4 hours ago, jon b said:

On THURSDAY in a move contrary to current trends I’m having all the LCD screens ripped out of my Lancair Legacy and having them replaced with lovely round analogue gauges! 😉

It improves the CG, so it’s the only sensible thing to do. 😎

1 hour ago, jon b said:

Yeah I’ll probably go with the analog panel with the 750/650 garmin stack in the central column like in those photos above, best of both worlds and looks gorgeous (to me)

I read that they were looking at doing analog engine instrumentation but are sticking with those digital displays now, which again I think look really nice.

I’m looking forward to this panel, I was up at dusk doing circuits in the legacy last night and it flies so nicely, it’ll be great with dials ( the way nature intended)

Don't forget to land it on a grass strip too lol

8 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

Don't forget to land it on a grass strip too lol

Oh I will , it’ll probably be based out of here……🙂 although I never feel 100% confident operating retractable gear off of grass.

Burning Blue Design

Netherthorpe Airfield - Burning Blue Design

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34 minutes ago, jon b said:

Oh I will , it’ll probably be based out of here……🙂 although I never feel 100% confident operating retractable gear off of grass.

Burning Blue Design

Netherthorpe Airfield - Burning Blue Design

Burning Blue Design is extremely proud to release our latest product for Microsoft Flight Simulator, Netherthorpe Airfield (ICAO code: EGNF). Recreated by Burning Blue Design undertaking on-site visit

True, I think sometimes these kinda planes are a bit tough for grass strips lol

39 minutes ago, jon b said:

although I never feel 100% confident operating retractable gear off of grass.

6 minutes ago, ryanbatc said:

True, I think sometimes these kinda planes are a bit tough for grass strips lol

I’d be fascinated to know the general parameters, realizing that each field’s surface is going to be at least slightly different.

I think back to the warbirds and such, but they had much larger wheels, and the whole taildragger thing…

But hey, in FS24, a Comanche is quite the capable bush plane 😂

Edited Tuesday at 05:48 PM3 days by UrgentSiesta

Many years ago I flew a Cessna 172 cutlass in and out of ALAs -approved landing areas in the outback of Western Australia. ALAs could be anything and anywhere as long as they met certain obstacle criteria. I used to go into some fairly rough landing strips , and the cutlass has got the most spindly retractable undercarriage imaginable, it looks like a mosquito with its legs trailing down.

Anyway, the cutlass survived the abuse, so I guess most things are stronger than you’d imagine.

1 hour ago, jon b said:

Many years ago I flew a Cessna 172 cutlass in and out of ALAs -approved landing areas in the outback of Western Australia. ALAs could be anything and anywhere as long as they met certain obstacle criteria. I used to go into some fairly rough landing strips , and the cutlass has got the most spindly retractable undercarriage imaginable, it looks like a mosquito with its legs trailing down.

Anyway, the cutlass survived the abuse, so I guess most things are stronger than you’d imagine.

🙏

I’d probably be most worried about sticking the nose gear, or MUD!!!

I’ve seen quite a few dirt roads turn practically impassable after a decent rain or esp snow.

Well, I have been nothing but positive about the FSW Legacy since release and have had zero complaints .....

but.... I'm going to have a moan :-

I'm very disappointed to see that FSW have taken the easy option and used the default KAP140 autopilot in the analogue Legacy. Not because I don't like it, but because you won't find a single KAP140 in any Legacy in the world.

Why? Because it's a certified unit and no-one puts a certified autopilot into an experimental plane. No-one! You don't pay thousands in certification and STC costs when an uncertified / experimental autopilot (often with more features) will often cost 80% less!!!

So go on - test my claim.... see if you can find any evidence via Google, of a Legacy anywhere in the world with a KAP140 fitted. There are none!

The KAP140 operating supplement states :-

This product is warranted wholly within the scope of it's certification for the aircraft to which it is installed as OEM or as part of a supplemental type certificate. Installation of the Bendix/King KAP140 into aircraft outside approved, certified models will void any and all warranties and may lead to unexpected or dangerous operational results.

So yeah, you will not see a KAP140 in a Legacy.

There are a whole raft of experimental autopilots available for experimental aircraft. TS Electronics make a number of them (incuding the unit fitted into Austin Meyer's Lancair Evolution). Garmin even have an experimental branch of autopilots, including the GFC500-X. Bendix King offer the xCruze 100 and Trio Avionics offer the Pro-Pilot and EZ-Pilot. Many of these have the same features of the default MSFS core autopilot, so from a development standpoint, it doesn't require a custom-coded unit - just a graphical 'mask' that links to the standard LVARs.

The experimental Bendix-King xCruise 100 provides the same features as the KAP140; Hdg sel, GPSS, Alt hold and preselect and Vertical speed.

Perhaps some may not be bothered about this? I am hugely interested in avionics (and autopilots in particular) and appreciate that not everyone else will be. But still - isn't fitting a completely inappropriate AP into a detailed, modelled aircraft a bit like creating a beautiful Lancair Legacy, then aliasing the sounds the default C172? 🤨🤔

Edited Tuesday at 11:13 PM2 days by JYW

4 hours ago, JYW said:

Well, I have been nothing but positive about the FSW Legacy since release and have had zero complaints .....

but.... I'm going to have a moan :-

I'm very disappointed to see that FSW have taken the easy option and used the default KAP140 autopilot in the analogue Legacy. Not because I don't like it, but because you won't find a single KAP140 in any Legacy in the world.

