One area which I think is completely underevolved in our FS world is the field of FMCs.Several GPS versions already exist, they all more or less resemble their real world counterparts with knobs and some keys. They're pretty perfect for small and even midsized aircraft.But when looking at cockpit pictures and the what avionics manufacturers have to offer, these GPSs alone normally aren't alone especially in bigger aircraft (not as big as an A320, of course!). They're always either replaced or accompanied by some sort of FMC or GNS-X if you like that term more.And that's what I badly miss: some kind of advanced GNS with an alphanumeric keyboard and the possibility of lateral navigation and at least the information to manually fly a vertical path. Bendix King has a more generic model of such a device in its portfolio, and I guess it would even perfectly fit to a C-172!It's clear that full blown FMSs are usually tightly bound to a specific aircraft model, so that to equip one with a generic type would mean to adapt a lot of parameters manually. I suppose such a device to be relatively complicated to develop for FS, but I hope to see one from Reality-XP one day (RXP, read that?).A more generic FMCs on the other hand is even found in F1's ATR, such a thing would be all I wish to have available for other aircraft as well.I wonder if I'm the only one with a demand for such a GNS-X. I guess it would be a big success if somebody would really program one. Imagine the BAE panel project with a full functioning FMC! Or another of your favourite planes such as the B-1900! No more turning knobs on the 530 but entering airways and procedures on the GNS-X!I don't say here that I expect some kind of navigation display with moving map etc. Many aircraft in the real world have an FMS with analog instruments "only"!I for one would pay good money for such a device. Maybe some programmer reads that and reconsiders to do one...Andreas

Yes, we need some payware FMCs. I'm not sure what the deal is as to why there are high fidelity GPS units available, but no FMC units.Jeff

FMC's in their own right are not generic. They are programmed for specific aircraft and even have differences(operator options) between operators of the same type of aircraft. I really can't see having a full functioning generic FMC out there without knowing the performance requirements of the aircraft it's going into. You would end up with a lot of problems just trying to get the same FMC to work, on say, a B-1900, and then try that same FMC on a 737-200. I just think it's a can of worms that, when opened, would cause a lot of grief.GPS coupled to NAV for steering and the pilot controlling Alt. is still the best way to go for those releases that don't include a FMC.Cheers,JohnBoeing 727/737 & Lockheed C-130/L-100 Mechanic

Mathias Lieberecht's RJ panel described over at www.baepanelproject.com has an FMC with some functionality. There are two files for it here in the lib, the latter a fix. I have not installed these yet but perusedthe huge manual. (I use the previous RJ panel.) This entire panel is quite complex with detailed system dependencies and is not crank and fly. I have to look into the FMC yet.As for stored approaches with vertical path guidance, that would take quite a database and it would have to be kept in sync with any terrain affecting add-ons especially mesh. I am aware and have many international approach plates (including US) either on CD or hard copy. While SIDs/DPs and STARS include crossing restrictions and minimum altitudes, what about destinations that only have standard published terminal approaches. Would these also be in an FMC database for VNAV? Of course you should be able to place these in manually. For non-precision approaches (localizer or VOR only) I'm not sure if an FMC does VNAV in terms of localizer or VOR DME altitude points. FMC VNAV may be limited to manually entered points of STAR waypoints to get you to the point of approach vectors given by ATC or enough data to get you to the IAF and ILS intersection of a precision approach.I plan to get one of the published Boeing FMC guides by Make Ray http://www.utem.com/ or another authors site you'll find here: http://www.fmcguide.com/. Of course the actual manual that comes with your FMC in FS with its limitations is the primary resource.Peter Wilding (if I have the name correct), a developer for flight 1, had a recent thread here inquiring about whether users would be interested in an airline dispatcher application that would generate routes based on weather and include cost indexing. It would be nice if a companion FMC existed that could input or use that data.

Reality XP has hinted a FMC may be coming from them, though I have no idea what prototype it might represent or even when to expect it.Tony=http://www.flightsim-bevs.com]

Hi,Several of us have reprogrammed the MS-GPS to give it the looks and functionality of a FMC.The GPS Var's make it possible, with some custom code, to realize pretty real LNAV/VNAV modes and more.With editing of the Flightplans, Notepad!, it is possible to add SIDS, STARS, altitide restrictions and more.So for personal use we have a nice tool.But what do you (input!) expect from a freeware FMC (xml)?May be that some of us are willing to share their "baby" with the community or work together to produce a possibly more sophisticated thing.As an example a bad picture of my FMC with fully functional keyboard etc. and all GPS functions with some vnav.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/127797.jpgJan

