I'd like to see a panel for a F-22 Raptor.  From the real pictures I've seen I don't know how the pilot can see out the windshield.

The F-14 thing is easy. I'll do it tonight. I will try and get the F-22 done, also, it can be tricky to find stuff on top secret planes though. Oh well I'll finish 'em asap and upload 'em exclusively here of course.

Since you encouraged criticism ...

I'd suggest you make a PFD the primary visible gauge (in the same position as the TCAS) and make the TCAS a popup that could be switched off and on.  You're not going to be using the TCAS all of the time and you will miss flight data (like when you're about to land) if you can't access a PFD.

Here are a couple of shots of an F-22 cockpit.
http://engineering.wpafb.af.mil/embedded/embedded.asp
http://mpanel.chez.tiscali.fr/cockpit/cockpit1.htm

The second page has nice shots of an SR-71 and a B-52, too.  This should illustrate the problem of the pilot view.  With 4 or 5 MFDs it's going to be tough to get everything in the panel.  If I could get a decent background I'd be tempted to try this one myself.

Hi Saratoga:  I'm the one that mentioned the F14 with radar, the placement was ok with me, however thought might be to be able to cycle it with the other displys. Just a thought. Not sure what screen you have to the left of the radar.

The only other thing I might add is that some of us are using the addons for carrier op's, ie tail hook, cat arm switchs are to the right and left of the hud. with a button in the number 7 postion just above the radar. If I knew how I'd send you a screen shot of the cockpit view.

Anyway I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

Thanks Steve.

I was going to mention the wearad.gau on the left but I wasn't sure that was what you were using.  The library has new panels for the F-14 and F/A-18 that have the carrierops gauge (rcbco-11) built in.

There is a link to the file and the FS2002 fix here http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=fs2002;action=display;num=...

I usually toggle the PFD/TCAS with icons - no need for a special key - or you could open the popup window with Shift+ number key (whatever window number is assigned to it).

The wearad.gau weather radar gauge is a waste of space.  It simply simulates a weather radar gauge and doesn't display any real data.

I thought we were working on the F-22?  Can't you accept a challenge?  I'll be glad to work on it with you.

If you just want to add a quick and dirty TCAS, backup your panel.cfg and add these lines (use brackets instead of parentheses):

(Window Titles) ...
Window10=TCAS

(Window10)
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=400
window_size_ratio=1.00   
position=0
visible=0
ident=110
window_size= 0.240, 0.280
window_pos= 0.380, 0.720

gauge00=F16!Radar,  -1,-1,401,402

To access it Alt/Views/Instrument Panels/TCAS

Given a little time I could tweak this to clean it up so it fits better, add the range and mode switches and an icon so you don't have to go through the alt/views menu.

Now that we've freed up Saratoga's time, let's get going on that F-22.

(I also have a B-52 panel I've been playing with if you want to try a crack at that.  FSTipster was going to put one together for us before his demise but the pictures reminded me.)

There are a couple of good B-52 panels around - one comes with Bonzonie's aircraft model and the other one, I believe, is by Romulus (from SimV).  I use a modified Romulus panel.  (I modify pretty much everything that I download.)

I've never seen any attempt at an F-22 panel and I think the pictures I previously linked to show why - it's an all glass panel with a ton of MFDs and there are no good closeups.  But I still think you could fit 3 MFDs across the bottom, one in the middle center, and a HUD on top of that.  You would just need to find a good template to build on.

With all those MFDs you're not going to have much room for "standard" gauges like ASI, HSI, VSI etc. so they would have to be integrated into the MFDs.  I'm sure we have a lot of those gauges on hand but it may be tough to get consistent looking ones in there (I don't know if I've ever seen a MFD with an airspeed indicator).

Oops - I really need to check this page more often.

It looks like the only problem, then, is finding a good background bitmap.

I already have an aircraft lined up for it - one of the ATF Alciones here http://www.flightsimnetwork.com/shigeru/warbirds.htm (scroll down a little).  I have it aliased to an F-15 panel right now because the one that comes with it is lame.

I suppose I should have gone back and cleaned it up.  Check back.

stevewilson,

Change the March 14 (Window10) entries (make sure you use brackets instead of parentheses) to this:

(Window10)
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=400
window_size_ratio=1.00   
position=0
visible=0
ident=110
window_size= 0.240, 0.290
window_pos= 0.380, 0.700

gauge00=F16!Radar,  0,0,400,400
gauge01=F16!Radar Mode,  0,0,180,22
gauge02=F16!Radar Range,  219,0,180,22


The mode and range toggles are across the top of the TCAS - just move your mouse around until you see the + and - .  Mode is on the left and range is on the right.

You will still need to open and close it from the Alt menu (TCAS).

Ok that mod works fine, now to figure out some visable toggles for the range and mode selections. Then an icon toggle to select or deseclect the TCAS window and I'll be a happy simmer.

In the meantime stevewilson wanted a gauge to toggle the TCAS.  This one uses a file called cpt.icons.cab (don't unzip the cab file, just put it in the gauges folder) available here http://www.fsfreeware.com/dcd/FS2002/Panels/index-17.html

The just add:

(Window00)
gauge48=cpt.icons!ifr, 334,395,12,12

for the gauge number just use the next higher number available, not necessarily 48.  This will add the icon to your panel, and

(Window10), change
ident=110 to
ident=IFR_MAIN_PANEL

I have to get to work now so you guys have fun.

I'm not sure which version Saratoga is using.  If the meatball doesn't appear in your (2002) panel the fix is

To use the meatball gauge with FS2002 follow the instructions for FS2004 and add this line to panel.cfg:

(Window XX) <- Your meatball window 
...
render_3d_window=1 <-add this line 
...
gauge00=rcb-miljet!Ball,  0,0,240,240

Hi Webb_Pa, I got the cpt.icons.cab file and put into my gauges folder and then modified the panel.cfg, the gauge shows up, however its grayed out and doesn't do anything when I click on it. I've checked to make sure I type the line right and in the right window. any ideas.

