MSFS2020

830: A Quick Guide to RNAV Approach

| Tom Tsui

Since the story “808: VORs are Now RNAV Compatible” was posted in March, once in a while I received enquiries from friends who asked me for instructions to run RNAV Approach.  I used to reply them by emails individually.  But I think it does no harm to write up a short post for those who might be interested.

RNAV (Area Navigation) is an aviation method that allows an aircraft to fly along any desired flight path defined by waypoints under GPS operation instead of navaids.

Here’s a quick guide about setting up the RNAV Approach from 5WA8 to KHQM as demonstrated in the Post mentioned above:

1.
Open WORLD MAP and choose to fly the Cessna 172 from 5WA8 (Hogan’s Corner) to KHQM (Bowerman)
RNAV_01 Continue reading →

828: Heading Bug Issue on Just Flight Arrows

| Tom Tsui

Two days ago, Brian in the US reported to me that the “Heading Bug” on the HSI gauge developed for Just Flight’s Arrow III, Turbo Arrow III and Arrow IV is malfunctioning.

The “Heading Bug” doesn’t change accordingly when the “Heading Bug Knob” is turned. It only works when the autopilot is engaged with a flight plan and an activated approach. If the flight plan or the approach is removed, the “Heading Bug” will stop working instantly. The faulty situation applies to the HDG gauge as well.

MSFS_PA28R-JF_ARW_HSI_GIF_p1_resize
MSFS_PA28R-JF_ARW_HDG_GIF_p1_resize

I then checked and confirmed the case is valid, but Continue reading →

827: Comanche EDM 830 is Available Now

| Tom Tsui

After a few weeks delay, the EDM 830 (Engine Data Management 830), the last piece of the A2A Comanche PA24-250 FIP gauge set has completed at last.

The gauge is by far the most complicated FIP instrument I ever developed. It has over 3,600 programming lines with many intricated conditions, which I probably wouldn’t rememberMSFS_PA24_EDM_GIFS of what they are in a few months.

Yet, this FIP version is not a full replica to the one on the A2A aircraft.  

In addition to differences in horizontal and vertical layouts, some features of the EDM 830 on the A2A aircraft are simply unable to implement onto FIPs due to hardware and software limitations.  In some cases, I gotta use unconventional approaches to achieve what it presents.

Nevertheless, Continue reading →

825: Bowerman (KHQM) is Back

| Tom Tsui

The freeware Bowerman Airport (KHQM) from Orbx was my “home” base during FSX and P3D simulation times.  It was missing in MSFS until vbazillio who revived it a few days ago.  It’s pretty well-done and I don’t see any anomaly from it.
KHQM_resizeFor those who love this airport could download the addon from here.

A big thank to vbazillio.

BTW, Continue reading →

824: Comanche EDM 830 Preview

| Tom Tsui

Here’s a short video preview of the EDM-830 Engine Monitoring System being developed for the A2A PA24-250 Comanche as mentioned before.

The overall structure is done.  It may still need another week or two to complete the work, however, as the implementation of the panel is not only complicated technically but also in layout and design.


Nevertheless, I am quite happy with it so far since I also learned new skills when implementing it. Continue reading →

823: Gauges for A2A MSFS Comanche

| Tom Tsui

I managed to have a break during the summer months.  Althought trivial things to take care of were still unavoidable, it was good.

During the period, I received a suggestion from Roland, who told me that the PA24-250 Comanche by A2A was hot and asked if I would develop gauges for it.

Frankly, I am really not a fan to any airplane needing SPAD.neXt to run gauges on the Flight Instrument Panels (FIPs).  I am not saying that SPAD.neXt is no good.  I just want something install-and-go.

Anyway, here’s the Comanche gauge set just completed, in which many new features and operations are just possible with SPAD.neXt. For example, assigning multiple functions to a single button to imitate a more realistic operation, etc.

Except the EDM-830 Engine Monitoring System that is a definite to follow in a couple of weeks, Continue reading →

822: My MSFS ReShape Settings 23-0705

| Tom Tsui

Some major changes have been done to my last ReShade Settings made in February according to various trials over the last few months:  ReShade_230705
Tint (Sepia.fx) and Vibrance (Vibrance.fx) effects used previously have been removed.  Yet, Continue reading →

818: Addon Improving Swiss Genuineness

| Tom Tsui

Last week, I came across an addon called Swiss TLM3D Forest MSFS by Taburet.  The company claims that the addon is based on the swissTLM3D datatset, which is the most extensive 3D vector dataset covering the whole of Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein from Federal Office of Topography swisstopo.  Since Switzerland is one of the places I frequently flightsimming most, I purchased it without much hesitation.

Followings are three sets of pictures I captured on the runway 26 of Saanen Gstaad Airport (LSGK), showing the surrounding trees with and without the addon (click images to enlarge). Saanen-02 Continue reading →

816: Fun Shouldn’t be Missed

| Tom Tsui

When Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) was prevalent around 2010s, many addons from Flight One (Flgiht1) Software were my favorites, such as the FSDiscovery.

But since I switched to Prepar3D in mid-2010, I hadn’t purchased from Flight1 any more.  It was not about quality.  Their products were just somethings not I needed and there were other alternatives.

Surprisingly to myself as well, I didn’t expect I will one day buy from Flight1 again, and especially for MSFS.

AnyoneFly is a new software that allows users “to experience the simulator world in ways one may never have before,” according to the descriptions of the product.

Whatever it says, the one particular feature among its suite of tools that gets the money from my pocket is called the Adventure. AnyoneFly
It’s more or less a Mission engine but Continue reading →