Sierra ProPilot
PATCH README
V1.2 5/20/98

[1] ADDITIONS INTRODUCED IN THIS PATCH

1. New aircraft - Cessna 172R.

The new C172R replaces the C172 as the default "trainer" plane.

This plane does not have a carb heat knob.

This plane has a fuel pump switch; failing to turn on your fuel pump will prevent your engine
to from starting every time.

This plane has an EGT gauge. 

[3] WHAT THE PATCH FIXES Ver. 1.2

Flight Models / Performance all Aircraft
1. Normal glides can now be performed with no increase in airspeed.
2. Excessive climb rates obtainable at high airspeeds have been corrected.
3. Vy climb performance has been improved.
4. Pitch attitude relationship with flight path has been improved.
5. One-engine out performance for multiengine aircraft has been improved.
6. Differential power for multiengine taxiing has been added.
7. Baron/KingAir engine out yaw is the wrong way. I.e. left engine out gives right yaw!  Fixed
   Note: in order for the SIM to exhibit yaw due to one engine being off, or running at low power, one must have the auto-coordination off.  If not the auto-coordination corrects for the yaw before the pilot ever sees it.
8. Stalls/spins seem quite unrealistic. Fixed
9. Planes seem to have very little friction on the ground, just keep rolling. Fixed
10. Ground steering is pretty useless. Fixed
11. If you carry out steep turns (60 degrees) the aircraft just slide slips into the ground. Fixed
12. During low speed taxiing the King Air and Citation slide sideways. Fixed
13. You can climb above the aircraft maximum service ceiling with no problem. Fixed
14. There appears to be no drag associated with the gear. Fixed
15. There seems to be a constant left drift on all the aircraft flight models. Fixed

    Instruments / Controls all aircraft

16. Switching views in a multi-engine aircraft no longer causes right throttle to 'pop' off and return to position
17. Autopilot has improved pitch and heading control.
18. Constant airspeed aircraft have improved modeling of throttle, prop pitch, and mixture controls.
19. Prop aircraft can be started even when mixture is fully weak/cut, unless you first "touch" the mixture control with your mouse. Fixed
20. Flaps operate even though the electric master switch is off. Fixed
21. Throttle/pitch/condition levers are too slow to operate/move for realism. Fixed
22. Engines will continue to run with magnetos turned off. Fixed
23. When reconnecting engine controls ("Alt L") the engine levers move out of line. Fixed
24. The left engine throttle moves the left and right hand manifold pressure, EGT, and RPM gauges. Fixed
25. The right hand throttle moves both the left and right hand fuel flow gauges, but has no other effect what so ever. Fixed
26. When the engines are synchronized the right hand engine RPM is higher causing yaw. Fixed
27. Auto pilot non-operation with joystick use. Fixed
28. Autopilot heading hold does not always hold the bug setting exactly. Fixed
29. Instrument panel ammeters move up (Charging), but never show discharge. Fixed
30. Sometimes altimeter sub scale will not change setting using mouse control to correct numbers. Fixed
31. The Bonanza and Baron manifold/RPM settings/ratios are unrealistic. Fixed
32. Temperature indicator does not change with altitude. Fixed

    NAV / COMM / ATC

33. The Baron's identifier was spoken incorrectly by the pilot and one of the controllers.  Both of these individuals have been informed of this error and agree to cooperate in the future.
34. The wait time for takeoff has been decreased.
    Note: This will allow you to get clearance to takeoff while other planes are on final, so let's  listen to those controllers and hustle up.  If you are still sitting on the runway when an approaching plane gets cleared for the touch and  go your clearance will be cancelled and you will be told to clear the runway.
35. Distances greater than 100 miles now display correctly on all DME's.
36. VOR-DME reception distance appears to be limited to 41 miles. Fixed

    Misc.

