Avro Regionaljet (ARJ) Panel Update to Version 4.1 for Microsoft FS2004
by Matthias Lieberecht - The BAe Panel Project
August 25, 2005
Just a few days after uploading version 4.0 of the Avro ARJ panel,
here is the first update for it. The most important part of this
update is the possibility now to save all switch positions and
necessary values (like cabin altitude, fuel used and others) to
an ini file. After loading the panel once again or starting a
saved flight with the ARJ, all switch positions will be as you've
left the aircraft the last time. The former cold and dark function
of the panel is no longer included. This means, that you now
could decide yourself if you would like to start with a cold
and dark cockpit or with running engines and all systems on.
When you leave the aircraft with running engines and all systems
on, you will start the ARJ the next time with running engines
and activated systems. When you switch off everything before
leaving the aircraft, you will start with a cold and dark cockpit
the next time.
Other new or corrected things are:
- Correction of the N1 bug of engine 2 and 3
- Correction of the Wing anti-ice lamp in the lower MWS
- Correction of the LVLCHG descent mode
- Removal of the AT Retard function when descending with VS.
More details about the update could be found below.
INSTALLATION:
IMPORTANT:
You must have installed version 4.0 of the ARJ panel (Ml_ARJv40.zip)
to use this update!
Before installing the new files, please exit the flight simulator.
Otherwise the update won't work with the current flightsim session.
Unzip all files of the gauges.zip to your Flightsim main Gauges
directory. Take care to replace the old "Ml_ARJv40.cab" in the gauges
folder. It's not necessary to make a backup of the old file,
because the new one is the complete gauge set for the ARJ panel
version 4.0 and 4.1.
If you would like to, you could make a backup of the file
Ml_ARJv40_Config.ini in the gauges folder. This ini file contents
the cold and dark switch positions when you load version 4.1 for the
first time and into this file the switch positions and necessary
values will be stored when you leave the ARJ panel. When you make a
backup of it, you always have the possibility to restore the original
cold and dark situation. For this just delete the old ini file and
rename your backup into Ml_ARJv40_Config.ini.
Unzip all files of the panel.zip into the panel folder where you
have installed version 4.0 of the ARJ panel. It's important to
replace the "panel.cfg" and "Aircraft with VC panel.cfg" there.
It's not necessary to make a backup of the old files.
If you have installed an aircraft which contents a virtual cockpit,
make a backup of the file "panel.cfg" and rename the file "Aircraft
with VC panel.cfg" into panel.cfg.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NEW THINGS:
The correction of the N1 bugs and the wing anti-ice light of the
MWS are just some corrections of existing bugs. The function of
those things are already described in the manual of version 4.0,
Nevertheless it's important to give a few descriptions about the
other new things:
Saving the switch positions
The switch positions and some system values will be saved
automatically when you leave the Avro ARJ panel or when it is
necessary to reload the panel or aircraft (changing to full screen
for example). Those positions and values will be written in the file
Ml_ARJv40_Config.ini. From here they will be readout when you load
the panel in another session or when the panel or aircraft has to be
reloaded. The autopilot buttons will not be saved, because they have
very complex functions which could not be stored. Nevertheless the
AP settings, like altitude, heading, vertical speed, speed and others
will be saved. So when you reload a saved situation, you just have
to pull the necessary AP buttons and everything is like it was when
leaving the aircraft.
With the new included gauge, the Comm frequencies, Transponder setting
and weather will not be saved. If you would like to save also those
things, it's necessary to save the flight with the flight simulator
before leaving the ARJ. This saved flight reloads the Comm and
Transponder setting and the weather, while the new ARJ gauge loads
everything else.
Removal of the AT Retard function when descending with VS
When you start a descent using VS hold, version 4.0 first moves
the throttles to idle (Retard) before the AT could control the
selected speed again. That is not correct, because the AT Retard
just works when preparing a descent with LVLCHG. This is now corrected
with version 4.1. When you now prepare a descent with VS hold and
the autothrottle is engaged, IAS or Mach hold stays active without
moving the throttles back to flight idle.
Rework of the LVLCHG mode when descending
When you prepare a descent with LVLCHG, the autothrottle moves the
thrust levers to the flight idle position for a couple of seconds.
This was already realized in version 4.0. Version 4.1 now, releases
the thrust levers after the retard. The autothrottle is now just
armed (AT white in the PFD) but not active as long as you descent
(like in the real ARJ) with LVLCHG. Like a LVLCHG climb, the
preselected speed will also be hold with pitch changing. The rate
of descent could be controlled by moving the throttles.
CREDITS:
Douglas Dawson for sending me his great configuration gauge which
makes it possible to save the switch positions and values also
with XML gauges.
Sidney Schwartz for the information about the N1 bugs and the wing
anti-ice MWS light.
Russell Prance for the information about the VS retard.
And of course to all others from the BAe Panel Project Forum and
to those which I've already named in the manual of version 4.0.
Without all of your help, this panel would not be possible!
If you have more questions, criticism or if you just want to say
thank you, please do not mail me rather use the support forum of
the BAe Panel Project website.
