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I've attempted to have my P-51's refered to as "Mustang (reg #)" but all ATC says is "Experimental (reg #)". I do have EditVoicePak and have updated it. Is there a sound file around that can have ATC refer to the P-51 as "Mustang"? I'm using FS9.

Thanks for any help.

Jim D.

Check your aircraft config file, is there something like atc_xxx=experimental?

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Hello Bruce,
No, there was nothing indicating "Experimental".

This one example from the aircraft.cfg file:

[fltsim.2]
title=P-51D 'Big Beautifull Doll'
sim=p51d
visual_damage=0
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=2
kb_checklists=P-51D_combat
kb_reference=
editable=0
atc_id=Mustang_472218 NOTE: This line originally had just the reg #. I added "Mustang".
atc_airline=Mustang NOTE: This line was originally blank. I added "Mustang"
atc_flight_number=
atc_heavy=0
ui_manufacturer=Wings of Power
ui_type=P-51D Mustang - Combat

Jim D.

EDIT: I think I found it. It was written in the [General] section of the file. I'll check it out and let you know.

Jim D.

Well I did get the word "Experimental" removed, but ATC won't say "Mustang" nor "P-51" The pilot's request to ATCjust gives a 'flight number' or reg #. Is there a "Mustang" or "P-51" available?

Jim D.

The bit you are actually looking for is in aircraft.cfg, but further down than that.

Below all the fltsim.x sections is a section entitled "General". The top two lines of that control what the aircraft type - rather than the aircraft flight number - is referred to as.

I stole the description from the Acceleration Mustang racer, so other options may work better, but you can either use

atc_model=mustang
atc_type=P51

or atc_type=North American should work as well, but you might need to leave the space out, I can't remember.

Thanks Ian,
Couldn't get the word "Mustang" to work but did get it changed to "North American". At least it is no longer called "Experimental". BTW, yes, North American needs to be in two words.

Jim D.

I wonder if the word "Army" would work?

Army, Air Force and Navy (and Coast Guard, Police, a bunch of others) all work.

It doesn't surprise me at all that the "Mustang" didn't work, because the atc_model is normally the ICAO model number for the aircraft so normally, say, B377 for the Stratocruiser, P51 for the Mustang, EC35 for a Eurocopter EC135 helo (that last one is off the top of my head, I haven't checked it, so don't shoot me if it's wrong! )

The way it works, if anyone doesn't know, is as follows:

under aircraft.xx
atc_id= the registration number of your aircraft (N5432B, G-MSTG, 533456 or whatever)
atc_airline = airline callsign (e.g. Army, Air Force, Speedbird, Continental, etc.)
atc_flight_number = airline flight number (eg "1" with an airline of "Air Force" will call you "Air Force One").
atc_heavy = tells ATC whether to say "Heavy" after the flight number/registration or not. 1 = heavy, 0 = not.

under general
atc_type = aircraft manufacturer (North American, Eurocopter, Boeing, etc.)
atc_model = aircraft model number (EC35, B763, P51, B52, whatever...)

In general, if no atc_flight_number is specified, then FS will refer to you by your atc_id ("N9725D"). If there is a flight number listed, but no callsign (or the callsign is unrecognised) then you will be referred to just by the flight number ("1054"). if a callsign and flight number are available, they will be used to refer to you ("Speedbird 1054", "Air Force One", etc.).

Well then, I have to ask, why does the default pilot and ATC use the call sign "North American Uniform Zero Tango Alpha November Golf Kilo" when none of those appears in any of the ATC id lines?

The cfg for the plane is:
[color=#800000][fltsim.5]
title=P-51D Lt. Walter 'Moon' Mullins
sim=p51d_early
visual_damage=0
model=1
panel=
sound=
texture=5
kb_checklists=P-51D_combat
kb_reference=
editable=0
atc_id=Mustang_KIS
atc_airline=
atc_flight_number=
atc_heavy=0
ui_manufacturer=Wings of Power
ui_type=P-51D Mustang - Combat
ui_variation='Moon' Mullins
description='Cadillac of the Skies' is what pilots and civilians alike came to call the North American P-51 Mustang, and with good reason. Certainly the best all-around fighter of WWII, when all factors are considered, the aircraft was beautiful to behold, in the air or on the ground. The flight characteristics, while suicidal for a novice, were sharp-edged and rewarded a skilled pilot with pulse-pounding performance. The Mustang, in the 'D' model especially, had impressive range, excellent firepower, superb visibility, and exemplary agility and speed. While other aircraft were able to match some aspects of the Mustang's performance, none were able to match all of them. That is why the Mustang emerged supreme among the piston-engined fighters of WWII, and why it is the most widely-recognized prop fighter in the world.
atc_id_color=0x00000000
atc_id_font=Verdana,-11,1,600,0

And the General section contains:
[color=#800000][General]
editable=1
atc_model=North American
performance=Manufacturer: North American\nModel: P-51D Mustang\nEngine: Packard-Merlin V-1650-7\nTakeoff Power: 1,490 horsepower\nCombat Power: 1,720 horsepower\nTop speed @ 25,000 ft: 437 mph TAS\nTop speed @ sea level: 366 mph TAS\nInitial climb: 3,500 fpm\nArmament: Six .50 caliber machine guns with 1,880 rounds of ammunition.\nRange: 1,195 miles on internal fuel\nEmpty weight: 7,266 lbs.\nTakeoff weight: 9,600 lbs.\nMaximum weight: 12,403 lbs.\nOrdnance: (2) 1,000 lb. bombs, ten rockets, or two 75-gallon drop tanks.
atc_type=North American[/color]
Jim D.[/color]

Why was this thread edited and posts removed?

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Maybe because it was getting a little too hostile? There is no need to for that anywhere. Information can be shared, accepted or rejected without hostilities. I didn't even think that by starting this thread it would boil down to this.

But I did get the answers I was looking for and thank those that helped, even if their post was a little antagonistic. Not much, just a little. Or better yet, a little condescending.

Jim D.

No, the website went down a few hours ago and I think they had to revert to an archived copy of the forums.

Glad to hear that. And I wasn't too serious about some of the postings. But there did seem to be some tension appearing. I hope we can keep that out of here.

Jim D.

I'm glad it was just a reversion. I didn't see any hostility or tension in any of the posts, so thus why I was worried. There was discussion and maybe some frustration at FSX's inadequate stock ATC, but that's it.

Anyway, to restate my point since it unfortunately got lost -

In the real world, the Mustang is called by "North American". This is because use of the manufacturer name is the standard way of identifying an aircraft over the radio to prevent confusion between similarly or identically named models from different makers (the Cessna Citation Mustang and the NAA Mustang are a perfect example).

When flying the aircraft "in service", the use of "Army" or "Air Force" and the last 4 digits of the aircraft's serial would be the correct way to identify to ATC. This can be done using the "Airline" and "Flight" sections of the CFG or when setting up the flight.

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