Forthcoming Upgrades & Improvements

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Some things we can do easily .... and quite quickly too.

Other things less so .... or not at all .... and in cases of the latter both we, and our community, need to accept that.

Some of the things we can do easily can't be accomplished quickly though .... and therefore take "a fair while" to complete to our satisfaction (first and foremost) .... and more-so considering everything we do, at any time, needs to be attended to in conjunction with everything else that's also planned here .... especially in regard to some fixes and upgrades/improvements which can sometimes not only be "A RIGHT ROYAL PAIN IN THE ARSE" to progress even during the very best of times, but also, become a considerably time consuming exercise in order to satisfactorily complete too.

However, accommodate everything "WE WILL" .... and regardless how long it takes us.

Just remember though HJG's "not" a business, so, whatever it undertakes is always done in accordance with the personal convenience/availability of those actually doing the work .... but for that we then and in turn "don't ever charge anyone a solitary bean" and "nor are we in turn paid for any of it either" .

Going to start this preview without any "PREVIEWS" (to view) given not everything we do, and by it's very nature, can easily be previewed as such, so, explanation/s will (possibly) make up a large proportion of what I later present within this thread (still compiling things in my mind and as I go) .... supported by "some" images (of course), along with with other information too, where such is possible or otherwise deemed appropriate as things do progress.

"TO SAY THE VERY LEAST": A number of upgrades to existing HJG projects "ARE" being worked on at the moment.

Some of these are "quite minor" .... whilst others are "more significant" .... but all of which "will/should" further improve "some of" what we currently offer.

Some of these projects may be released quite quickly/"soon". It just depends upon what sort of unforeseen additional editing requirements pop-up during pre-release evaluation (given some things can't be anticipated) and how quickly/easily such can then be acceptably resolved. Whereas other things, by the very magnitude of their upgrading, require considerably more time in order to "properly compile", and "thoroughly test", prior to release and may therefore still be some weeks away yet from being offered.

What is offered though .... and in whatever order it's released .... "will/should" each represent improvements of varying degrees.

This posting is intended to initiate/start this thread .... and within which "ALL" will be made known "in due course" .... item per item and per separate installments.

What this posting therefore communicates is .... "WATCH THIS SPACE"

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[alex94]

Look forward to whats in store

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

I'll be presenting a selection of upgrades .... "soon".

Been a busy non-FS week .... for me

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[alex94]

hope you're well mark

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

CV880 & CV990 PANELS/GAUGES CORE FILES FIXES:


Before I say anything I want people to understand the following ....


1. This's a forthcoming CV880 and CV900 Panels Gauges/Core Files "fix" .... in other words it'll be "A SINGLE RFEPLACEMENT FILE ONLY".

2. It "WILL NOT" require any Aircraft Base Pack/3D Model/FDE/Texture replacements.

3. It "WILL NOT" require any Sound Packs replacements either (remember though new CV880 and CV990 sound packs were release here during DEC 2023 and as separate FS2004 and FSX specific file versions and "ARE" currently downloadable, so, if anyone's still using the old/original (and inferior) audio, then, the release of this panel gauges/core files fix will be a good opportunity to replace old audio too). The following are a couple of audio-visual presentations of Benoit's new and recently released CV880 and CV990 sound packs in action ....


CV880 AUDIO
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJUkxQTleI0

CV990 AUDIO
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcbt_FP6_Rw


4.It "WILL NOT" require any Effects (or other supporting files) replacements as well.

5. There will be "NO" revisions to any of the previously recommended handling procedures for any of these panels/simulations .... everything will continue to function (and should be used) precisely as already advised "only it'll all now work better still" .... whilst also remaining entirely consistent with all recommendations within the established forum based manuals for each simulation.


Some time last year it was reported (and confirmed by me .... hence this minor issue's written up among the "KNOWN ISSUES" advisories within the forum located CV880/CV990 manual) that the FD, located within the Main Panel AI gauge, was not working correctly in conjunction with selected AP VOR/LOC and AP ILS modes. This FD did however work in AP HDG SEL mode only. Here's what was happening ....

The CV880 and CV9890 panels FD indicator worked fine in conjunction AP HDG SEL mode as follows ....



The CV880 and CV9890 panels FD indicator "DID NOT" work in conjunction AP VOR LOC mode as follows ....



