It’s E-Jet time again, and we’ve got a brand new update for you! We're super excited to bring you this latest version. There's plenty of new stuff to explore, so let's get started!
3D Model
We’ve made some more improvements to the 3D model. For example, the GPU panel now opens when the cable is connected, and we toned down the wear and tear in the cockpit—yeah, we went a bit overboard last time. As requested, we’ve also added and animated the side sunshades. Another new feature is the fan blade animation when the engines are off. Depending on wind speed and direction, the blades now spin accordingly.
Autobrake
Until now, our autobrake system was based on the default Microsoft Flight Simulator logic. Luckily, we were provided with new data from the real aircraft, which showed significant differences compared to the simulator's results. So, we’ve implemented a completely custom autobrake logic. It now not only uses the correct braking forces but also includes a 2-second delay after touchdown (thanks to the wow sensor), just like the real thing.
APU Logic
We’ve done a lot of work on the APU in this update. First off, we now simulate the APU EGT (exhaust gas temperature) based on outside temperature and density altitude. This simulation doesn’t just apply to the first flight but continues throughout the entire session. So, if you’re doing a 20-minute turnaround, the APU might not be fully cooled down. We had access to data from the real system for this as well. Thanks to FADEC, the APU start is automatically managed, so you won’t end up in an overheat situation. We’ve also corrected the displays on the ELEC page in the MFD for various situations.
Single Engine Taxi
There are a few special details for single-engine taxi. For example, when you shut down the right engine, Hydraulic Sys 2 Pump turns off. However, this pump is responsible for things like nose wheel steering. That’s why, as soon as you release the parking brake, the pump automatically activates. We’ve had this logic implemented for a while. But in this update, we added another feature: if you set the parking brake again in this scenario, the pump doesn’t turn off right away. Instead, it stays on for 6 minutes before shutting off automatically. Real pilots are probably the only ones who would notice this, but they were the ones who suggested this improvement to us.
Progress Custom FMS
We're still moving slower than we’d like, but good things take time. Nonetheless, there’s solid progress we’re excited to share with you. For example, our backend system can now import routes via SimBrief, FPL string, or MSFS flight plan. The latter is particularly interesting with FS24 around the corner. From what we know, FS24 will include a comprehensive flight planning tool that allows realistic routes with departure and arrival procedures, which can then be directly imported into our new FMC. This already works with the current FS2020, by the way.
Speaking of our new MCDU, it’s already in the simulator, though not all pages are functional yet. Here, you can see the PERF INIT page in the sim, and also as a popout. The popout is super useful because we’ve displayed the whole frame around the screen, allowing you to drag the entire MCDU to another monitor.
What's next
Custom Control Surface Logic
At the moment, the animation of our control surfaces is still handled by the standard MSFS system. In the future, we’ll be introducing our own actuator system, which will depend on both electrical and hydraulic systems. This will make the behavior of the control surfaces much more realistic, especially during ground operations.
Custom GSX and Flight Crew
We are currently working on a new module to simulate cabin and ground crew operations. In the future, we aim to simulate things like arming the doors after closing and other procedures. Along with this, there will be deeper integration with GSX. We’re still in the creative brainstorming phase, so if you have any ideas, feel free to share them with us. By the way, we can’t directly integrate the GSX 3D passengers ourselves—that’s something only the GSX developers handle. Unfortunately, we can’t say if or when they’ll be available for the E-Jets.
FS24 anyone?
Of course, you’re wondering what’s next for the E-Jets regarding Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. In the past, FSS worked with Asobo on various projects, giving us access to exclusive SDKs and APIs needed for that work. However, for the new simulator, we didn’t contribute any content, as we decided to focus entirely on the E-Jets and the 727. The downside is that we don’t have early access to the new SDK, so we can’t ensure compatibility ahead of time. In short, we don’t have any special insider information—we know as much as you do. We’d love to get SDK access soon (just like many others, probably), but that’s out of our control.
What we do know is that it will take quite a bit of effort to adjust both the C++ code and the 3D model to fully take advantage of the new simulator’s capabilities. We’ll have to see how much this impacts our current plans. We simply can’t say yet. As soon as we get our planes up and running, you’ll be the first to know! Until then, please spare us the questions about when and how our addons will be available for FS24. We just don’t know yet.