TURN WORD WRAP ON - See file Readme.1st for installation
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     Rockwell Grand Commander 680 FLP (1964) for MSFS98
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FEATURES:

* Photorealistic panel by Michael Tscherdantzew Jr.
* Twin turbocharged engine sounds by John de Miranda
* Landing lights (see credits at the end of this document)
* Transparent prop discs (see credits at the end of this document)
* 3d effect textures (see credits at the end of this document)
* Checklists
* Working Cowl flaps - use the '/' key to toggle open/close
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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

Flight Simulator 98 and the free converter distributed by Microsoft.

This aircraft will NOT work in FS5.1 or FS95. If you would like to have this aircraft for either of these Flight Sim versions, send me an e-mail and I'll send you a compatible copy. You'll miss out on the great panel and sounds...
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HISTORY:

     HB-GCT was delivered new in 1965 by Rockwell to Swiss dealer Jet Aviation of Geneva. It was used for transport of executives and Charter work under operation of Jet Aviation for 5 years. In 1970 Jet aviation sold HB-GCT to an estate development company that changed its home base to 'Lugano' in southern Switzerland. It was subsequently sold to another private user in 1973 and repainted to the 685's factory paint scheme 'white with 3 tones of green'. Unfortunately HB-GCT ran dry of fuel while on final at Basel airport in 1975 and crashlanded in a field. No injuries were to be recorded but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. This representation of the aircraft has the original paint scheme with red stripes on a mainly white background.

     The 680FLP was originally put on the market in 1964. It was a stretched and pressurized version of the 680F. With its longer cabin the Grand Commander (as it was known to differentiate it from the 'short' 680) was able to carry up to 10 people in high density seating arrangement (as opposed to 7 in the 680F). A total of 38 FLP's were built until 1967 when it was replaced by the more powerful 685 that borrowed a new cabin from the 690 Turboprop. In addition to the 38 FLP's, a total of 109 680FL's (not pressurized) were built between 1963 and 1967 bringing the total of Grand Commanders built to 147.

     Twin Lycoming IGSO-540-B1A engines boasting out 380 bhp each gave the 680FLP respectable performance and safety margins for operation in Switzerland at mountainous and high altitude areas. The 680FLP was able to cruise at 210 kts and up to an altitude of 28000 feet.
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COPYRIGHT NOTICE:

This aircraft is released as Freeware. Copyright (c) Nikki Schumann. As freeware you are permitted to distribute this archive subject to the following conditions:

- The archive must be distributed without modification to the contents of the archive. Redistributing this archive with files added, removed or modified is prohibited.

- The inclusion of any individual file from this archive in another archive without the prior written permission from the author is prohibited. This means that you may not upload an archive that uses my visual flight model with your own aircraft or include it in a package containing a panel or aircraft sounds without first obtaining my permission.

- No charge may be made from this archive.

- If you would like to repaint the aircraft in your preferred colours, you may do so as long as you ask my permission beforehand and as long as you keep the credits unchanged. I will most defenitely grant you permission to do so, so don't be afraid ;) If you decide to upload a repainted aircraft (after you have received permission to repaint it) you must include all text and instructions from this archive unchanged. You may add if you wish a separate text file explaining your additional work in the package. You must also send me a copy of your modified aircraft.

- The author's rights and wishes concerning this archive must be respected.
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Visit my website at http://perso.wanadoo.fr/nikki.schumann

Let me know what you liked or disliked about my aircraft. Feedback is very welcome. Please send all mail to:

Nikki.Schumann@wanadoo.fr

Other aircraft I have done and that you can get from my website:

* Gulfstream Commander 1000
* Rockwell Commander 690B
* Beech Starship 2000
* Fairchild Merlin 300
* Fairchild Metroliner III
* Partenavia P68R Victor
* Piaggio P180 Avanti
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CREDITS:

* Many thanks to Michael Tscherdantzew Jr. for his excellent work on the panel for this aircraft. I approched Michael a few weeks ago and was nicely surprized by his enthusiasm and his effectiveness in doing this panel. In a matter of less than two weeks he had the panel working and uploaded on Flightsim.com. Thank you Michael !

* Many thanks to John de Miranda for his Twin Turbocharged sound package (tmulteng.zip) that is used in this aircraft package.

* Texture file for prop spinner curtesy of Eric Johnson.

* Thanks to Alexander Remus for his excellent paper on how to build aircraft with transparent parts (used here for the prop discs and outlines).

* Thanks to Siggy Schwarz for his super tool 'Lladd', which makes night flying in FS so much fun.

* Thanks to Shlomo Hakim for his excellent FS98 aircraft that inspired me for the 3D effect textures.

* Thanks to David Lewis for his advice on the aircraft design forum at Flightsim.com and for getting my project unstuck !
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Source documentation:
* Jane's all the World aircraft 1965-1966
* Aircraft Blue Book Price Digest
* Chris Schuermann's Aero Commander Website
* Real aircraft personal pictures
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(c)Nikki Schumann
Montpellier (France) - January 1999
