Steam Gauge Overhaul

It worked. I was surprised to discover that this code will control the OBS in all modes, NAV, GPS, and RNAV. You just get the independent setting of the OBS when you switch between RNAV and normal modes (unlike the other Black Square aircraft). Now I have to test to make sure it doesn't lose the sync with any of the modes.

@Black-Square I've learned a great deal about aviation generally by way of flying your Caravan from Florida all the all over to Scotland where I am now in FSEconomy, I look forward to any future updates/fixes/improvements forthcoming for this aircraft. Even with SU15 and all your various suggested workarounds in previous threads, there still seem to be a few minor AP gremlins: AP screen remains lit when powered off(intended behavior?), some issues with under or overshooting altitudes, but nothing major. That's really the only thing I can think to complain about, and as I said its minor, not game-breaking. Seems to be something about the interaction between the PMS50 GTN750, the WT "layer"(do I even need the Marketplace WT thing now?), and the KAP140 code of the sim itself.

Update... False alarm.. a PC reboot seems to have solved the problem..

Feedback from PMS50:
Usually, set the AP approach mode when flying the FAF leg and make sure to be at the published altitude at the FAF could make it to correctly catch the GP at the FAF.

I usually try to capture the GS / GP further out (great example would be the LONG approach step downs at major airports such as Detroit Metro) and let the AP ride it down. But as I'm now flying some aircraft with the GTN750, this surprised me when I could not capture as soon as I was established on the final apch crs. Learn something every day.

Yes. The aircraft needs an ai.cfg file, and you need to update layout.json to add that file. Just needs a patch to address the bug, or a DIY mod in the meantime.

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@Black-Square Yes I did, as mentioned in https://community.justflight.com/topic/5864/caravan-autopilot-won-t-disarm/19

At least you figured out a fix, and it's not too bad, just a cut and paste. But something you shouldn't have to do. Still, MSFS is amazing for all its warts.

In my BKSQ Caravan using PMS50 GTN750 (latest version as of the time of this post) with the extra WTT-package 1.0.7 for AP/flight plan installed. A few updates ago, PMS50 stated that the WT-layer had a major update. Ever since then the AP remains lit when disabled. (i.e. ROL mode shown, etc.) However, the AP is not engaged in roll or pitch, just that some of the lights on the KAP140 display and the AP annunciator panel remain lit. I do have the systems.cfg and KAP140.js changes applied. Before the aforementioned PMS50 update and with your recommended bug-workarounds, the AP worked most of the time flawlessly, including no lights when disabled. It appears to just be a visual problem, AP works as expected (some bugs perhaps occasionally with weird altitude tracking overshoots still but that's another issue). I'm still on SU14, maybe SU15 will change something.

@Black-Square

It works 🙂 kind of...
The values are not updating properly. I can fiddle with the deicing stuff and despite the cockpit gen load needles are moving, the values are not updating every time. They updating a bit random.

It would be cool if the propagated variables would simply reflect the needle position.
So a FIP analog gauge would get alle the smooth movement and stickiness like the real needle.
And even on the digital gauge, it would be cool to see the values rise and fall and not jump.

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@hangar_101, I do have a published snippet for the Bravo and Analog Baron. The ID number to look it up in Spad is 10854. It's my only published snippet so far but has the autopilot settings I posted above.

Thanks so much for your response and my sincere apologies for only seeing it now! I was not expecting you to come back so quickly and must have not set up notifications! Really appreciate you confirming the above!
Love your products and the King Air especially. Really is beautifully done!

@Black-Square Very nice article. My Dad was a professor @ NC State University in the Mech & Aerospace Engineering dept, where I also got my degree back in 1984. I taught myself programming and ended up jumping back and forth between engineering and IT throughout my career. I am now retired, and am a very serious simmer who evidently shares a common perspective with you. I am VERY picky about the aircraft that I choose to learn, and then I dive in deeply. It started with the Challenger 650 from Hot Start. But I switched over to MSFS eventually because I was so impressed with various things on that platform. I am a developer of systems at my church over the past 35 years, but find plenty of time to spend with the sim.

My competency with the Bonanza is coming up to speed nicely, shot a handful of missed approaches today, and have just completed a deep dive and a lot of flights to learn the GTN750 (PMS50). Getting ready to take the Bonanza into live ATC soon. After completing the CAT and I test series on Pilotedge, I'm now especially interested in the Boston ATC club on VATsim, they seem to be relatively advanced and also have a similar training flight program.

Have a good weekend! Kirk

@Black-Square One other note - I really would like to congratulate you on a fantastic product. After doing a lot of glass cockpit flying (G1000, G3000), I decided to search out what the best steam gauge piston single w/ retract, and although I used to fly the Arrow in real life, your Bonanza is just superior. So while I'm cheating a bit w/ the GTN750, you make it so easy to switch configurations for when I want to go all the way back to how I flew in the late '80s and '90s in the PA28.

Wonderful job, I will eventually bring in your Baron as well.

Kirk

Thanks for the explanation.
So if I didn't previously have the WTT package for my Analog Caravan, the PMS 750 wasn't fully functional?

@KRoy7 I know the events listed above will let you bind all the buttons, switches to your home cockpit, and you will be able to do the same tasks you usually do using the mouse.
I am not sure what you are trying to accomplish can be done using the mouse, for instance.

@Black-Square from the TBM and upcoming Duke it is clear that your work really shines with a completely blank canvas.

Would be very nice to have those aircraft in 2024 in current/improved form. Even. Better to offer them with new models from the ground up. Possibly an option for an upgrade path for that?

Alternatively if starting from scratch maybe different varients of the aircraft. How about a King Air 200 or 90?
Regardless the implantation of the tablet is really ideal, I am never a fan of those switches to change avionics although I understand the reasoning!

I'm sure whatever you decide to do will be appreciated by all! Ps.. Looking forward to seeing the starship :p

Hey Indrajit,

I'm glad that you found a solution so quickly. I just wanted to reply for anyone else who might find this in the future to confirm that the problem you are describing is almost always caused by some GPS addon in your Community Folder which does not belong. I hope everything is working well for you now!

@Black-Square I doubt most of us are going to forget about the Dukes! Waiting is hard, but I have faith the results will be worth it.

I just hope you won’t forget about your MSFS 2020 planes as soon as 2024 comes out. I have a strong feeling that 2024’s system requirements will be going up, and if so, my computer likely won’t be able to run it well enough, so I expect to be flying 2020 for some years yet. At least MS has said that 2020 will continue to be developed after 2024 is out, and I hope that proves true.

@meh1951 this solution works just fine. Thank you!

I just changed it a little bit in order to use the button held and button release events instead.

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note: disregard the LOCAL:JOY_0X07380XA221_BUTTON_36 condition, it's an internal solution of mine to reuse the same button for multiple functions