FS9/FSX. Second part of our "evolution" test. The FMC under scrutiny. A few months ago, a french developer who worked on the original Feelthere CRJ and Airbus, programmed an update (a pretty expensive one as a matter of fact) to improve navigation reliability.../..
I am not coming back on the included features (see older posts on "evolution") but i tested it, during a Guatemala city - Toncontin flight with the following flight plan ;
CANAL2 LAGOX A552 LEPAX TNTGuatemala city scenery, Latin VFR, FS9 and FSX.
First, SID and STAR programming works perfectly and the good point is that the FMC only shows you SID/STAR applicable to your runway configuration. Transitions are chosen accordingly when its possible. I tested it and it worked. Just noted that i cannot see ToC and ToD, despite all the attention brought to the flight plan. I have no discontinuity, a SID, a STAR, but i just see a lozenge figuring the top of descent.
On the whole, the aircraft follows the path but from times to times it's spacing quite a lot from it. In that case, if two waypoints are too closed, there is a risk the aircraft takes a distorted route. On flight managed mode, for instance, the bank rate seems too small (i know that its a A330-200 though) and as a result, the plane will have to make sudden turn...
In the first version, navaids display was completely jammed. This time, visibility has been enhanced. In the area around the aircraft, each waypoint can be seen distinctly. The pink cloud here is far away from the current route, so no disturbance.
I programmed a hold over Nagel. Technically, the aircraft performed the hold but with some erratic paths. At the beginning, the turn was too steep, then the aircraft resumed a better route. Curious...
I started a second hold at same point as everything was quite right... Once i leave the hold, the aircraft has a very light tendancy to re-enter the hold then abruptly resume its right path. Exit fonction, inbound course heading, everything else is working like a charm.
Conclusion :The FMC upgrade is fixing some bugs and improves the navigation. But i remain suspicious about the aircraft trajectory along the path. I think this should work much more better on the evolution vol.1 as the Airbus 318, 319, 320 and 321 have more "flexibility". The sad thing is that Wilco should had release this upgrade for free a long time ago...
The Airbus evolution has a short spin of life anyway. Awaiting Airbus X V2 and Flight Sim Labs, we might have 6 to 8 months maybe. And after that, this evolution will be past history... unless Wilco dare launch a new Airbus package...
Updated / Made a third flight tonight between KLAS and KSFO and encontered less problem with aircraft trajectory. The longer is the distance between two waypoints, the most accurate is the trajectory...
Updated 02/04 : A fourth flight Munchen Paris de Gaulle / not the slightest problem on the flight plan !
Remember previous post Airbus evolution 1/2
: important to know : all free liveries for Airbus 1 and 2 have been deleted by Feelthere, Wilcopub and McPhat. You will need to find some on your hard disk or some file libraries.Another screen taken this sunday (april 3rd). At last, my weather radar
detects a dangerous storm cloud over Liverpool. It worked !
* the french developer is Eric Marciano. You can find ressourful explanations in his website.
http://emarciano.free.fr/En/index.htm
