Nicola_M

New cockpit lighting for the BK117 Nils has served us an astonishing bit of kit that is the BK. However, his aim was to create a well-used/not pristine cockpit but I found that while the dull lighting is representative of a past-its-prime heli, the fact is that most of the BKs still in service are kept in pristine condition. On top of that, the faded and dull instrument lighting made for interesting events when you needed important information. So, I have created a way to improve/brighten the instrument lighting. What's changed: Brighter instruments on the instrument panel, still adjustable for brightness using dimmer switches Dimmer switches now lit Fire Control panel now lit Standby Horizon button (under glareshield) now lit Garmin G430 buttons now lit Transponder buttons now lit SAS/ATT and Beep Trim panels now lit Windshield compass now lit Hydraulic gauges in ceiling now lit Radio buttons now lit. EDIT: 19Nov11 - switch surrounds on overhead panels added to the files. But rather than go on, just look over the pictures. In order 1. Stock lighting 2-4 NEW lighting 5. Real BK cockpit Download from here: https://www.mediafire.com/?2eu51kbtaryr41n Size: 1mb Just place into your main BK117 folder. No Photoshop or Gimp needed.

Hmm, so I've just found out. However, there are 2 guys on xpfw still waiting for their MD80. Maybe someone may want to put a sticky on the forum saying Gone Away or something, or close it. At the bare minimum to disable the "subscription" tab so more gullible people don't fall for the betatest-the-MD80 idea.

Morten, As this seems to be the only place you pop up in, do you think you might visit XPFW and sort out pending requests for Betatesters occasionally? Two months' waiting for a response for the MD80 has probably killed any chance of me buying the 737 now, but there are others on xpfw waiting for the MD80 which you may like to process.

I think I'm the lightest lightweight.....

BK117 livery ROYAL NAVY SAR - EXCLUSIVE TO X-PILOT.COM Repaint for Nils Danielsson's excellent payware MBB BK-117. Simply unzip the file "ROYAL NAVY" into your xplane/aircraft/helicopters/bk117/liveries folder. This is a fictional livery of a Royal Navy SAR BK, as suggested by Kevin Mee. File located in file library here: http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/category/20-helicopters/

BK117 livery CN 7510 G-BWKM - EXCLUSIVE TO X-PILOT.COM Repaint for Nils Danielsson's excellent payware MBB BK-117. Simply unzip the file "CN 7510 G-BWKM" into your xplane/aircraft/helicopters/bk117/liveries folder. This is the livery of 7510 G-BWKM, which was loaned to London Fire Brigade in early 1996 for evaluation (they didn't take it on - hose wouldn't reach!) Use with the NON-Radome version, bear paws are switched off. File located in file library here: http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/category/20-helicopters/

Pre-flight

Spot the star fetish.....

BK117 livery CN 7113 N117LA LifeAir98 - EXCLUSIVE TO X-PILOT.COM Repaint for Nils Danielsson's excellent payware MBB BK-117. Simply unzip the file "CN 7113 N117LA LifeAir98" into your xplane/aircraft/helicopters/bk117/liveries folder. This is the livery of CN 7113 N117LA LifeAir98, the 113th machine off the Donauworth production line. Until recently it was the LifeAir98 medevac for Ohio. In February 2011 LifeAir were taken over by Air Evac Lifeteam, after a short but meteoric growth and the aircraft was recently put for up for sale on usedairplanes.com as Air Evac want a uniform fleet. Use with the NON-Radome version, bear paws are switched off. Created and tested with v9.60rc2 EDIT: file updated, as I forgot to "switch on" the front door handle surrounds. Picture doesn't show them, but they are now there. EDIT 29th October 2011 - file re-uploaded and now downloading correctly. File located in file library here: http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/category/20-helicopters/

Very strange. atgcab's shots from months back showed the cabin complete and painted/textured, and with a livery, so why are these guys (never heard of them) suddenly redesigning the wheel from scratch? Also, I love the "we've got a release date, but we're not telling you until we're sure." So that's a "no", then. 8)

So sorry Ola. It's a national tragedy as it is, having someone you know tied up in it makes it a personal tragedy too.

HB-XOZ (the little blue dot!) at Refuge Napoleon, Briancon

BK117 livery B-1 CN 7042 HB-XOZ - EXCLUSIVE TO X-PILOT.COM Repaint for Nils Danielsson's excellent payware MBB BK-117. Simply unzip the file "CN 7042 HB-XOZ" into your xplane/aircraft/helicopters/bk117/liveries folder. This is the livery of HB-XOZ, which identifies it as airframe number 7042. I can tell you nothing about this machine, other than it was pictured in July 1986 in these colours, and was one of the Rudisuhli Heli Group fleet. I believe RHG disappeared many years ago. Last records show this machine is now in the US. Use with the NON-Radome version, bear paws are switched off. File located in file library here: http://forums.x-pilot.com/index.php/files/category/20-helicopters/

Thanks for the photo, Ola. For me, that gives some idea of the amount of water the police have got to search. I really, really hope there aren't any more victims to be found.

Yes, Ola, thoughts and prayers with everyone over there. Absolutely shocking one person with a gun can end so many lives.

Um, how did YOU get the unreleased 777 yet???

Tried Pilot View again today, and found it doesn't "find" the FaceTrackNoIR input easily. When it does, it switches off the Engine Vibration effect, and I managed to get about 2 minutes of use before it caused FaceTrack to CTD. Reloaded everything again and PV still can't find the input from FaceTrack. It's much easier just to use FaceTrack on its own and consign PV to the bin.

This may make it easier for people to see the problem.

Thanks Dozer. The tints I had a brainwave about last night, having discovered opacity a while back and wondered "what if." Bit disappointed, many BK117s came with tinted windows, but what looks right from the outside in xp is too dark to see through from the inside. I am getting to the point where the BK is well into the 90%+ accurate range, with very little left to improve it. The two big things remaining are that the front doors windows are wrong, and all 4 hinges on the BK have to be the same colour. Sadly I can't resolve those, otherwise this would be nearer the 100% accurate mark. Considering Icaro/Icarus and Flightgear both have BK117s which are nowhere near as authentic, I still maintain Nils has created a masterpiece which I regard as the best heli in any sim.

BK117 Tinted Windows, Rotors & Glass - EXCLUSIVE TO X-PILOT.COM I have made a Rotors & Glass kit which enables you to select tinted windows for the BK117, and also fine tune what opacity you want for each window (if using Photoshop). In addition, window slider profiles are included, including window vents for the older BK117s. You can also select different coloured rotors to suit your taste: black w/yellow tips, red+white stripes, black+white stripes or all-white. Use this kit to create a png file called "BK-117_cockpit_glass", an example included. This goes into the "objects" folder of whatever livery you choose. Download from here: http://www.mediafire.com/?5t94mv65f59k4db Size: 11mb EDIT: 2nd July 2011 1500hrs GMT. File replaced, to correct an error with the chin windows. Also blue and green skylight tints added.

I think normally they seem to come in a bit (not much) higher, so probably no need to stop the traffic. I think the daisycutter seen here was not the usual occurrence. Heck, we have our lawnmower set to cut higher than that.....

That cabrio saved the pilot a new nosewheel.... ;D

From reading articles on it, and looking at the pics and videos, I'm glad RoyalOak's done a scenery for it. Because I'd hate to have to land there in anything other than a sim.

Yes, it is St Barts. Google "St Barts landing" and there are dozens of references to this and other photos.

For anyone considering RoyalOak's St Barts scenery , Chip & Simon did a great job describing it, but left out perhaps THE one image which sums landing at that place..... http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?automodule=downloads&showfile=13927