24 June 2022
The first releases in Black Square's upcoming Steam Gauge Overhaul series for default Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft will be the Analog Caravan and Analog King Air.
These new study-level add-ons will include completely new interiors and panels with 'steam' gauge (analogue) instrumentation and swappable radio configurations, each modelled and coded with extreme attention to detail and based on a specific piece of real-world equipment.
Each aircraft features a completely new and fully realized electrical system made with custom software tools, for which every circuit breaker can be pulled, and each will have consequences. As well as small aerodynamic improvements and a custom weather radar, the aircraft will feature the first complete simulator implementation of a KNS-80 RNAV Navigation Computer to test your pre-GPS radio navigation skills. If you prefer to fly with more modern conveniences, you will also be well accommodated with a swappable GTN 750 (PMS50 or TDS GTNxi) and GNS 430/530.
The Steam Gauge Overhaul aircraft have been developed by a real pilot and aircraft owner seeking to bring extreme realism to MSFS for those who historically enjoy the complexity of airliners, but who have come to appreciate lower altitude flying in MSFS. These aircraft were designed to satisfy serious simmers who expect nearly every word of the real aircraft's operating handbook to apply to its simulation and are all well equipped for the most demanding IFR flying.
The aircraft are compatible with all existing livery mods for the default aircraft and make use of their excellent 3D sound packages. The original default aircraft will always be available to fly, unaffected by the new Steam Gauge Overhaul add-ons. Installation is simple and seamless.
Listed below are some of the highlights of the Steam Gauge Overhaul series - for a list of all the included avionics and equipment, see the information on the Analog Caravan and Analog King Air pages, where you can also download the extensive PDF operating manuals.
-
Completely new interior and panel for the default MSFS aircraft, featuring analogue instrumentation, swappable radio configurations and an overhauled electrical system with every circuit breaker, bus, meter, switch and knob functioning.
-
Custom-coded steam gauges with low-pass filtering, needle bounce and physics to provide ultra-realistic and silky smooth animations like you’ve never seen before.
-
Carefully modelled components match the depth and character of the real-world instruments, based on reference photos, schematics and real world measurements. Every piece of equipment is modelled after a real piece of aircraft equipment and will behave the same way in its primary functionality.
-
Every knob, switch and button is interactable, along with its respective electrical circuitry. Turn systems on and off or pull circuit breakers to see the impact it has on your generators and battery via the analogue meters. Automatic load shedding and standby generators are also simulated. Many pieces of equipment respond correctly to electrical configurations with warning messages and diagnostic codes.
-
Fully 3D cockpit lighting technology for every gauge and panel, with ambient bounce lighting for a more immersive night-time experience.
-
Improved turbine dynamics (ITT, TRQ, Ng, Fuel Flow, Inertial Separator), battery charging circuitry and AC inverters.
-
Selective state saving for radio selection, radio frequency memory, cabin aesthetics and other settings.
-
Engine limit excursions that decrease engine health and will eventually lead to failure.
-
Crew/Passenger oxygen system that depletes according to pressure altitude, passenger occupancy and the biological demand of each passenger based on weight.
-
Dozens of checklists with hundreds of items for normal, abnormal and emergency procedures in textual form, and in-game, using the MSFS native checklist system with control and instrument highlighting. If it’s in the checklist, it can be set in the aircraft!
