Mario Donick

Flying the DA-42 from Lugano to Innsbruck, using the G1000 mod v1.2. Approach was a bit tricky, because it was dark, the valleys were narrow and I had to fly through 3 cloud layers. Next day ...

I did not have the crash, but the many messages that SASL could not find 2 components. However, this makes no sense to me, because the referenced names are properties, not components (see my postings in the other thread). (Or SASL's error messages are not using these terms properly...)

File Name: Modified G1000 for Diamond DA-42 (v2.0)- Payware File Submitter: Mario Donick File Submitted: 30 Aug 2013 File Category: General Aviation X-Plane Version(s): X-Plane 10 Livery For: Click Here For Aircraft UI Graphics Modification for Harranssor's Diamond DA-42 Mod version 1.4 for aircraft version 2.0 If you are still using aircraft version 1.x, you have to update by re-downloading the aircraft from your .org store account! Created with written consent of Harranssor (DA-42 author). Thanks to Harranssor for creating the DA-42 and for giving me the permission to publish this modification. Get the DA-42 here! 1. Goal of this Modification Harranssor's DA-42 includes a G1000 unit which, in terms of function, goes as far as possible with default X-Plane means. Since aircraft version 1.2, the DA-42 includes most features of my original G1000 mod, thereby having more realistic visuals (icons, fonts, colors). However, the mod also brought a more realistic layout to the PFD, and these changes were deliberately not included in later aircraft versions. This new version of the mod is for aircraft version 2.0, and includes the missing changes to the PFD layout. The included .acf file combines all bug fixes and changes that Harranssor made for aircraft version 2.0 with the PFD layout of the original mod. The .acf file is provided with permission from Harranssor. 2. What this mod isn't This mod does NOT change the functionality of the simulated G1000; it just changes the PFD layout to make it a little bit more realistic. 3. Installation Be careful to make a backup of the original DA-42 folder before installing the mod! Copy the files from the "Copy these files" folder to your DA-42 aircraft folder. Replace the existing files with the new ones. On MacOS, DO NOT COPY COMPLETE FOLDERS! Copy the files which are INSIDE the folders. I know this is a bit tedious, because there are many folders, but if you do otherwise, MacOS will delete files from the original aircraft which you need to keep! If you see strange buttons on the PFD screen, you made a mistake. You then need to revert to your backup of the original aircraft and start again. This mod includes a modified .acf file which was necessary for adjusting the PFD. If you have modified your .acf already, you need to do your own modifications again after replacing your .acf file with the mod .acf file. Be careful. 4. Known Issues The speed tape on the PFD will be hidden by an opened FPL window. On real G1000 units, the FPL window is shown either as small inset on the lower right of the PFD, or on the right of the MFD. You can check your speed using the backup airspeed indicator, though. Click here to download this file

Now officially permitted by the DA-42 author (and available at the various download managers soon):

I think you can purchase it even without my mod. OR you buy the Corvalis and get a G1000 with realistic functions.

The G1000 in the DA-42 is way better than this freeware. If I would do a top 10 rating of the G1000s I know, it would be: 1. FSX: the G1000 simulations in Flight1 payware planes (e.g. in the C182) 2. -- 3a. X-Plane: the G1000 simulation in JGX' payware Corvalis 3b. FSX: the G1000 simulation in Carenado payware planes (e.g. in the SR22) 4. FSX: the G1000 simulation in FSX default planes (also used in many FSX payware planes) 5. -- 6. X-Plane: my modded G1000 dummy in the new payware DA-42 7. X-Plane: the G1000 dummy in the new payware DA-42 8. X-Plane: the G1000 dummy in X-Plane's default C400 9. X-Plane: the G1000 dummy in Jason Chandler's payware Cessna Citation 10. X-Plane: the freeware G1000 dummy 3a and 3b are both at 2 because both have their own pros and cons. FlyThisSim's G1000 simulation are out of the scope of this list, as these are not pure consumer products, thus very expensive and not integrated in the planes themselves. But in terms of accuracy, they are near perfect. If they would have navigation data for outside the U.S., I would use these since years.

It's good to see this control panel -- makes everything really "real" (i.e. working, maybe soon to be released)?

Beware that this mod would just be visually, and even then it would NOT look like a real G1000 -- just a little bit more similar, because of more correct colors, icons and interface graphics. Function-wise, it is X-Plane standard, you won't be able to learn the G1000 with this plane.

