How is the progress looking? Should the community start a gofundme or something so we can have this piece of history in our flight sims? Seems to be a project of passion.
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Greetings!
We are working! A new studio has been created, which we will tell you about a little later, when we have designed the site and everything you need. At the moment, we are working on more advanced detailing of the external model, mapping and preparing for texture processing. I am programming an external application that will prepare a flight plan and control, as well as voice control and interaction with the crew on behalf of the commander.
I was also recently approached by a programmer involved in the development of the KLN-90B module with a request to make a free module of this device for developers, including its code and a 3D model, so that developers can embed it in their projects. I have created, animated and implemented a 3D model of the KLN now, tested, form documentation and instructions for it. We are trying to please everyone with the publication KLN soon, after everything is worked out and configured.
Thank you for your interest and desire to provide support, real understanding and actions are very valuable and important for everyone!
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Looks incredible. I really enjoyed using the KLN90B in XP11 in the Tu154 and An24.
Are you going to wire it to the autopilot so the pilot can choose between using the NAS-1 or the GPS unit?
A generall question why is the KLN90B so popular with russian aircraft? I mean why dont they use the Garmin 430? Im asking this because I never came across the KLN90B until trying the Tu154 & An-24.
So until now I thought its just a preference of the developer (Felis) but now you are implementing one as well. Were many soviet aircraft retrofitted with the KLn90B or is there also some sort of russian GPS used IRL?
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The KLN did not fully connect to the 134-ki systems and worked only for visual control of the flight at the level. The device unit was located in a convenient place for the Co-pilot, on the visor of the front engine control panel or to the right of the seat on the side, on the co-pilot’s control cabinet, there were very few sides with the KLN, since it was not normally included in the equipment.
GPS integration, was in the aircraft based on TLN 2000, which was connected to the autopilot and was allowed to use it to fly and control along direct sections of the route at a given level. TLN will also be implemented.
I myself have not used CLN in models created in previous simulators. Initially, I was not interested because in the model of my favorite Soviet aircraft(Tu-134) there was enough equipment that was more interesting for me and the navigation methods that it allowed me to implement. This required the preparation and initial development of manual calculations and flight plans using RSBN / VOR/NDB beacons and NAS-1 based on even real paper maps and navigation data. Then MyNL was implemented for faster and more convenient use of this navigation with the ability to add and install RSBN beacons anywhere in the world by adding them to the model database. And programming the plan also in KLN before the start of the flight took not only time, but also extra work. Among other things, the old versions of the module caused a lot of problems with connecting to simulators where the model was implemented, frequent crashes of the module and troubles for users associated with this, the difficulties of updating the KLN database did not contribute to the use of this device in FSX/P3D, and I almost did not use XP…
Why exactly KLN was integrated into some Soviet aircraft, I do not know, perhaps the layout was convenient and according to the agreements of the parties of manufacturers and operators was more accessible and profitable. In addition, it allowed at least in manual and visual mode to control the flight along GPS routes according to flight plans and navigation bases used outside the former USSR.
Allow me a small digression for clarity and honest information under the spoiler 
Summary
Yes, I do not call these planes ‘Russian’, they were created by design bureaus and made by all the republics and people of the former USSR, the Tu-134 was produced and assembled at a factory in the city of Kharkiv, and Kharkiv is Ukraine.
The ‘Russian federation’ rather destroyed these aircraft and accelerated their departure, destroying the entire base, norms and nomenclature, the quality of crew training, technical part and control of the responsibility of the USSR aviation. Having allowed a number of catastrophes by their sloppiness, negligence and writing it off to the ‘human factor’, they relieved themselves of responsibility by covering up their inability to cope and plundered everything for scrap. Many people remember how they sawed off hundreds of planes for scrap, for the sake of both local officials and scammers, and even the boards that did not work out a third of the resource were written off and sold at the price of scrap. Now all this is the past and they want to forget it, but we know and remember what’s what and who is guilty of what.
So they sent a dream into the past.