.... and it "DID NOT" work in AP ILS mode either as follows ....




In regard to the AI gauge FD indications in relation to both AP VOR/LOC and AP ILS mode selections. As can be seen per the (last 2) above images AI indicator reflex functions in relation to both VOR/LOC and ILS selections worked, but, remained pegged toward either the left or right sides of the AI gauge accordingly. The "GOOD NEWS" is "THANKS ENTIRELY TO THE CONCENTRATED EFFORTS OF GEORGE CARTY" we've now got the FD working correctly in conjunction with AP HDG SEL, VOR/LOC, and ILS modes in our CV880 and CV9890 Panels and as is evidenced per each of the following images ....


1. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP HDG mode ....

(CV880)


(CV990)



2. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP VOR/LOC mode ....

(CV880)


(CV990)



3. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP ILS mode ....

(CV880)


(CV990)



The following other fixes have also now been applied to our CV880/CV990 Panel Gauges Core Files too ....


1. The Landing/Taxi Lights switches no longer automatically disengage when transiting between the OH sub panel and Main Panel views (this did not seem to affect the actual lighting though and which remained functional despite these switches having defaulted "OFF" per whatever reflex action was associated with transiting between panel views to cause this minor issue).

2. The engines now no longer spool down .... then spool back up again in response to the default CTRL+F1 keyboard Engine Shutdown commands.

3. "IN FSX" the panel gauges back lighting is (apparently) now functional (this was never an FS2004 issue though with any of these panels).


REMEMBER .... both CV880-22, CV880-22M, CV990, and CV990 were each capable of very high cruising speeds. Much higher in fact than their B707 and DC-8 competition. The CV880's could manage up to MACH 0.87 .... whilst the CV990's (only after modification to CV990-A specification) could (subject to altitude etc) manage MACH up to MACH 0.97 .... albeit only at the cost of increased fuel burn whilst also being payload handicapped in comparison to the B707/B720 and DC-8.


The HJG CV880's will comfortably manage MACH 0.87 ....


.... whilst the HJG CV990-A's (not the standard original production CV990 version though) will comfortably manage between MACH 0.96 and MACH 0.97 ....





DON'T GO LOOKING FOR THIS NEW CV880/CV990 PANELS GAUGES/CORE FILES PACKAGE. IT'S NOT BEEN RELEASED .... YET. We'll advise/announce once it's been released and is available.


Mark C
AKL/NZ

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

DC-8 PANELS/GAUGES CORE FILES FIXES:


Once again and before I say anything I want people to understand the following too ....


1. This's a forthcoming DC-8 Panels Gauges/Core Files "fix" .... in other words it'll once again be another "SINGLE RFEPLACEMENT FILE ONLY".

2. It "WILL NOT" require any Aircraft Base Pack/3D Model/FDE/Texture replacements.

3. It "WILL NOT" require any Sound Packs replacements either.

4. It "WILL NOT" require any Effects (or other supporting files) replacements as well

5. There will be "NO" revisions to any of the previously recommended handling procedures for any of these panels/simulations either .... once again everything will continue to function (and should be used) precisely as already advised "only it'll all now work better still" .... whilst also remaining entirely consistent with all recommendations within the established forum based manuals for each simulation.


As was the case with our CV880 and CV990 panels .... some time last year it was also reported (and again confirmed by me .... hence this minor issue's also written up among the "KNOWN ISSUES" advisories within the forum located DC-8 manual) that the FD, located within the Main Panel AI gauges of our DC-8 SHIP ONE 1958, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 Panels in particular (because these panel each use the same old style FD combo as that featured in our CV880/CV990 panels) wasn't working correctly in conjunction with selected AP VOR/LOC and AP ILS modes either. Again this FD did work though in AP HDG SEL mode only. Here's what was happening ....


The DC-8 SHIP ONE 1958, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Panels FD indicator worked fine in conjunction AP HDG SEL mode as follows ....



DC-8 SHIP ONE 1958, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 Panels FD indicator "DID NOT" work in conjunction AP VOR LOC mode as follows ....



.... and "DID NOT" work in AP ILS mode either as follows ....




