767 fans,I have read some posts regarding the Go-Flight modules and the ACP compact hardware. It looks like the greater part of you PIC-flyers uses no additional hardware to fly your 767. The reactions to the posts are almost none. Is everyone turning their controls with the mouse?I own an ACP compact (which was quite expensive) and it does not work with PIC. Switching to GoFlight won't help me, these also don't work. The upcoming MCP from Aerosoft Australia can only be used for MCP functions (e.g. no flaps, gear, radios, navs, etc.).The reason might be the programming of the panel by the PIC team. The ACP works fine with other 3rd party panels. I can only hope that there will be a patch for either Go-Flight or Aerosoft's ACP...Which is not likely I presume? It's a shame, I REALY like this aircraft and panel. What triggerd the PIC team to make the patch for the MCP panel from Aerosoft? I once read a post that if the producer sends one piece of their hardware to the PIC team; they would look into the possibilities of a patch?Regards,Theo.

Theo,I'm in the same situation as you are. The ACP compact doesn't like PIC or vice versa. Also with other planes I have troubles with the ACP (this might be due to some hardware conflict). I have reserved a MCP, but .....A fellow Dutchman actually has a MCP and he can't get it to work properly with PIC. And he's not the only one. According to Aersoft's board it might be something that needs some more programming. I'll be seeing him this week (probaly), so I might be able to tell more later this week.Yes, it is a shame, because the Pic panel really asks for some harware addons. The:http://www.itra.de/sim/AirDeutsch/FB2000USB_de.htmcould be something to simulate the FMC (but the layout is not quite what I like; migh be better to rearrange a second keyboard).Kind regards,Stephan Haas

Hello Theo and Stephan,yes, it's realy a shame, that there is no hardware for the best, most complete and the only realistic simulated aircraft for FS2002.Certainly the PIC-team had to program it as an independant program, because FS2002 doesn't have all the functions of an real aircraft and some functions in FS2002 are not realistic programmed. So you can use only native FS-functions and commands in the FS2002.cfg with the standart hardware (eg. throttle, gear, flaps, speed bakes, radios and some other), because this hardware is programmed to use only the native FS commands. All special programmed functions of the 767 PIC do not work with this hardware. So the GF45 and other hardware works for Nav1, Nav2, Comm, Xpndr ... but not for the MCP and other Pic functions.The PIC key assignments for this special functions work only with a normal PC-keyboard. They don't work with key-commands from keyboard-encoders! So you can't use your normal switches of a selfbuild MCP, FMC or overhead panel. The only way to solve this problem, is to use Key2mouse.dll to simulate a mouseclick, when you send a key command or to connect momentary switches to an old keyboard.For this reason I am using my KE72 encoder and Key2mouse for the most PIC-commands in the MCP, overhead and pedestal. My FMC-keyboard is wired to an old keyboard-chip and sends the nomal keys A-Z, 1-9, F1-F12 for LSK's and some other for the FMC-function keys. The keys are converted to mouse-clicks by Key2mouse. So I can use my cockpit, but I have to dispay all the panels at fixed positions on 3 monitors. Certainly this is only the second best solution.The MCP from Aerosoft Australia now only supports the MCP-functions and will support the EFIS and EICAS functons with their hardware. It also supports all native FS functions like gear, flaps, radios ... but not the special PIC functions. With the expansion board it will be possible, to send only non shiftet key-commands from switches. Wether this commands are recognised by the PIC key-interface or not, is still the question. We can only hope, that they will integrate the Pic functions in their software as direct assignable commands and make it possible to use the PIC lights for gear status and all the announciators in the EICAS and the overhead. I'm waiting for my MCP, even if it "only" has the MCP functions. The new patch perhaps gives accsess for other hardware like Goflight to the PIC functions and they could integrate this in their software.But it seems, they are not interested to sell their hardware to the 767 PIC pilots and cockpit builders.I am not a programmer, but I think, a good freeware programmer like Peter Dowson or other people with enough skill could make a working interface to get the commands from switches and encoders working with the pic functions directly without using key2mouse. To get the lights / announciators working is for shure more complicated, for you need some hardware to work with the interface-software, but it should be possible too. Therefore I put all my hope on this people!I think, there are many people, that want to have a real cockpit with working hardware. With 767 PIC we have the software, to build something, that can realy be called a flight simulator, now some companys should give us the hardware (and make much money with this)!!!Regards,

Tony,Well said. One question, one remark:>For this reason I am using my KE72 encoder and Key2mouse for >the most PIC-commands in the MCP, overhead and pedestal. My >FMC-keyboard is wired to an old keyboard-chip and sends the >nomal keys A-Z, 1-9, F1-F12 for LSK's and some other for the >FMC-function keys. The keys are converted to mouse-clicks by >Key2mouse. So I can use my cockpit, but I have to dispay all >the panels at fixed positions on 3 monitors. Certainly this >is only the second best solution. I thought it would be possible to loop a second USB keyboard through the first one. The second could then be modelled as a FMC keyboard. Will have to try later on, since I have spare one lying around.>I think, there are many people, that want to have a real >cockpit with working hardware. With 767 PIC we have the >software, to build something, that can realy be called a >flight simulator, now some companys should give us the >hardware (and make much money with this)!!! I would think the market is rather small. The asking price for the Aerosoft MCP is a hefty one. But I could be wrong.Kind regards,Stephan Haas