I implemented all the ABSU-134, NAS-1, RSBN and VOR/NDB systems on Kurs-MP and ARK-15, even wrote my own code for a separate DME device. Actually working in the TLN2000 prototype, we implement it in the image of a KLN. Radar ROZ-1 is also one of the priority goals for implementation… Everything is new, this was not fully provided for in MSFS, but the features provided by the sim developers made it possible to create it, now everything is there and there are no such many features in any other prototype of the aircraft. So it’s not bad that in the prototype was KLN, rather on the contrary, it’s a plus to the capabilities, even without connecting to autopilot.
It will also be possible to install Garmin or another similar GPS device to monitor the position along the flight route, verify the coordination of the inertial system and ease of navigation, as almost all navigators and pilots have done since these systems became available and allowed for monitoring. We will also try to implement the tablet and an external application. We do everything to convey to all people what was really sincere, worthy in truth, has an honest right in history and preservation in memory, so that those who wish can comprehensively study and learn it, and also use it, enjoying flying, using the knowledge gained to feel the unique atmosphere and specifics of the Tu-134 in the peaceful and boundless sky.
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Hey how is the development going? Do you need some financial help? Can we get a screenshort for eye candy?
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Thank you Kai for trying to bring such a complex and classic aircraft to us. I believe a manual with the controls and instrument panel translated to English would be great, for those of us with limited or no knowledge of the Russian language. To preserve the great character and authenticity of this great aircraft, the panel and controls should remain in Russian.
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Thank you for bringing this beauty to the game.
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Витаю Biman7581 ! Manuals are mandatory in accordance with international requirements. There are also technical descriptions, including in English. Panels and instruments without understanding the whole complex and knowledge of the control and navigation skills of this particular aircraft will not give anything except letters in English. Therefore, panels in available languages, including English, and manuals will be included. The plans are to make interactive direct training and training for the entire complex of what is required by the model. It used to be so, I personally and directly with a personal connection through discord and other means provided training to everyone who purchased models and helped them master what seems complicated and incomprehensible. Up to joint flights with me as an instructor. Unfortunately, this was not appreciated and not preserved, but everything is possible in the future.
Thank you for your interest and desire.
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Work in the studio is gradually going on as usual. Slower than we would like, but these are the conditions today.
Any support is always welcome, because you are doing this primarily for yourself and for the realization of your own desires! Everything that you do for the project is for you, for everyone personally and for everyone’s benefit. Screenshots are currently restricted by the NDA, I will agree on the possibility of publication here.
Thank you for your interest in the project.
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would love to chip in whatever i can for the development. Maybe you can even try kickstarter or something to help out financially with the project.
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Is the project back on track? Any estimated ETA? A TU for MSFS will really be an awesome thing!
The project continues and work on it has not stopped. In the newly created studio, 3D is modeled to the maximum and according to all requirements and systems are written, a unique code for the interaction of the user(s) with the intelligent virtual crew with the ability to replace team members when connecting the user(s) for joint flights. Software is also being written for the compilation and actual use of prototype navigation aids in a modern format with tablets, add-ons for help and other capabilities. The project is under NDA and on confidentiality terms, and this limits the information that I can tell and share, including the timing of publication of the development. We are working for you, I try to coordinate as much as possible to tell everyone that we have not given up, we are working no matter what and are persistently moving towards our goal.
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Thank you for the report! Hope we can see this beautiful plane in the skies soon.
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Great work by the way and thank you for the updates. It’s good to see the project is progressing.
Do you now if anyone has embedded the KLN90 into any currently available MSFS aircraft?
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Unfortunately, there is currently no aircraft using the KLN-90B yet, but there are a few coming:
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That’s a shame. The kln90b mod looks really good! I hope someone is able to embed it in the F28. Using the GNS530 doesn’t give the right “70’s aircraft modified with GPS in the 80’s-90’s”vibe
Your best bet is to tell the aircraft authors that you are interested in the KLN-90B and kindly ask them if they want to implement it. I was actually asked before, if it can be used in the F28, so I guess if there is enough interest, JustFlight might consider it. I do offer my full support for integration, but unfortunately there is nothing I can do without the aircraft authors.
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Quick question: Is there some aircraft that is still using the KLN90 today?
You will surely find some old aircraft, that have not been updated. If you search on aircraft marketplaces, you will find some old B1900Ds, business jets and GAs.
Let’s face it, the KLN is ancient. It is not user friendly and only supports B-RNAV. Most aircraft will have been upgraded to a more modern unit.