215: Turn Off FIP Buttons

Received a question yesterday asking how to remove the text of the six programmable buttons on the left hand side of the Flight Instrument Panel (FIP) so that one could make use of the whole 320×240 area on the device.

It is easy to achieve by just removing the content of the Name command inside the LogiFlightSimX.xml file under C:\Program Files (x86)\Logitech\FSX Plugin directory as shown below.
(For systems using the older drivers from Saitek, the file is called SaiFlightSimX.xml and it is located under C:\Program Files (x86)\Saitek.)

214: The C172 Trainer is still a Migraine

Update:  I’ve just got my refund back from A2A.  There wouldn’t be a solution to the FIP gauge issues, at least not for the short future.  Frankly, the product is quite good.  What a pity!

Despite the excellent design and graphic renditions,  the A2A C172 Trainer is really a migraine when coming to the Saitek gears.  Gauge reading problems encountered have been reported on its support forum but so far non solution is reached.

Followings are images showing the RPM readings on Saitek’s FIPs, iPad’s RF Cockpit and FSi C172 Cockpit.   The readings on all these platforms are consistent.   But not the A2A C172 one.

RPM Readings shown on FIP gauges and iPad’s RF Cockpit

213: Avoid Messing up C172 EZDok Profile

The newly released A2A C172 Trainer is quite troublesome.   Despite the various Saitek accessory incompatibility issues waiting to be solved, the aircraft can mess up the EZDok Camera settings of the default C172 as well.   Because the aircraft is using an atc_model name of C172, which is exactly the same as what the default C172 is having.

If you are unaware of this and

Help to Make A2A Aware of the FIP Problems

Below is a comment sent to me by James (jsrickel) this morning:

It might be a good idea if we all leave feedback on the A2A forum mentioning the gauge read error. I haven’t yet experienced it myself since my flight simulator computer is not complete, but I trust what you are experiencing and, no doubt, will experience the same when I get it up and running, unless A2A fixes the problem. We can back you up by helping to make them aware of the problem.

It’s a good idea since so far I see no one but me raising the FIP reading issues in the forum.   If so, the chance for getting a fix in the coming update patch is minimal.

If you have FIPs and the aircraft, or if you are planning to get it, let’s leave a comment about the problem at A2A’s C172 Training Support Forum here to raise the company’s attention.

212: Darn, I Paid to be a C172 Beta Tester

I am a bit exhausted in “fixing” the various issues of the C172 Trainer in the last few days.

Obviously, I am not the only one facing the dilemmatic situation. I particularly like the saying from jgraddon who put down on the support forum about the situation that he faces:

It seems I may have paid $49.99 for the privilege of being a beta tester once again.

It is exactly how I feel.

211: A2A C172 Trainer First Impression

Just purchased the A2A C172 Trainer after Matthew Porter who notified me that the aircraft is now available from its store.  After flying it for about an hour, the impression that this C172 gives me is sharp and responsive. Graphics is stunning. Also simmers can access many information via pressing the [Shft] + number keys.


Unfortunately, the aircraft doesn’t recognize some of the FSX functions via the buttons on Saitek panels or FIPs or by pressing the keyboard.

News: A2A C172 Manual Available

A2A Simulations has just set up a download link in its forum for the Pilot’s Manual of its coming C172 Trainer for people who are interested in the aircraft.   Check out the link here: Accu-sim C172 Trainer – Pilot’s Manual.  The 100-page manual contains a lot of information about C172.   The release date of the aircraft should be coming soon.

Update: Matthew Porter reported that the aircraft is now available:

http://www.a2asimulations.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=56

210: Maps – FTX Northern Ireland

Just purchased the FTX Northern Ireland to complete my UK collection after thinking for quite a while.  Followings are updated network links for my UK Google Earth maps. If you have installed the same links from previous posts, you will find the Northern Ireland data already included.

Airports: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25018674/Google%20Earth%20Shared/EU%20-%20UK%20Airports%20FTX.kmz

POIs: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/25018674/Google%20Earth%20Shared/EU%20-%20UK%20POIs%20FTX.kmz

As always, it is recommended to just COPY the URLs and add them via Network Link in Google Earth so that updates can be immediately downloaded when available.

News: A2A C172 Trainer Development Videos

Came across these two videos from A2A Simulations on Youtube.   Quite impressive.  Worth a look if you haven’t seen them.