this is really a great plane. I am using it to re-create flights I took as a passenger in C-47's. My question is on the Pilot's side DME. I have not found the information in the documentation.The DME as three switch positions: vor dme, r nav, and appr. I think I understand the vor dme position as a regular dme. However, what are the other positions for?I understand the top nautical miles counter and bearing counter as regular DME features. What is the bottom distance counter for?Thanks for any information.John

JohnYou're not the only one to ask. As as result of other questions on this subject, Bill Rambow posted the following at DC-3 Airways. I believe Bill may be taking a well-earned break so I take the liberty of republishing these comments on his behalf:"If you want the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about the RNAV instrument, you would need to consult a historical document ;-), namely the manual that came with the V2 panel. I suppose I could have included the explanation in the newest manual, but it was pretty wordy already.Originally, it was hoped that the RNAV functions would be programmed, but it is not supported in FS and so it functions only as a DME. For those who want to know about it, though, for knowledge sake, here is the relevant section:"MODESVOR DME mode. With the red knob in this position, the top readout will be Nautical Miles from the VOR station set on your Nav 1 radio, providing that station has DME capability. This is elementary radio nav and lessons can be had, if you need them, in FS98 Help files. When the VOR station is out of range, or has no DME capability, a red bar will appear across the number readout. This mode IS fully functional in this release of the gauge.R NAV, the second position, stands for Area Navigation (don't ask me why it's not A nav;-) This is where things get interesting--or will when the gauge is finished in the next update. The yellow light will be on when you are in R Nav mode. This allows you to enter the distance and bearing from a VOR to a point to which you wish to fly. In other words, you can create a "phantom" VOR station where none exists. This mode is NOT functional in this release of the gauge. In this release, the BEARING knob and readout adjust and mirror the setting of OBI #1, and the DISTANCE readout is DME 2. Its knob performs no function.For example, you want to fly IFR to your home station, Crowded Skies Aerodrome. CSA has no on-field nav aids, but there is a VOR, Whoopy, not far from your intended flight path in range of the field, and another on the other side of your track, Yippee, in range of your Point of Origin. Yippee is beyond the radio range of Crowded Skies, but it's range circle overlaps that of Whoopy. You, being the consummate (not to mention cheap) airman, want to fly a nice, economical straight line from POO to CSA. With RNAV, you can!1. On your chart, plot the bearing (degrees true) and distance (nautical miles) from CSA to YPE. Enter these in the Bearing and Distance windows of the RNAV by rotating the black knobs. (Note this is bearing FROM the VOR) While you're at it, plot the numbers from CSA to WPY and write them down.2. Tune the frequency of YPE into the Nav 1 Radio.3. The OBI (VOR#1) should come alive. Center the needle on OBI 1 and fly a direct course to the phantom station you have created at CSA. (If you don't know how to do this, it's time to go back to flight school. See FS Help) The Nautical Miles (DME) top readout will register distance to the phantom station.4. Before you get too far, tune WPY's frequency into the Nav 2 radio. When you hear the identifier, theoretically when you are in the purple area which represents the overlap in the reception ranges of the two stations, switch Nav 1 to WPY.5. Enter the pre-plotted bearing and distance from CSA to WPY into the RNAV windows by rotating the black knobs.6. If you did everything right, the needle should still be close to center. Continue on your merry way to CSA. APPR is the Approach mode. When in this position, the sensitivity of OBI 1 is increased by a factor of twelve. When in Approach mode, the red light will be on. This mode is NOT functional in this release of the gauge."There is a diagram in the manual illustrating the above scenario which I have uploaded for you. There are some fun and interesting bits in these old manuals, not all of which was carried over from one version to the next. They are still available on some sites to DL, or, if you have the old R4D CD, you will find a folder called "v1to3doc" containing the all the past user's manuals. Enjoy."Hope this helps, John.Mark "Dark Moment" BeaumontVP FleetDC-3 Airwayshttp://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

Thanks so much for the excellent reply. I do not have the original R4D. Maybe "v1to3doc" will be posted on the MAAM website.thanksjohn

Further on this; maybe it can be programmed after all. I dunno. I am no gauge programmer:http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...id=200490&page=Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

I had many discussions with the makers of EasyGauge and they did feel that it was possible to make a functional RNAV gauge for FS2002/2004. I just got mired in other work so didn't pursue it. I would really love to see this made functional. A suggestion for programming, it may be easier to create a VOR gauge that reads the signal with the offset from the RNAV rather than a dedicated RNAV radio that sends a signal out using the Nav1 or GPS signal. The switch on the RNAV could then just toggle between the VOR using the Nav1 signal or Nav1 with the parameters set in the RNAV.Zane

Thanks for that, Mark. I knew roughly what RNAV was, and was surprised to see it in the R4D's cockpit when I saw the screenshots. Too bad it doesn't work, but I can certainly imagine how difficult it would be to program it in.Lewis "Moose" GregoryColumbia, South Carolina