X-Crafts has recently taken to the X-Plane.org forums to share a new development update with the community. This time, they have included some information regarding their E-Jets series, the upcoming Embraer Lineage 1000, and revealed a secret project they have been working on.
E-Jets Update 1.1.0.
Firstly, Marko Mamula, the director of X-Crafts, speaks about the E-Jets version 1.1.0. This version is going to bring many new features to these Embraer planes for the X-Plane simulator. The most anticipated feature of this upcoming update is FMS Speed, meaning that the aircraft will be able to manage its speed through FMS data. This feature was already being tested and is working great according to Marko.
Embraer 170 and 190 will also receive the Steep Approach System in this version, which will allow accurate approaches to destinations like London City Airport. The ILS Autotune system will select the correct NAV frequency to the radios and will follow the glide path accordingly.
Another major feature of this coming update is pop-up displays of the PFD, MFD and EICAS. You can do this already with the FMS and the EFB in the E-Jet family by X-Crafts, but this option will bring more portability and especially make it easier for cockpit builders to pop up these important aircraft systems to another display, for example.
In X-Plane 12, the E-Jets series will receive a major flight model revision, as the X-Crafts team aims get as close to the real counterpart with their add-on.
ERJ Family for X-Plane 12
The X-Crafts team found 10 real-world ERJ pilots to help them improve the ERJ flight model in X-Plane 12. They have received 10 pilots, who gave the team detailed feedback and thus, made significant improvements to the add-on.
The flight model is now being fine-tuned by X-Crafts’ aerodynamics expert, and some systems will get improvements in the coming updates, too.
Embraer Lineage 1000
X-Crafts is now working on Embraer Lineage 1000 as well. Lineage 1000 is a business jet variant of the Embraer 190, which has added fuel tanks, doubling the aircraft’s range.
Marko mentions that the team has made some great progress on the cabin model, and is unofficially calling it the “1.0” of the interior model. There are still a lot of things still to be desired, according to him.
With the model created, the X-Crafts team continued with UV mapping, which is now also finished. This means that texturing comes next. Marko also mentions that you will be able to change the interior textures to your liking by creating a livery.
In the previews, we can see the untextured interior and its various parts. This includes the airstairs, seats, windows and even a bed. Speaking of bed, the bedsheets and pillows have simulated physics, and thus look very realistic in the simulator.
Surprise Project
With the celebration of 10 years since the release of their first add-on for X-Plane, the team prepared a new surprise project to show. This side project will be free. Unfortunately, Marko didn’t share with the wide community what it is, yet. Only subscribers to their Not-A-Newsletter know more about this project. Despite that, Marko aims to announce it officially in the coming weeks.
If you would like to learn more about X-Crafts, read our previous article on their ERJ Family release here.
