Eclipse Glass Cockpit version 1.0 by macnfly , modified to v 2.0 and v3.0 by Capt. Russ Barlow
Below are some of the changes to the Air Manager (AM) Cockpit for the Eclipse 550 Freeware simulator v2.0 for
X-Plane 10.
The new cockpit completely fills a HD Monitor at 1920 x 1080 giving the complete cockpit experience. The latest
changes make this cockpit able to fly a complete flight without using any controls from the X-Plane sim. Add a
touchscreen monitor for use with AM 2.1 for an ultra realistic flight session!
The cockpit is made up of two AM instruments, the glare-shield Autopilot Mode Control Panel (MCP) , also
shown below, and the Glass Cockpit 3.0 described here. Both are available free to Air Manager users at the
online store. The Glass Cockpit retains controls to operate the autopilot without the MCP but in a less realistic
way.
Here are the recent changes to the cockpit.
The start switches, located on the forward overhead panel, have been re-located to the forward panel to allow
engine starts and shut downs. ON/START starts the engine automatically. OFF shuts the engine down, and
CONT IGN is for icing conditions, heavy precipitation, or heavy turbulence.
The Electrical switches have been relocated to a panel that accurately resembles the style of the actual panel in
the Eclipse 550. There is also a gtrrn light to indicate when external power is connected to the airplane.
Generators are generally left in the AUTO position and will connect when the engine is up to speed and
disconnect on shut down. Currently the Eclipse 550 v 2.0 simulator seems to offer external power ONLY when
the simulator is started with the engines NOT running at session start-up option. If you start the session with
engines running, it is not available after landing and taxi in.
The PFD and HSI both now have off flags for VOR and ILS CDIs. The glide slope scales are not presented on
until a valid ILS frequency is being received. Note the HSI now also has a Glide Slipe indication that appears the
right side of the HSI when receiving a valid ILS glide slope signal.
There a prominent yellow indication of the NAV source now displayed at the top of the HSI ( shown as “NAV2”
above)
The colors and style of the HSI markings have been colored to make them more intuitive.
The HSI also now auto-hides any bearing needle (VOR or ADF) that is not tuned and receiving a valid signal to
reduce instrument clutter. The identifier and frequency of the VOR and ADF stations that are tuned appear on
the lower half of the HSI when active and are color coded to match their respective needles. The DME boxes
are also color coded to match their respective bearing pointer needles.
The Map display has an added compass rose and digital readout and corresponding lines to indicate the current
heading ( yellow) and heading bug direction (magenta) to help orientation when flying by reference to the map.
The plane symbol now is an Eclipse 500 plan form too!
Engine instruments have now been streamlined and the text color reflects any out of limits values (yellow for
caution, red for an exceedence ). Total air temperature (TAT) has also been added to the panel .
The configuration panel has been made to look more like the real airplane too including trim and gear
indications.. Fuel is now in pounds ( gross weight too) to match the airplane. Cabin pressure parameters are
added to match the airplane.
An audio panel has been added to allow selection of the transmitter and to monitor radios and Nav radio
identifications and set volume.
An engine bleed control is added as well as a seat belt sign. The cabin air dump switch is inop.
Alternate autopilot control is done using the following two panels on the forward instrument panel. They include
a mode selection panel that now has no lights since the Primary Flight Display ( Attitude Indicator) has mode
lights along the top to indicate selected modes.
In a separate location there is a selectable knob to set targets for the autopilot ( Speed, Altitude, Vertical Speed,
Heading and HSI course). NOTE: This is the ONLY way to set the Nav 1 or Nav 2 Navigation course (after
selecting the Nav source from the push buttons along the bottom of the panel).
NOTE: If using the MCP along with the Glass Cockpit , leave the FD Sel knob selected to Course (CRS) so the
knob since all other parameters can be set from the MCP.
Finally, the radio tuning has been improved to allow setting of both an active and standby frequency. Instead of
the tedious stepping through all radios to select one for setting, each line now has a select rocker switch.
Pressing left or right will advance the yellow cursor (underline) to indicate which radio is selected.
EACH line is selected with the switch on that line. Only the standby (in blue and preceded by a small “S”) can be
set with the dual concentric knobs to the right.
Once set, the transfer button above the knob will swap that frequency with the active (white color and preceded
by a small “A”) . ADF and TRANSPONDER fields are each divided into two segments since there are only two
knobs available. The altimeter setting can be selected here too in case you are not using the Autopilot ACP with
the Glass cockpit.
SOMETHING YOU CAN'T SEE: The Eclipse simulator doesn't have an ALTITUDE CHANGE (ALT CHG) button
despite it being one of the most commonly used vertical modes on any autopilot. I added this feature to the
cockpit but have noticed it abruptly applies firewall power when selected. I modified the autopilot behavior to
limit the power somewhat but the airspeed can still get about 10-15 knots fast early in the climb. My hack is
somewhat better but for true passenger comfort try the vertical Speed mode and slowly increasing the VVI target
until about 3000 fpm is selected and the speed is on target. You can then select ALT CHG to complete the climb
segment. Similar procedures to start a descent will also avoid the abrupt power removal for a ALT CHG
descent.
Several features of this panel are not operated like the real airplane either due to the limitations of the simulator
or due to the legacy of the original Glass Cockpit. I have still found it to be a fun flying experience and great way
to practice many piloting skills and develop airmanship and aeronautical decision making skills.
If you have bug fix or feature requests, please message me at X-Plane.org forums to: captain_russ
Happy Flying!
Russ Barlow