. LOL

I may take a break later and d/load it and try it out , Sean , Eddy you have a direct link for the d/load .

[SeanTK]

This is copied over from someone else I am assisting right now


Here's the info I have:

1. Just to make sure we're on the same page, the file is version 3.5 of the Tu-144D for FSX, available here:
http://avsimrus.com/f/fsx-aircrafts-79/tu-...v3-5-44272.html

2. Gauge logic update here on the very bottom of the page:
http://www.avsim.su/forum/topic/31461-%D1%...%D0%B5/page-135

Put the "ABSU_Logik" file in your ...Gauges/Tu144 folder. Put the "CVM_logik" and "CVM_UVI" files in your .../Gauges/Tu144_CVM folder.

3. This file has links to partially translated manuals (for the older version, but still applies to the FSX version). One is dedicated to the joystick setup, and the other is for panel operations with numbered buttons and a checklist. A third file seems to be another copy of the manual without text descriptions, so you can throw that one out.
http://www2.zshare.net.ma/h8wasmux2yz2

4. See the following videos. The first link goes to a "cross the pond" event from the cockpit, with the important part in the beginning showing that there is a 2D pop-up that takes care of INS alignment automatically (since there is no English documentation for the new, large INS computer). The other link is the first in a series going through engine and systems startup. I base my procedures on these videos, as it is more thorough than the procedures in the manual.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPZf1qeNvzI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7OCeNYG2wo

5. See this link to an image containing the functions of the autopilot, located on the yoke:
http://i59.tinypic.com/2s6wkmq.jpg

6. After selecting the aircraft in the FSX main menu, and before entering the actual flight, change your fuel load to no more than 75% fuel. Also, zero/remove your payload in the number sections of the payload setup (I believe they are only designated as numbers 2 through 5 or somthing, I don't have it in front of me now). This prevents the aircraft from wobbling and tipping over on initial load.

7. When in sim for the first time, your view will likely be forced vertical. Take a read through the joystick setup manual on how to correlate your joystick hat with the "head movements" axis, and let me know if something is unclear.

I'll follow up with additional info and flying tips later, but that should give you a good start.

Thanks,

Sean

[SeanTK]

SIGNIFICANT EDIT to the info on the bottom of the previous page that I typed up for this aircraft:

I was having problems with the aircraft going into an uncontrollable dive when hitting mach 1. Some more reading through google translate indicates it was fixed. Download the "Hidro_Logik.zip" file attached to the bottom of the first post (FAQ) in this thread:
http://www.avsim.su/forum/topic/90090-%D1%...81%D0%B8%D0%B8/

Place the xml file in your ...Gauges/Tu144_nk folder, and that should fix it. I have yet to try it with this adjustment, but that's what the narrative says.

[Ian Warren]

Time to become a Russian test pilot I guess ...