In article 5 of our Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 series we’re looking at the cockpits and flight decks. This is where the majority of a pilot’s time is spent and a crucial part of the software. Asobo Studio are developing the simulator on behalf of Microsoft, and it’s great to note that they have had access to actual aeroplanes during the program’s development. This access has been used to further improve the various simulations and what’s even better news is that even some of the manufacturers have been involved in the development and helped out with information and details. Let’s have a look at what Asobo Studio had to say in their cockpits presentation.
Realistic cockpits
As the primary point in which one operates the aircraft, it is paramount that the cockpits are ultra-realistic. The more traditional cockpit instrumentation has been overhaled when compared to previous iterations of the simulator and the analogue instruments now have extreme, high-fidelity detail. Other simulation elements have had plenty of work too. There is a completely new electrical system simulation and management framework. An example of this is the needles of battery/electrical instrumentation will now change and flicker with differing electrical loads. The oil system behaviour and management has been developed. There is a new lighting management system in the software, which is particularly important as now VFR flying at night is possible in this flight simulator version. Each cockpit has realistic simulated lighting and every single light is able to be set as you would in the actual aeroplane.
Most new aircraft are fitted with high-tech glass cockpits, and a new system for the management and rendering of these has been implemented. This means the rendering engine can display all the data in 2D or synthetic vision 3D. Touch screens are simulated and fully interactive. For example, on Garmin instrumentation, the management of flight plans, changing of radio frequencies, insertion of SIDs/STARS (instrument arrivals and departures) and checklist management is all through a simulated touch screen control panel.
Useable and Challenging
Mastering very technical cockpits can be challenging and the team at Asobo Studio wanted to make the simulator accessible for all, while still maintaining the complexity that more experienced simmers desire. Contextual cursers and tooltips will indicate how to perform actions and label the consequences.
A choice of complexity for the management of checklists has been engineered and they can be either fully manual, assisted, fully automatic or entirely skippable. A sequence of actions or checklists can be skipped in this last mode and the simulator will automatically set the aeroplane for the next phase of flight/where it should be at the end of the skipped checklist sequence. The checklists will be interactive with optional highlighting of the relevant controls and instruments with feedback on completion of the items, such as a checkbox. All this means that when flying a new aircraft for the first time, anyone will be able to start and fly the aeroplane from a cold and dark state.
Peripherals
A new calibration tool for all input devices has been included in the software meaning external programs/tools are no longer required to customise and refine the controls. There is also full support for home cockpits (great news for the most serious of virtual pilots) and an extended number of simulation variables have been exposed for these users specifically, where all functions can be controlled in a realistic fashion. The developers have also said that multi screens/windows are also supported. This includes projection possibilities for fixed base simulators.
To test and further develop the simulator, Asobo Studio are using a home cockpit. The have built a Robin DR400 and this allows them to check the quality of the simulation and all of its inputs. See the picture above.
Improved Immersion
The developers have prioritised new technology with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and this has included introducing video game development techniques to the world of flight simulation for the first time. There is a new rendering engine (mentioned above) and it primarily improves pixel ambient occlusion and irradiance, shadows, reflections and highly rendered cockpit materials – making them look real. This is called a Deferred PBR rendering engine – far too complex for us Virtual Airline Captains! In case of possible intrigue, PBR means Physically Based Rendering.
Having such high-quality visuals is not just a cosmetic matter. This sort of detail and definition allows for accurate movement and positioning of controls and the minute detail allows the movement to appear smooth and accurate.
The new weather system also affects the lighting elements in the cockpit. Cloud form shadows and lightning produces the correct and realistic impression as a pilot would experience.
The developers have had access to actual aeroplanes to further improve the simulation of each type. This has ensured correct dimensions and realistic operation of each system. This includes lights and sounds being accurate. They occur at the correct timings and are synchronised. High fidelity recordings of every single sound have been made for each phase of flight/system operation.
There’s also a new cockpit camera representing the pilot’s view and it is completely dynamic. It simulates the pilot’s head movements resulting from environmental factors (runway bumps and turbulence for example) and also in relation to the flight mechanics/dynamic forces (during turns or stall buffeting). It gives the simmer a better understanding of how the aeroplane is behaving and you can feel the consequences of the pilot actions/control inputs. It’s so advanced that the view is even affected by the air density!
Summary
To summarise, MSFS 2020 will provide:
- realistic cockpits;
- a new glass cockpit engine with touchscreen functionality;
- an integrated checklist system;
- assistance for aircraft systems and operation; and
- immersive lighting and camera functionality.
Stay tuned for more articles looking at the functionality of the New Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.