SkyDecks Panel Design CRJ 200 Panel

By Ryan Butterworth (14 January 2005)

Today I would like to introduce to you the next SkyDecks panel, the FS2004 CRJ panel, downloadable off the SkyDecks website for a mere $14.95. I was amazed at the NG panel, but when I got a hold of this new CRJ panel, I couldn’t believe how realistic it was! Installation is a breeze. The file uses the Flight 1 wrapper system, which includes a 30-day money back guarantee. Trust me; you won’t need to use that nice offer. This CRJ panel will compliment any CRJ-series aircraft you have and should definitely remain in your hangar. After the install you can read the HTML-based manual (OK please read before asking for support), which tells you how to configure other aircraft for the CRJ panel (as well as all the innards of how to get this baby off the ground). Aliasing the panel to a different aircraft is not a difficult task – it only involves copying the alias file into your own aircraft’s panel directory.

The point of this panel is not to have one of those “Gee-I-wish-I-could-get-the-left-engine-started-in-less-than-10-minutes” panels, but to be able to jump into your simulation, with a realistic panel, and start flying right away. Of course there is the option for the complete engine startup, etc., but I guess that’s not my style. This panel contains the usual bells and whistles that you would expect of a payware panel. Please bear in mind that this is no DreamFleet 737 panel, modeled perfectly down to the real thing. Then again, the price of the CRJ panel is roughly half the price of the DF 737 panel, so it really comes down to what you (the user) wants. Some of the nice features of this panel are:

• A full overhead panel with precision back-lighting and easy to read text.
• Realistic start-up procedures utilizing system ignition.
• An all new throttle-stack that features highly detailed throttle lever animation.
• A new radio stack panel with an integrated trim adjustment panel.
• Realistic panel lighting allowing you to turn on or off the "fluorescent" panel lights.
• Highly detailed CRT screens modeled after the real thing, with an 8-page EICAS.
• Fully selectable fuel control allowing for left, center, right or all tank selection.

Test Platform: FS2004 Windows XP Pro Dell D505 Laptop Pentium 1.4M (2.2 GHz equivalent) 512 MB ddrRAM, 5400 rpm HDD Intel i82855 Graphics

I enjoy the 8-page EICAS gauge; it looks just like the real thing. The best part is that you get to play around with this gauge for only $14.95, far less than the real world Collins unit.

The other “windows” in the panel are the overhead, throttle quadrant, radio stack, and a few others. There is no fully-working FMC, but like I said before, there’s only so much one can have for $14.95. So in order to see how this baby handles up in the air, I decided to take an adventure to Chicago O’Hare, where my Air Wisconsin CRJ was nestled safely at the gate. I’ve never really been a fan of a cold and dark cockpit. I’m afraid of the dark, so naturally my motto is “a warm and bright plane is a happy plane,” aka I started my test flight with the cockpit all warmed up, and ready for the push. You can see in the picture that everything is on, and I’m waiting for my pushback. This would be a good time to find our way around the cockpit. You can use shift+2,3,4, etc. to open the sub panels or just use the clickspots described in the manual.

Once airborne, I thought that it might be time to engage the autopilot. The A/P is remarkably simple to use in this simulation, yet remarkably accurate. About the only thing missing from the A/P panel is the TURB button, which reduces sensitivity to the autopilot during rapid changes in altitude/airspeed. The A/P can track NAVAIDS, a GPS course and the ILS pretty well, just make sure you’re not landing with full weight. The A/P characteristics are actually a component of the aircraft configuration file, not the panel, but the panel portrays what is happening during a full IMC precision approach very well indeed. I’ll admit it – I’m an A/P flier when it comes to the heavy metal. I only stick to the seat-of-your-pants flying when it comes to GA planes.

The three CRT screens on the main panel can be enlarged by clicking on the upper left circle on each gauge. I think adding this enlargement option is a wonderful addition that every developer should include with their products. The Primary Flight Display or PFD contains everything you as a virtual pilot need to know to get your passengers from A to B. The MFD hosts the HSI which uses the default FS2004 GPS overlay to enhance your sim experience. This gauge also presents the wind speed and direction, which is especially helpful on short final. You can use the HSI clickspot to change the range on the HSI map, or use the Digital Control Panel (DCP) to select ARC vs. compass mode on the HSI.

The virtual cockpit (VC) is of course tied to the aircraft *.mdl file, rather than the panel. However, SkyDecks integrates the gauges of the 2D panel into the Open Sky CRJ VC in a nice manner, so everything seems to fit into place. 3D lovers will also be satisfied thanks to the members of the POSKY freeware group for their lovely VC. The lighting in both the VC (thanks to POSKY) and the 2D panel (SkyDecks) is easy on the eyes yet gorgeous. Something about night flights and serene flight deck lighting just gets me excited. There is a small but harmless bug with the night lighting in the 2D cockpit, which can be easily remedied by reading the manual once again.

Frame rates…are just fine. No need to press shift+z twice with this panel, I honestly could not tell the difference between the default Learjet panel and this panel. All the gauges were smooth when I tested her out; the refresh rates were just fine.

There are custom CRJ sounds on www.flightsim.com, and if you search for filename CRJ7_SOU.ZIP these will benefit you the most. The sounds seem genuine and are a decent representation of the real world GE CF34 turbo fan engines, but then again, I only have real-world Piper Warrior experience.

An old friend of mine, who is a captain for a reputable airline, was describing to me how he preferred flying the CRJ over any other aircraft because he could “climb out of Minneapolis faster than the other aircraft, especially those ugly DC-9’s.” Seeing this new accurate CRJ panel made me think about that comment. The other day I “raced” a Flight 1 Ultimate Traffic DC-9 off of runway 30R at Minneapolis using the SkyDecks panel, and then I understood what my buddy was talking about. This panel might not be perfect, nor can one program the FMC (soon we’ll call airline pilots typists), but for the price I think this panel deserves some attention, give it a try, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!

About the author: Ryan Butterworth holds a private pilot certificate. He is a junior majoring in Air Traffic Control at the University Of North Dakota, and continues to fly the trusty Piper Warrior when his studies permit. He loves real world aviation, and has been using Microsoft Flight Simulator since FS5.0.

Ryan Butterworth
ryanb@aero.und.edu

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