In regard to the AI gauge FD indications in relation to both AP VOR/LOC and AP ILS mode selections. As can be seen per the (last 2) above images the FD reflexes work in relation to both VOR/LOC and ILS selections worked, but, remain pegged toward either the left or right sides of the AI gauges accordingly. The "GOOD NEWS" is "THANKS ONCE AGAIN AND ENTIRELY TO THE CONCENTRATED EFFORTS OF GEORGE CARTY" we've now got these FD reflexes working correctly in conjunction with all AP mode selections in our DC-8 SHIP ONE 1958, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 Panels and as evidenced per each of the following images ....


(DC-8 SHIP ONE 1958, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 old/late 1950's style FD)
1. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP HDG mode ....





2. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP VOR/LOC mode ....





3. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP ILS mode ....









Similar applied to the later style FD featured in our DC-8-61, 62/63, 71, and 72/73 panels, but, was composed of somewhat different issues. This particular FD (a later version than that featured in our early DC-8 panels) did work, but, not reliably enough. ANYWAY .... we've managed to coax the AI gauge located FD in our DC-8-60 and DC-8-70 panels into working better. It's still "a little clunky", but, if used correctly it now works more reliably in relation to all AP Mode selections as evidenced per the following images ....


(DC-8-61, 62/63 late 1960's style FD)
1. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP HDG mode ....



2. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP VOR/LOC mode ....



3. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP ILS mode ....








(DC-8-71, 72/73, 71 late 1960's style FD)
1. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP HDG mode ....



2. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP VOR/LOC mode ....



3. FD working correctly in conjunction with AP ILS mode ....








As has been applied to our CV880/CV990 Panels .... the following other fixes have also now been edited into our DC-8 Panel Gauges Core Files too ....


1. The Landing/Taxi Lights switches no longer automatically disengage when transiting between the OH sub panel and Main Panel views (this did not seem to affect the actual lighting though and which remained functional despite these switches having defaulted "OFF" per whatever reflex action was associated with transiting between panel views to cause this minor issue).

2. The engines now no longer spool down .... then spool back up again in response to the default CTRL+F1 keyboard Engine Shutdown commands.

3. "IN FSX" the panel gauges back lighting is (apparently) now functional (this was never an FS2004 issue though with any of these panels).


DON'T GO LOOKING FOR THIS NEW DC-8 PANELS GAUGES/CORE FILES PACKAGE. IT'S NOT BEEN RELEASED .... YET. We'll advise/announce once it's been released and is available.


Some other similar and "single file" replacement file (only) advances are to follow .... but I'm holding these back for the moment.


Mark C
AKL/NZ

[George Carty - HJG]

Mar 10, 2024 8:13:17 GMT aerofoto - HJG Admin said:

DON'T GO LOOKING FOR THIS NEW CV880/CV990 PANELS GAUGES/CORE FILES PACKAGE. IT's NOT GEEN RELEASED .... YET. We'll advise/announce once it has been released.

I think this should be

Mar 10, 2024 8:13:17 GMT aerofoto - HJG Admin said:

DON'T GO LOOKING FOR THIS NEW DC-8 PANELS GAUGES/CORE FILES PACKAGE. IT's NOT BEEN RELEASED .... YET. We'll advise/announce once it has been released.

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

YEs .... it should haver.

Tiredness is beginning take its toll now though.

Concentration's starting to falter (though I wasn't tired and nor was my concentration failing when I did the DC-8 screen shots which were each were each difficult approaches to landing .... first real point-to-point flying I've done in several months past and which I really enjoyed for a change) .... and typo's "can" be in abundance ass a result

Typo's fixed .... thanks George

[Herman]

Thank you for all that hard work Mark in bringing all those upgrades to us. Love all the accompanying images as well.

Hope that you are now getting a bit of time to Relax.

Cheers....Herman

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Thank you for all that hard work Mark

Actually .... it's George whom deserves "ALL OF" the credit for this .... "NOT ME".

All I do is pull everything together and then represent/support it all (as best we understand things at any given point of time/development) or otherwise co-ordinate the development of pretty much most offerings here (aided by a selected few other trusted "specialists").

These FD gauge fixes (and hopefully there soon be a similar FD gauge fix for something else we're aware of needing attention too) resolve some long-standing issues associated with the said panels .... which have taken some time to first understand otherwise these might have been addressed sooner, but, for a multiplicity of reasons such simply hasn't been possible before now.