Why? Because it's a certified unit and no-one puts a certified autopilot into an experimental plane. No-one! You don't pay thousands in certification and STC costs when an uncertified / experimental autopilot (often with more features) will often cost 80% less!!!

So go on - test my claim.... see if you can find any evidence via Google, of a Legacy anywhere in the world with a KAP140 fitted. There are none!

The KAP140 operating supplement states :-

So yeah, you will not see a KAP140 in a Legacy.

There are a whole raft of experimental autopilots available for experimental aircraft. TS Electronics make a number of them (incuding the unit fitted into Austin Meyer's Lancair Evolution). Garmin even have an experimental branch of autopilots, including the GFC500-X. Bendix King offer the xCruze 100 and Trio Avionics offer the Pro-Pilot and EZ-Pilot. Many of these have the same features of the default MSFS core autopilot, so from a development standpoint, it doesn't require a custom-coded unit - just a graphical 'mask' that links to the standard LVARs.

The experimental Bendix-King xCruise 100 provides the same features as the KAP140; Hdg sel, GPSS, Alt hold and preselect and Vertical speed.

Perhaps some may not be bothered about this? I am hugely interested in avionics (and autopilots in particular) and appreciate that not everyone else will be. But still - isn't fitting a completely inappropriate AP into a detailed, modelled aircraft a bit like creating a beautiful Lancair Legacy, then aliasing the sounds the default C172? 🤨🤔

Given FSW’s value prop (particularly with this Swiss Army knife addon), I don’t think it’s material to the experience. 🤙

Curated, custom avionics are more in Black Square’s wheelhouse, but OTOH you also get far fewer configuration options with them.

Perhaps we’ll see something more apropos in A2A’s pending rendition…?

29 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Perhaps we’ll see something more apropos in A2A’s pending rendition…?

Edited Wednesday at 04:32 AM2 days by St Mawgan

25 minutes ago, St Mawgan said:

Is A2A doing a custom AP?

53 minutes ago, UrgentSiesta said:

Perhaps we’ll see something more apropos in A2A’s pending rendition…?

As per St Mawgan's pic, A2A have modelled the perfectly appropriate TS Electronics unit; an experimental AP that is found in many recent build Legacies.

Looks like I'll be flying the FSW G3X version and the A2A analogue - for realism and immersion 😎

A KAP140 in a Legacy to me, is like having a Boeing 737 MAX with a Garmin GFC500 autopilot on the panel 😄 It's too much of a diversion from reality.

Edited Wednesday at 04:50 AM2 days by JYW

3 hours ago, JYW said:

A KAP140 in a Legacy to me, is like having a Boeing 737 MAX with a Garmin GFC500 autopilot on the panel 😄 It's too much of a diversion from reality.

No you’ve gone and spoilt it 😂

I love your enthusiasm for avionics, and you have a valid concern in my view, have you mentioned it to FSW ?

11 hours ago, JYW said:

Well, I have been nothing but positive about the FSW Legacy since release and have had zero complaints .....

but.... I'm going to have a moan :-

I'm very disappointed to see that FSW have taken the easy option and used the default KAP140 autopilot in the analogue Legacy. Not because I don't like it, but because you won't find a single KAP140 in any Legacy in the world.

Why? Because it's a certified unit and no-one puts a certified autopilot into an experimental plane. No-one! You don't pay thousands in certification and STC costs when an uncertified / experimental autopilot (often with more features) will often cost 80% less!!!

So go on - test my claim.... see if you can find any evidence via Google, of a Legacy anywhere in the world with a KAP140 fitted. There are none!

The KAP140 operating supplement states :-

So yeah, you will not see a KAP140 in a Legacy.

There are a whole raft of experimental autopilots available for experimental aircraft. TS Electronics make a number of them (incuding the unit fitted into Austin Meyer's Lancair Evolution). Garmin even have an experimental branch of autopilots, including the GFC500-X. Bendix King offer the xCruze 100 and Trio Avionics offer the Pro-Pilot and EZ-Pilot. Many of these have the same features of the default MSFS core autopilot, so from a development standpoint, it doesn't require a custom-coded unit - just a graphical 'mask' that links to the standard LVARs.

The experimental Bendix-King xCruise 100 provides the same features as the KAP140; Hdg sel, GPSS, Alt hold and preselect and Vertical speed.

Perhaps some may not be bothered about this? I am hugely interested in avionics (and autopilots in particular) and appreciate that not everyone else will be. But still - isn't fitting a completely inappropriate AP into a detailed, modelled aircraft a bit like creating a beautiful Lancair Legacy, then aliasing the sounds the default C172? 🤨🤔

I hear you. I'm a sucker just like you 😁 I don't understand why some developers don't go that extra mile. Talking about the digital Legacy, it seems weird the secondary radio is linked to the battery instead of the avionics master, but maybe this is true to life...