The C-560XL does not include an FMC.
WHY NOT!!???
In the answer below you’ll see this type of text. Its our way of anticipating your voice. Hope that works.
If you have further questions, please post them to the Support page on X-Plane.org.
At the onset, let’s dispel any opinions expressed something along these lines:
“C-560 XL’s do not have Garmin or Avidine systems installed in them”
“I’ve never see one with a G1000‘ — or some variation of such statements.
Those assumptions are simply not true.
Add-ons are a matter of pride for most XL owners, and unlike standardized airlines or other GA aircraft, business jets by their very nature tend to be highly customized.
No two are alike.
As an example:
Seen below is an image taken from the XL Jet we often visited at Boeing Field in Washington State USA — one which we used as our “real world example study guide” to help us produce a 95% replicated, “study level” jet. — Which BTW, sells for about 1/2 the price of other “highly study level business jets” in the market that costs $100+
As you can clearly see, we placed the G1000 in the C-560XL’s cockpit in the exact spot in the X-Plane C-560XL model.
X-Plane’s Avidine sys is sub par in terms of functionality and resolution, so that’s why we used the g1000 instead.
Yeah, but, why not have an FMC in addition so we can use whichever navaid system we want to use?
We actually considered doing that, but could not because of an X-Plane limitation.
The application does NOT ALLOW 2 Navaid systems in one model. We had to choose 1.
Yeah, but, why not choose to install the FMC??!!
2 reasons:
1) As shown above there is precedent for installing glass instruments, so that was a justifiable and viable option
2) But more importantly: The FMC conversation is a no-win situation for most developers
When we read about FMC issues, opinions, requirements, conversations online and have them in-person, they generally tend to go like this:
Customer: The aircraft must have an FMC. I will not buy one without one!
Us: Fair enough. We will add one. We’ll use the default LR instrument. That will help us keep the purchase price down, reduce development complexity, and, most importantly, it’s thoroughly tested.
Customer sees a default FMC in an aircraft, and has this reaction: “Meh, it has a default FMC“
Us: Ok, we will just use the default screen, but customize the buttons/colors/lights. Will that be OK?
Customer: Meh, that’s not REAL customization; Needs to be fully customized.
So up to this point we’ve added to the purchase price and complexity, but, no worry, let’s continue down this track and develop a full custom FMC.
BTW .. custom FMC’s are very complex to build correctly, AND be bug free.
There are really only a small handful of people who can do this correctly, and we frankly can’t afford them.
But, lets simply play out the FMC-evolution story as a thought exercise, and assume that we do add a fully realistic custom FMC to the model.
After adding a custom FMC, and based on Support conversations about custom/complex FMC’s, the Customer conversation can be summarized somewhat as:
Very intimidating
It does not work like other FMC’s I’m used to; spend a lot of time on it, and not flying!
Be ready — this has a steep learning curve
I think this is a bug, because I can’t get it to do “X” (as I am used to doing in other FMC’s)
So what did this demonstrate/tell Us?..
The nature of always wanting more leads MOST FMC conversations to usually end in a “no win” situation for any model/developer due to the moving goalposts at each stage — starting from a simple “really nice if it has an FMC’s” to end with all of the above.
SO WITH THAT BACKGROUND CONTEXT, this was our decision-making approach for our choice to install a CUSTOMIZED G1000 in the C-560XL.
We started with a basic question:
What does an FMC really do???
The simple answer is: it creates flight plans (which the AP then follows)
Yes yes, agreed, it does other more complex things, but essentially and all said and done, it is a (really outdated) flight planning tool.
The next question was:
What is the best CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE for entering a Flight Plan into the model?
Based on the evidence online we saw about overall FMC experiences, (support requests, confusion, frustration, time wasted) that PREVENTED customer from getting up and flying quickly (which is a primary goal for us) — the answer was NOT an FMC based system.
We reasoned that there are many online tools which are easier/better/faster/more rewarding/fun, which can easily create Flight Plans, which can then simply be imported into X-Plane — which BTW, is often done using an FMC! And this can JUST AS EASILY be done with the G1000 — which ALSO has the features an FMC has, plus more!
So one could reasonably argue that the G1000 is actually BETTER than having an FMC in the C-560XL.
Therefore given all the factors:
1) Real C-560XL’s do have glass Nav-aid systems installed
2) X-Plane only allows 1 Nav-aid system per model
3) The FMC is a no-win, shifting-requirements conversation
4) Customers have expressed sentiments online: endlessly fiddling with FMC’s to get them set up and working is a model dissatisfaction driver
5) Custom FMC’s are highly complex, time consuming and costly to develop and deliver
6) There exist many fun/customizable/up-to-date flight planning tools online
… for these reasons, we chose to create and deliver a customized G1000 in the AirSim3D C-560XL.
THIS JETS PURPOSE AND GOAL is to provide a deeply immersive, highly realistic, get-up-and-running-so-you-can-FLY-quickly, and fun-filled flight simulation experience in a model which has up to 95% of real jets features, sounds, functions, dimensions, and look and feel AND is 99% bug free for hassle-free/non-beta-test flying. if that’s something you want, but not having the FMC in the model is a deal-killer, then we thank you for reading this, and wish you a very good day and happy flying whatever it is you fly in XP!
Please however consider this Verbatim from the Director of Safety at one charter company using the Sim at Boeing Field:
“This jet is amazingly accurate.
The effort to build details and authenticity really shines through.
We are using this model to teach junior pilots advanced decision making and risk management,
as well as chair-flying approaches to allow crews to build the familiarity and an understanding of timing needed to conduct safe operations in busy or unfamiliar terminal areas.
I highly, highly recommended it.“
“having flown the Excel a lot over the past month, I now really love it, even miss it a lot when flying other aircraft” (and the Reviewer has MANY add on aircraft to compare it to)
Quote from a Review / Beta tester
“The best aircraft of my hangar .. and I have all the other more popular biz jets and Airliners!!
Quote from a Customer in the Support Forums
All said and done dear customer, if the ONLY reason you choose not to purchase the Jet is because it does not have an FMC — while ignoring ALL THE OTHER rich and detailed systems and features and functions that this 95% real-jet, industry-using model delivers and provides, then we are truly sorry to see you go.
IF HOWEVER: you want to fly a business jet that is hassle free, 95% replicated — for 50% the cost of the most expensive biz jet on the market! AND is also 99% bug free (we do not treat our customers like beta testers) then this is the Jet for you.
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