37. Graphic for throttle "flutters" occasionally. Fixed
38. King Air nose wheel taxi/landing lights still visible after gear is retracted, unless turned off in cockpit. If turned off, then turned on and gear extended they do not show unless turned off and on again. Fixed
39. The repair aircraft facility (ESC key) does not work after the patch install. Fixed
40. Sunrise/sunset times appear to be well off the mark in other areas apart from the Pacific Time zone. Fixed
41. In all prop aircraft when you resume a saved flight the propeller is not turning, as if the system thinks the engine is off. You can see this from the external view. Fixed
42. Creating custom startup file "Startup.flt" crashes program. Fixed
43. When trying to restore a saved flight in the Baron, the system hangs with an hourglass and requires a hard boot. Fixed

    Scenery / Weather

44. The runway approach lighting is only on at dawn, dusk or night. They are not visible during the daytime. Fixed
45. Aircraft sit above their shadow on the ground. Tweaked. As good as it's going to get for now.
46. Clouds will still show if set below ground level. Fixed
47. Setting winds has no effect on the planes sometime. IE 50 Kts from 90 degrees, plane still flies same heading! Fixed

    GPS / Flight Planning

48. GPS maps now hold their zoom level when you switch between modes, and when you toggle the GPS on and off
49. In the "Position aircraft" menu, the "Zoom in" button does not always function until after several attempts, then function is ok. Fixed
50. Unable to insert a navigation waypoint in flight planning if a co-located VOR is displayed at the same time. Fixed
51. Planner crashes when setting up certain flights for the Bonanza. Fixed

    Baron
    

    • Flight Models / Performance
52. ART - Baron airspeed indicator now reflects correct markings. (red and blue lines, as well as other markings were off)
53. In the Baron if you stop the left engine in flight, the right hand side engine drops to 500 Rpm. Fixed
54. The cowl flaps in the Baron create an unrealistic amount of drag. Fixed
55. Baron fuel consumption still excessive. Approx. 50galls per hour. Fixed
    • Instruments
56. If engine controls not linked on Baron operating right throttle has no effect on rpm gauge or engine speed sound, only on fuel flow gauge, both left and right! Fixed
57. Baron fuel flow gauges linked even if operating individual engines. Fixed

    KingAir
    

    • Flight Models / Performance
58. Brakes need more friction. Fixed
59. King Air flies right wing down when on autopilot (with no wind set). Fixed
    • Instruments
60. Torque gauges have been recalibrated.
61. Condition levers on King Air do not cycle properly. Only giving two positions, when three are stated, and do not cycle in true sense of the word. Fixed
62. King Air prop reverse thrust does not work properly. Fixed
63. When starting only the left engine on the King Air, the LEFT and RIGHT rpm gauges show movement and visa versa. Fixed
64. King Air pitch levers have no effect on any engine instruments. Fixed

    Citation
    

    • Flight Models / Performance
65. Brakes need more friction. Fixed
66. Cruise speed is low. Fixed
67. There is an exaggerated pitch-up on selection of the first flap detent Fixed
68. There is a large loss of lift/climb performance (as noted on the VSI) on flap retraction in the climb. Fixed
    • Instruments
69. In the Citation if the engines are not linked when the engines are started, right throttle has no effect on any gauges or sound, but the aircraft moves. Fixed
70. The speed brake switch on the lower panel does not work or has no discernable effect. Fixed
71. Furthermore, the Mach number read-out on the ASI is sluggish. Fixed
72. Citation gear lights (green, locked down) only work once while flying unless you switch to outside view and back again. Fixed

1. Basically, this patch reflects current ATC phraseology and nomenclature as well as making it an easier, more valuable tool for the ProPilot Captain.
2. Specifically addressed was a problem of ATC "over-vectoring" the pilot. The new patch has enabled more direct routing for our pilots to the approach and landing sequences.
3. Also, while on a flight plan, this patch allows ATC to "step-down" pilots to allow smoother transitions from the enroute phases of flight to the landing phases.

1. Basically, this patch reflects current ATC phraseology and nomenclature as well as making it an easier, more valuable tool for the ProPilot Captain.
2. Specifically addressed was a problem of ATC "over-vectoring" the pilot. The new patch has enabled more direct routing for our pilots to the approach and landing sequences.
3. Also, while on a flight plan, this patch allows ATC to "step-down" pilots to allow smoother transitions from the enroute phases of flight to the landing phases.

1. Basically, this patch reflects current ATC phraseology and nomenclature as well as making it an easier, more valuable tool for the ProPilot Captain.
2. Specifically addressed was a problem of ATC "over-vectoring" the pilot. The new patch has enabled more direct routing for our pilots to the approach and landing sequences.
3. Also, while on a flight plan, this patch allows ATC to "step-down" pilots to allow smoother transitions from the enroute phases of flight to the landing phases.

