Good FS2004 Glass Panel Recommendation?

[LTCSZ]

Could someone recommend a really good single or twin aircraft with a good glass panel? Free would be nice too! Thanks,

Steve in Kansas

[dogknot]

Payware, but it's pretty tough to do much better...Lionheart's Quest Kodiak. Beautifully done and a blast to fly.

http://www.lionheartcreations.com/Kodiak

[EMatheson]

Lionhearts Epic LT is perfection, too... http://www.lionheartcreations.com/Epic_LT.html
Eaglesoft Cirrus SR22 Turbo is one of my favorites... http://www.eaglesoftdg.com/CirrusSR22G2_G3T.htm
and this one is not a true glass-panel aircraft, but the totally sweet avionics makes me include it anyway...
the Dreamfleet Baron... http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/Previews/B58/purchase_rxp.html

I actually cannot think of many glass-panel light aircraft for free... although the Cirrus SR-22 by Gunter Kramer and Wolfram Beckert is nice... http://www.flightsim.com/kdl.php?fid=88424

[dogknot]

One more that's not true-glass, but was/is so beautifully done...

Aeroworx Super King Air B200 (includes EFIS version and Analogue version)
http://www.aeroworx.com/b200.html
or
http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?product=b200

screenshots: http://www.aeroworx.com/b200preview.php?spgmGal=B200/Exterior&spgmPic=0&spgmFilters=#pic

[Motormouse]

Guenter Kramer's Cirrus SR20, its' free

----> http://www.gkflusi.de/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=29&func=select&id=6

ttfn

Pete

[Lionheart]

Could someone recommend a really good single or twin aircraft with a good glass panel? Free would be nice too! Thanks,

Steve in Kansas

LTCSZ



If you want utter precision, for flight training on a real one, get the Mindstar. If you want one that is precision to a large degree but not as expensive, get Nick's Garmins, www.FS2X.com (about $15.00 USD cheaper then Mindstar).

The Epic LT has my 'version one' Garmins and are very very basic. The Kodiak has a 'very refined' version of those Garmins (version two) and will soon be fitted into the Epic LT package as well.

I do not know of a freeware Garmin, but I 'think' I had seen or heard of one at Flightsim.com or AVSIM. I cannot remember.

Milton and Scott Thomas are working on the Cessna SkyCatcher which has the Garmin 300 series (300 or 600, again, I cannot remember), and I have seen screenshots of Scotts work and its amazing. Superb detail, photo real, excellent graphics. I believe it will still be freeware, but I do not know whats going on with it on timing, etc.


The hard part of glass screens for FS is the MFD (map/GPS screen). If you can turn those off or lessen the refresh rates, you can get better frame rates in your sim, overall performance. Usually the PFD (flight instruments screen) will not effect frame rates unless it has some massive amount of code in there that is always running, reading things and producing graphics. If its primarily the basics, its like having many gauges in one, instead of many single gauges, which is what a steam gauge panel is, many single gauges instead of one mass of gauges in a single gauge.

You might also try Keiths Giveans website, I think its FSFlyer.com (I cant remember that location either, arrghhh). He was creating a very very nice glass screen system as like the TBM's use. Very nice quality work from what I had seen on the graphics.

A small note on glass screens. They usually have an engine EFIS built into them (engine gauges) and they will need to be set up for 'that' plane or similar. For instance, the Kodiak's glass panel system is set up for a PT6-67A jet Turbine turboprop, that redlines at 187 knots, has warnings for stall, various doors, etc. Same with the Epic LT, various parameters based on that plane. If you were to adopt it into a Beech Twin Baron, your EFIS wouldnt work (single gas turbine gauges instead of dual petrol engines), and warnings would be off or not working in that model.

I hope that helps with your decision making.

If you could only rewrite the code from FSX XML to FS9 XML, you could adopt the FSX Garmin to FS9. But I'll tell yah, it would be better to just get FSX and fly their Garmins in that. They have 3 planes with Garmins and each MFD is taylor fit for each plane, such as the Cessna 172, Baron, etc.

Bill
LHC

[LTCSZ]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions...I will have fun checking them out!

Steve

[LonelyplanetXO]

Hey Bill,

Just out of curiosity, would coding the gauges into the mdl file a-la Realair improve the framerates? Seems to work really well for "steam" gauges but not so sure if it could be applied to glass panels.

Just curious

LPXO

[Lionheart]

Hey Bill,

Just out of curiosity, would coding the gauges into the mdl file a-la Realair improve the framerates? Seems to work really well for "steam" gauges but not so sure if it could be applied to glass panels.

Just curious

LPXO

Actually no, since these are 'digitals. The ALT and Airspeed tapes move over a window (huge tape, small area shown), and the HSI changes in NAV and GPS modes (different interiors), and most of the numbers are graphics instead of rotating dials and things.

Think of MDL gauges as being solid devices, like a needle that rotates, a gyroscope disc that rotates and moves up and down, pivots, hinges, etc. Those are model-able in a 3 dimensional area. But things like digital readout for your Freq's, DME readouts, etc, will require floating graphics upon a 3D face. Thats the issue with screen gauges..



Bill

[Lionheart]

By the way, Pete (MotorMouse),


There is a brilliant WallE robot here in the States. Gigantic thing with about 30 buttons on the remote control. Does everything from opening his hands, rotating wrists, moving arms, to eyebrow looks, lighted eyes, actual track with links in it, etc. Totally remote control. About $250.00 USD for the big one, and $40.00 for a smaller cleaner unit. (Large one looks a bit rusty, lol).

One could surely freak the cats out with it. :d

Bill