Notes on Version 2
Version 2 was going to be a simple gauge upgrade to add sound to all my overhead switches. However, because quite a few people have requested it, I decided to incorporate a VFR panel. The nice thing is, if you don't like these kind of panels, you can continue using the panel in the same way as you have before. It does not impact or change ANY of the functions of the Main Panel. The VFR panel will always remain hidden, and you will never have to worry about it.
Panel Operation
NOTE! When you first start up, the panel will have the pedestal and GPS in view. This was done this way so that when you open the Overhead, the pedestal will be below it, and the GPS will now always be behind the pedestal. Simply click on the pedestal and GPS icons or hotspots to hide them from view so you can get to the main panel.
Here is a shot of the main panel view. A digital trim gauge was added to the main panel for easy trim reference. You can also see the large clickable areas that will toggle the overhead and pedestal. This is in addition to the simicons on the left. You can toggle with either the hotspots or the simicons. New to version 2 is a toggle VFR simicon. This will toggle the main view into the VFR view.
The VFR panel is a very reduced version of the main panel with maximum visibility. The central pillar is gone as well. All the main instruments are not visible in this view, but the autopilot is still complete and fully functioning. To get back to the normal view, simply toggle the same simicon you used to enter VFR view.
On the VFR panel, there is a simicon which only exists in the VFR view and replaces the TCAS button in the simicons section. This simicon toggles some "supplementary" instruments which can be useful for flying in the VFR panel. The supplementary instruments pop up includes an HSI, and digital readouts for IAS, Altitude, Radar Altimiter, and Vertical Speed. Basically, the digital readouts provide almost all of the information you would get from the PFD, and the HSI is full size, making it easy to view all the information.
Note that you can still toggle the GPS, Pedestal and Overhead in the VFR panel view, which makes the VFR view very useful, and not necessarily "crippled". The only functions of the panel which are truly not accessible from the VFR view is the EICAS and TCAS display.
Main Panel Components
The first additional overlay of note in the main view is Eric Marcianno's TCAS Radar gauge. This gauge needs FSUIPC, and the latest version is included in this panel distribution and needs to be installed. This display will show you AI traffic within a 40 mile radius, and has different modes of operation. The different modes are toggled by the buttons just above the HSI. The digital readout below the radar is a digital heading indicator, as the one on the HSI was covered up by the TCAS.
Eric's gauge is truly wonderful, and you will find yourself using it often in crowded spots, and to answer traffic alerts.It shows all the surrounding aircrafts managed by FS2002 AI, and you select an aircraft (your target) by clicking it. The radar will then show information about the target:
- ID (Tail number of flight name)
- Speed (ground speed)
- Altitude in FL (ASL)
- Vertical speed (in feet/minute)
- Distance
Note: To have the best information display, I suggest that you configure FSUIPC to display only the tail number as target ID. To do this, edit FSUIPC.ini (located in your 'Modules' directory) and change the line TCASid=... to TCASid=Tail
Panel Overhead
The next icon toggles the panel overhead. All switches on the overhead work, with only one or two exceptions. There is also a clickable hotspot to close it. The overhead contains over 60 gauges, most of which I've programmed myself, as part of my CPT Toggles collection. Many switches were redesigned and created just for this panel. New to version 2 is the addition of sound to all of the switches (once again thanks to the talents of Bill Morad, who has made sound in XML gauges possible)! In addition, I've added light indicators to the start switches and the fuel control cutoff switches. These lights are coupled with those respective gauges and will operate in tandem.
Rather than try to explain each switch, I have created a graphic which labels all the different functions and switches on the overhead. This is an older screenshot and does not include the new light indicators on it, but they are still there on the overhead. I just didn't feel like redoing this entire graphic just for those, since you don't click them anyway.
A couple of notes on the overhead. Only one of the two exit switches work. I just couldn't figure out how to program a gauge to open more than the first exit, so only the left of the two exit switches actually opens up an exterior exit. The other is a dummy switch, that although it moves, it doesn't do anything. :-)
There is a small bug which may make the sound of the seatbelts and smoking sign switches not play. To fix this, move your cursor to the bottom edge of the overhead panel until it changes to a resizing arrow. Resize the overhead just a pixel or two (you can make it a bit smaller or bigger), and this will force the panel to redraw and reset itself. Sound should be available again on the seatbelt and smoking switches.
