Aircraft Review : Epic E1000 - G1000 Edition by Aerobask

[Stephen]

 

Aircraft Review : Epic E1000 - G1000 Edition by Aerobask

 

Like a lot of developers, then Aerobask have had to rethink their range of aircraft to migrate to the dynamics of X-Plane11. In the past between the X-Plane versions the changes were large, but in most cases an update or two would cover the conversion and the overall aspect of the design would in someways not really change. But for the migration to X-Plane11 and certainly to X-Plane11.30 then that earlier transfer does not really work..  the differences are just too different and are most aspects of the design, from the modeling, the performance and the PBR effects and also the now minimum requirement of 4K textures and all...  and plus on top of all these new elements it is that all have to be far more efficient and computer friendly. This has to a point made the aircraft migration of any developer's past range of aircraft a slow and tedious process and like with the new dynamics of 11.30 as you sort of go suddenly again back to the bottom of the ladder with all these newer updated dynamics.

So it is all to the good of course as the product is usually far more dynamic and sensational, but the process means that even now in the two or so years since the release of X-Plane11, then it is that most developers are still ticking of their past aircraft, and spending time more so doing this than in creating new aircraft.

 

But the above process can be used to your advantage as well. As no matter at the time in that even if you have created your best work, there was always something better you could have done, but then couldn't change because it required usually a new design from scratch. So in reality although these aircraft are the same original designs as the pre-X-Plane10, they are also completely new...  and from the ground up.

 

And so it is with Aerobask's Epic E1000 which was released originally just under four years ago (E1000 Review), and at the time the aircraft was the state of the XP10 art. This new version is the state of the XP11 art.

 

 

It was back then so brilliantly created, but the four years in simulation development now shows us how much has really changed within that period, and as a yardstick the differences between the simulations.

 

 

So this new Epic E1000 from Aerobask is even if it looks the same it is in reality a completely new aircraft from the original, no updates, no adjustments...  but a completely brand new design, and so you know that feel straight away as it is all very new and different.

 

 

The Aerobask developers themselves would admit they alone have come a long way in four years, always very good, always very innovative... you now usually buy on the Aerobask name alone without even looking at the details... and for any developer that is a very high reverence to achieve, but Aerobask do also deliver, again and again to achieve that prominence.

 

And the new E1000 certainly also delivers on that promise. Modeling is now perfection, no bumps or 3d odd angles and that is a certain smoothness of design that captures the difficulty of creating a featureless composite aircraft. It took years to perfect it, and here it all is now in it's glory.

 

Certainly the PBR effects go a very long way in creating the feel and reflections that bring that sleek almost dolphin shaped design to life, and no matter what the visual angle it always looks glorious.

 

Glass and chrome are also now hyper realistic and not faked liked in the past, metal variations of materials are also beautifully represented.

 

 

X-Plane users have come to expect a lot, and you are even "spoilt" for this short of hyper realism... but the developers deliver it, so why not absorb it and revel in the greatness of it all.

 

The trailing link undercarriage looks standard from a distance, but the detail is evident when close up.

 

 

Cabin Detail

"Careful" and not to trip over the latch on the door while boarding...  Internally in the cabin it is an odd layout, just in the rear a four club seating but with a huge space between the seats and then again a space between the passenger and pilot seats in the front... you automatically say "You could easily fit another row in here".

 

 

Renowned for their cabin fit-outs and materials, then Aerobask don't disappoint in here with the E1000 either. Detailing is excellent, with modern materials and that feel of executively. The attention to detail in here can be overwhelming.

 

 

The cockpit is almost the same layout, but it is in reality a very different look and feel from the original. The modeling detail is that so much smoother and the materials are light years in difference. You have to also really admire that paneling curvature and molding, and even the trim changes colour to the external livery...

 

 

It is a very modern cockpit and far removed from the older Beechcrafts and Pipers.... this is all slicks and curves.

 

 

There are also some significant differences between the two aircraft... the old and this new version. The biggest change is on the stub console.

 

 

The original version was dominated by the aircraft's menu panel and above the MEGGiTT autopilot and Garmin GMA350 radio unit...

