Note: 7.16, 7.20, and 7.21 came out in rapid succession as Austin was trying to get a version stabilized for CD distribution. Each has some problems; depending on your system and preferences one may be better than the others.NEW STUFF FOR 7.16In 7.16 the VORs and HSI were non-functional on the Macintosh version.
New features:Pressurization system is operative and functional.
Trim speed is now controllable in Plane-Maker controls screen... enter the trim speed in ratio to default.
- Open Jason Chandlers Malibu that comes with X-Plane 7.16.
- Twiddle the lower-left knob to set the altitude you want the cabin at (the air pressure in the cabin, or how it "feels" in the cabin... this is typically about 8,000 feet in an airliner flying at 36,000 feet)... the top digital tape will scroll to the cabin altitude you want. The tape below will scroll as well... this is showing the maximum altitude the airplane can be and still give you the cabin altitudeyou desire.
- Now that you have set the desired cabin altitude, simply turn on the bleed air and the cabin will begin to go to that alitude if you are higher than that. Twiddle the very lower-left knob with no label to get there faster or slower.
- Then climb above 12,500 or so and turn off the bleed air, or set a cabin altitude above 12,500... you will slowly black out! This is a serious occurence in the real airplane that you must avoid if you want to live.
- NOTE: You must be flying an airplane that HAS a pressurization differential in the SYSTEMS screen in Plane-Maker for this effect to occur. Otherwise, X-Plane assumes that the designer simply did not include the pressurization systems in the aircraft, and the pressurization system is assumed to be automated.
Refinements:
- Sunset default condition... more realistic for So-Cal.
- The glider winch is slower and takes the local wind into account to give a perfect winch in all conditions.
- The towplane in the glider tow option now moves with the wind as well for better tows in windy conditions.
- When you enter a displaced mass for a blimp or dirrigible, you now must also enter the displacement adjustment ratio. This is how much the lift control knowb can add or subtract from the displacement mass you enter. Do this to get the blimps and dirigible climb and descent rates from gas density control just right.
- Prop governors and engine idling speeds more finely tuned.
Bug fixes:
- Better mouse-grabbing of the throttle, prop, and mixture controls when non-standard size controls are used.
- ITT digital outputs on the panel are scaled 0->700 not 0->1.
- You still get morse code on the localizers even if you are not in the right location to pick up their signal, as in reality.
- No more spinning on the runway when the flight mode is set to unrealistic for easiness.
- Speed, heading, and altitude for other planes is preserved from how you set them up in the settings menu.
- Autopilot is more robust at following the glideslope.
- Hydraulically-boosted helos keep their control authority even if the engine is shut down by hooking their pumps up to the rotor, not engine, side of the transmission.
- Changing the language does not wipe the airports out of the menus.
- Fuel flow is correct whether you are using an IOS or not.
- Winch and Tow position labelling are now correct in Plane-Maker.
- FMS plans load in that first altitude.
- Transponder and digital engine instruments handle all sizes better.
- Pylon sweep and dihedral correct as you change them in Plane-Maker.
- Speedbrakes on the tail contribute only drag, not a sideforce.