At least not very well.

I've downloaded the packages that are supposed to make AI planes flyable (adding panel, sound, modifying .cgf files, etc) but didn't really fyl them much.

I started playing with the MD-83 because it looks nice from the outside and I got a couple of repaints.  I can deal with the fact that it handles like a tank but I found 2 insurmountable problems:

- No matter what the speed the gear refuses to extend and I get a warning that I'm above extension speed (150 Knots????)

- Autopilot doesn't work work diddle below 4000 ft.  The plane either bounces around chasing the needle or just nosedives into the ground.

The package I'm using is the one from AVSim, but I'm pretty sure the one here is the same - I've tried them both, and others, with the same results.

Can this be fixed?  I'll be glad to post or email the files - they're pretty short.

You don't need any files to
make the planes flyable
all you need to do is find a
suitable panel on this site
download it put it in the
proper folder
bring up program "Aircraft editor"
open aircraft files and select the
plane you put the panel in
an hit fly this panel
it will make a copy of the plane {ai #0} and
the copy will fly

good luck if you have any problems
give me a email

Bhofmx

Loomex,

I dl'd your files.  They fixed the AP problem.  I'll have to compare it to another similar size jet because it seems a little sluggish (I'm used to the sports car response of the Lear 45).

I lowered the gear at 160K - got the "Above extend speed warning" but the panel showed the gear was down.  Spot view did not.  Decided to land anyway.  Miraculously, as soon as I crossed the threshold the gear lowered.  (Actually, I kind of expected this after my stormy experiences with the other packages.)  Does this happen to you?

And BFOFMX I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth but everything you said went right over my head (except I did see the reversers work - very nice) so maybe explain it a little less techically?
The panel is just aliased to 737.

I never liked using the Aircraft Editor (FSEdit) or making duplicate copies of aircraft. This can cause problems if it's not done properly. It's only possible to convert one particular version (paint scheme) of the aircraft in this way so each one would need doing individually.

Andrew's suggestion is by far the easiest method for converting any AI Only aircraft to flyable. Download Bill Roth's AirEd from SimV Utilities. Use it to open the AIR file of the appropiate aircraft & change the Aircraft Type from 2 to 0. Then creat a Panel subfolder with an aliased panel.cfg or pop in a suitable panel. That's it. No duplicates involved so no risk of a conflict. All variations of the aircraft will be listed on the menu.

Whichever method you use to convert them the flight dynamics will need further tweaking to fix the problems you describe. These aircraft are optimised as AI Only drones & were never intended to be flyable.

I've never had a problem {yet} I
only make one paint , flyable, and
i've always added the panel, the
planes seem to fly the way I think
they should, the only one that doesn't
work is the AI B25, it has no flaps and
landing is tricky, but the B25 I downloaded
from simv. "send em packing" has the same
problem!

Bhofmx

I made the default MD-83 flyable by using AirEd to change the aircraft type, added a panel, sounds etc. etc. Works fine now.

Regarding the gear lowering issue: if you look in the aircraft.cfg file, you'll see 'contact points'. Make sure that the last figures in the first 3 lines (the undercarriage points) are 0.00 - they might be 250, or 300 currently; something like that. That should solve your problem. Had the same issue with the default Dash-8!