Actually it doesn't seem to have been fixed for me

I was just as suddenly distracted last night George .... and so tired by then too that I later forgot to apply those edits.

I'll address these for you in a moment .... if it'll make you happy

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[alex94]

Thank you George for the wonderful work, and thank you mark for the wonderful write up as usual

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

This 3rd of 4 (possibly 5) panels gauges/core files "FIXES" is for the HJG offered DC-10 simulations.

This update addresses 2 issues as follows ....


1.ADF1 and ADF2 indications within the RMI gauge demonstrated a tendency to remain pegged at their last reflexes/indications when out of range of any selected NDB aid (or if any incorrect frequency is inadvertently selected) rather than defaulting to a horizontal axis until within range of the next detected NDB aid .... as follows ....

A. ADF1 AND ADF2 BOTH IN RANGE (no red bars within either the left and right of the RMI gauge .... confirming in range range NDB aid detections) ....


B. ADF1 AND ADF2 BOTH OUT OF RANGE (note the red bars within the bottom left and right of the RMI gauge (confirming no signal is being detected for either NDB aid), but, both ADF1 and ADF2 needles still remain pegged at their last (above) reflexes/indications despite being out of range of both selected NDB aids ....


C. ADF1 OUT RANGE AND ADF2 IN RANGE (note the red bar at the bottom left of this gauge confirming ADF1 is out of range yet the ADF1 needle remains pegged at its last (above) indication and with a red bar displaying within the left of the RMI gauge (again confirming its selected NDB aid is out of range/not being detected) .... whilst ADF2 is now within range of its selected NDB aid and with no red bar displaying within the right of the RMI gauge (again confirming its selected NDB aid is being detected) ....



As a result of this particular "FIX" both ADF1 and ADF2 reflexes are now functioning correctly (with regard to both in and out of range NDB aid detections and per the RMI gauge indications) and now no longer demonstrate any tendency to remain pegged at their last detections when out of range of either NDB aid as follows ....


A. ADF1 IN RANGE AND ADF2 OUT OF RANGE ....






B. ADF1 OUT OF RANGE AND ADF2 IN RANGE ....






C. ADF1 AND ADF2 BOTH IN RANGE ....







2. The following fix can't be demonstrated per images, but, when the ADF2 audio was engaged (this enables audible transmission of the morse code ID for each NDB aid) it was discovered to be unresponsive. The ADF1 audio was not affected though and did function fine. This particular ADF2 audio issue's now been successfully addressed, so, when selected the ADF2 audio is now fully functional.


These fixes are once again "THANKS ENTIRELY TO THE EFFORTS/"BRILLIANCE" OF GEORGE CARTY". As is the case with each of the above presented CV880, CV990, and DC-8 Panels Gauges/Core Files updates all of the following details apply ....


1. This's a forthcoming DC-10 Panels Gauges/Core Files "fix" .... in other words it'll be "A SINGLE RFEPLACEMENT FILE ONLY".

2. It "WILL NOT" require any Aircraft Base Pack/3D Model/FDE/Texture replacements.

3. It "WILL NOT" require any Sound Packs replacements either.

4.It "WILL NOT" require any Effects (or other supporting files) replacements as well.

5. There will be "NO" revisions to any of the previously recommended handling procedures for any of these panels/simulations .... everything will continue to function (and should be used) precisely as already advised "only it'll all work better still" .... whilst also remaining entirely consistent with all recommendations within the established forum based manuals for each simulation.


No other fixes or advances have been deemed necessary or will be applied at to this gauges/core files suite/these panels at this time, but, I may add a mini-tutorial (reminder) "to this particular posting" .... and for reasons that'll be explained upon my later doing so (time permitting of course)















DON'T GO LOOKING FOR THIS NEW DC-10 PANELS GAUGES/CORE FILES PACKAGE. IT's NOT BEEN RELEASED .... YET. We'll advise/announce once it's been released and is available.