Donny AKA ShalomarFly 2 ROCKS!!!Even though it didn't work a lot of times due to bugs, I was impressed with the performance calculating abilities of the FLY II Bendix-King KLN-89 GPS, and miss them. Maybe a simple page where you can input your expected altitude, distance to fly, speed plus desired reserve and it would spit out a number would not actually be so simple to accomplish in a variety of planes, but maybe an "enhanced calculator" where if you know what fuel you usually burn to what altitude you expect to be you can modify it without affecting other parameters, ditto with your expected fuel burn in cruise. A page where you can cross check expected burn with actual remaining etc for all phases would help in the long run with planning. The freeware Avanti has a pretty good fuel panel, so it's possible, there is just no link to the GPS.The ability to create waypoints anywhere in a spontaneous fashion is something I miss from other sims, and would be useful for even GA sightseeing or chopper "rescues".Best Regards, Donny:-wave

Fuel prediction with a Shadin interface? Air Data computer for Xwind components and trip planning? flight planning at will dynamically? adding a waypoint in the database, change the flight plan, reroute it? fly a SID? a STAR? plan your vertical navigation? get all the navaid frequencies?And be able to use it in any aircraft?This sounds like a list of features as found in the real world navigation devices, and of course I know a product that does exactly this, and much more, for FS2004. And there has been a September 2005 AIRAC release lately for it as well!Hope this helps!

>Even though it didn't work a lot of times due to bugs, I was>impressed with the performance calculating abilities of the>FLY II Bendix-King KLN-89 GPS, I confess, I hated the KLN-89 GPS! :D I had been using hand-held Garmin moving map GPS's for years, and the KLN-89 seemed to be going backwards in the limited information it provided. FLY had an excellent sectional map display that showed the position of your airplane on it, much like a moving map does; and thats what I used, rather than the panel mounted GPS.These day's I use a Garmin 296 hand-held, and now think the Garmin 430 & 530's are "primitive", screen wise. My GPS has more resolution, much better defined terrain, many more colors, and can show more information. And the new 396 with XM Satellite weather, is even better. The 430/530's don't have the CPU capacity to show the same info that the 396 hand-held is capable of.Getting off track as to FMC's, but my 296 GPS will easily couple to a two-axis digital gyro A/P and follow the complete route, which can be programmed at home. I've been installing this setup, but I'm slow... :)L.Adamson

Don't look at my 430/530 comments below! :D I was typing & posting before I saw yours. When do we get a Garmin 1000 glass panel? Now that I've used that model, and the Avidyne, it's what I want in flight simulation. Even if it takes a year or two! :D L.Adamson

Donny AKA ShalomarFly 2 ROCKS!!!I'm far from a real world avionics expert, and I have nothing against moving maps (I am partial to the vector map over the sectional FLY II display though I do use it ocasionally). I just was wishing a good panel map display could be combined with help for performance calcs in the sim.Good news about the new FMC project.Best Regards, Donny:-wave

Hi Larry,I too have suffered the frustration of the KLN89B. Fortunately, most of our C172 fleet are now changed out to KLN94's and an MFD; however the availability of training aids (both for FS and from the actual vendor) from BK are lacking, when comparing to the Garmin products. I'm now transitioning to an Arrow for my commercial, which has the 430 on board.Bruce.

I have a 430 on my Piper Dakota, and love it, but, how they heck did those pilots ever get me and my family to Italy (trans Atlantic) back in the 1960s and 70s on those TWA 707s, when all they had, at best, was and old INS, and a basic autopilot? I mean, how did they fly those SIDS and STARS by hand? Well, they did!Ah! I remember, they used these thing called "charts" and "flying skills". ;-)Never forget: Regardless of its use in airliners these days, an FMC is nothing but a cost-saving, labor-saving, money-saving luxury item (the accountants love it!), and any pilot who deserves the license they hold can fly and navigate without one.By the way, the term "luxury item" I heard from someone who uses one in real life, and can also fly / navigate without it; Eric Ernst, a dear friend and the founder of 767 PIC and LDS767. He flies those aircraft for a living.BTW, the FMC in our ATR is NOT "generic", it is a Honeywell unit (same company AVSIM's Tom Allensworth works for), and there is nothing generic about it. ;-)FMC's are certainly welcome these days, but they are not an excuse for one not having basic piloting / navigational skills. In fact, in real life, you will not even be allowed to fly an aircraft with an FMC unless you can first prove that you can do it without one.Let's hope that never changes!Regards,http://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...R_FORUM_LOU.jpg

"FMC's in their own right are not generic."The unit installed on our E-3 is generic, if you're interested, I'll find out some more about it.Jeff

Very true words. Lou :) In fact it was only in my instrument rating that I ever got to think that flying with the GPS wasn't cheating- but actually required (if the aircraft has it, you'd better know how to show the DE how to use it). In all of my IFR pre-qualifying cross-countries (50 hours all VFR) I never used it, and never ever used that auto-pilot thing. But all that changes when you go on instruments, of course. :)Bruce.