Q400 P3d

[Magdalen Dano]

Thanks for this great tutorial! I used to fly it a lot in IF until Alaska Horizon retired it ? I am happy I did get to go on Alaska q 400 before it retired. Also what airline do you fly the q400 for

Question: Does this need to be adjusted for wind direction and speed, like on, for example the 787-9, where 1/2 of the headwind component + full gust (max 10kts) is added to the Vref to obtain the Vapp speed?

This Dash 8 Q400 is a modification of the excellent Q400 by Christian Riviere. He has very kindly granted me permission to distribute the modified aircraft. Please take some time to look at the many aircraft Riviere has created.

Riviere created the original model and has full credit for this, I just made some modifications. The modifications are mainly in the 3D cockpit. The LCD displays are modelled using generic instruments to match (as much as possible) the real Q400. The switchgear is controlled by manipulators, which make them much easier to control. The overhead panel, main panel and pedestal have all been re-textured, as has the main aircraft. This means any repaints for the original will not work, but I have included a paint kit and some Flybe liveries.

A display showing the positions of throttle, prop and flap levers also shows if any hardware levers are in a position that would not be possible in reality, like reverse whilst airborne. It can be hidden.

The ARCDU (audio and radio controller), standby COM, power derates and reduced landing power, APU, pressurisation and other systems have been modelled using the xLua but into X-plane. A PDF file is attached listing the changes.

This is the first aircraft I have modified. It made me realise just how much time and effort goes into creating an aircraft for X-plane. The experience of creating the modification was at times enjoyable, frustrating, therapeutic and most of all time consuming.

I have never been on the flight deck of a Q400 and I am not a pilot, so the information on the systems of the aircraft has come from the internet. There will be things that are not right with the modifications, but I hope the Q400 is still enjoyable to fly.

Thanks to @SwissCyul for allowing the use of their modified Q400 sounds (originally for the FJSim Legacy Q400) for this aircraft. The sounds are in a separate download. Unzip it and paste the sounds folder into the main Dash8-Q400 folder

You could always attempt the repaint yourself. The repaints (apart from the Flybe eco) just use fonts for the text and rectangles and circles for the 'paint' overlaid on the paint kit in multiply mode. They were created in Photoshop Elements.

A lovely addon, I must say. The one thing that I enjoy the most would be the fact that you were generous enough in installing the Garmin G1000 PFD, thus for people who are less experienced (wink wink, such as myself), it is really easy to get around, especially in terms of GPS navigation and autopilot systems. I am still in the process of learning how to use the proper FMCs which are commonly found in many airliners, but for now, as I am flying for virtual airlines such as DLH Virtual, American VA, and sooner or later, Alaska VA, this will come in handy. Thank you.

Pleased that you like the 3D cockpit. It was the reason I modified the aircraft in the first place, as it originally did not have a proper 3D cockpit. Not sure I would have started had I realised how much time and effort would be required!

The cockpit pictures are real screen grabs of the aircraft in X-plane. It really depends what time of day (in X-plane) you look as the cockpit looks way better when there are shadows. The cockpit is significantly altered from Riviere's original aircraft, which only had a 2D cockpit. The G1000 glass cockpit version screen grab was from X-plane 12, which looks better than X-plane 11. I had also put the storm lights on for that picture. The other images are from X-plane 11. Ideally I would use photo textures, but without access to a real aircraft I can't obtain any that are useful after they have been stretched, colour corrected and the shadows removed.

Kudos to all involved in this project, and especially to Manky1 and his ongoing commitment to improving what is already an amazing freeware offering. I'm still learning to fly these Dash-8 variants, and now learning to use my new Honeycomb Bravo with them. They are so fun to fly!

I downloaded this plane nice graphics I'm just getting to know how it works one thing I did notice was when I put in a flight for EGGD Bristol To Einn Shannon the star was missing for Shannon My navigraph data is up to date. I don't know what the issue is . But all in all alovely Plane it could be Payware. Thanks very much for it.

The copilot can be hidden by clicking the back of his seat. In the latest version (1.5.4) he stays hidden as a preference file stores that (and some other) settings. If anybody is willing to create a more realistic pilot and copilot I would be happy to use them as 3D modelling is not my strength!

As for the issues i had some issues with dash 8 q400 while switching the condition levers to crz the propeller had some strange behaviour. Would like this to be fixed in the next upcoming updates. Secondly, if you can you can try reworking the whole cockpit for this dash 8q400 anytime in future to a detailed 3d cockpit with cold dark start. (Maybe not to the study level). Just loving right now this q300 and 400.

For the q300 can you do some modifications regarding propeller science? The blades should be Normal it's not on the normal position. Instead, it's on the position when you keep the condition levers on rpm/max position. So i would like this to be rectified later in future. (You can check how this blade science works in dash 8 q300)

The Q400 has various power derates depending on the position of the prop levers and the various derate buttons on the pedestal. Max 1020rpm is used for takeoff and initial climb, and reduced landing power for noise abatement (sets rpm to 850 but have to move prop lever to max 1020). min 850 is for cruise, 900 for climb. The ratings can be changed by the buttons on the pedestal, but need the prop levers to be in the correct position to activate. Normal take off power is set to 90% of maximum, and can be reduced by up to 10%. The MTOP button sets maximum take off power. I have tried to emulate that logic. Apologies if you know all this.

I am not quite sure what you mean about the Q300 props, but I certainly need to match the lever positions with the engine rpm. I may scrap the logic that moves both throttles/props, as it is not that reliable and just use the prop synchro switch to lock the movement together.

If anybody has USB throttles or prop levers could you let me know how they work with the aircraft please? Some have issues with the controls working, but the levers do not move on screen. For others they apparently work as the should.

Truthfully, I bought this plane a month ago. I've read the entire manual, searched every surviving google FAQ about this and have gotten absolutely no where with this plane. I have tried using Spad.next, the in-game controls in XP12 and everything else I could possibly think of. This "hold to pass through gate" is BS. I spent $80 on this plane and cannot use it because I cannot get this thing to toggle reversers. The complete annoyance of having to hold a button to allow my throttles to pass through the gate is absolutely ridiculous and not worth even flying the plane, like wth is that even supposed to accomplish but annoyance? I've seen multiple people post about this issue and no response from the DEV. I am using the HC Alpha and Bravo so with that there is no reverser axis. I bought a kit on Etsy that gives detents along the throttle axis ( -8-q400-pro-throttle-detent-set-for?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=q400&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&edd=1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1$). Link for your guys reference. Due to the bravo have to essentially have to be a "button press" to activate reversers this is completely impossible and before anyone says anything about FlyJSim's notion site article I have read that and no that doesn't work either. Honestly if I could I'd return this hot garbage and get my money back. Sad so much work was put in to make this plane almost great but the most essential systems ie: power and prop barely work and when they do it's half-handed.

The plane works the same way it does for real, so I'm sure the manufacturer is really sorry it's an inconvenience for you and throwing insults at the XP developer is a sure way to get them to completely redesign the safety features of the aircraft.

My point was that they have safety stops, as does the XP plane and HC bravo has a detent position for each lever. You posting on here throwing insults around and just being generally abusive will do nothing to help your cause. The datarefs to allow you to pass through the detents are in the helpfile. The commercial levers come with thrust reversers. You only need 2, leaving two GA prop levers and flaps. There's HC configurator, there's options in XP ......

Set the TO/GA switch, or whichever button you like to : "Gate Release Power Handle 1" (or 2) in XP. Hold it and move the power level down through the HC detent to get into the Disc zone. Press the same switch again to activate the thrust reverser.

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