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    Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX Improvement Mod - Image 1

    Description

    It is a community mod for the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, which aims to fix many of the issues present in the stock version. This is the continuation of the mod published by Magraina here. Magraina stopped working on the mod, I will try to keep working on it as far as I can...  Feel free to contribute to this mod as well. Create a fork and create a pull request! Discussion about this mod takes place in the official MSFS forum thread.

    The mod isn't working? This is usually due to a conflict with another mod in the community folder. The best thing is to remove all other mods and then add them one by one to see what causes the conflict. If you think that you found a legitimate bug or something that is missing, please describe and submit it here. Do not forget about a detailed and exact reproduction scenario. Saying that a feature does not work, usually is not enough to reproduce and fix the issue.

    Engine and Flight Model
    - Corrected Different Values according to POH
    - Reverse thrust is strengthened and has a noticeable effect on the plane
    - 4 minutes of engine overstress (operating above max torque limit) causes the CAS message about metal chips in the oil and increases the probability of engine failure. The average time of engine failure after metal chips appearance is 100 minutes. The event is random so you may not experience engine failure if you are gentle with the throttle. If the engine is kept overstressed the probability of engine failure increases. Each second of keeping the engine above the torque limit decreases the expected engine failure time by 8 seconds.
    You can disable/enable engine failures in the MSFS Assistance Options.

    Aircraft Handling
    - More control while taxiing, tighter turning circle
    - The throttle lever has been improved and can work in two modes:
    normal mode - where the controller axis moves the throttle lever from the idle position to full power. It is the default mode set during the first load of the aircraft.
    expert mode - where the controller axis allows to set the throttle lever from full reverse through idle position to full power. The idle position is in the middle and it has a small range of dead zone implemented that makes the throttle stick to the idle position for a small range of controller input. That helps to set the idle position without too much struggle.
    You can change the throttle lever mode by assigning a button to the THROTTLE REVERSE THRUST TOGGLE event. The throttle selected mode of the throttle is remembered between flights.
    - The emergency power lever has been implemented in a simplified way. When used it overrides all throttle settings. Regular throttle is having no effect until the Emergency power lever is set back to normal position.

    Systems & Avionics
    - Works with Stock G1000 and WT G1000 NXi Avionics
    - Added CAS annunciations, Systems Page, improved engine readouts, fuel indication
    - The cruize torque bug does not longer disappear for RPMS slightly above 1900
    - Avionics Reversionary Mode Enabled
    - Additional Voice Alerts
    - Autopilot and instrument fixes
    - Yaw Damper Working
    - More accurate start-up
    - All panel potentiometers work
    - Improved lighting and textures
    - Added some inoperative switches

    Electric System
    The electric system of Cessna has been modified to reflect the real aircraft configuration. The battery is connected to an always-hot battery bus. The Master Battery Switch disconnects the battery bus from the main power distribution bus of the aircraft. Interior cabin lights are connected directly to the battery bus and are powered independently of the master battery switch position. A pilot can switch on the cabin lights and there should be enough ambient light in the cockpit to operate without a torch.
    Cessna is equipped with a combined started-generator unit. The unit works in starter mode if the engine is below 46% Ng, and in generator mode for Ng above 46%. The generator is connected to the power distribution bus of the aircraft through a contactor. The gen switch allows disconnecting the generator's contactor if required by emergency procedure or to check the operation of the standby alternator during the runup.
    The startup switch allows the initiation of the engine startup procedure. The start switch operates only if the engine is below 46% Ng, if the engine operates above 46% the starter switch does not interact with any aircraft systems. Putting it to the start position powers the engine igniters, disconnects the generator contractor, and powers the engine starter. The starter is disabled automatically when the engine reaches 46% Ng. After reaching stable engine operation pilot can put the starter switch to the off position. It disables the ignition system and connects the generator contractor.
    The starter is one of the most power-demanding components on the aircraft. The battery provides the power to start the engine in most realistic scenarios. The current drawn by the starter depends on the external temperature. For temperatures below -20C the starter takes 3500W while above 20C the consumption drops to 2500W. The minimum voltage required to run the starter is 24V.
    The Mod improves the battery, generator, and stand-by alternator current indications on PFD/MFD. A negative value of the battery current indicates that the battery is discharging. A positive battery current means the battery is charging. The charging current is dependent on the battery current capacity. The indicated charging current decreases to zero with the battery reaching full capacity. However, for simplicity, the charging time is not adequate and is usually much shorter.
    All knobs used to regulate the light intensity also impact the light current consumption. The dimmer the light the less current is drawn from the battery or generators.

