I was led to this aircraft on another forum and it is free, flies great, and is adaptable to the GNS 430.  If you haven't tried it, I think it is worth the time (and certainly the money).  Nice, great handling, quiet, jet that cruises in the 330 range.  Also, it has great artwork.

 

http://forums.x-plane.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=18661

 

Do I like it?

 

Pretty much!

 

John

Agree ! It's a very nice IFR platform. Some instructions as to how to navigate around the various functions of the glass cockpit would be nice, but I'm getting there by trial and a lot of error!

The GNS 430 can be activated quite easily in Plane Maker, but it does have a little trick.  Just pay close attention to the message telling you that you cannot do it and it will lead you  right to the solution.

 

I also took a Sounds/contact sounds folder from an aircraft that doesn't have the "screeching" tire sound and plopped it into the main folder (the Eclipse 550 does not come with a "sounds" folder) and got nice rolling and other sounds.

 

These two things make this aircraft as good as most payware.

 

John

I've had this plane since its initial release... one of my first addons since getting into XP last year....  it's good but some things bug me...

 

Unless I've overlooked it I cannot for the life of me get a NAV2 bearing on the EHSI....  and by that I mean I can see NAV1 and the CDI etc but I'd like to get a RMI needle similar to the ADF (just not ADF)....  I've posted on the org to see if someone can help or maybe the author never developed it that way....  Handy for IFR for sure.

 

Could you provide detailed instructions on how to get the new GNS430 working?  I never could figure it out.

I'm old, but will try to remember the steps.

 

When you open Plane Maker and load the subject aircraft

1. Open the "Standard" tab at the top

2. Open "systems" from the list

3. In the FMS/GPS block, try to move both selections to "use modern ....." (Here you will probably get an error message - write the contents down - you will need them in the next step)

4. Go back to the "Standard" tab and select "panel 3-D"  If you have never been here before, look around a little and at the bottom of the screen, you will see the two GPS units.  I knew that the co-pilot one worked, but would not take over the NAV function, so I wanted to get the right side (co-pilot) one to the left.  Thinking back, I probably didn't have to do that.  When you click on either of the units, they will be highlighted with a yellow block and a list of stuff comes up on the right side.  I found that after moving things around, it still wouldn't work and went back and read the error message.  When I went back to the "panel...." screen, I saw the information that was mentioned in the error message as one of the entries and merely deleted it and things worked.  If you move the GPS units, note the exact location in the position blocks at the bottom of the screen, so you don't end up with one on the windshield!

5. Go back to the "Standard" tab and select "systems" and move both buttons to the top.

6. Go back to the "Standard" tab and select "panel 3D" and highlight the right side GPS unit and make sure the Co-Pilot block is checked at the very bottom of the screen.

7. Save your work and start flying.

 

Hope this antique brain remembered well enough to fix it for you and any others who might be wanting to do the same.

 

John