DO NOT CLICK ON THESE GYRO IMAGES YET !!! - Read everything on this page first!
* At the moment only Little Nellie is available for you to download - the others should also be ready quite soon if Nellie is a success *
These are frames taken from the amazing Wallis Autogyro models created as an add-on for Microsoft Flight Sim '98 by Ian Standfast, an R22 helicopter pilot who lives just a short gyro flight from me near Marlborough in Wiltshire, UK. The first thing that I must do is to thank Ian so very much for allowing me to make these Ken Wallis gyros available for you to download and use ABSOLUTELY FREE!! from this website. He has done a fantastic job, and has spent long evenings altering the flight characteristics as much as the Flight Sim framework will allow so as to get things as close as possible to the fantastic little aircraft that we fly. Thanks also to my gyro flying companion Ron Dobree-Carey who has been the 'guineapig' who has spent a long time (having fun!) trying out these gyros and suggesting changes to Ian, and of course to Wing Commander Ken Wallis who has given them his blessing too! Microsoft also approve of their Flight Sim being used in this way - they have actually designed it knowing that designers expand on it with new aircraft and scenery, and actively encourage this by publishing the instructions and details on how they structured the files - this is referred to as 'open architecture'. It adds tremendous value to their product as it keeps growing - in fact the only limit is the size of your hard disk!
These gyro download files are surprisingly small in size - averaging about 100kb each (downloading time will be considerably less than for my gyro homepage!). With Ron's help, Ian has tried to make the instructions for these gyros so that you do not need to be a computer genius to download, install and fly them!
This may seem obvious to you but I MUST state it here: DO NOT think that the flight characteristics of the gyro models are a true representation of those of a full sized autogyro/gyrocopter - THEY ARE NOT. These simulations are basically still a simulated Cessna in gyro clothing! Ian has played around with the software as much as he can, so as to get as near as is possible to how a gyro flies. The models are purely for fun, they are not meant to be a substitute for training.You MUST get proper training from a qualified gyro instructor before trying to fly a full sized gyro, or you could end up with a pile of scrap metal, be seriously injured - or worse. But the rewards when you have learned to fly a gyro are indescribable! - beyond words!
(These models can be flown in Combat Flight Sim provided they are converted first using the converter supplied on the Combat Flight Sim CD. But please, DO NOT ASK US HOW TO DO THIS!!! Little Nellie's missiles should then fire!)
Firstly, you will need to have Microsoft Flight Sim '98 installed on your computer, and your computer will need to be fitted with a 3D accelerator card (otherwise the gyros will be practically unflyable).
Next, I would recommend that you PRINT OUT THIS ENTIRE PAGE, and keep it with you while you are downloading the files and then setting up the gyros in your simulator program. Load your printer with plenty of paper and PRINT THIS PAGE NOW!!
Good!
You will need to use WINZIP to 'unstuff' these download files. Many people already have this very useful program, but if you do not have it yet - you can download a FREE, EVALUATION COPY of Winzip which you can use immediately on the gyro files by clicking this underlined, coloured text WINZIP . If you are going to download Winzip you will probably want to come back to this page to complete the download of the gyros. You may be able to use your browser's 'BACK' button, but if not - the address to put in your browser's address bar to get back to this page is http://www.avnet.co.uk/melmorrisjones/gyro2a.htm
Now that you have Winzip you are ready to download the gyros! So click on the image of the gyro that you would like to download first (only Little Nellie is available at the moment) - and follow Ian's instructions carefully. For a touch more realism try putting a fan on top of your monitor, full speed! - and a garden sprinkler for all those who fly in the UK!! (Ian's suggestion!). I hope you have a lot of fun with these, but remember that the full sized gyros are even more fun!! Fly gyros!! (I do not have Flight Sim myself, preferring to spend any spare time in my old faithful G-BMZP - I spend too much time looking at a screen on this site anyway!!).
This is part of Ian's 'readme' text file, which you will also find along with other information included with the gyro download files - read it!
Ian's text file :
turn word-wrap on....
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WALLIS AUTOGYRO WA116/Mc (Little Nellie) for FS98
Copyright Ian Standfast 1999.
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INSTALLATION, this aircraft is for FS98 only.
This aircraft comes already configured for FS98.
This file is supplied as a winzip archive. To use this file you will need winzip. There are several versions of this programme available on the net. Winzip will allow you to unstuff this file from its compressed archive form giving you all the components you will need to install this FS98 aircraft.
First unzip the file, once this is done you should have two items, a folder called Walxxx, and a file called Wallis.stn. These files will be sitting in the unzipped file created by winzip as it unstuffed the archive.
1. Highlight/select the 'Walxxx' folder by clicking on it.
2. go to the window menu and 'copy'.
3. open the program files folder on your 'c' drive.
4. open the 'Microsoft Games' folder
5. open the 'flight sim98' folder
6. open the 'aircraft' folder
7. then paste. This should place the 'Walxxx' folder in the aircraft directory
of FS98.
1. Now, go back to the unzipped folder. select/highlight the wallis nellie.stn
file
2. go to the window menu and 'copy'.
3. open the program files folder on your 'c' drive.