The Master Lights switch turns on ALL the lights. You will see this effect when you click it, as all the individual light switches should toggle. The spoiler switch is either spoilers fully deployed, or fully retracted. All or nothing baby. The pause sim switch really does pause the simulator... for when you get that phone call while approaching the inner marker (Why you would have the overhead visible at this point, I'll never know, but I digress). If you have a smoke section in you aircraft.cfg file (there are downloads of this at the libraries), there is a switch which will toggle this on and off. The two autostart switches are linked and duplicate each other.
The master generator switch turns on all the generators at once, for when you're in a hurry to get out of the airport, I guess. The APU is not a "real" APU. The plane will still start without it, but it is there for effect, and so you can follow a proper startup procedure. From a cold cockpit. Turn on the APU (you should hear a humming sound), then switch on your battery. Switch on your generators, then switch on your desired engine fuel cutoff switch and press down the appropriate engine start switch until the engine comes online. The engine indicators will let you know when the engine is ready to go. Repeat as needed. :-) After all engines are started, shut off the APU, turn on the Avionics and you're ready to depart the gate.
Panel Pedestal
The pedestal is much more functional than the default version, and has a few goodies in it. Notice the large click area where you can click to hide the pedestal.
Late breaking news: The pedestal icon has changed since this screenshot, it is now more representative. (You can see it in the Overhead screenshot, BTW) And I've tweaked the hue and saturation so that the throttle and upper graphics all blend in much more seamlessly. You'll just have to download the panel to see. :-)
All of your radios are located here, as well as the throttle quadrant. There is a wind gauge and fuel status gauge, an additional engine monitor, your control surfaces monitors, individual engine fuel flow monitors (in pounds x10) and a clickable ATC control. Here is a detail of the pedestal with all the sections labeled.
The ATC control bears mentioning. This will let you interact with the FS2002 ATC by clicking on the panel instead of using the keyboard. To toggle the ATC, simply click on the ATC button. Then, whatever number choice you wish to select in the ATC window, you click the appropriate button on the ATC control. Simple, elegant, cool. Bill Morad is the genius behind this fine gauge... excellent work Bill.
The fuel status gauge has it's very own documentation. This documentation explains all of it's functions and is by the original author himself. IF you use Windows XP and have Service Pack 1 installed... this gauge may (it will probably) crash the sim and your computer. I've included and alternate panel.cfg file called "panel_XP.cfg" for thos individuals who get a crash. Details are in the readme.
GPS Pop-Up
The GPS is the default FS2002 GPS simply repainted and placed on a suitable bitmap. Not much to say about it. It's the FS2002 GPS. I have positioned it so it "fits" neatly into the right side of the panel, and looks like it's part of the plane. It is resizable and moveable, so if you don't like where I've put it, you can move it somewhere else.
Additional Panel Notes
The clock is the default 747 advanced clock, nothing has been changed about it except the position where it pops up. I have included a local and zulu clock on the overhead too, so there should be no reason to ever arrive late at a destination.
The white circular switch toggles the ROSE/ARC mode of the HSI. The HSI has all the funtions an HSI should have, including DME, Wind, nav identification, etc. The toggle area for this gauge is quite small, but it does exist. Move your cursor to where it says "ROSE" until your cursor changes to a hand icon, you will then be able to click and change modes. Since the HSI is new, and the 747-400 autopilot doesn't have a "COURSE" selector, I've added one to the left of the autopilot. This displays the NAV course and is also clickable for adjusting the course. The EICAS switch toggles between the two EICAS modes available in the gauge. This is the default MS gauge.
Conclusion
This panel is not really meant to be an "exact" replica of a 747-400 panel. It is intended to fill the need for a good 747-400 freeware panel, so that all of us who don't own the PSS panel, or want to spend the copious amount of time needed to learn it, can still have a pretty realistic heavy jet experience. I dare say that I hope that some of the dedicated big iron fliers will appreciate the completeness of this panel, yet welcome its simplicity for those times when you just want to get into your jet and fly.
Although there are many functions and parts to this panel, I think it is easy to learn. I think it strikes a good balance between "feel" and "functionality". I hope you agree and happy flying!
P.S.
Please consult the README.txt that is included with the panel distribution for credits and additional instalation notes.