Classic British Flight Sim

Swanoir wrote: ↑

31 Oct 2025, 17:52

Noticed one tiny quibble, the ADF frequency can’t be tuned after the decimal place. Was trying to tune 212.0 but couldn’t change from 212.5.

Hmmm...I just checked at this end and yes you are correct that the decimal values cannot be changed for some reason. I even checked the XML code for the ADF radio inside the .cab file and the code just has lines to change settings for the whole digits and not the decimals.

I am not sure if Roman coded all the radios but I suspect he 'borrowed' the basics for them from a Cal Classics aircraft (with full permission of course) as I seem to remember a discussion about the radios at the time. As there is no code to even control the decimal wheel I don't know how it displayed anything other than a zero.

While typing this I had a thought (dangerous at my age I know! ). Is it possible that this is a left-over from a previous aircraft you were in where the ADF radio had the ability to change the decimal digits and then the Boxcar picked up the last settings. I know Roman coded a persistent 'memory' function into the Boxcar where it remembers the settings of multiple 'options' (see p.39 of the manual) so that the aircraft is in the same state it was in when you left it but I don't know if that includes the radios or if the sim does that between different aircraft.

Could you possibly run a test for me to confirm my theory? If you have an aircraft that does have the ability to change the decimal digits could you set it to a frequency 'XYZ.0' where 'XYZ' is a known and valid frequency and then switch to the Boxcar and check if the Boxcar ADF radio also now shows a frequency of 'XYZ.0'. If it does then I can only assume that the Boxcar radio is picking up the values of the last used settings for the ADF radio.

It won't fix the problem of not being able to tune the decimal digits but to be honest I can't ever remember tuning an ADF frequency in either sim (FSX or P3D) that ended in anything but a zero!

Thanks for the reply Larry! I’ll fire up the sim now and run a test as per your suggestion.

So I loaded up a Heron at Miami and set the ADF to 260.0 (Florida Keys). Switched to the Boxcar and it did indeed inherit the frequency. Still won’t allow me tune the decimal but to be honest it’s no big deal, I hardly ever bother with the ADF in my simming anyway. Still doesn’t detract from a great plane, having a lot of fun with it

Good to know for future reference and thanks for testing it for me.

Sorry. Just one more thing (channeling my inner Columbo). I’ve noticed very significant compass drift over longer flights. I’ve been trying to post a screen grab since yesterday but keep getting it wrong At the end of my flight the compass showed 210 degrees but the GPS was 180.

Which compass? The gyro compass on the panel (both pilot side and co-pilot side) or the whisky compass on the windshield support?

There is a long known issue with both FSX and P3D (and probably all the sims before) where you can suffer from compass drift and/or barometric pressure drift over longer flights and it is generally recommended that you re-calibrate the sim to your current location BEFORE you start any descent profile especially if you are planning on an assisted approach (ILS or GPS) to the destination.

There are two keys that are assigned by default to do this and you should press both (in any order) to re-set both your compass and altimeter barometric pressure (Kohlsman value) before you start down. The keys are:

The 'B' key which resets the barometric pressure value on the altimeter to the current sim value (think 'B' for Baro) ...

and ...

The 'D' key which resets the 'heading gyro' (think 'D' for direction).

Once you have pressed both of these keys your sim will have the latest information from your current position which means that your descent will be accurate. If you want to strictly follow the rules and use the sim ATC (I never tune to the ATC frequency and land where I want, when I want) you can use the given airport barometric pressure value to double check the accuracy of your altimeter.

I have used both keys for so many years now that it is written into my muscle memory to hit 'B' and 'D' before starting down on ANY flight, no matter how long or short it is.

Here is a list of all the 'default' key bindings for FSX (P3D is probably identical).

https://aviation.allanville.com/misc/fs ... -shortcuts

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the reply Larry and apologies for the late response. We’re in the middle of a house move at the moment so I probably won’t be able to fire up the sim for a while, but when I do I’ll try your suggestions.

No problem and good look with the house move (I hate moving!)