G’day everyone!
We’re pleased to announce the release of Updates 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 for our P-38L Lightning. These updates bring a comprehensive overhaul to the flight model, featuring corrected moment of inertia values and refined turbulence response for a more natural, faithful flying experience. We've also implemented realistic Auto Lean and Auto Rich mixture simulation, ensuring engine performance and fuel consumption mirror the operational characteristics of the real P-38L. From improved high-speed compressibility modelling to better crosswind ground handling, these versions focus on delivering higher fidelity across the entire flight envelope.
For instructions on how to update your aircraft, please read through our installation guide.
New Features
- Auto Lean / Auto Rich mixture simulation - The mixture lever now properly simulates the real P-38L's three-position operation: Cutoff, Auto Lean, and Auto Rich. Engine performance and fuel consumption respond realistically to mixture setting.
Flight Model Improvements
- Major handling overhaul - Pitch, roll, and yaw behaviour has been comprehensively retuned for a more responsive and natural flying experience across the speed envelope.
- Higher-fidelity aerodynamics - Increased the CFD resolution for a deeper simulation of flight dynamics.
- Refined flight dynamics - Moment of inertia values have been corrected for all three axes, giving the aircraft more faithful rotation and handling characteristics.
- Improved turbulence response - Roll, pitch, and yaw stability and gyro damping have been individually tuned for more natural behaviour in turbulent air.
- Better crosswind ground handling - Crosswind forces at zero to low speeds have been reduced, making takeoff and landing rolls in windy conditions more realistic and controllable.
- Enhanced control surface behaviour - Elevator, rudder, and aileron effectiveness and response has been retuned for smoother, more authentic stick feel throughout the flight envelope.
- Improved compressibility modelling - Elevator authority degradation at high speed has been refined for more realistic dive behaviour and recovery.
- Retuned flap settings - All three flap positions have been adjusted. Flap 1 (8 degrees) now functions more effectively as a manoeuvring flap.
Engine & Systems
- Improved engine temperature simulation - Oil, coolant, and carburettor temperatures now heat up and cool down at a more realistic, gradual pace.
- Correct oil temperature on startup - Oil temperature now initializes to a proper warm value when starting a flight with engines already running.
Bug Fixes
- Cockpit instrument interaction in MSFS 2024 - Fixed a clickspot issue that made certain interior clickables difficult to interact with in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
- Unwanted roll tendency with gear retraction - Fixed an incorrect center-of-gravity shift value on the right landing gear that caused the aircraft to roll when retracting the gear.
- Left engine oil cooler simulation - Corrected the oil heating calculation so the left engine oil temperature now behaves correctly.
- Oil cooler switch tooltips - Swapped AUTO/MANUAL labels on both left and right oil cooler switches so the tooltips match the actual switch positions.
Community Spotlight
Finally, we want to give a huge shout-out to one of our community members who has been doing some incredible work creating replicas of various P-38 cockpit components for use within MSFS. The level of detail and craftsmanship they've put into these replicas is truly impressive. Be sure to head over to their Facebook page to see the project in action!
Update Availability
Update 1.2.0 is already available to Marketplace users, and update 1.2.1 will be available in the coming days!
We hope you enjoy the update, and thanks all for your support!
- The FlyingIron Team
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