Hello Stephan,perhaps it is possible to connect 2 or 3 USB keyboards in a loop or parallel at 2 or 3 USB keyboards. I think, you can also use 1 PS2 keyboard and 1 USB Keyboard at the same time. With the KE72 my encoder is connected to the PS2 port. The normal PS2 keyboard and the FMC keyboard are both connected with a Y-cable and looped through the encoder. This way I have 3 input devices at 1 PS2 keyboard port. It is possible to use 2 or 3 KE72 looped together. This way you have a lot of switches and keys you can program. The MCP from Aerosoft to me seems to be the best hardware now. There is no other complete MCP available. Only the ITRA MCP is similar but it dosen't work with 767 PIC and Projekt Magenta and costs 700 EURO instead of 500 EURO for the Aerosoft MCP. And the Aerosoft MCP has a lot of additional possibilities to connect joysticks, switches, lights, EFIS and EICAS.The Goflight radios are not usable as a real looking MCP and putting together some GF displays and switch units to build an MCP would cost more than 500 EURO and it would not work with 767 PIC. Only the GF166 seems to be a good realistic looking and working solution for the radios in PIC. The EPIC card is the most expensive solution and you need a lot of time and knowledge to wire all parts and program the system. And the EPIC doesn't work with the 767 PIC MCP too.So I think, that the Aerosoft MCP and it's further expansions is the best solution now. Sure the market is still small, but it is growing fast and will become larger in the near future. But only simple to install and simple to use plug and play devices will have a chance.Regards,

Tony, Stephan,I do think the Aerosoft's MCP will be a great addition to our fantastic 767 panel and also ordered it from our friends down-under.The problem is that a number of controls are not simulated by this MCP. These controls ARE simulated in the GoFlight and ACP Compact units:-Flaps-Gear-Communication-Navigation-LightsIt's so handy and realistic to tune your radio's to a VOR using a knob on a control panel... Maybe the MCP will be expanded by modules which have these functions.My ACP is quite useless, flying PIC767 99% of my time :-(Anyone interested in buying it :-)

GoFlight is aware of the problems using their autopilot functions with the PIC and is attempting a fix. Many of the other module functions do work, including all of the functions on the GF-LGT module and the GF-166 radio units. The altimeter and transponder functions on the GF-45 also work as does CRS but heading, speed, altitude and V/S do not work.Many of the switch functions (battery master, avionics master, fuel run/cut) on the GF-T8 do not work. Lights, however, do work. You can also use buttons on the GF-P8 to open and close subpanels (overhead, pedestal, FMC).Actually, for those able to afford it, if the 747MCP works as is intended, combined with some of the GoFlight modules (GF-166, GF-LGT, and some switches for lights) you would have a rather nice setup using the MCP for flight guidance and GoFlight for radios, lights, gear, flaps, and, when needed, elevator trim.GoFlight works a bit better with the DreamFleet 737, especially when not flying in VNAV/LNAV mode (but you don't really need GoFlight to do much when you're in those modes). Heading and Speed on the GF-45 do work when flying with SPD and HDG SEL active. Altidude functions however are not operative on the GF-45.RG

Hi,It's good to here that Go-Flight is aware of the problem.So what you are saying is that the radio functions on the GF-LGT module and the GF-166 radio units DO work with PIC767? Are you very sure, because the Website of Go-Flight does not mention PIC767 at all??That would be great, because heading, speed, altitude and V/S will work with the Aerosoft MCP. Just like you said, we can use the FMC for flight guidance and GoFlight for radios, lights, gear, flaps!! Thanks!Theo

Hi all,I hope I can cheer some of you up who want to use the Aerosoft MCP with the 767PIC.I visited Pete Dowson a couple of weeks ago. Pete has been working with the Aerosoft team with a view to making the MCP work with the 767PIC amongst others. The good news is that the Aerosoft unit is currently working very well with 767PIC although there are a few problems when connected via USB. When using a COM port things work fine. It was a real treat to be able to control the main MCP functions using a real piece of hardware as opposed to clicking with the mouse on the panel. I'm sure these glitches will be resolved soon.The GoFlight radio units will work with the 767PIC. Radio commands remain the same as default aircraft. The perfect solution (and one I am saving up for) is a Aerosoft MCP unit and GoFlight GF-166 units for comms. Other GoFlight hardware should be okay for flaps, gear etc leaving very little to mouse clicks.There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Sounds good, Ray. I am doing very much the same thing... I have some GoFlight stuff already and the 166s are next in the order queue. I have a PFC throttle control unit and quadrant arriving soon and an Aerosoft MCP on order. Do you know what progress is likely on fixing the USB issues with the Aerosoft product? I only ask because the PFC throttles use a comm port and the other is used by the printer so there will be nowt available for the Aerosoft MCP if I wanted to go down that route.Cheers,AndyEGTR

Hi Andy,I don't know the latest situation but I can't imagine that the USB glitches would remain unresolved for too long. The next time I speak to Pete I'll enquire about its progress. Alternatively, you could contact him direct at: [email protected] should make clear that Pete's involvement is because of his FSUIPC interface. He isn't responsible for the USB drivers, the responsibility for which remain with Aerosoft.Cheers,