Although I was not asked, I answer anyway, as I could test it: It's nice and fun (really!), and the virtual cockpit is beautiful, if you like Stephane's (the author's) style (it's similar to his Eclipse 550 freeware). I also like that icing and deicing is present, the sounds, and the FADEC test buttons. But do not expect a real G1000. Currently it consists only of X-Plane default EFIS elements, i.e. it does not really look like a G1000 graphically, and it does not work like a G1000, i.e. functions are different and at different places. By the way, I have contacted Stephane and am currently modding the plane to get the LOOK more similar to what a G1000 looks (and I also corrected the strangely colored backup horizon). The last 2 nights I was re-creating many icons, graphic files and fonts, with screenshots of real G1000 units and other G1000 simulations as inspiration. (I also paid attention to make it different from the Corvalis payware, because the danger of being accused of plagiarism is big if you want to get the look right. So I made each graphic and icon on my own again, and some icons look (in my opinion) better than those in the Corvalis, but some look nearly identical (e.g. the TCAS icon, which, well, is just a tiny triangle. Mine has a black border, though). However, without custom avionics, it sill underlies X-Plane limitations, and the low screen resolution of the virtual G1000 forces many compromises which in the end evoke the feeling "no, that does not look like the real thing" For example, the PFD. To keep everything readable, you need to have a minimum font size, but to include the most important elements, it has to be small enough. Both forces certain distances between the elements, e.g. horizon to speed tape, altitude tape and inset map. In the end, it looks squeezed somehow, which affects the overall readability of the PFD. This could only be solved by starting all over, i.e. trash the current DA-42 G1000 and make a new one with bigger virtual screen resolution, for getting more room. Currently I do this mod only for me, but Stephane showed interest and maybe he allows me to release this as freeware mod or even includes this an update. Anyway, actually all this stuff is not such a big problem if you don't want to use this for studying a G1000. Just have fun with the plane, it's beautiful, powerful and fast.

Any news on this more than 3 years old announcement? ;-) I really like to re-paint my plane in my "Hanse Aviation" colors...

Corrected registration:

I don't think that's a real bug, but also I don't know if this torque dataref (where you can adjust torque with) was already known in 2010 when this bird came out. I don't think it's any special in this regard compared to other planes. However, I just use aileron trim to counter that.

Damn. You're right. I knew something was looking strange... *sigh* Edit: It should actually be D-EHAA (where E stands for "single engine aircraft up to 2t MTOW")

1) The default X-Plane 10 aircraft has just a fake G1000. The payware has a G1000 that works like the real thing (albeit with reduced functions) and is the ONLY X-Plane aircraft with a terrain view on its moving map. 2) In my review I was able to fly by the numbers given in the manual. What do you mean by prop effects? You can change prop settings and it affects performance, of course. 3) It is 64 bit ONLY. Summary: Highly recommended.

Flying the xpfr.org's DR400-140B in a modified livery near my home town:

Switzerland, from Lugano to St. Gallen-Altenrhein. The SimHeaven photo scenery and the Europe library fit well together, and the Europe Library is a good alternative to OSM buildings.

Ground Traffic as in "Ground Traffic Plugin" Far too few sceneries use this useful plugin.

Made some small adjustments to the height (well, actually it required me to remove everything, move the shelves lower and rebuild everything again) and to the placement of yoke, monitor and FOV (to align the real yoke with the virtual yoke). I also placed the iPad next to the monitor for XAvion (very recommendable, by the way), and to get space for adding Saitek radio panels next to the other Saitek panels.

Beautiful screenshot! Maybe another one for "very good" rating on my airport map? (Though one suggestion I have for all your airports: Some ground traffic maybe? ).

Here you go (some months later): Very firm and stable, even with fast and hard movements, because of the screen's weight which presses from above on the yoke.

Thanks for this update! Finally the best X-Plane DC-3 is ready to fly again!

The German FSMagazin has published my 10 page-review of the Corvalis 1.5.1 as free PDF file on its website. The review is very positive, but in an objective way (i.e. also some criticism is included). If you can read German, download the review here: http://www.fsmagazin.de/download/FSM5_2013Plusartikel.pdf If you can't read German, here's my short summary translated into English: The Cessna 400 Corvalis TT by Jim Gregory and his label JGX-Designs is an ambitious one-man project and unrivaled in the X-Plane world. It is not perfect: The G1000 does not include all functions of the original, the general systems depth besides fuel management is low. But still, for the everyday life in X-Plane it is a good combination of beautiful model and plausible G1000 simulation. JGX' Corvalis looks fine, flies like a charm, and in spite of everything, the G1000 is realistic enough to learn its main concepts. Even without procedures it goes beyond the FSX default G1000 in terms of engine and flight plan management. (Sorry for my English; it's not a very elegant translation, but you get the point.) Plus, the plane received the "Editor's Choice" award:

Tom, first, thanks for the explanation on what is involed in creating an electrical system in X-Plane, and why it's very hard to do it. I agree that most users probably don't care about that level of depth, and I also agree about the people wanting realism but not willing to learn how to cope with it. This said, I still think that a minimum level of depth should be strived for -- at least to a level which you can find in some of the good FSX payware.