What kind of navigation tool is used on present-day DC-9's?

[Guest Ruahrc]

I just a couple of days ago bought the Iron Knuckles DC-9 package for FS. The panel is pretty good and is "hardcore" with no GPS or FMC, etc. Makes the flying experience very different from the modern glass cockpit.Anyways while DC-9's in real life still retain a virtually 100% steam gauge analog cockpit, I looked on airliners.net at cockpit photos of DC-9's still in operation today and noticed that a few of the instruments have been upgraded to modern-day standards. I would like to modify my DC9 panel to reflect these changes as well. The two big changes that I notice are the installation of a TCAS system and also a modern-day navigation aid.To that end, I have downloaded and installed Lee Hetherington's excellent TCAS gauge. Now all that's left is the navigation. Again looking at airliners.net photos (specifically at Northwest Airlines' cockpits, as I plan on flying a lot of NWA routes) I can tell that something is installed on the right hand side of the pedestal (where the co-pilot's FMC typically lies) but I can't quite make out what it is. It doesn't look like a FMC (too few buttons) nor does it look like an INS (display too large). So what is it?2 alternatives to navigation I have come up with are the ACS-GPS gauge (which was recommended for use at the website: www.hilmerby.com) and the CIVA INS unit from SimuFly.com. I have downloaded both and installed the ACS-GPS on my DC9 (Planning to put the CIVA INS onto my SGA DC-10, and maybe the IK DC9 too). My question is though, is either of these units a fairly realistic representation of the way navigation is handled by modern-day DC-9 pilots? Or do they still fly "on-the-fly" tuning in and tracking VORs and NDBs as they progress along their route? I'd love to know how they do it, and how I can replicate it as best I can in the sim!ThanksRuahrc

[Guest]

What's used depends largely on the operator.Some may not use anything (especially in 3rd world operations) other than VORs and NDBs, others may have augmented that with a handheld GPS unit.Western operators most likely will have a complete FMC with associated MCDs installed.Anything in between those two like INS systems is also a possibility.

[Guest Ruahrc]

Thanks, yeah if you look on a.net at pics of DC-9 cockpits, you will notice that the DC-9's operating in asia or africa do not have the TCAS-VSI nor do they seem to have any kind of modernized FMC or GPS navigation system.But in the Northwest DC-9s you can clearly see the TCAS-VSI as well as what I finally deduced to be a Bendix/King KNS-660 FMS unit.I am still playing with options for my cockpit... I am able to "slave" the ACS-GPS to the HSI by adding in the default GPS. So long as you load the same flightplan in both the FS9 GPS and the ACS-GPS, the HSI (slaved to the default GPS) should match the route on the ACS-GPS. You have to be honest and not open the default GPS window but it will provide data for the HSI. I think the IK DC-9 panel is a little buggy here (or the ACS-GPS is interfering) though since it seems like sometimes the HSI will not slave to the GPS, but only VOR stations tuned into NAV1.Putting the ACS-GPS on the main panel view also mostly gets around the windowing problem... except even being in VC or Spot view will deactivate the ACS-GPS!Still considering other options if you have any... Maybe the INS system. What would be most realistic with regards to INS? A full-blown triple INS config? Or just a single or dual?Ruahrc

[awralls 5]

http://www.hilmerby.com/...is an excellent site for info about the DC-9s operated (until recently) by SAS.