According to announcements from the Just Flight team, the recently released and most sought-after PA-28R for Microsoft Flight Simulator has received a couple of updates.
The first set of updates (v0.2.0) made some fixes and improvements and added some new features. For example, propeller animations are fixed, improvements are made to textures enabling higher resolutions, and icing effects are added. Tweaks are also made to the autopilot, VR compatibility, and inHG barometric setting option added to altimeters. A full list of changes is cataloged below.
Version 0.3.0 adds checklists and new state-saving features. Fixes include autopilot (engagement and OMNI/VOR), landing gear animations, exterior yoke pitch animations, and GNS 430/530 not powering up when avionics master control is assigned. Again, a full list is below in the changelog.
On a personal note, on updating the PA-28R, and restarting the simulator, check fuel quantity as you may find it starts up with empty fuel tanks and therefore will not fire up.
The PA-28R Arrow III is available from Just Flight, priced at EUR 35.04. The update can be downloaded from Just Flight. It is helpful to completely remove the older version from the community folder before reinstalling the new version.
Changelog
v0.3.0
– Checklists added (manual and automatic/co-pilot modes supported)
– Direction Indicator (DI) bezel now illuminated by panel lighting
– Whiskey compass animation fixed
– Sun visor animation now visible from exterior
– GNS 530 display now remains visible after GPS unit toggle on EFB is used
– Landing gear auto-extension logic fixes
– Airspeed indicator (ASI) needle accuracy issue fixed
– Airspeed indicator (ASI) TAS scale fixed
– Yoke timer paused when yoke hidden – fixed
– ON/OFF control assignments now supported (e.g. lights, master/alternator)
– Autopilot OMNI/VOR hold disengaging after flying overhead VOR – fixed
– Autopilot mode engagement logic fixes
– HSI no longer drifts
– Aircraft type now included in ATC calls
– inHG baro scale added to standby altimeter
– Yoke visibility, emergency gear lever, co-pilot, chock, tie-down and towbar -selections, COM/NAV/ADF frequencies and fuel load are now included in state saving
– Chock, tie-down and towbar selections can now be made via LVars for use by cockpit builders, VR users etc
– KMA 20 audio selector logic fixes
– Paint kit horizontal stabiliser texture fixes
– Yoke pitch animations added to exterior model
– Further VR compatibility tweaks (including larger clickspots for small controls, fixed EFB power and GPS 100 buttons)
– COM/NAV volumes now set to 100% when ending flight in Arrow III to prevent issues with other aircraft
– Flap lever vibration when using control axis – fixed
– GNS 430/530 not powering up when avionics master control is assigned – fixed
(Please note that improvements to the flight dynamics are ongoing, within any limitations imposed by MSFS)
v0.2.0 – 19/03/2021
– Icing effects added
– Propeller animations fixed
– Improvements to exterior surface detail and decals added for higher texture resolution in previously lower resolution exterior and cockpit areas
– GNS 430/530 – Power functionality and backlighting added, 2D pop-outs fixed
– Fuel selector can now be controlled using ‘FUEL SELECTOR 1 LEFT/OFF/RIGHT’ assignments
– Tweaks to autopilot roll control
– Improvements to FDE – idle RPM fixed, vibration/wobble reduced
– VR compatibility fixes
– Support added for the following ‘set’ control assignments – Battery, alternator, beacon light, landing light, navigation lights, strobe lights, pitot heat
– Landing light illumination area increased
– Cockpit texture resolution no longer reduced with lower graphical settings selected
– Autopilot and navigation lights circuit breakers now affect associated systems
– Autopilot heading mode active without autopilot engaged – fixed
– Tutorial flight files added
– Engine priming and start tweaked for greater realism, manual updated to provide more information on engine priming before start up
– Wind direction reversed on EFB – fixed
– Navigation mode will now default to VLOC/NAV unless state saving is enabled and GPS mode was selected on previous flight
– CDI on NAV/OBS 1 now responds correctly to GPS course
– GPS 100 sometimes stuck in self-test mode – fixed
– Manual changes to transponder code sometimes not triggering response from ATC – fixed
– Transponder mode changes not being recognised by ATC – fixed
– Rudder trim direction reversed – fixed
– COM and NAV audio idents – fixed
– EFB and GPS 100 displays no longer refresh when not in use for improved performance (FPS). EFB automatically turns off when hidden.
– OAT indicator fixed
– ELT set to ON when selecting cold & dark state – fixed
– Environment (e.g. cloud, taxi markings) sometimes visible in footwell – fixed
– inHG barometric setting option added to altimeters
– Mixture ‘decrease incrementally’ assignment fixed
– Custom registration decals now remain visible at a greater distance (lower LOD)
– Gear mechanism animation fixes
Feel free to join our Discord server to share your feedback on the article, screenshots from your flights or just chat with the rest of the team and the community. Click here to join the server.