Has anyone noticed Reality XP's ST 3400 TAWS gauge addon? Ive read very little about this gem! Maybe I missed a major discussion of it, if I have, ignore this post! Ever since the dawn of MSFS, no matter the version, the inability to know if you're going to crash into a mountain in the middle of poor visibility or night in mountainous terrain has been a thorn, well, I assume in everyone's side. I dont know how many times because native FS9 ATC and other would be addon ATC's really cannot deal with terrain issues, I have crashed into mountains, say around Las Vegas for instance. You might say Im a lousy pilot, maybe I am and that I dont know how to use approach charts, well....... I'm not about to get into those impossible items, I dont care for that kind of immersion. All Im saying is that Reality XP's ST 3400 TAWS has changed all that!! Has nobody noticed?? That little relatively inexpensive gauge reads terrain elevation like a champ! for 20+ miles in ANY direction. I have navigated in near zero visibility through very dangerous mountain valleys (the Cascades north of Mt.Rainier in the State of Washington via the MegaScenery addon) safely with that 3400 TAWS gauge. THe thing installs and runs flawlessly.In my opinion, this gauge IS THE addon of at least the year, at the least in the gauge category of things. And, if there isnt a "gauge" category of thing of the year, maybe there should be. The degree of enhancement to flying the Sandel has introduced simply cannot go unnoticed!!!!Randy Jura, KPDX

Good job on this post. I enjoyed reading it. I've also slammed into the mountains around Vegas more than once following FS9 ATC at night.This gauge sounds promising. I'm going to check it out.Thanks. flyking

Yes, RXP did a great job modeling the ST3400 TAWS/RMI. You have to see this in action to appreciate how good this is. Another RXP modeled gauge deserving high praise is the SN3308 EFIS with moving map.I've noticed that the RXP user's files page has been updated and is now organized by gauge type and combinations - now much easier to find retrofits.Ed

I am not knocking the gauge, however, did want to point out that the gauge of all time is a good chart!!! Plus there is a great deal of satisfaction in properly reading a chart and making it too your destination in one piece. Any gauges that add to your situational awareness are a compliment, of course.Mark.

>>>I am not knocking the gauge, however, did want to point out>that the gauge of all time is a good chart!!! Plus there is a>great deal of satisfaction in properly reading a chart and>making it too your destination in one piece. Any gauges that>add to your situational awareness are a compliment, of>course.>Actually IMO, the best gauge is an electronic simulated chart with your "moving" airplane symbol on it. Then back that up with a more detailed paper chart. Again IMO, satisfaction is secondary, should I need "instant" real time information in a second or two.L.Adamson

Bleh, who needs all that modernistic stuff.A compass, a roadmap, and a finger to get the weather (wet->rain, cold->icing) are all a REAL pilot needs ;)

hence, I am not a REAL pilot..........LOL !!!!Randy Jura, KPDX

A real pilot is right, Jeroen. You know you're too close to the mountainsides when you stick your finger out the window and it scrapes against the granite. No need for newfangled electronic gagues.However, if you're flying through the Andes valleys, in swirling mist and darkened clouds, trying to find an unfamiliar unlit airport--under time pressure which allows no go-arounds--then technology may have its place.Pretty noisey gauge, though.Best,Mike

I don't want to cause any more hair loss with a certain fine and noble member of the forum but in my opinion, the Weather Radar guage and not TAWS would get my vote as the best add-on.Mountains are depicted on the charts, T Storms are not. T Storms can be created in minutes, mountains take quite a bit longer. No contest.(-:Jim

I don't want to point out that none of you addressed his point: what is the best gauge of the year - oops, I guess I did ;-DI haven't tried the 3400, but it does look cool. Very hard to find a place for it on a panel though.I give props to the latest RXP GNS 430/530. Works terrific - as I've said before, it actually functions better than the real thing. I have the RXP Sandel 3308 in my DF Baron - it's terrific as well, but I'm not blown away by the real unit like some people are. It is really smooth though.I'd also give honorable mention to the EHSI on the PSS and Wilco addons that shows weather, but I've heard it can be a framerate killer.

>I haven't tried the 3400, but it does look cool. Very hard to>find a place for it on a panel though.The TAWS gauge normally replaces the RMI or VOR2 gauge, as it does this function in addition to the more obvious and noisy buttons. ;-)All but the least complex aircraft have either a VOR2 or RMI in FS, so the 3400 fits well on most panels in my experience.Cheers,Ian P.

>A real pilot is right, Jeroen. You know you're too>close to the mountainsides when you stick your finger out the>window and it scrapes against the granite. No need for>newfangled electronic gagues.If I have a choice as a passenger to fly on a plane that shows the pilots in graphic detail where the mountains are on a color display vs. some psuedo-bravado "real" CDI/RMI/chart method, I think I know which plane I'm flying on. This technology isn't there to diminish piloting skills, it's there to keep people from getting killed.

>>This technology isn't there to diminish piloting skills, it's>there to keep people from getting killed.Technology is there to fail the moment you would have the most benefit from it ;)

>Mountains are depicted on the charts, T Storms are not. T>Storms can be created in minutes, mountains take quite a bit>longer. No contest.However, mountains will seem to vanish in darkness, whiteouts, haze, and of course cloud cover. Can you always gaurantee that you'll avoid these vanishing situations? Sure, if you avoid mountainous flying altogether, fly only on perfect weather days, no night flight, or perhaps fly high enough to use oxygen if the airplane is capable.But in the meantime, pilots are still hitting them during the disappearing acts; especially in the cover of darkness. Ever hear about the flight instructor and IFR student who failed to notice one small 9300' mountain in the way of their IFR night flight? The idea was to fly VFR direct to the first VOR and then while airborne, open their IFR flight plan from there. Somehow, perhaps the fact that it was late, around 9:30 in the evening; they missed paying complete attention to that one mountain outcropping that's surrounded by flatter desert to one side, and a wide valley on the other.Leisurly flying at 8500' msl in total blackness of night, it was WHAM, and they next thing they knew, they were laying in the snow of a pine covered ridge line, luckily with their bodies still in one piece, although the airplane was ripped apart. And until that time, they didn't see anything!Again, happily for them, their cellphones worked, as it was now past 10:00 and below freezing temps.This "doomed" flight was three years ago (or maybe just two). But with our mountain terrain warning GPS, naturally we had to recreate this scenario on the return of a nice daytime cross country to Monument Valley on the Utah/New Mexico border last winter. We set the GPS auto-pilot direct to the VFR with an A/P altitude of 8500' and had our cameras ready :D Obviously, we could see what we'd clobber at that altitude, as you'll see from the included (highly reduced) pics, and "climbed". But on the other hand, the terrain warning GPS did it's thing, and gave ample warning! BTW- notice the sectional on the glaresheild.:)Now, if your an unknowing passenger, would you rather the pilot(s) have onboard terrain warning GPS or not? Considering that pilots are human, and continue to make mistakes!edit: This is ONE of MANY, of my flight into terrain stories......and all are TRUE...L.Adamson

Well, there is a reason why TAWS was mandated on all larger turboprop aircraft this year . . . they do work as advertised.Regarding the panel fit, problem I encounter is not with the 2D panels, but the 3d panels where the designers have made round spaces for gauges. Mostly GA planes mind you.