Nipper Articles...

[DesH]

Been a bit bored sat with my leg up for the last 10 days and have been buying a variety of old magazines off ebay containing articles and flight test of the Nipper.

Just wondering if it might be of interest to anyone if I scan these and have them uploaded to somewhere on the website? Certainly when I was doing my Nipper research there was very little in the way of flight tests I could find on the net, might be useful for future potential owners?

Also (you can tell I've been really bored!) I managed to find an old Nipper for Flight Sim which works for 2004 and FSX. It was pretty basic and flew nothing like I'd expect the Nipper to fly so I hacked the flight model to something a bit more realistic (originally climbed at 2000fpm and rolled like a PA28!). Planning on using it to bash the virtual circuit and hammer the numbers into my brain before I collect FE (tend to do this with any new type I fly) but if anyone would like a copy of it drop me an e-mail and I'll send it to you.
Any feedback on the flight model would also be greatly appreciated, its a simulated 85hp Jabiru engine with ASI in mph and tip tanks but I can tweak it to anything you want! (could also use some real CG details)

Cheers!

Des

[OO-WBR]

Could you send me the FSX model? (willemronge@scarlet.be)

[DesH]

Will do, do you want the ASI in MPH or KTS?

Regards

Des

[G-NIPR]

Hello Des,
I like the idea of uploading the articles, however I would be concerned about copyright.
Most of the articles are still available to order as back issues and the magazines would not take kindly to us 'publishing' them for free.
Perhaps a general invite to those interested in electronic copies to contact you directly...
Sorry to put a damper on an admirable idea but I dont have the energy to get into a fight with the publishers!
Good to have you on the membership by the way.

Cheers,

Paul.
G-NIPR

[DesH]

Fully understand Paul and suspected that may be the case, indeed most of the articles are from either old PFA or Pilot mags both of which are still in publication, all interesting reading whilst I cant fly however.

Hopefully get chance to meet up at some point this year for a Scottish Nipper mini-meet as there seem to be several north of the border now!

Regards

Des

[OO-WBR]

KTS is fine

[DesH]

Thanks for that, just having a little tweak of the FSX model as there are a couple of odd things I've just noticed, I've been playing with the FS2004 version mainly as my PC struggles a bit to run FSX with decent graphics.

Give me a day or two to tweak it for FSX and I'll get it over to you, its about 10mb though so I might have to host it somewhere for download.

Speaking of copyright Paul, I was looking for a nice panel shot from a Nipper to use as a background for the Flightsim panel, do you have any objections if I use one of your pictures for this as you have some cracking shots on this site?

[OO-WBR]

Thanks man.

[G-NIPR]

Des,
Please feel free to use any of my images without restriction. I would be keen to have a copy of the finished FSX model too!
I had one before for FS2000 but it was not representative other than in looks!
Let us know how you get on.

Paul.
G-NIPR.

[DesH]

Cheers Paul, after a bit of tinkering I've got the panel together in FSX, not 100% as your panel as I've put a digital Tach in and a turn & slip, I've attached a little preview of what I'm sure are some familiar views to you.... (certainly are to me!) Have also put together a virtual panel though its pretty basic but does have more instruments to play with...as I say I'm no expert at this!

Just need to finish tweaking the flight model which seems to have gone a bit wonky bringing it over from FS2004, I wont even speak about the weight and balance, when I use the real C/G figures from FE the flipping thing just tips up on its tail, either FSX is a bit off or my first circuit in FE for real is going to be mighty interesting!....even had a rummage through my old ATPL notes to check I wasnt missing something....!

Anyway, should hopefully have it ready for donwload in the next day or so, all feedback on the flight model will be greatly appreciated !!

Regards

Des

[DesH]

Sorry for the delay with this, been somewhat up to my eyes over the last few weeks !

Anyway, this is the link to download the Tipsy Nipper for FSX, this is an old model I found lurking on the net, I've just knocked up a new 2D panel and tweaked the 3D panel and flight model.

http://www.offshore-shipbrokers.co.uk/p ... nipper.zip

To install, just unzip the folder to the following path:

......./Microsoft Flight Simulator X/Simobjects/airplanes

I've kept it all pretty simple for now but any feedback on the handling would be much appreciated, its still circa 2-3 weeks until I get my hands on FE so until then the handling is my best guestimate.

Some rough perf figs as follows:

-Climb at 60kts gives around 1000fpm initially, dropping off to about 250fpm at 8000' at 45kts IAS (dont know how realistic this is but am struggling to get it to climb any better at upper levels)

-Cruise at 2800RPM gives about 85-90kts, (fits with what I know of FE)

-Flat out S&L gives about 105kts at circa 1000' and 95kts IAS at 3000', will loop from S&L.(again seems to fit the figs I have on FE)

-Approach at 60-55kts seems to work fine, speed bleeds pretty quick if you chop the throttle on finals which I'm keen to drum into my head given the real aircrafts lack of inertia, might have overdone it a bit however?

-CofG settings are made up, couldint get FSX to work with real figs so used 'fudged' ones but its set pretty neutral.

-Thinking it might need a bit more drag at higher speeds but not sure?

-Pitch and roll rates and axis stability are again my guestimates taken from youtube clips etc.

PLEASE NOTE - The default setting will be to start off with full main and tip tanks, you might want to remember to remove the fuel from the tip tanks and set the main to 50% to get the best out of it.

Still a lot of bits I want to tweak when I get time, there are some pretty large trim changes required between 60-100kts which I'll sort when I get time. The panels are still a bit rough but do the job for just now.

Anyway, hope you enjopy it, will hopefully get the flight model more realistic with a bit of feedback!

Regards

Des

[DesH]

My guestimated flight model for FSX aint even close, will revise when I get a chance to give it far more grunt! FE is pretty much airbourne by the time I have the throttle fully open!