 

 

....  now there is a "Remote Control Key Pad" for access to the G1000 avionics suite, which is very similar to what you use on the Cirrus aircraft. The MEGGiTT autopilot is also gone and replaced by a annunciator panel, but the Garmin GMA350 radio unit installation is still the same.This GMA 350 is really the only external avionics unit now in the aircraft. Note the extremely different design and feel of the yokes.

 

Laminar Research G1000

As there was no decent G1000 glass system around four years ago. The various developers came up with a wide range of ideas to create in most cases a hybrid avionics system to replicate the Garmin suite. Aerobask tried in someways the hardest to create a functional and realistic system.

 

Aerobask created a Garmin G900 Primary Flight display (PFD) for each pilot, and the center display (MFD) as a modified X-Plane GNS530 unit. And note these G900's were only an accurate representation of a real G900 even then. It worked, but the MFD was a bit of stretch in more ways than one. But at the time it was actually very good.

 

 

Since that time Laminar Research have created as default a full G1000 avionics suite, and so the "G1000" moniker on the this aircraft reflects the install of that default system on the E1000. But a bonus here is not only is this G1000 more authentic, more powerful... but also adapted for use with the Remote Control Key Pad and also includes the GFC700 autopilot.

 

One thing also becomes very apparent is the install of the three displays. The centre MFD is more pronounced and set more forward than the two PFD displays set either side...   and yes it was the same set up on the earlier version (I checked). But here it is far more noticeable if even with a more visually perspective. The earlier version came across as just three displays in a line.

 

 

It is outstandingly done, as you feel the installation of the displays are very realistic, and it is highly noticeable in flight.

 

Primary Fight Display

The Laminar G1000 is now quite extensive, but there are a few differences between this one and the older version, some good and some removed. The display can be opened in a window via pressing the small aircraft symbol in the centre of the heading rose.

 

 

The main PFD has the the split horizon which is here to the darker even dreary brown and blue of the default look... of which I don't really care for, the older version was the far nicer gradient version, and this bland default background display can be adjusted as Carenado did on their Cessna 172SP G1000.

 

Secondly is the optional Engine Information System (EIS) is only available on this version in the PFD in the Emergency mode (see below).

 

 

The G1000's PFD main flight instruments that are all correct with the artificial horizon, speed and altitude tapes, bank roll scale and roll pointer and HSI (horizontal situation indicator), course and heading pointer which are all in one. The FD (Flight Director) elements are also shown. Other features include "Inset" map, alerts, REF/TIMER, NRST, XPDR, both VOR 1 and 2 pointers, DME and Wind (3 options) ... top banner includes Radio NAV (left) and COM (right) Autopilot info (centre). A feature is that you can adjust the radio frequencies directly with a mouse scroll wheel while holding the cursor over the frequency you want to adjust. Another pop-out adjuster panel can also be used on like the "Altitude" (press arrowed) and Baro pressure.... press the green band to insert the number.

 

Multi Functional Display

The centre MFD is quite different from the hybrid forebear. The pop-out selector is also quite hard to find as it is not the PFD centre aircraft symbol, but a hard to find touch spot hidden in the top banner under the GS (arrowed below left).

 

 

The side panel Engine Information System (EIS) Engine readout covers TRQ (Torque), NP (low-pressure rotor RPM), ITT (Inter Turbine Temperature), NG (N1 for Turbines). If these readouts look different it is because they are. This is a custom set of engine performance readouts created by Aerobask to be more authentic to the E1000 avionics readouts. If you want the default, then can have that via the menu (below right).

 

 

Lower EIS shows Fuel Flow GPH (Gal per hour), Oil Pressure and Temperature, Electrical Bus AMPS and Volts, Fuel quantity (GAL) is for both tanks (145.5 Gal per tank) in a scale. 

More engine readouts can be accessed via the "System" button. Fuel readouts are top with Fuel Flow GPH, Fuel Flow PPH (lbs per Hour), Fuel Pressure (PSI) and quantity left and right tanks (lbs) - Fuel Totalizer shows lbs Remaining and lbs Used. Totalizer amount can be increased, decreased or reset

 

 

Lower is the Electrical Gen A (amps)and ALT A (amps) and Bus 1 Volts and Bus 2 Volts. On both EIS displays are also the Aileron position marker, Rudder position marker, Elevator position marker and Flap position UP-10º-40º 

 

Pressing the RED button upper right on the pilot's PFD will change the displays around for emergency flying and bringing the EIS onto the PFD and moving the PFD to the centre in then replacing the MFD (got that?)