    Anti Ice System Alpha state - testing needed

    Anti Ice system has been extended. The Cessna simulates the existence of the fluid-based anti-ice system which is distributed over an aircraft body to prevent or minimize ice formation.
    The tank for anti-ice fluid can hold 20.8 gallons of the liquid and its level can be monitored on PFD/MFD below other engine parameters
    Anti ice system can be put to normal, high, and max anti-ice mode which gradually increases the amount of anti-ice fluid distribution. The first switch allows putting the system into Normal or High mode. Max flow can be enabled by a spring-loaded momentary switch. It works for 120 seconds and then the system returns to either normal or high mode. Similarly, the Windshield switch allows to enables the distribution of anti-ice fluid on the front glass. Unlike in a real airplane, the windshield anti-ice system works for 120 seconds when triggered.
    In the norm and high anti-ice mode, the anti-ice fluid pumps work in cycles of 10 seconds on followed by 10 seconds off. In high icing conditions, putting the anti-ice system does not affect the aircraft. It is to simulate the need of switching the icing to high mode. The high icing condition area has been presented below on the chart as gray area. In the Max flow mode, the system operates continuously consuming most anti-ice fluid per minute.
    In case of failure of the primary system, the backup switch allows using of a backup pump. If the backup switch is turned on the two primary anti-ice switches do not affect the aircraft. The system works in high mode with the additional distribution of fluid on the windshield.
    because of the simulator limitation, the anti-ice system cannot work only using electric power. Anti-ice system will work only when the engine is running. Link
    In high icing condition stall sensor can become inoperational if not heated. After 5 minutes of ice accumulation, the stall sensor either silently stops operating or becomes permanently triggered. The way it fails is random each time. After failure, the only way of recovery is to enable the stall sensor heater. Melting down the ice does not happen immediately, it takes between 60 - 120 seconds for the stall sensor to become operational again depending on the amount of ice accumulated on the sensor.

    Credits
    Based on the work of C208-MSFS2020-Fix, msfs2020-C208-Improvment-Mod and dgtlanlg/C208B-mod
    Thanks to everyone who has contributed, and to PilotTrev for sharing his knowledge and first-hand experience.

    Known Issues and Limitations
    Anti Ice fluid is refilled only at the start of the new flight
    If your Garmin screen is dark use the avionics knob to turn the brightness up
     
    Compatibility
    - Based on Sim version 1.29.30.0 (SU11)
    - Users are recommended to use the mod together with Working Title's G1000 NXi (available on Sim Marketplace).
    - The mod was not tested with VR at all. The compatibility with VR is unknown.
    - When used with Black Square C208B Analog Mod you will hear continuous FIRE ALARM. To work around the problem remove C208B-mod\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_208B_GRAND_CARAVAN_EX\sound\C208B Fire Alarm.wav file 
    - Not tested with other mods which modify the C208 Grand Caravan EX
     
    How to install
    Delete any previous versions.
    Extract the Zip Archive
    Copy the "C208B-mod" folder into the Community Folder.

    Comments(93)

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    3 months ago

    To anyone still looking for this mod, I have taken this mod and am updating it to fix the listed issues from the comments. I have already removed the wildly unpopular control axis changes and fixed most of interior issues, lights and such. Please check my profile for an updated version here shortly

    7 months ago

    MSFS 2020

    I added these two lines to the [AUTOPILOT] section of systems.cfg. They are the recommended settings in the MSFS SDK, although not the defaults. I find that they make the transition smoother when turning on the autopilot.

    pitch_pid_reset_mode = 2
    roll_pid_reset_mode = 2

    Path to systems.cfg:

    C208B-mod\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_208B_GRAND_CARAVAN_EX

    9 months ago

    Hi everyone—hope you're doing well!

    I'm working on enhancing the C208B Caravan mod (Improvement Mod) and the logic for triggering the Fuel Selector OFF Alarm is working perfectly (battery + PFD1 on, both selectors OFF → alarm after 5 seconds).

    The only remaining issue is the sound: currently, it plays the Fire Test switch click rather than the actual alarm audio. I’d love to trigger the correct alarm sound—without animating or relying on the Fire Test switch.

    Does anyone know the exact Wwise Event name or SimVar/L:var trigger for the "Fuel Selectors OFF" alarm sound?

