Well, Hagar... I am back.  I am still fiddling around with the downloads from two weeks ago. I just now tried to insert the Diamond Kitana from Civil Props Newest Files (Page 59) into FS2002 and it doesn't show up. I see it in my FS aircraft folder, but it isn't in the list of the availables. I have managed to get one or two in, but most disappear into the digital dungeon of my computer, never to be flown or seen again. I have the Hummelbird (Hummel manufacturer) and the B1-B Lancer (unspecified manufacturer). Nothing else has successfully been inserted.

Here's what I do. I download and unzip; this gives me a folder for that aircraft in My Documents. I Move that folder into my FS Downloads folder. I right-click on it to get the Cut box to show up, click Cut, then navigate my way via the Start button to the aircraft folder in FS2002. Once there, I click on Paste and I see the folder in FS. I assume I can now fly it? I see the other airplanes I have available, but the ones I cut/paste don't show up when I enter FS and desire to fly my latest acquisition. Very frustrating!! I am loathe to bother you again after we spent so much time on this, but what's a noob to do?

I have to go over the mountain tonight at 8:00 from near Reno, Nevada where I live to near San Francisco, so I won't be able to see any reply until tomorrow afternoon. Thanks in advance.

Right. I've dowloaded the Katana (kat_cz22.zip) from the page you mentioned. It's not likely to happen but this is a perfect example of how I would like to see all downloads configured. This would save a lot of problems & I would have to find something else to do in my spare time. (FS developers please note. )

On extracting the zipfile into your Downloads folder, open the extracted folder to see what you've got. You should see 3 folders named aircraft, effects & gauges. These folders have identical names to the folders in the FS2002 root directory. Installing the aircraft or any other addon is a simple matter of moving the complete contents of these folders into the corresponding folders in FS2002.

First open the aircraft folder in the download. Inside it you will find 2 subfolders named da20_katana_OK-BLB_ZLA_OM-HLJ_2002 & fsfsconv. Select both folders & paste them into FS2002\Aircraft. The aircraft is now installed. (If you don't install the fsfsconv folder it won't display on the menu. To understand why, please read my Aliasing article. http://www.simviation.com/lair/aliasing1.htm)

Now go back to your download & open the effects folder. Repeat the above procedure but this time select & paste the complete contents including the Texture subfolder into FS2002\effects. (Overwrite files/folders when prompted. This will automatically install the included texture - fx_red.bmp.)

Now for the gauges. Go back to the downloaded folder & open the gauges subfolder. Click Edit/Select All & paste the complete contents (26 GAU files & 1 CAB file) into FS2002\GAUGES. This time do NOT overwrite files/folders if prompted. (This will avoid a common problem caused by some 3rd party gauges overwriting default ones. If the people creating or modifying gauges know what they're doing they will rename their files to avoid this problem.)

The aircraft, panel, effects & gauges are now installed. Open the BLB_ZLA_OM-HLJ_2002 folder you just installed to FS2002\Aircraft & find Aircraft.cfg. Open this in Notepad to find out how it will be listed on the FS2002 aircraft selection menu.

[fltsim.0]
title=Katana DA20-A1_ACH_FS8_VER1.2  
sim=Katana_FS8
model=NP
panel=
sound=
texture=BLB
kb_checklists=Katana_check
kb_reference=Katana_A1_ref
ui_manufacturer=Diamond Aircraft
ui_type=Katana
ui_variation=Aeroclub Hosin OK-BLB
description=Diamond Katana DA20-A1\nAeroclub Hosin OK-BLB - Czech Republic\n2 place General Aviation Aircraft

Now go & try it in FS2002. There are 3 variations of the Katana whch can be selected from Variation on the menu. It's a very nice little plane with a full 2D panel & DVC. I hope this explains it.

Quote:

The Diamond Katana is a popular two-seat trainer & sports aircraft. http://www.avweb.com/news/reviews/182565-1.html
The FS2002 version is by the guys at Premier Aircraft Design so should be fine. No need to ask for my opinion which might be different to yours. It's a relatively small download so why not try it yourself? http://www.simviation.com/fs2002props59.htm

OK, well done for figuring that out. Nothing's lost anyway & you can start again hopefully with a better idea of what this is all about. This is one reason I recommend using the right-click "Extract to folder ........" option (if you have it) for extracting zipfiles. This might depend on which utility you use for doing it.