 

 

Flightplanning

The really big advantage is using the "Remote Control Key Pad" to create route planning via the "FPL" key (arrowed). Input is easy via the keyboard even in VR (Virtual Reality)

 

 

My route is from EGKK (Gatwick) to ELLX (Luxembourg) and you can easily assemble the routing data, however I chose to create the route in SimBrief and then import it directly into the planner. The bonus is that you have the options of adding in easily via the "PROC" button any Departure or Arrival routes (SID/STAR) or a certain approach that you would like. The bonus is that the added on Dep or Arr segments don't mesh up your central route planning either and it all fits in seemlessly together. You can set the display to either "Narrow" or "Wide" orientations.

 

 

The days of data planning and input frustration are well and truly over.

 

Lower Panel

On the left side shoulder panel is the main switchgear. The E1000 aircraft has a unique way of switching on the various systems...  the three rows of buttons are set out to be used at the various points of getting the aircraft ready for flight and in switch order.

Top row is the "Pre-Start" Second row is the "Pre-Taxi" and the lower row is the "Systems". The layout although arranged by the same rows of buttons as the earlier E1000, but the sequence of activation of the items are actually arranged differently, so you will need to relearn the buttons sequence.

 

Pre-Start includes - Batteries (Batt 1 & Batt 2), Avionics Master, Fuel Pumps (Left & Right) and Starter Gen selections

Pre-Taxi Includes - Igniter, Start, Stby Alt, Fuel Autoselect and Pusher

Systems Includes - Auto Pilot, Trim, Press Air,  Emerg Press, Dump Valve and Emerg Oxygen

 

 On the right is the "LIGHTS" panel the lighting panel. Items include Ice (wing light) Land and Taxi lights, Strobe and Navigation lights and a Beacon (a new light).

Another lower button panel is your "ICE" buttons for De-Ice Boots, Propeller Heat, Window Heat, Inertial Separator, and the Pitot Heat (Pitot Stall HT).

 

Bottom panel are the circuit breakers and they are all active, pull a breaker and the item stops working. Right side shoulder panel are the cabins Air Cond and Cabin Oxygen controls and more active circuit breakers. Both yokes can be hidden, but only together and not independently.

 

Left side of the Remote Control Key Pad is the gear lever and on the other the flap selector switch. Pedestal is in two layers (beautifully moulded) with the top section holding the Throttle, Propeller (feather) and Condition levers (Throttle has power "Max/Idle" settings and a "Beta" reverse thrust setting).

 

 

There are four buttons above with "warnings" on them, so you don't touch them, the manual says that you NEVER touch them. Lower section has the lovely crafted Fuel Switch for OFF- LEFT- RIGHT (Tanks).

 

On the floor there is a Manual Gear Extraction feature... and it works. Again amazing detailing and functionality.

 

 

MD302 SAM

The MD 302 Standby Attitude Module (SAM®) made by Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics and the unit is placed left of the PFD.

 

 

This is a set of backup instruments, but in reality an avionics suite by itself. Upper panel is an artificial horizon, turn rate and compass heading... lower panel is the Speed and Altitude (Baro centre). The single knob does all the adjusting and selection.

 

Turn the knob to adjust (arrowed) the Baro (note the Baro on the SAM is not connected to the G1000, so you have to adjust the pressure manually here as well). Press the knob and turn to adjust the MD302 brightness. Hold the knob down for a full menu of adjustable settings.

 

 

Above the MD302 SAM is the instrument and forward spot cockpit lighting knobs.

 

Menus

There are four ways to access the E1000 menu. One is from the pull down plugin menu, Two is from the 'a" tab lower left of your screen, Three is the Epic Logo centre panel and Four is via the iPad in the side storage bin. The menu is laid out in the new Laminar XP11 pop-up style and there are four tab selections with : Ground, Options, Sounds and About.

