IndiaFoxtEcho has released another new update for the F-35 Lighting for Microsoft Flight Simulator, just a few weeks after their previous update in May.
The developer says on their Facebook page that this updated version 1.3.4 is the product of many months of work and is primarily aimed at “improving the realism and fidelity of the aircraft systems”.
The headline feature of this update is a complete rework of the aircraft’s navigation system, the panoramic control display. This rework has added more functionality to the instrument and made it easier for the IFT to continually add to and improve on it in the future.
The team acknowledged that some of the changes made in the update may be “controversial”, since although everything has been done with a view to improving realism, some changes will make the aircraft more difficult to handle.
Among such changes are those to the autopilot. This is now an almost exact replica of the real system, and so some functions which are not available in the real aircraft’s PMD/DR page like autopilot master and autothrottle arm have been removed from that page. These features are now found instead within the FCS page (for autopilot), whereas the autothrottle arm will now trigger if SPD HOLD or SPD SEL modes are engaged. The autopilot now also has realistic engage and disengage limit criteria.
The aircraft will now switch to manual trim when the gear is selected down, again in keeping with the real plane. Nose wheel steering will now also have to be toggled manually by the pilot.
Users not wishing to opt into these more realistic but complex operations will be pleased however to find that a lot of this new logic can be reversed through options within the aircraft’s PMD/DR page.
Summarising, IFT admits frankly that they are not yet happy with the F-35 and that the project will continue to be worked on, however, this update represents a big step forward.
A full changelog is contained below:
• Major rework of the navigation system
• Major rework on ICAWS (more messages, EFI/HUD integration, acknowledgement option)
• TACAN and ILS/VOR now have separate course lines
• Added proper CDI functionality
• Reworked fuel system and tankage on all variants
• Reworked engine anti-ice system
• Added option to control HMD visor position
• Adjusted external camera position
• Fixed bug preventing correct TFLIR and DAS imagery below 100ft ASL.
• Nose Wheel Steering code rewritten: NWS HI and NWS LO settings are now available.
• Removed Asobo effects and replaced with custom vapor effects
• Primary Flight Display (See detailed changelog within Orbx Central)
• Flight Control System (See detailed changelog within Orbx Central)
• Autopilot (See detailed changelog within Orbx Central)
• Cockpit (See detailed changelog within Orbx Central)
• Geometry and Art (See detailed changelog within Orbx Central)
• Liveries (See detailed changelog within Orbx Central)
• Sound Package (by ECHO19) (See detailed changelog within Orbx Central)
The IndiaFoxtEcho F-35 for Microsoft Flight Simulator can be purchased now from the Orbx Direct platform, as well as on SimMarket and the in-sim Marketplace.
