Epic LT; Generation 2; Released

**Lionheart** · August 22nd, 2009, 13:09

Hey all,

We have been working on this for quite a while now. The Epic LT has been refitted with the newest 2nd Generation Garmins, and we have been developing a new Autopilot system, (actually redoing the older version) to the more detailed, more radical TruTrak AP system. This thing is amazing. It has a female voice with 25 different annunciation calls, it can fly a NAV track heading up a VOR radial like it was a Glide Slope beam. It has a VNAV system that can bring you in to the Altitude you want, at the distance you want. The screen on the AP now has tons of multi-displays (in the little LCD screen) that show you the various systems in the AP that are running.

Its wild..

If you have problems with the sophistication of the present Epic glass panel system, if you do not read manuals, if you already have issues with the present Epic LT TruTrak AP system, then do not get this update. You will need to read the manual to see how the basics of the sytems work in the new AP. You will need to take an hour or two to get used to flying the new AP system. The voice system will at first freak you out, but you get used to her voice. (This is the actual voice from the factory. They were kind enough to provide the WAV files for it).

I have written a Blog on this update pack that goes into details on all the new features.

This is an upgrade, not an update. There are new systems in this, new features, sound systems with clicks, voice system, a built in XM Satellite Radio system with 7 song tracks that you can change to your own music.

This is free to those that have already purchased the Epic LT. The price remains the same, no increase. The file is not uploaded to PCAviator yet. The PayPal and Flight1 files are now up, online, ready for reloads. SimMarket was given the file yesterday and were to have a sale on it today, but I havent seen that come to pass, so I do not know when the SM version will appear. Hopefully by Monday at least.

Note that the model itself hasnt changed, only the systems. The buttons, panel, avionics, have changed, but the rest of the plane is pretty much as it was. I did adjust the Beta (turbine spool up time) to be less for those that were having issues taxiing the Epic.

Thanks to Dwight Furleigh for his amazing, inventive, creative gauge code writing capabilities for making such advancements possible in Virtual flying! He deserves an award for this!

Happy flying!

Bill

NOTE: Below are some excerpts from the revised Epic LT Manual PDF file. They show the basics of the TruTrak system.

***Kiwikat*** · August 22nd, 2009, 13:15

One of my favorite FSX aircraft just got better!!! It may be time to break out the paint kit again and do a celebratory paint.

MCDesigns · August 22nd, 2009, 13:18

**CG_1976** · August 22nd, 2009, 13:19

Woot

thank you lionheart for the Notam. Gonna be a frisky night hunting Bill with the NOAA Epic.

**Lionheart** · August 22nd, 2009, 13:24

I forgot to post the info Blog on this new version release;

http://web.me.com/william_ortis/Lion...ionics!!!.html

This will ansere any questions you might have. The Manual has been updated, but I may go through it and edit some more things.

Bill

**Lionheart** · August 22nd, 2009, 13:39

Here are a couple of basic tips on the new AP system.

When you go to turn on the AP, you now use the Auto Pilot rocker at the bottom of the panel, left of the control yoke. This is the 'actual' location and way the system works. When you power up the TruTrak or TT, the screen turns on (small LCD screen).

When you click on the AP button on the face of the TT, you turn on 'Wing Levelor mode'. This is an actual feature. Great for when you are airborne and need to set up your AP for the flight details, (alt, heading, etc).

The voice system tells you things, like 'GPS Online, GPS Offline, 1,000 feet from assigned altitude, on assigned heading', etc, etc.

NAV mode button is totally different now. This feature actually tracks a 'RADIAL' VOR beam. This does not go directly to a VOR station anymore. Thus, you turn on the AP, click NAV, enter your desired VOR radial heading, click ENTER, (center of rotating dial), and your plane turns into an intercept course (40 degrees from heading), and intercepts the VOR radial beam, turns into it, and rides the beam to the waypoint. The voice system should tell you when you achieve the waypoint heading.

VNAV is wild. It calculates your distance and altitude change. For instance, if you are coming into a STAR or other controlled area, and need to drop to 3,000 feet in 5NM, you click VNAV, dial in 3,000 feet, click ENTER, dial in 5NM, click ENTER, and your plane begins a calculated descent that will put you at that altitude at that distance.

GPSS is now called GPS Steering, and runs a preset Flight Plan. You only need to have the AP powered up, and click on GPSS and the plane will aquire the proper course. The voice system will also keep you informed on whats going on.