Mark C
AKL/NZ

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

This presentation is "slightly off-topic" in relation to the above but given it constitutes edits and improvements (of a kind already accessible) I'm posting it here regardless

A little while back it was advised (per the "KNOWN ISSUES" section within PP1 of both our B707 and C-135 manuals) that FD indications, within the AI gauge, of our "B707-320B ADV/C 1970, B707-323B ADV/C 1970, B707-700", and "E-3D CFM-56" (ONLY) panels may be inclined to demonstrate misalignments in relation to AP controlled ILS/GS coupled auto-approaches to landing (this "DOES NOT" happen with any of our 1965 and 1970 B707 panel versions though) .... despite CDI indications within HSI gauges of these same panels (and each of our other B707 panels too) demonstrating very acceptable alignments in conjunction with all AP and FD mode selections.

Since late last year (and "THANKS" entirely to the motivation and skills of George CARTY) we've been revising Panel Gauges/Core Files for "some of" (but not all of) the panels we offer here .... and performing considerable re-testing too.

As a result of this testing we began to realize there appears to be "nothing (little if anything) wrong" with FD's within each of the 4 above mentioned "1970 era B707" (ONLY) panels .... despite earlier suspicions which resulted in our earlier communicated "KNOWN ISSUES" alert within the supporting B707 and C-135 manuals. It's since been determined these FD indications .... again only in conjunction with AP and FD mode AUTO APP and APP selections respectively .... each work very acceptably and to the extent no B707 Panel Gauges/Core Files editing is deemed necessary.

It's also been determined earlier communicated FD misalignment within each of the 4 above mentioned "1970 era" (ONLY) B707 panels appears to be attributable by the ILS/GS associated with some virtual RWY's .... in particular RWY 16R at the default FS2004 KSEA Airport .... but .... which "DOES NOT" occur, at all, landing the very same RWY from its opposite approach (RWY 34L). The following images demonstrate these observations ....

Note the FD misalignment evident in the AI gauge (it's "minor" in this particular image but I have seen it worse) in conjunction with the selected AP AUTO and FD AUTO APP modes approaching to land on RWY 16R at the default FS2004 KSEA airport whilst the HSI gauge CDI indication appears very acceptably aligned ....


Note no FD misalignment is evident in the AI gauge in conjunction with the same selected AP AUTO and FD AUTO APP modes approaching to land on RWY 34R at the default MS2004 KSEA airport


The following images also demonstrate very acceptable FD and HSI/CDI alignment indications in conjunction with AP and FD HDG and VOR/LOC mode selections ....

HDG mode AP and FD selections


VOR/LOC mode AP and FD selections


The following images again demonstrate very acceptable FD and CDI indications in conjunction with the same selected modes in relation to AP controlled ILS/GS coupled auto approaches to landing on an entirely different airport RWY ....




In addition to the above. I (yesterday) applied "a very minor amendment" to the ENGINE STARTUP TUTORIALS for our forum located B707 and C-135 manuals (see "SECTION 7.00"/PP7 of both manuals). This's in relation to the location of Engine N2 gauges in both our "B707-320B ADV/C 1970" and "B707-323B ADV/C 1970" (ONLY) panels. This edit "IS NOT" applicable to any of our 1959 or 1965 era B707 panels nor our 1970 B707-700 and E-3D CFM 1970 panels either. When compiling these tutorials I neglected to advise that Engine N2 gauges .... again for our "B707-320B ADV/C 1970" and "B707-323B ADV/C 1970" panels (ONLY) .... are located within the "Engine Gauges" section of the FE sub panel and "NOT" on the main panel as is the case with each of our other B707 panel versions. This omission has now been corrected in both the B707 and C-135 manuals. The B707 panels we offer are each different in regard to "some of" their gauges placements .... and which is an accurate depiction in accordance with references we used to compile each .... although it also needs to be appreciated that the gauge location/s, and type/standard, often differed among these aircraft types in accordance with operator preferences. During the startup process each engine must be spooled-up to precisely N2 20% "prior to" engaging the Fuel Levers for ignition and continued smooth engine spool-up to idle running speed .... or a failed start will likely result. Of course it should now help to know precisely where the Engine N2 gauges are actually located in the 2 above mentioned 1970 version B707 panels .... hence the applied manual editing.

These will likely be the very last edits we ever apply to our B707/B720/C-135 series simulations and their supporting data .... unless we determine anything else may be in need of attention. Some things we can fix .... "easily" .... whilst other things we can't fix so easily or at all .... "for a variety of reasons".

Still more to be added to this thread (other projects) .... and which will be added in due course/as time permits my doing so.

Mark C
AKL/NZ