The Embraer Regional Jets fleet created by X-Crafts have seen another large update today, the fourth of its lifespan beginning in May 2019.
Coming in nine categories, the changelog for v1.3.0 covers almost all areas of the aircraft series, which features five aircraft – the E135, E140, E145, E145XR and Legacy 650 – from the ERJ range.
The primary flight display was the first topic addressed, having the following changes made:
- Airspeed and altitude indicators further debugged and enhanced to more closely represent the real aircraft. Digital displays have been corrected and the overspeed zone modified to adapt to be correctly sensitive to altitude and Mach number.
- Glideslope indicator presence now reactive to source selection as well as NAV radio frequency selection. INOP indications provided when appropriate.
- TO/GA pitch bars now adjust for the correct nose up position and guidance when selected.
- Pitch Limit Indicator (PLI) added to warn of excessive angle of attack and incipient stall conditions.
- Other visual cues and display elements debugged/corrected.
Other cockpit instruments also saw changes, with a blanket statement saying that displays have been ‘updated, revised and debugged’ to be closer to their real world counterparts, and a small fix to the way the aircraft handle changing between metric and imperial measurement systems.
The auxiliary power unit’s indicator on the EICAS has been adjusted to better reflect the real aircraft, in addition to more realism adjustments to start-up and shutdown behaviors. Lastly, APU fuel use is now better reflected on the MFD, exclusively pulling from the right tank.
Aircraft graphics also got a respectable change list in this update, which goes as follows:
- All textures converted to the .DDS file compression format to prepare for X-Plane 11.50.
- Changed popup graphics for the side tabs and the former “Menu” popup to use “Operations” as the title. Better fit for the functions. Corrected a sizing error in the avionics script.
- Librain now supported for all cockpit windows. Users must download and install the librain plugin. This plugin is not recommended for Mac users as it conflicts with our SASL components
Systems could be considered the main drawcard of this update, at least in terms of changelog length, with changes to a bunch of core components. Here’s the full list, combined with the “FMS” section:
- Revised engine startup requirements so that the starter knobs are only briefly turned to the START position (1 to 2 seconds – use 2 to simulate FADEC automated startup.
- Autopilot: SPD, FLC and VS should now properly replace either of the other two vertical modes if changed during a climb.
- Autopilot: FLC now anticipates the change to ALT HOLD earlier.
- Three new thrust reverse commands added (use these instead of X-Plane commands to ensure synchronization with the throttles)
- Updated the “engines running” and “in flight” initializations automatically set the bleeds and packs to ON. This should eliminate pilots passing out inadvertently (fade to black).
- AviTab and AUD tabs added to expand available functionality. AUD is a convenient control panel for all audio functions of the COM and NAV radios.
- Added control that allows the user to switch between landscape and portrait
- TOD logic completely rewritten.
- VPI logic completely rewritten.
- Added new data entry flow “links” to the the FMS pages so that entering a flight plan takes less navigation hassle.
- Updated color coding of FMS page navigation text. Navigation is (mostly) light grey, with action items remaining white. Flight plan data entry flow coded green.
- Revised various parts of the procedure waypoints selection to correctly provide procedures available in certain airports. Also improved waypoint selection to be certain of getting the nearest ICAO of a given navtype when duplicate ICAO’s exist.
- Corrected visual departure and arrival fixes for non-SID and non-STAR procedures so that they will line up better with the runway – dependent on magnetic variation accuracy.
- Added automatic edit of waypoint altitudes later in the FLT PLAN to match a cruise altitude entry update. This only applies when editing established waypoints.
- Revised the flight plan loading sequence to better merge SID/ROUTE/STAR waypoint lists.
- OAT now calculating correctly for all altitudes.
- TRS indication restored to PERF 2.
- Corrected PROGRESS page time and distance readouts. Rewrote ZULU time code to correct timing issues.
- Removed CRZ ALT MISMATCH warning.modes – rotating in either clockwise or counter-clockwise directions.
Lastly, some more general changes catering to sound, clickboxes and other miscellaneous items. The autopilot can now be switched on whilst on the ground, some changes were made to the No Smoking and Fasten Seatbelts signs, fixed a model glitch on the E135 and adjustments were made to manipulators regarding reverse thrust and autopilot knobs.
Additionally, all of the aircrafts’ FMOD sound packs received a new volume control box and a menu item has been added which disables the overspeed warning. A “Hide Easter Eggs” option has also been added, which removes fun aspects like humourous warning placards, graffiti and a “Golden Ticket” hidden in the cockpit.
Also debuting today, a special deal for owners of a single ERJ craft – you can now buy the whole fleet, of five aircraft, for the price difference of just $40 USD. You can find the discount code required next to your activation code on the store order.
Lastly, an update to their other Embraer offering – the E-Jets. These are now on sale, with $10 off both individual aircraft and $15 off the bundle, containing both the E175 and E195.
To update, either re-download the aircraft from your store account or run the Skunkcrafts Updater, though the developer recommends the former due to the size of the package.
Alternatively, purchase the full package of five aircraft for $89.95 USD from the X-Plane.org Store here. Aircraft can also be bought individually.