ilias.tselios

Thanks Kris, you are welcomed!

Hi to everyone! As this project is coming closer to finish, I would like to ask for a few beta testers. Requirements are to be experienced in using aircrafts without manual, so they have to find their way around the cockpit (the manual is in progress now...). Also this plane can be used with UFMC and X-FMC (about the second, not so sure!). The feedback that I'm looking for is for the functionality of the cockpit, since the aircraft maintains the original flight characteristics. Also any suggestion is welcomed! Anyone interested in, please PM me. EDIT: Please include an email to send you the file directly. Forgot to mention that this is for X-Plane 9.70!

I think that the textures are posing more stress on computers than polygon. Specially to those with limited VRAM like most Macs (like mine IMac)!

Thanks guys a lot! @GrahamH this will be available for everyone to download it for sure. When I finished I will send it to Laminar, but the other thing that is sure now it is that the first release will be for X-Plane 9.70. Test I've made so far with X-Plane 10, shows me that it can be used without problems, but I would like to work more on this to make sure that everything will work and look fine. There are some difference how things are handled in XP10 (e.g. global illumination) that needs more studying of me to implement it right. Since now Laminar updates only XP10, when I make it XP10 "ready" I will send it to them. @Dozer as I said before initial release will be for XP9.70 and then optimized for XP10. I'm using plugins but no too much, because first I am new to aircraft development, but in plugins I'm trying just to crawl. What I'm using is SASL, and for me that's heavy programming! But it offers amazing possibilities. Example, in MFD display at the bottom, there is an indication that is labeled ISA. That indication shows how much the current outside temperature deviates from standard temp at any altitude you fly. I made that working using a small script. Also, X-Plane when at night it loads the plane with lights about half bright. That's a problem cause some light switches are on/off, but the datarefs are float type, so when the aircraft loaded the switch was in a position about half way, which is not a real position! So I had to write a script again to load them at off position (0) or at on (1). I'm really excited about the possibilities you have with plugins and I would like to implement as much as possible, but at this point my lack of free time is not allowing to go further than the absolute necessary. As a pilot myself with deep knowledge of complicated systems, I really want something to work as in real life! I would like to make it as functional as the real on, but since I'm working in upgrading an existing aircraft that's freeware, imposes some restrictions. But what you propose to build it in mind to use with hardware it is very interesting and what I can say now is that I will have it in mind from start in my next project. About polytext, I've read it and it is interesting. I haven't try it but I will check it.

Some progress with night lighting (a few minor things need adjustments) Enjoy!

New video showing new futures added! MFD now has 2 pages, one for navigation and the other for startup and misc systems (still WIP). Startup checklist added that monitors your progress through the startup procedure. Labes on buttons and knobs indicate the right function. More to come... View it on HD!

Karingka and Redfisher thanks a lot! Working now on the rest of cockpit animations. Some are easy, but some need a bit of coding to simulate the real aircraft. SASL is on! I am on dilema now and I would like to listen to your opinions. Since I'm not going to fully simulate the avionics of the Avanti II and there are few buttons/knobs that will work in different manner than the label they have, should I keep the exact labeling and state what they doing in tooltip and the manual, or change the labels to what they actually doing in my cockpit? In example: between pilot's PFD and MFD there is a control panel with few buttons and knobs. One of them in the real aircraft is labeled as "REFS" (it opens windows within PFD/MFD to set a few things). In my cockpit it will cycle the nav source (nav1/nav2/fms). Should I change the label to "SOURCE"?

Thanks Nicola! It's good to like you

Hi there! You can see all the images of this project here! Here is a video (it's a bit low res and off color), of starting up from cold and dark. Hope you enjoy it!

About 2 years ago, I downloaded blender (as free, a good option) but since I had no idea of 3D programs use, it let it aside. Then 1 year ago i fell on Dan Klaue's tutorials. I tried a bit, then I found the CGCookie website with nice tutorials, and I started doing a few things. Now I can use blender quite well, and although many say that is a hard to use program, now I think that is not that hard at all. I don't know for any more advanced programs than blender, but I think it's very powerful and If you give it a shot, is getting easier day by day. At the end, I believe that you can use any 3D program to do your job depending on how you feel it. For me, blender's keyboard shortcuts work very nice!

Don't worry Ultimate Flier, you won't need to pay. But it's far away to be completed. I'm trying my best but still newbie, so I have to search for many things how they work. But also I don't like things that are not right. In example, I could use the standard instrument digits for many things, but I was searching for 2 days only to find the fonts that are closest to the real ones (even thought to create new fonts!). Then I changed all the digits with those plus various colors. So, be patient and as soon as it gets at a certain point of completion, I will make you me "beta tester"!

Thanks Graham! I'm trying to push in as much quality work I can.

Thanks Airbus!

Here's a night shot inside the cockpit. Still unfinished but gives a general idea who it will look. What you think?

Don't forget that PMDG is working on porting one of their aircraft to X-Plane. As it looks more than a "procedures" guide, I don't think that would be NG. Maybe later, or it will be a surprise?

Thanks! Good luck to you too...

Thanks Pirx! It's nice to see that you like it! A few screenshots now in the aircraft... (note: of course it's long way away to be competed!!!) The first is the main panel. This one is a closeup to the center of the panel. Down to pedestal. And some fur on pilots' seat, so they don't sweat! Hope you like it!

Actually I'm working on the Piaggio Avanti (here). First I took permission from the original author to upgrade it and distribute as freeware.

Thank you guys a lot. As a first timer/single "developer", your support is priceless. One thing that I can say for that project, is that it will have a light dose of plugins. Just to overcome a few things that missing from X-Plane.

Another render with instrument displays in place and some more texturing.

Few renders for today... Hope you like it!

A view of the 3D cockpit as is at this point. That's a "first time" partially texture application. It needs a lot of work to come to the point I would like. I'm working parallel to all directions (3D improvements, texturing, instrumentation etc.), so it will get better through time.

As development continues slowly but steady(!), I'm focused to reproduce the Proline 21 avionics as best as possible by pushing the Planemaker abilities to the limit. I thing i will end up with a couple of hundreds of generic instruments! Here is a sample of Avanti's MFD: Please DISREGARD the cockpit texturing. Is a fast low quality job. I just want to see how it looks like in X-Plane, so I can make any necessary adjustments. Here another one from pilot's PFD: Learning and testing show me that you can make some cool staff, even without plugins. Like below, the multifunction radio panel with 2 pages swapping. Make notice of the cursor that changes the 2 pages. Hope you like it...

Thanks a lot guys! @dainja, I know the file and maybe later, as things evolve, if I get permission for that file, I'll go for it. In my back side of my mind is an Avanti I 3D cockpit! A small update for today. All buttons and switches are in place now.

@karingka. Me too. I though that needed something better, so i though that i could make a try.