Scorch, the CL-415 along with all other “Standard” tier aircraft are entirely and fully unencrypted for the end user.
I looked into this yesterday and today, but it’s only partially true. You can view them, even edit some of the config files. However, the model files are still restricted and you cannot access them on your PC even after trying to copy them to your machine, having all the sdk toolkits, and additional 3rd party addons and plugins you have to get in order to view files. So unencrypted to view and partially modify, but the aircraft are hardly “fully” unencrypted.
That or the whole system in order to develop for this sim is so backwards and non-user friendly. I just haven’t figured that out yet the magical combination to get it to work seamlessly. I admit, that may also be a possibility me and so many others now seem to be trying to address. Is it me, or the sim.
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Scorch,
I understand your viewpoint with the GLTFs, but they are not encrypted — rather, the issue there is the Mesh Optimization extension, along with the new material types in FS24 GLTFs.
These FS24 GLTFs use this extension which in a sense creates multiple “buffers”/“buffer pools”, which typical programs such as Blender cannot handle properly, but in the name of optimizing the model for better performance within the sim. It is just a matter 1) creating a new importer than can handle the new material types, and 2) handling the model GLTF in a way that it can be arranged back into a singular-buffer-type model as we see in FS20. Considering that a typical model built+compiled with the SDK does not exhibit this extension, I believe it is something that Asobo/Microsoft does to their models on the backend.
Eric from the Asobo/SDK/DevSupport team has indicated that they are currently working on a feature of the VFSProjector that will process these GLTFs back into a more standard single buffer format without the Mesh Optimization so that it is easier for the end user to open them. If it is any consolation, it’s not impossible — after a month’s worth of work, I have a system developed that handles these in a way that I can open them, albeit a bit rough around the edges. So, whether it comes from me, or Asobo, something will be here soon in terms of opening models for paint.
Models aside, everything else can be modified as desired with virtually no restriction on the Standard tiers. Putting in a GNS as suggested above is just a simple task of either creating a new preset, and/or modifying the attached_objects.cfg to include Asobo’s GNS SimAttachment, plus a quick hookup of the electricals.
It’s a change of scenery for sure in comparison to the “old way” of development, but once you get the hang of it, I wouldn’t take the “old way” over what we have now in any circumstance.
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Hello, just to say i noticed that on the cl-415, all warning tests and audio of the warning tests are not functionating.
Grossly underpowered.
Engine NP logic at idle is weird.
The slip indicator behaves strangely, like it’s backwards (“step on the ball” results in further deflection in the wrong direction) during level flight, but behaves differently in a turn.
A conference with some SMEs who operate these would be great to get the operating procedures, specs, and performance envelopes hammered out properly. This airplane and the Air Tractor, with the air attack missions, is the only reason I truly looked forward to the 2024 release.
Make it right.
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This is becoming one of my favorite fixed wing aircraft in MFS24 despite its downsides. Very fun to fly, and it got a purpose other than A to B flying!
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I see a number of things were addressed in the recent update to the CL-415 in Sim Update 2. However, it doesn’t seem the huge performance issue with the CL-415 was addressed at all. There was a rather lengthy thread that laid out the entire issue with the engine performance on the 415. Largely, it was underperforming as others have mentioned in here. And quite significantly compared to the real aircraft’s cited performance. It’s top speed and cruise speeds need to be slightly adjusted. However, it’s currently operating at approximately 43% of it’s actual climb power/performance. The CL-415, cited from their official manuals with a full load of water aboard, can climb at 1,300 FPM. Unloaded, 1,800 FPM. It has a max operational cruise speed of 180-185 knots (207-213 MPH) 180, loaded, 185 fast cruise unloaded. And a top speed of 194 knots (223 MPH). The aircraft as it exists in the sim climbs at barely 750 FPM when loaded. This in turn cases engine failures in career mode and makes for unrealistic and dangerous situations in the airplane that shouldn’t exist. The challenging terrain and scooping locations this aircraft operates in, you cannot accurately do currently without jettisoning most of your water, or avoiding scooping in areas with terrain around the scoop location(s). This needs to be addressed, hopefully in Sim Update 3 or a patch. Info laid out in that thread can be found here. But I will also link the cited performance used by the USFS on the CL-415’s use in the United States.
Most of us can understand with the limitations of the sim of not getting the performance exactly right on and there would be some small aircraft to aircraft variation in performance IRL anyway. But the margin of error on these performance numbers is off by a pretty significant margin. Most I think would a agree that a 2-5 knot error margin and a 75-100 feet per minute in the climb rate error would be acceptable still. But not 25-40 knots off it’s speeds and missing 550 FPM in it’s loaded climb rate.
USFS Amphibious Aircraft Manual: (Appendix E for CL-415 operational specifications)
NIFC Handling Manual:
Aircraft Issues:
- Aircraft max speed loaded 150-160 knots ============> Should be 185 knots loaded.
- Cruise speed 150-155 knots ================> Should be 180-185 knots
- Cruise speeds should be; 180 knots loaded, 185 empty
- Top Speed should be ~194 knots (empty) ~185 knots loaded
- Aircraft loaded climb rate is 700-750 FPM ===========> Should be 1,300 FPM Loaded 1,800 Empty.
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Hello,
Just a little bump for the CL-415.
All the problems could be adressed :
I would add, the warning and alarma tests not working and the power problem.
I think the alarms and some other people have listed other things in the cockpit that don’t work. But I agree that the performance issue is largely one of the biggest glaring issues with the 415 at the moment. It’s been reported enough times in the bug section that I’ve seen. Since I think I’ve responded at least to 2 additional threads in regards to this same underperformance issues and there’s been zero acknowledgement by MS/Asobo to fix the clear issue there.
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I am very interested in adding the base 430. Is there a published method to make this work? Sounds like a great weekend project! Thanks!
It might be possible in MSFS 2020. But not 2024. All it’s files are still incomplete and/or unavailable and therefore, unavailable to successfully modify any sort of change to it really.
Yes, certainly doable and exactly what the sim was designed to do — very easy. I plan on adding some things in sometime in the future such as a GTN/autopilot combo.
For adding a GNS, it is just a matter of adding a few lines into the attached_objects.cfg, creating a folder structure out of it, and that’s it. The GNS model, EX1 XML, textures, etc are all housed within the sim’s SimAttachments folder so it just aliases to that. There are a few mods out there that do this (such as my SR22T enhancement on flightsim.to), along with the majority of default aircraft that use this structure if you need something to follow along on/for reference.
I also have an addon on flightsim.to that adjusts the positioning of the TDS GTNxi in Carenado’s T210N — that may be a cleaner example for you of what the folder structure looks like.
Everything that you’d need sim-side is accessible within the VFS browser 
This is VERY exciting news. Please keep us updated on your progress! I was hoping the PMS50 built-in Autopilot tool might be a stopgap, to no avail. The addition of base AP functionality will be massive in making the 415 more relevant for VSO operations on VATSIM etc.
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