 

 

Ground : Is both a menu and a basic Weights and Fuel setup in one. Fuel sliders top will set the amount of fuel required in both kgs and Gal and show the fuel weight...  A side note here on refueling the E1000. You have to be really careful to balance out the fuel on the E1000, both on the ground and in flight.

 

If you don't then you will get this, yes this is an extreme example, but it also shows how sensitive this aircraft is to the loading of the fuel and weights. Well done though.

 

 

You can select passengers (pilot is free but he still counts in the aircraft weight). With a Co-Pilot, R&L Passengers, R&L Children, baggage is None, 60kg and 120 kgs...  and all weights of loaded Fuel and passengers are shown in detail with full all up weight and Maximum weight allowed. There is no CoG scale or graph. All passengers are shown and the bags are shown on a luggage trolley, but they are not visible internally and only externally, which is a shame as the modeling of the people is very good.

 

Static elements include: Chocks, Engine inlet/outlet covers, pitot covers, towbar and loads of flags... but they are all or nothing. So it makes closing up the aircraft a bit awkward with say the towbar attached or if you just want the chocks after a flight? The Ground Power Unit (GPU) is now a more heavy duty design than on the earlier E1000, it is very nice... but also extremely noisy if the door is open. Button will open the single door or via the internal handle.

 

 

Options : Are mostly for selections of the G1000 and custom features, like the change of the custom to default G1000 engine display, but a few are still experimental. You can choose to keep the pop-ups inside the screen (VR) and switch on/off the instrument and window reflections. Top of the menu is the reliability of the electrical system via the circuit breakers, or you can reset them all in one push of the button.

 

 

Sounds : The sound panel is just a carbon copy of the X-Plane11 sounds panel and if you adjust it here, then you adjust it there and vice-versa, with just two added buttons with the "Enable Sounds" and "Enable Speech" selections.

 

About : The final selection is a credit page on who created the aircraft.

 

VR iPad AviTab

One of the great features is the iPad and it located in the side storage bin. Obviously created for VR interaction, it is highly useful for the 2d generation as well as It works with the Avitab (Aviators Tablet) plugin. It works quite well in a basic form with mostly for access to stored pdf files and note taking, but internet access would be a nice feature. My use here was with the Navigraph Chart access that is now available (make sure you have AviTab v0.3.14).

 

 

You login and create access to your Navigraph account, it is all seemless and works extremely well...

 

 

You can bring up all your charts and airport information to have it all by your fingertips. My only wish is for the tablet to be in both landscape and Portrait modes because most charts are in the portrait orientation.

 

 

But it is highly usable as you can (in 2d mode) move the tablet out of view (it goes smaller) or keep it in eyesight when taxiing or flying.

 

 

As noted the aircraft's menu can be accessed on the tablet as well.

 

 

Flying the Epic E1000-G1000

Starting the 1200 HP Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67A engine is a simple as following the keys in order... Pre Start row done, fuel on, mixture lever to idle... then follow the Pre-Taxi row of buttons until you get to START...  easy peasy.

 

 

Marvel at the propeller as it moves ready from it's feathered position to half way, then that familiar PT6A whine comes in from the forward engine compartment, it does take a fair while to start, run and then settle into that smooth turbine idle speed and sound. The E1000 does come with all the latest fine-tuning from Laminar of this turbine engine, which has been a focus project for most of X-Plane11. This includes the newer 11.30 performance details with separate 2-stage free power turbine and 1-stage gas generator turbine internals now also available on this engine in X-Plane11 (output is now divided between both stages, were as before the output was only one stage). Of course it sounds incredible, looks incredible as the powerful exhaust flows out past and down the side of the aircraft, and courtesy of the particle effects.

 

 

You wait and let the output numbers settle down, then you are good to go.

 

 

With the Throttle at idle and the COND at idle, I still needed to put the PROP position half-feather to keep a decent taxi speed, if not the E1000 will run quickly away from you. Flaps have to be set at the takeoff position...

 

 

...  view out of the cockpit is excellent as there are no obstacle or blind spots in your view point, but the reflections are quite strong.

 

 

On the original E1000 had the stick like undercarriage that took some getting used to, that version was harder in give (hence the solid stick feel) than the far better set up here as the undercarriage has certainly more give, but it is still tricky until you get used to it... as you still sit still tall and narrow on the wheels. So forward movement needs to build very slowly until really the aerodynamic forces give you more control, then you can give the throttle more power and also still have directional control, and powerful is that PT6A on an aircraft of this size, so use it wisely.

