AirBC Dash 8-102 (std)
----------------------

AirBC Dash 8-102 C-FADK Fin#812 "Nanaimo" - Air Canada Connector for 
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000.  This zip contains updated files for 
FS2000 Standard Edition that doesn't have the turboprop available.  
Requires ABCdash8.zip.  See installation section below. 

This aircraft is a de Havilland model DHC-8-102, serial number 324, 
built in 1992 and in service with AirBC from May of that year.

AirBC is a regional connector for Air Canada serving the Western 
Provinces of Canada.  There are nine Dash 8-100's operated by AirBC 
plus an additional six Dash 8-300's Making them a *very* common site 
in almost any airport with passenger service in the West.

This FS2000 model has full moving parts including, gear, gear doors, 
airlerons, elevator, spoilers, flaps and a steerable nose wheel.  
Texture features include separate textures for gear up/down and full 
night lighting including strobe effect on upper tail surface and 
additional night lighting effects with gear down.

Note: As there are separate textures for gear up/down for the engines 
and the front 2/3s of the fuselage, the textures may redraw on gear 
extension/retraction.


Some personal notes from the AirBC repaint author:
--------------------------------------------------

First I would like to say that this work is a derivative of the very 
fine work of Chris Bawden and Gerrit Kranenbarg on their original 
SunState Dash 8 release (see orginal.jpg included in this archive and 
look for qfdash8.zip on your favourite Flightsim archive site).  

I have often wanted to do a realistic looking AirBC Dash 8 but, having 
very little experience in this sort of thing, did not know where to 
start.  When I saw the Sunstate Dash 8 I knew I had finally found the 
starting point.  From there it was a matter of experimenting with 
PaintShop Pro to revise Gerrit's excellent textures from the Sunstate 
livery to the AirBC livery.  This included hand drawing the stylized 
B.C. Coat of Arms and the AirBC logo, neither of which I could find 
suitable source images for on the Internet.

I must extend a big thank you to Chris and Gerrit who graciously 
agreed to assist me.  Without their original release and invaluable 
help, this release would not have happened.

I must also thank Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net) for the 
AirBC Dash 8 photos I used as reference while creating the new 
textures and, in particular, John W. A. Merer and Ben Wang for their 
photgraphs of C-FADK also on Airliners.net.

Finally, the AirBC "Nanaimo" aircraft was chosen because I grew up in
a town by the same name that is located on the East coast of Vancouver Island.  I have often flown 
the regional route between CYVR and CYCD (the airport serving Nanaimo)
on similar AirBC aircraft.  I have even logged some cockpit time on 
longer legs (albeit in the jumpseat behind the crew).

I hope you enjoy flying the release as much as I did creating it.


CREDITS
-------

Visual model and performance model by Chris Bawden.  Original textures
and night lighting modification by Gerrit Kranenbarg.  AirBC repaint 
by Mike Kelly.

Comments to Chris - chrisb@uq.net.au
         or Gerrit - g.kranenbarg@planet.nl
         or Mike - yllekm@hotmail.com

This aircraft may not be distributed or modified in any way without 
the permission of the authors.


INSTALLATION
------------

First install ABCdash8.zip.  Then, just unzip ABCdash8s.zip into your 
FS2000 "Aircraft" directory.  This file will overwrite some files that 
require FS2000 Professional edition.  When prompted to overwrite 
indicate Yes.

This plane uses the Lear 45 panel and sound. There are some excellent 
Dash 8 freeware panels and sounds available to further enhance this 
release. Make sure to get the "Standard" version of these 
enhancements. 


FS2000 vs real Dash 8-100
-------------------------

Dash 8 performance information was supplied by Andy Serenc, Sunstate
Airlines (QANTAS regional) Shorts 360 check captain.  Sunstate also 
fly the Dash 8 and the performance figures reflect the Dash 8-100 
model used by Sunstate.

Using the FS2000 jet model has a number of compromises.  Fuel 
consumption is about right at 20,000 ft and 25,000 ft and higher at 
15,000 ft (700 vs 600 lb hr).  The turboprop flight model is spot on 
though, so if you want the most realistic flight model then I suggest 
that you get a copy of the Professional version of FS2000.


PERFORMANCE
-----------

The information below is also listed in the aircraft checklist and can 
be accessed from FS2000 by selecting -> Aircraft -> Kneeboard -> 
Checklists from the menu.

Fuel
The Dash 8 100 will take 5,600lbs of fuel.  Setting tanks at 100% will 
give you 5,600lbs of fuel and place the aircraft weight at maximum
takeoff weight.  A more normal fuel load would be tanks at 65% which 
will give you a takeoff weight of 32,900lbs and a range of about 
1,150nm (2,130kms).

Takeoff
- Flap 5 or 15 
- Rotate - 95kts

Rate of climb
- 1,500 fpm - < 10,000 ft
- reducing to 1,000 fpm by 20,000 ft
- reducing to 500 fpm by 25,000 ft

Climb Speed (indicated)
- Standard Profile - 160kts

Cruise
@ 15,000 ft
- 200kts true
- approx 170kts indicated
- 69% n1

@ 20,000 ft
- 250kts true
- approx 185kts indicated
- 70% n1

@ 25,000 ft 
- 250kts true
- approx 170kts indicated
- 72% n1

Max Cruise
- 268kts @ 15,000 ft
- 266kts @ 20,000 ft

Descent
- 1,500 fpm

Approach
- Max gear extension - 158 kts
- max flaps -  5 - 148 kts
            - 15 - 148 kts
            - 35 - 130 kts

Landing
- Flaps 35 - 95 kts
- Flaps 15 - 100 kts
- Flaps 0 - 120 kts
- Stall - 79 kts
