22 May 2023
In addition to working on our upcoming products, such as the F28 and PA38 Tomahawk, we regularly visit our existing aircraft to make sure they are as bug-free and up-to-date as possible, especially following the release of a new MSFS Sim Update or improved SDK. As part of that process we also include new features based on requests from the community and our testing team, continually enhancing the products to keep things interesting for long-time owners (and us!).
Following the recent release of our PA-28 updates, which saw them come to Xbox for the first time, we’ve been busy working on an update for our 146 Professional for Microsoft Flight Simulator. As well as including Xbox and full Sim Update 12 compatibility, we’ve added some exciting new features that we’d like to share.
Most of the new features in this update are found on the Aircraft menu of the EFB tablet. Here you will notice a few new icons that we will be exploring. First up is the random payload button, found next to the Pax Total control. Pressing this button will trigger the EFB to select a random passenger and cargo load, within the weight limitations of your chosen 146 variant.
One of the most commonly requested features since the initial release of the 146 last spring has been failures simulation. Although serious failures are thankfully very rare in real-world operation, we’ve added a highly customisable failure system so you can experience the challenge and fun of handling multiple failures in MSFS. A Failures menu allows you to control over 80 different system and component failures, with options to either fail them instantly or arm them to fail after a specific period of time. There is also a Random Failures mode which will automatically trigger random failures, based on the selected probability (high, low etc). Thanks to its four engines and built-in redundancy, you’ll find that the 146 ‘mini Jumbo’ can cope with a lot of failures!
Another popular request has been to add pushback controls. The new Pushback menu allows you to connect and disconnect the tug, and select a forward or reverse direction with variable steering and speed. The rudder control axis can also be used to control the steering during pushback.
We’ve had to make various tweaks and improvements to ensure full Xbox compatibility, including the addition of a virtual keyboard on the EFB aircraft menu for those using an Xbox controller. Also useful for VR users, the keyboard can be used to input weights, fuel and payloads.
This update also adds greater customisation of the aircraft, with the classic HF aerials now available on all of the variants, as well as a tail-mounted VHF antenna.
Other notable changes include improved performance (FPS) and updates to the flight model for better ground handling and behaviour with Sim Update 12. Please see the change log on the Support page for a full list.
Finally, we wanted to give you a preview of the long-awaited custom UNS-1 FMS. With core development work complete, our testing team has been busy putting the UNS-1 through its paces in as many locations and with as many SID, STARs and holds as possible. Whilst we had hoped to include it in this update, we’ve still got a bit more work left to do, so will instead be releasing it in a dedicated update in the coming weeks. Prior to release, we will be sharing our UNS-1 PDF manual so you can start getting acquainted with its peculiarities.
We are also working on adding more weather radar functionality to the aircraft, within the limitations of the MSFS SDK, but more on that soon!
