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Post by BW901 on Jun 17, 2021 15:17:14 GMT
Down to the centre pedestal this time and the Transponder. I spent a bit more time than I'd have liked on this, but the extra time on coding was worth it. This unit is different to that modelled by Felis, but the code allows it to interact fully with X-Plane, and can be adapted to the other ATC/Nav/Comms equipment, so we can model different units and provide a range of options covering different time periods.
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Post by BW901 on Jun 18, 2021 19:53:13 GMT
And from the overhead, the last switch before starting takeoff.
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Post by BW901 on Jun 24, 2021 12:39:23 GMT
I've spent half a day re-working the HSI, so it works correctly with the 747, and movement of the CDI bar is now much better. Distance to next waypoint with INS input isn't available until Felis provides datarefs, but otherwise it's pretty much there. As with all the switchable primary flight instruments this can be set up in user-preference for Captain or First-Officer side. I also added option to display DME distance - most 742's didn't have that option, but some airlines specified it.
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Post by BW901 on Jul 2, 2021 21:49:28 GMT
I solved the issue of annunciators, which in the end made the warning panel on the centre MIP quite easy to produce. With my earlier Boeing narrow body panels I'd used two images, annunciatior dark and annunciator llit and visibility of either image was switched by the appropriate data ref. Then I figured an easier solution was to display the lit annunciation - either with canvas draw or an image if you want fancier graphics - and overlay that single image with a black rectangle. The opacity of the overlay is then controlled by the data ref. Cap the opacity at 85% and it gives a great impression of the unlit annunciatior with text greyed out but just visible. That works both when the aircraft developer uses a simple "on/off" dataref and when they provide a float data ref which permits variable brightness. Simple but very effective.
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Post by BW901 on Jul 19, 2021 18:26:18 GMT
The centre MIP is now updated with new engine instrument faceplates and "ticks" added to the numeric displays. and the Fuel Flow gauges automatically switch to Pounds per Hour based on the user's selection of Imperial/Metric units for the aircraft.
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Post by BW901 on Jul 25, 2021 8:39:05 GMT
I haven't posted on here so much recently, mainly because I've been spending time wrapping up .siff files and releasing a number of gauges. The aim is that by the time Felis is ready for release we'll have most gauges and controls which would be used during the course of a normal flight available to Air Manager users.
Initially there may be certain secondary functionality not built into some instruments, warning flags are the main element which I can work on and add in later; the priority has been to get to the stage where gauges do what they're meant to do 99% of the time.
In the meantime please feel free to download, the caveat is that most datarefs are custom to the Felis model, so most gauges couldn't be used with other aircraft without extensive modification. If you want to modify anything for your own personal use yes please go ahead, but please DO NOT UPLOAD OR DISTRIBUTE any such modified gauges. If there's anything which can be improved I'd love to hear from you, and changes can be made to my gauges, but unapproved (and most definitely unsupported) versions floating around the internet is not good for anyone.
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Post by BW901 on Jul 26, 2021 18:54:51 GMT
A bit of love for the ADI today. It has been reworked to match the 747-200, so I'll get that uploaded soon.
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Post by BW901 on Jul 28, 2021 20:33:03 GMT
Autopilot MCP reworked today with scrollwheels (which visually move correctly) for the Vertical Speed and Flight Director pitch wheels. Everything is now linked with the Felis 742 and the Air Manager instrument visually mirrors the Felis panel.
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Post by BW901 on Aug 11, 2021 21:33:20 GMT
Slight delay in development, while I figure some things out. Felis has decided to integrate Libradio into the 742. This plugin effectively overrides/replaces the default XPlane handling of navaids and drowns it in a sea of over complication. In Northern Ireland we have a spoof/comedy award for "The Town most up its own hole". If there was a similar award for flightsim software Libradio would in my opinion be a candidate. I'll take a look at the documentation and data refs and see how best to run nav aid interaction with my Air Manager instruments, hopefully in a couple of days we'll be back to everything working fine.
