Stormworks: Build and Rescue

Stormworks: Build and Rescue

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de Havilland DH.88 Comet 'Black Magic'
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31 Mar, 2023 @ 12:58am
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de Havilland DH.88 Comet 'Black Magic'

Description
In 1933 the MacRobertson Air Race was commissioned by Sir Harold Smith as a means to bring attention to Melbourne Australia as a destination for fledgling airlines. The race was to be run between RAF Mildenhall England, and Melbourne Australia; a grueling distance of 11,300 miles. The British aircraft industry was keen to win the race but had no aircraft capable of competing let alone winning, so a new aircraft had to be designed.

deHavilland stepped forward and created the DH.88 Comet, an all new aircraft incorporating many new features such as stress-skin wood construction, retractable landing gear, cantilever monoplane wings, landing flaps, and variable pitch propellers. Despite these many innovations the aircraft was ready and flight tested just six weeks prior to the race.
Three aircraft were produced for the air race, but the first was G-ACSP "Black Magic", built for Jim and Amy Mollison a famous air racing husband and wife couple of the time.

At the start of the MacRobertson Air Race in October 1934 Jim and Amy's Black Magic was the first to takeoff and held the lead for much of the first half of the race. After suffering several pitfalls in Karachi Pakistan, the Mollisons were forced to abandon the race. But another Comet would go on to to win, G-ACSS "Grosvenor House" piloted by Charles Scott and Tom Black.

Despite having a singular purpose, competition in this particular air race, the Comet's lineage and design can be seen in many following British aircraft; primarily the DH.98 Mosquito of WWII fame. Both "Grosvenor House" and "Black Magic" survived into preservation, and are arguably the most famous and beautiful British aircraft to ever take to the skies.


Description and Specs:

This version of the DH.88 Comet is anatomically similar to its real counterpart capable of the same speeds and consisting of a similar fuel tank layout. She does one thing well, going fast in a straight line for a long time.

Top Speed: 237mph
Range at 190mph: 180+km
Passenger Capacity: 2

Operational Notes:
  • The Aux Fuel Tank is in the rear of the aircraft and helps with balance, only us it for takeoff and landing.
    THERE IS NO FUEL GAUGE FOR THE AUX TANK
  • The common practice was to have each engine drawing from a separate tank via the use of the Port/Stbd Fuel C0cks.
  • Aircraft Trim is accomplished by pressing hotkey '5', and then tapping the W/S keys to adjust pitch incrementally.*
  • Maneuverability is affected by speed, the faster you go the slower the aircraft responds to stick inputs.
  • The Aircraft does include pitch control, but like the real aircraft will automatically set itself when above 150mph, it will reset once on the ground.
  • As the aircraft burns off fuel you will find your ability to maneuver increases and the aircraft will become less nose heavy.
  • Speed is affected by the Landing Gear being down, retract them as soon as possible; it is a hand crank system, so it does take some time for them to extend/retract.
  • The Aircraft does not have a heating system, so if you fly to the Arctic, dress warm. It does however simulate Carburetor Icing*
  • Taxing can be accomplished in the usual fashion with the left/right arrow keys. Pressing the 'Toe Brakes' (Spacebar) in conjunction with the Left/Right Arrow keys will lock the respective wheel and allow for a tighter turn.

*Note: The Aircraft has two hidden buttons in the right tail plane surface (reference the screenshot above). These buttons can be used to disable the simulation of Carburetor Icing and enable Roll Trim, which will help to hold the aircraft level.

Big Thanks to Sir Murtak and Enzocat's for help with testing the aircraft and making some cool screenshots. Their workshop pages are listed below respectively, and I encourage you to go checkout their fine work!

Sir Murtak:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/id/Sir_Murtak/myworkshopfiles/?appid=573090

EnzoCats:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/profiles/76561198206735221/myworkshopfiles/?appid=573090

ENJOY!
38 Comments
GERUNIMO  [author] 5 Jul, 2023 @ 5:25am 
MrMereScratch, well I have never seen this movie (and it doesn't sound like I'm missing much), but IF this aircraft had a personality I imagine regardless it would be graceful and elegant. ;)
MrMereScratch 3 Jul, 2023 @ 4:28pm 
@GERUNIMO, simenk is referring to the movie Planes (which I can't say has quality to it), in it is a DH.88 wearing the Union Jack as its livery, and it finds its personality in a stereotypical snobby Brit.
GERUNIMO  [author] 3 Jul, 2023 @ 12:20pm 
simenk, I'm not sure about the aircraft being rude, but if your referring to the mini-series 'The Great Air Race' made in 1990; the character Jim Mollison (played by Jonathan Hyde) was pretty rude to his wife Amy. I don't recall any Fire Fighters though.
simenk 3 Jul, 2023 @ 1:30am 
oh is this the one rude plane from that planes movie with the firefighters
GERUNIMO  [author] 30 Jun, 2023 @ 1:59am 
MrMereScratch, thank you for letting me know!
GERUNIMO  [author] 8 Apr, 2023 @ 7:51pm 
PILOTKYLE1, good to know, thanks.
PilotKyle1 8 Apr, 2023 @ 11:58am 
also if it helps with either of those i have both in FSX
GERUNIMO  [author] 8 Apr, 2023 @ 4:07am 
PILOTKYLE1, good idea, I'd love to do the other entrants, but I've long been researching (and wanting) to do the DC-4, maybe someday I can do the DC-2. Never say never ;)
PilotKyle1 8 Apr, 2023 @ 12:10am 
how about building the other winner of the MacRobertson race the KLM DC-2 "Uiver"