Aircraft
1. Exaggerated over-banking tendency with banks greater than 30 degrees have been reduced.
2. Bonanza fuel selector, right fuel selection no longer drains fuel from both tanks.
3. Fuel consumption of all a/c have been improved for accuracy.
4. Excess ballooning effect when applying flaps (especially first notch of an a/c), has been adjusted in all a/c.
5. Attitude indicator's miniature airplane is no longer 1-degree pitch up when straight-and-level with a/c using an EADI, (B200 and 525CJ).
6. Trim wheel jitters with A/P ALT HOLD engaged has been smoothed out.
7. Trim adjustment for joystick; due to excess input with repeat, the smallest trim adjustment using joystick control was 2-3 times as great as using the keyboard and has been corrected.
8. Trim command effect can now be defined in the [Aircraft] section FLIGHT.INI for each a/c by assigning the ini variable names: "172Trim=", "V35=", "B58=", "B200=", and "525CJ=". Values can range from 1 to 32. The best way to create this entry is to run the program, then open the ini and enter the values (you will not see the field until you run the flight.exe once).
9. Excess tachometer values for the V35 and the B58, with throttle at idle has been corrected.
10. Speed brakes on Citation jet have been reduced in effect (about 50%).
11. Takeoff acceleration for all a/c is more appropriately modeled.
12. Rolling friction for all a/c is more appropriately modeled.
13. P-factor/slipstream effects are effective (with auto-coordination off).
14. Prop RPM on B200 is no longer entirely dependent on prop lever position.
15. N1 and N2 gauges now reflect spool-up and spool-down on the B200 and 525CJ.
16. Landing bounce has been dampened.
17. Excessive pitch up tendency when reaching airspeed at which elevator begins to lose effectiveness has been eliminated.
18. Wind milling effects engine rpm and is reflected on tachometer, with engine either on or off on prop a/c.
19. A feathered prop on either the B58 or B200 will now reduce drag, thus helping to eliminate the "yaw" of a "dead" engine, or the drag of two "dead" engines.
20. Vmca and Vyse are modeled more accurately on the B58 and B200.
21. Lift and drag characteristics in a/c have been improved in steep banks over 60 degrees.
    
    Navaids
22. Low altitude VOR's range over 18,000 ft is now domed to 19,500 if a/c is within 40 nm; whereas a terminal VOR's range is now domed to 13,500 if a/c is within 25 nm.
23. European waypoints are now displayed on GPS.
    
    Visuals
24. Propeller visual for the King Air B200: right propeller now rotates clockwise, not incorrectly in a counter-rotating fashion.
25. Spinning propeller after shutdown in the V35 and left-engine on the B58, if the prop advance for the appropriate engine was not positioned at full pitch, now stops.
26. Baron, and King Air prop animations can now be feathered with prop lever.
27. Nose-down camera rotation effect accompanied with braking with a high throttle setting now only occurs with the forward cockpit view active.
    
    Sound
28. Stall warning is no longer a pulsing intermittent sound, toggling off and on incorrectly, but is now a constant sound, given that the stall warning is active.
29. Changing prop pitch on the King Air now has a discernable effect on sound.
30. Bonanza warning horn sounds if the throttle is retarded below 12 in Hg manifold pressure with landing gear retracted.
31. Baron warning horn sounds if the landing gear are retracted and either or both throttles are retarded below 20 in hg. This warning is disabled if airspeed is above 119 knots. With flaps full the warning horn will sound regardless of airspeed and throttle position if the landing gear are not down.
32. King Air warning horn sounds with flaps in Up or APR and N1 below 80% or flaps full and landing gear are up
33. Citation master warning occurs if gear are down or flaps extended and airspeed is over 186 knots; or if gear are up and airspeed is under 110 knots; or if flaps are fully extended and airspeed is greater than 161 knots; or if flaps are partially extended and airspeed is greater than 200 knots; or if flaps are on GND in flight, or on the ground and N1 is greater than 85%.
34. Artificial autopilot disengage warning sound has been removed, thus eliminating the five-second delay for the autopilot to disengage.