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AS-31T Flying Boat | Waterbomber | Firefighting

WINCH UPDATE! Changelog see discussions.


* This aircraft is still in development * Known bugs will be listed below * Hints, wishes and suggestions are welcome! :) *

The AS-31T is a refit of a classic flying boat to fit the needs of modern SAR operations.

Radial engines have been replaced by turbo props. And avionics have been added or replaced where appropiate.
Radar and Beacon have been added as well as an automatic bilge system with manual override.
There is also room and equipment to stay on the water between missions, like beds, a galley, restroom and a power generator. All components can be reached for maintenance and repair so you do not need a hangar.

HINTS:

Missions can be economic in career mode. Depending on the power setting and flight time.
Try to get missions that offer enough payment. There is a gauge for the mission costs behind the pilots seat.
Refueling the aircraft after the mission at a gas station with a low Jet Fuel price will have a great impact on
economics.

Keep an eye on the weather. Flying in windy conditions is possible but operating the plane in huge waves or with strong wind on the ocean can be dangerous.

All components are placed in a way that you can repair them. Use the hatches in the lower fuselage for the avionics bay etc.

There is a door for inspection and repairs in the large water tank. Keep in mind to not open this door when the tank is filled.

[...]


FEATURES:

Working Coffee machine!

Simulated Ground Effect.
Simulated Battery Bus Bars.
Simulated Hydraulics.

Large water tank for fire bombing missions and fire extinguisher gun.
Galley, beds and restroom for the crew for longer travels.
Fresh water tank for sinks and restroom.
Diesel generator for electricity.
Emergency manual hydraulics pump.
Retractable Floates for stability on water.

Hotel-Mode for the engines to keep them running without turning propellers.
Emergency Battery to start the engine without the need of a GPU.

Autopilot that can be handled from the pilots, the commanders and observers seat.
Flares that can be handled from different positions too.

[...]


SYSTEMS:

AUTOMATIC BULGE SYSTEM:
There is a panel and display for this system on the left cockpit side. Default mode is AUTO. Water in the fuselage will be detected and pumped out of the airframe or in the Drop Tank. If you switch the system in manual mode, pumps are always ON. Beside the touchscreen there are also analog controls in case of an avionics failure.

AUTOPILOT:
The Autopilot can be set and switched via touchscreens. The pilot has an AUTOPILOT DISENGAGE button (3).

Use +/- to set Altitude. Or press the number to select the actual Altitude of the aircraft.
ALT Altitude Hold
SAR Altitude Hold low level above the water surface.
LVL Wings Level
GPS Fly to GPS waypoint
HOM Fly to home base.
HDG Not available at the moment.


ELECTRICS:

There are Main Batteries. With a hot battery busbar that only can be disconnected in the avionics bay with a circuit breaker.

A Diesel Generator for living in the boat or as an APU on engine startup. The generator has its own battery.
It can be started directly at the generator in the lower compartment or via the overhead panel.

In the left floater wing there is a GPU hatch for connect an external power source or for starting the left engine with the Emergency Battery. A cable is needed and engine should be switches to Hotel Mode.

Both engines feature generators for electrical power supply. When the Generator Switches are engaged, the system will automatically charge the batteries.


EXITS:

You can enter or leave the aircraft through the Cargo Door, the Cabin Emergency Exit, the Cockpit Roof Hatch and the Generator Compartment Hatch on the belly. There are steps below the inner floaters you can extract to get on the inner floater wings on ground.

Keep in mind that the Cargo Door has no seal. When the aircraft is heavy or due to rough sea water can enter this area and flood the airframe if the cabin door or rear compartment door is left open. You can use the cabin emergency exit hatch to get people inside the aircraft in water.


FLUIDS:

Jet Fuel in Wing Tanks. Can be refueled through the fuel probe at the nose. On the wings. On the inner floaters.
If you do not want to refuel each wing tank seperatelly, open Fuel Cross Feed on the Overhead panel.

Diesel. For the generator. Can be refueled on the inner floaters.

Fresh water. For the galley and restroom. Can be refilled on the right airframe side port. If the galley tank is empty, there is a pump switch below the sink to pump fresh water from the large tank into the galley.


HYDRAULICS:

Both engines supply hydraulic pressure. For emergency or ground operation there is a manual pump in the cockpit.
Hydraulics are needed for operation of the landing gear, control surfaces except flaps, and the outer wing floaters.


WATER BOMBING:

There is a huge tank that can be filled with water for Firefighting Operations. Water Drop can be engaged with a button (1) from the pilots seat or the nose "gunner" handle. There is an accustic signal as long as the drop doors are open.

There is an emergency drop door for the tank.

To refill the tank use the connectors on the inner floating wings with hoses. Or use the refill pumps while the aircraft is sitting in the water. The drop door can also be used to fill the tank fast.

Hint: During bilge operation water may be pumped into that tank. Use water drop to get rid of the weight if needed.



WATER GUN:

On the nose there is a water gun to fight fire. It can be operated with the nose "gunners" handle. There is a button on the left to switch between flight controls and water gun control. If you select flight controls, the water gun is disabled and centered.



WATER OPERATION:

Lower the outer wing floats for more stability.

Keep cabin doors closed whenever possible and the Automatic Bilge System on AUTO or MANUAL mode.
Keep all lower hatches closed.

You can keep the engines running but switch to Hotel Mode to not damage the propellers or get hurt.
The rudder fin and transverse thruster only work when the aircraft is in water.
Use wing flaps during takeoff and langing.

[...]



PROCEDURES:

Engine Startup:

Starter/Relight Switches ON
Fuel Switches ON
Hydraulic Switch ON
Generators ON
Avionics ON

[...]


KNOWN ISSUES:

Large freight door does not seal the airframe. Keep this in mind when your are opening
the rear cabin doors while the aircraft is sitting on the water.

If the engines have been not running for a while, they will overturn after start up.
(seems like fuel is flooding the engines also the valves are closed)

Center Landing Gear may collapse.

Aircraft may turn and move on ground also brakes are set.

If airspeed is too high, aircraft will lower the nose and not be recoverable.

Autopilot Heading Mode is not yet implemented.


[...]

Thanks to other creators:

Working on this aircraft has been for many months now with longer breaks. So it may be possible that I built in creations by other authors, adjusted and modded them, and now may not have mentioned. Please contact me if you find something and I will credit them.

Thanks to MrNJersey and Frantic for their tutorials and for the entertainment during development!

Used components:

Acc Original's Workshop: Touchscreen Beacon Locator