GPSV is the glideslope system. This is massively improved and tuned to land the plane (under normal conditions) minus management of the engine and speed, and landing gear. When you enter your ILS Freq and CRS Rwy heading, and you are near the beam location (not too high), you click on GPSV and the plane will intercept the beam, then state it has the LOC aquired, and deploys flaps one notch and starts bringing the bird in.

You have short cut keys as well. Clicking ALT locks your altitude setting. Clicking HDG will lock your heading as well. To enter a new heading, click TRK and dial in your heading course with the dial, then click ENTER and your plane will then turn into the heading.

To change altitude, click SEL, dial in the new altitude, click ENTER, the plane begins her ascent/descent. The voice system will say either 'Trim up' or Trim down' which means basically it is trimming up or down for the VS change. A symbol appears in the AP window that is like a trim dial. That disappears when its at proper assigned altitude. The voice call will occur as well, and the SEL light goes out, and the ALT light goes on.

As like the older unit, to change the steep ascent descent of the stock 2500 feet, simply click the VS rocker button on the right side of the AP. Note that the Epic is designed to climb faster then 2500 feet. The craft is designed to fly at a phenomenal climbout to get to FL 28,000 feet in as little of time as possible. This is a high speed elevator ride. The test pilot for Epic stated he usually climbs out at either 3200 FPM (I think its more then that), or at 178 knots. If you fall under 178 knots, lower the nose a bit.

If you guys have any questions on running the new system, let me know.

Known bugs;

* Oil pressure reading high
* VNAV doesnt work on 'some' FS9 installations. Not known why. Works on most.
* Fuel Range is not quite 1200 miles.
* Possible crash if you select MAP (MFD GPS Map Mode 'On' selection), if you select it 'late' in a flight. To keep this from possibly happening, select the MAP button at least once before taking off or early in a flight, then you can turn it right back off again. This only seems to happen in FS9.

Bill

JamesChams · August 22nd, 2009, 14:38

Thank you very much, Mr. William "Bill" Ortis (Lionheart)!

Been wanting this update for a while now.

**cko1** · August 22nd, 2009, 16:02

Hi Bill,

I have trouble downloading exe file, Nod32 block it at 99.9%, disable Nod32 didn't help either. Please advice. Thanks!

~ Charles

**HippyEd** · August 22nd, 2009, 16:03

Thanks Bill. You do good work. Really enjoy your planes.

Ed

**Lionheart** · August 22nd, 2009, 16:34

Originally Posted by cko1

Hi Bill,

I have trouble downloading exe file, Nod32 block it at 99.9%, disable Nod32 didn't help either. Please advice. Thanks!

~ Charles

Hey Charles,

I have no idea what that means, but if its based on internet download traffic, then you might wish to try downloading it a little later. There might be excessive traffic. Please let me know how it goes. (Perhaps try in another hour).

**cko1** · August 22nd, 2009, 16:51

Bill,

I can download file just fine until download reached 99% then NOD32 quarantine the file due to the file is "a variant of Win32/Packed.Themida application". I encountered this problem before and it can be solved by disable NOD32 protection, but not this time. Please advice. Thanks!

~ Charles

**Lionheart** · August 22nd, 2009, 16:57

Hey Charles,

ahh.. So it has what your system is reporting to be a Virus?

I hate it when that happens. There, of course, should be no virus in there. I do not know what to tell you on how to get it onto your system. Perhaps someone else can chime in..

EDIT: I did run a virus check on it, nothing bad shows up. This happened to iTunes 2 weeks ago, lol.. That was horrible to experience if you have an iPhone or iPod..

Bill

**Lionheart** · August 22nd, 2009, 18:20

There is a missing file in the package. My humble apologies. We didnt catch it because the Tailwind placed the file in the sim already.

The file is called GaugeSound.dll.

I am recompiling the installers presently, and have shut down the download links until its proper and running right. I will post a link to the DLL file in just a moment for those that have downloaded the package already and have no voice system.

:smacks self:

Bill

JamesChams · August 22nd, 2009, 19:05

Mr. Willian "Bill" Ortiz,

Well, I downloaded and installed it earlier (v1.7/2Gen); will I have to do that again or can you just post the missing file?

EDIT: Well, I'm redownloading now ... Thanks!