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Post by BW901 on Aug 12, 2021 9:30:31 GMT
I have re-written the VOR, ADF and RMI gauges to work with Libradio, the RMI can just be linked to Felis' model, so that's an improvement. HSI and ADI should already be running off Felis datarefs so hopefully are still OK. Will need some testing. The biggest annoyance is the DME readings fluctuate constantly and that can cause some issues with the decimal display digits, particularly on older style scrolling wheels. I'll have to investigate if there's some way to smooth the DME datarefs. I'm still not convinced about the overall benefits of this add-on, and from comments on the Org forum I may not be alone. Anyhow it is what it is.
For now please don't download the relevant gauges until I re-upload new Libradio compliant versions after I've done some testing.
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Post by BW901 on Sept 8, 2021 18:42:57 GMT
Felis has released a list of datarefs. I've started going through it, and elements such as Elapsed Time on the Chronometers are listed and can be read by Air Manager, though still not visible to Dataref Tool, so the Digital Clock is now fully linked to the Felis 742. I'll look at the Wakmann Clock next. There's rain forecast for tomorrow and trees around the house are either cut down or trimmed, so I'm due some computer time! So on a positive note I'll aim to get the revised nav gauges and clocks up very shortly, and then if the DH setting commands are included in the next Release Candidate we can get the Radalts fully integrated and released as well.
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Post by BW901 on Sept 10, 2021 13:40:34 GMT
I'd better get a move-on as Felis edges ever closer to release! Updated navigation gauges will be uploaded soon, and the standard round Radar Altimeter is fully integrated with the Felis 742. I've also started work on the INS, as all datarefs are now available. Still a way to go, it's about 60% functional as things stand, but here's a preview (test button pushed). INS 1, 2 or 3 can be selected, and 3 gauges run simultaneously so triple INS can be run across a network.
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Post by BW901 on Sept 11, 2021 12:51:26 GMT
Got the INS unit fully operational today, so time for some flying for a change. I programmed a route around the Eastern Caribbean to test out the INS workings and display, out of Trinidad, over Barbados and up to Antigua before turning south to run down the island chain back into Trinidad. The INS performed flawlessly, and using it on long-hauls across the ocean or over sparsely populated areas like Africa will make flying this aircraft even more enjoyable. Here's the aircraft in KLM livery in the turn back south over Antigua and passing Hewanorra before start of descent back into Trinidad Test panel with three instances of the INS gauge set up for INS1, INS2 and INS3, all running independently in Air Manager. Took 3 days to get the unit fully working, but it's well worth it to see it in operation within X-Plane.
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Post by BW901 on Sept 15, 2021 10:11:13 GMT
I've updated and re-uploaded most of the nav instruments, and they are now tied to Felis datarefs. I've noticed that DME readout disappears from my gauge just a little later (a couple of nautical miles) than the readout in the Felis 742, but I can't see a way round it at the moment, and it shouldn't be something that's going to be a major problem. I still don't agree with the Libradio integration, the idea behind Libradio is a good one, but it's been over-thought and over-complicated past what makes logical sense.
I've also uploaded the standard circular radalt and INS updating gauge. That leaves just a couple of annunciators to add, but essentially there's a flyable panel available ahead of release of the Felis 742 at the Org.
I need to revise the TCAS VSI gauge, improve the workings of the DME readouts on the VOR-DME gauge, and upload some minor elements of the centre MIP and then I'll work on some panel configurations which can be imported straight into Air Manager. With INS units done there's not to much to finish on the centre pedestal so I guess that's for next week.
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Post by BW901 on Oct 11, 2021 8:54:31 GMT
It's great to be getting feedback now that folks are downloading and using these gauges. You can test them to oblivion on your own PC, but until someone else starts using them there's always an element of doubt - will they actually work!! If you'd like to send pictures of your Air Manager set up, if something's not working correctly, if you see some graphical errors (I'm sure there are a few), or if there's a missing panel you're finding it hard to fly without, please post a message in the Feedback thread. Thanks to user jalexb88 who asked for some panels for the overhead and pedestal. I've expanded the download section and added a few extras. Latest addition is the ADF control head, located on the centre pedestal, which can be user configured to control ADF1 or ADF2.
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