    I tried using >K:WWISE_EVENT, '...' in UPDATE_CODE, but without knowing the correct event, I can't make it work.

    Any hints or pointers would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!

    10 months ago

    avionics knob and other light knobs dont work.

    almost 2 years ago

    Unusable mod with the camera being inside the avatar's head. Won't get fixed as this hasn't been updated in 2 years!

    almost 2 years ago

    Good Mod, But ive noticed that the cruise power setting is only getting me 130KTS IAS, it should be higher.

    almost 2 years ago

    I tried for an hour now. I can't get the throttle to stop at the idle position. It always goes back to full reverse when put furthest back.
    I'm stuck in the so called "expert mode". I assigned buttons to the THROTTLE REVERSE THRUST TOGGLE and unassigned again. I assined buttons to the HOLD THROTTLE REVERSE THRUST and unassigned them. Throttle is still going to full reverse. I played around with the sensivity and Deazone bars.. still no luck. Unfortunatelly I gotta give up.

    about 1 year ago

    Exactly my issue with my Honeycomb throttles. Hate the way the throttle act in this mod, to bad because otherwise, this seems like a great realism mod.

    almost 2 years ago

    If you get the pilot face in your face, you can use the following workaround to solve the problem (thanks to Ardewald in GitHub):

    Copy the file from the default Asobo aircraft folder, and paste it into the mod folder, overwriting the existing file.

    NOTE: There is a "208B_GRAND_CARAVAN_EX_INTERIOR_LOD00.bin" file. This is NOT the file you want. There are two files with the same name, but different extensions. You want the .gltf file. Verify this is the one you are copying.

    COPY THIS FILE::
    “[MSFS-root]\Official\OneStore\asobo-aircraft-208b-grand-caravan-ex\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_208B_GRAND_CARAVAN_EX\model\208B_GRAND_CARAVAN_EX_INTERIOR_LOD00.gltf”




    PASTE FILE INTO THIS FOLDER AND CHOOSE TO REPLACE/OVERWRITE::
    “[MSFS-root]\Community\C208B-mod\SimObjects\Airplanes\Asobo_208B_GRAND_CARAVAN_EX\model\208B_GRAND_CARAVAN_EX_INTERIOR_LOD00.gltf”

    over 1 year ago

    worked for me TKS

    almost 2 years ago

    Great mod, but similar issue to what others have reported with the throttle when using a gamepad. The throttle can only go from reverse to idle to full power with no in between. Is there any fix for this?

    almost 2 years ago

    Perfect mod! One small issue I noticed is that the 'altitude selector knob' is muted when turning. Does anyone know how to solve it? I believe it is something simple on the command lines.

    almost 2 years ago

    for anyone wanting to use this mod,
    Replaced (208B_GRAND_CARAVAN_EX_INTERIOR_LOD00) file in community FROM same file in Official (to remove cockpit pilots and fix lighting issue)

    about 2 years ago

    Unusable. Avatars in a cockpit, also doesn't work with Working Title G1000

    almost 2 years ago

    Me as well. My eyes have become the avatar's eyes. Now I know what it's like to see the world through someone else's eyes>

    about 2 years ago

    Is it still relevant for the newer SIM versions? as they updated a lot the the SIM physics and updrafts and airplane behavior, etc. is this Mod not going to contradict the avionics of the newer Sim Updates (SU 14, 15, etc.)

    about 2 years ago

    Completely unusable at the moment! Pilot and Co-pilot models appear inside the VC which cause the camera to clip inside the pilots head. Which block the view of the panel, and makes it impossible to click on anything!

    about 2 years ago

    Unfortunately, this mod still has the issue of our POV being inside of a pilot's head. Unusable at the moment.
    MSFS 2020MSFS 2024

    Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX Improvement Mod

    This is a community mod for the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX, which aims to fix many of the issues present in the stock version and enhance the functionality to properly emulate systems existing on the real airplane. We are aiming to get as close as possible to reality and accuracy to POH.

    Downloads5K
    Version2212.2
    File Size19.41 MB
    Published3 years ago
    Updated3 years ago

    User Reviews

    3.9

    14 reviews

    5
    43%
    4
    7%
    3
    7%
    2
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    1
    14%

    More Information

    Simulator
    MSFS2020
    Sub-CategoryImprovement Mods
    Affiliation
    Cessna 208 B

    Version History