4. open the 'Microsoft Games' folder
5. open the 'flight sim98' folder
6. open the 'pilots' folder
7. then paste. This should place the 'Wallis nellie.stn' file in the pilots
directory of FS98.
As a quick check you should have a file structure as the following:
the folder 'WallisXXX'
(should be in)
the folder called 'aircraft'
(which is in)
the folder called 'Flightsim'
(which is in)
the folder called 'Microsoft Games'
(which is in)
the folder called 'Program files'
which sits on drive 'c'
the file 'wallis nellie.stn'
the folder called 'pilots'
(which is in)
the folder called 'Flightsim'
(which is in)
the folder called 'Microsoft Games'
(which is in)
the folder called 'Program files'
which sits on drive 'c'
Now we need to get the sounds from the Cessna file
Within the aircraft folder of FS98 you will find a folder called C182, open it, you will see another folder called sounds. Open this folder, you will see some sound files and a config file.
Copy the following files:
sound.cfg
ce1.wav
ce2.wav
ce3.wav
ce4.wav
ceidle.wav
xce1.wav
xce2.wav
xce3.wav
xce4.wav
xceidle.wav
you do not need the others. Now get back to our Walxxx folder, and paste these sounds in the sounds folder. You may be asked if you wish to replace the existing sound config file, click yes and proceed.
OK, that's it. Now launch FS and go to the main menu for flights. Scoot down the list and select wallis nellie. This stn file should set you up with the panel at a reasonable size on your monitor and with the outside view set to full screen. It will also set your flight realism to 'full', your fuel and mixture management to 'accurate' and the crash detection to 'on'. It will also set the auto coordination to off, if you don't have rudder pedals or don't like using the keyboard for the rudders then set the auto coordination to on in the aircraft settings section of the FS menus.
If all has gone well and everything appears to be working correctly, you can now go back to the unzipped files in the winzip folder and delete or file them.
XXXXXX The quick version for those who know their way around XXXXXXXXXX
Take the Walxxx folder and copy it to the 'aircraft' directory within MS
Flight Sim. Now take the Wallis.stn file and drop it into the 'pilots' directory
within Flight Sim. Now launch FS and go to the situations menu, the 'Wallis'
flight should be visible in the list, call it up and you should be sitting
in 'Little Nellie'.
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This aircraft comes with its own panel, it is best to use the .stn file above as your first call up of this aircraft as it contains the panel at a good size and the outside view is set to full screen.
Flying:
I find that turning the joystick sensitivity down to about two thirds gives
a good control range across all speeds. Flying with full fuel is also a
good idea, as without it the gyro tends to bounce on landing.
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A Brief Note:
This Autogyro for Flight Sim is not an accurate flight model. It is limited by the constraints of Flight sim and the author's knowledge of programming (and flying autogyros). Whilst I have tried to imitate the flight characteristics of the autogyro, it must be remembered that this model cannot be used to replace the instruction of an experienced pilot. It is purely for fun and entertainment, it is not intended to be a substitute for flying experience in the real thing.
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FLYING
I've had to cheat the air file parameters a bit to get a performance near
to that of an autogyro. It will perform quite steep power off descents and
smooth engine-off landings at about 20kts with plenty of flair at around
8ft. It will also do smooth, slow passes with a very nose high attitude.
LANDING
2 basic techniques: 1.You can make a steep approach by pulling all the power
off, let the airspeed fall by holding a level or slightly nose-up attitude,
as you near the ground either add power to flatten the approach angle, or,
let the nose drop to build up more speed for the flair; 2. A flat approach,
pulling off the power at 30 feet and gently raising the nose as the airspeed
drops.
Don't let your airspeed drop below 15kts, as this aircraft is modelled on a fixed wing and will get into a deep stall from which you will not be able to recover. You may notice that at lower speeds the aircraft tends to become quite sloppy on the roll axis, this is because it is behaving as a fixed wing and the effective aileron authority is diminished.
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* * Ron says that it is much more realistic and fun if you install the scenery add-ons that are available to purchase for Flight Sim. (He has only tried the one for Southern England, so cannot comment on the others). It also apparently seems to makes it easier to land the gyros.
IMPORTANT - Please note : The user of the gyro download files accepts the responsibility of use, and neither Mel Morris Jones, nor Ian Standfast are in any way liable for any damage, or perceived damage that the user may think has occurred to their computer using these files.
|
' Mel's Gyro Page ' (gyro homepage) |
Ken Wallis page |
gyro photos taken while filming for TV series |
|
single seat gyro types commonly flown in the UK (Cricket types, Bensen, Montgomerie Bensen) |
single seat gyro types rarely flown in the UK (Wombat, KB2, Air Command, Hornet, McCandless, etc.) |
2 seat gyro types commonly flown in the UK (VPM M16, RAF2000) |
|
2 seat gyro types rarely flown in the UK |
an assortment of other pages - several sub-pages to this one |
interesting projects going on |
|
International gyro page |
FLYING LINKS |
Gyroglider page |
|
Gyros on Floats |
Stop browsing this and get proper training to fly gyros in the U.K. (this link will take you to the BRA site) |
Fly Gyro! magazine The new international magazine (printed) for enthusiasts everywhere! |
