Howto:Add instruments to a cockpit

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Adding Instruments to existing models

Many of the aircraft offerred for download on the Flight Gear Aircraft Download page are detailled and complete. Some models, however lack instrumentation, and in many cases only the basic instruments are available.

Fortunately, adding new instruments is a relatively easy task. I have done this a few times myself, and the biggest difficulty is actually placing the instrument accurately, not to get it working. I have added a DME unit to the Beech 1900D and also an ASI to the DHC-8-300Q.

For aircraft that are already released under the GPL licence, instruments can be re-used in other aircraft. (Check this )

Adding instruments consists of a few major steps:

1. Identify the instrument needed to be added. Search the web for images and descriptions.

2. Locate an aircraft with a similar instrument

3. Copy the instrument files into the folder of the aircraft you want to update

4. Edit the file that specifies the instrument and its location.

An example

Let's update the instruments of the Dash8-300Q for a start.

The existing aircraft, version v20101217 from the version 2.6 aircraft download page has the following set of basic instruments ( Radios will be covered later)

• Air Speed Indicator (ASI)
• Altimeter
• Artificial Horizon

We can see that our aircraft is lacking the following

• Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)
• (certain other instruments that will be covered later)

Let's add the VSI. Open the Beech 1900D aircraft folder and locate the VSI instrument under the models folder. There should be an RGB or PNG image file with the dial of the VSI and other files starting with VSI. Copy these files to the instruments folder of the Dash 8.

Next we have to edit the file specifying the location of the instrument. This is in the dash300Q.xml file or similar under the Models folder. Locate the section listed as instruments.

Now for the interesting part. Locating the instrument is the most difficult part, and is often confusing. There is a shortcut, however, as FG allows you to create several copies of the same instrument at different locations in the cockpit or on the panel.

We will use the ASI as the reference point. Add the VSI on top of the ASI for the moment.

ASI location points:

Result: (picture)

External Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_instruments