Also did saratoga get his panel uploaded yet? Thanks for all your help.

There is a new icon next to the engine controls icon, this is the one that appears to be darker gray than the others and when I pass the curser over it the curser changes to a hand and finger, but when I click it nothing happens. Check for typo's and all is fine. I've unzipped the d/l file cptts and move the cpt.icons.cab to FS9's main gauge folder. I didn't unzip the cab file itself. I then added the line "gauge51=cpt.icons!ifr, 334,395,12,12 to [Window 00]. Below is the window that I've added:

[Window10]
Background_color=0,0,0 
size_mm=400
window_size_ratio=1.00   
position=0
visible=0
ident=IFR_MAIN_PANEL
window_size= 0.240, 0.290
window_pos= 0.380, 0.700

gauge00=F16!Radar,  0,0,400,400

Have I got it wrong?

Ok, F-14 is in the system, look for it. File name is f14_panel_fullv1.zip if I remember correctly. PLEASE get a hold of me if you have any comments on it! Thanks! Ok, onto the F-22!!!!!!!

Hi Saratoga, Just went searching for your f14 panel and couldn't find it here. Can you direct me in the right direction please.

Yep it will be tommorow, no later unless something drastic happens. By the way, I left the gauges for mode and range blank (sorry) as I couldn't find any others. There is only one non-functional gauge in the panel (hey it looked good) and I used lots and lots of good gauges people like. The TCAS will be opened by a Shift command (Shift+1, Shift+2, etc.). It can be opened by the Alt menu, but there are no icons in the panel (mars the image). Hope you guys like it!

It worked before but it won't work now?  If the icon appears active but the window won't open from the alt menu or from the icon you screwed up sonething somewhere.  This is how my (FS2002) panel config looks ant it works fine:

(Window Titles)
Window00=Pilot Panel
Window01=CRT Flight Director
Window02=Radio Stack
Window03=GPS
Window04=Autopilot
Window05=HUD
Window06=HUD2
Window07=HUD3
Window08=HUD4
Window09=Meatball
Window10=TCAS

(Window00) ...   Watch the gauge numbers here!
gauge48=cpt.icons!ifr, 334,395,12,12

(Window10)
Background_color=0,0,0
size_mm=400
window_size_ratio=1.00   
position=0
visible=0
ident=175
window_size= 0.240, 0.290
window_pos= 0.380, 0.700

gauge00=F16!Radar,  0,0,400,400
gauge01=F16!Radar Mode,  0,0,180,22
gauge02=F16!Radar Range,  219,0,180,22

Suggest you cut & paste this into panel.cfg to avoid typos.  If you change ident=110 I can guarantee you the icon won't open it.  175 or IFR_MAIN_PANEL should work.

If it worked before it should work now.  The modifications should not have affected your ability to access the TCAS from the ALT menu.  If you can't access it from the ALT menu you're not going to be able to access it from the icon.

I'm not sure if consecutive window numbers are more important than consecutive gauge numbers.  You might try changing the window numbers to 9.  It can't hurt and it should also allow you access via Shift-9.

I'm not sure whether ident is case sensitive.  Maybe change it to all caps.  Or ident=175 should work.

I'll be out of town for a few days but by then you should have Saratoga's panel and all will be right.

Hi Saratoga, been watching for your new f14 panel in the downloads, but haven't seen it yet. Is it in the panel section?

Steve

Saratoga, I d/l the panel and installed it in my FS9. Looks great and everything seems to work. Great job , Thanks I really like it.

Steve

Since your asking, it would be great to see a much better panel and a virtual cockpit to go with it for the Douglas DC-4 for FS9. The aircraft is great on the outside, but could use a little tlc on the inside.Thanks for your time.

                                                           Goose

rgr......Well then, how about a panel for the Aerospatiale Blue Thunder Helicopter for 2002.It has a vc, but no regular cockpit panel.Thanks again. Oh yea...the F-14 panel is awesome, but for some reason I cannot see AI traffic show up on the radar screen.Any thoughts?

                                                                   Goose

Thanks for the quick response......the Radar fully functions except for the AI symbols just wont show up on it. Trying all sorts of things to trouble shoot at the moment, because it is an awesome panel and i really want to see it work. Hopefully someones got an answer. Thanks again.


                                                                          Goose

Well in that case, an update is necessary! Anyone know a FS9 compatible one? I don't do a lotta FS9 stuff. And thank you, it's cool to know someone thinks it's an "awesome" panel.

Well the problem would not be in the CFG I believe, it seems like it would be in the gauge. Then again, I have no experience whatsoever in FS9 except a few flights at my school, so it's all new to me.

Saratoga & Andrew: The radar works fine in FS9, that is after you go and d/l "FSUIPC", virson 3.+, then you will need to get the reg code for it. As I recall you will find the link to the web site where you can get it.

Saratoga: As for the new panel working in FS9, all is fine except I haven't be able to pull up the GPS. Since I last replyed to you here I've even been able to add the catapult launch and cable arrester modes.

I really don't have much experiance with programing, so I'll ask if it is possible to add an icon toggle for the TCAS?

Thanks for a great panel.

Steve

Thanks alot for the tip steve, as i went and registered FSUIPC and it works great now. Any luck with the Blue Thunder panel Saratoga?

                                                                       Goose

Sorry Goose I am just getting to the F-22 panel. I am sorry to everyone. I am in an ROTC program and we have been doing lots of competitions, after school stuff, and promotions lately. I had to go before a board today. I will get around to it asap I promise!

No prob bud glad ya like it.