 

 

Rotate is around 85 knts and the aircraft will climb out easily under full power, 2000fpm is also easy but if you want to really go for it then the official climb rate is around 4,000 ft/min...  "wow". This aircraft climbs and goes up like hell even with a fair weight aboard, so you have to be in control of the machine and not the other way around.

 

 

So instead of being cocky and flying the E1000 like fighter pilot, then try to fly it as a professional and stay well within the boundaries, and there is a reason for this. I have my X-56 joystick quite well set up and refined, so like the spindly undercarriage the aircraft in the air feels the same, a little nervous, any strong wrist action will make the aircraft do sharp movements... so you have to keep everything really very intimate, slow and precise. As it is like an aircraft balanced on top a sharp stick, and it will move to any position very sharply. Like bank and you go down wing very quickly, so you tune into it but do it slowly, but you need focus and use slow movements to guide the E1000 in an easy and thoughtful way. Yes so that is very strong aspect of the flying in the E1000... focus.

 

 

Just pressing AP (Autopilot) and the NAV on the G1000 MFD left panel won't activate the Autopilot? There is still another button on the "Systems" menu before it will activate... ditto the PRESS AIR that seals the aircraft for the high altitude flying.

 

 

The environmental cabin controls are on the right side, and yes they really work via the 11.30 Oxygen feature.

 

The G1000 flightplan is very comprehensive and the Laminar G1000 Manual is well worth the download and study. But if you are using the VNV function and importing a flightplan (SimBrief) then make sure ALL the waypoint altitudes are correct and filled in, instead you could get almost a straight up and then straight down climb and descent, you need to control the flightplan profile correctly. Here I am checking and adjusting my descent into ELLX and then seeing the changes in action.

 

 

The Epic is a turbine propeller alternative to a small four seater private jet, so the numbers have to stack up to compete with the same performance, with cost being the major factor. Maximum speed is 325 kn (374 mph; 602 km/h) Max cruise which seriously fast for a prop aircraft and Cruise speed in Eco mode is 265 kn (305 mph; 491 km/h). Range: is 1,385–1,650 nmi (1,594–1,899 mi; 2,565–3,056 km) at either max cruise - eco cruise with a Fuel Burn of 300 kn (560 km/h), FL340: 40–60 US gal (150–230 l)/per hour and the Service ceiling of 34,000 ft (10,000 m) can be well within the reach of jet transport. Impressive.

 

 

The window reflections can be quite heavy in certain lighting conditions, but overall they are very realistic.

 

 

Lighting

The lighting is very good to brilliant but limited in the ways you can adjust it. Those big G1000 displays put out a lot of candle power, but you need them bright to read the screens. All in the G1000 displays and switch instrument lighting can be adjusted, but only globally and say focused just on the pilot's side. Cabin is all LED lighting and two forward lights cover the cockpit...

 

 

 

...  the cabin overhead LED's are amazing and are all adjustable, but only directly. And floor strips of LED lighting is in front of pairs of seats and the door entrance when open.

 

 

External lighting is good but the standard layout... Two wing edge LED landing lights and a single nose wheel taxi light. There is a left wing Ice light, belly rear beacon and the navigation and strobe lighting.

 

 

For all it's high speeds the E1000 is very good at low speeds...  you can set the flap to 10º and set your speed at a low 148 knts, which is great for aligning up to a runway and the aircraft is rock solid (180 knts is the 10º max).

 

 

 

Want to go even slower and you can, 130 knts is the limit for 40º flap (down) and you can then reduce your approach speed to an amazing 100 knts  - 97 knts... not even a Cessna 172 can go that slow? Can it?

 

 

 

You can keep this position and speed and control the descent via the throttle and the adjustment of the pitch, it is all very hands on but very controllable.

 

 

Your aim is to just let the E1000 sink slowly... those stick legs can be quite stiff if you try to go in to fast or down too quickly, yes there is more give in the trailing edge gear, but you mustn't try your luck too much. You don't need a lot of flare either, just let it down via the speed throttle control.

 

 

85 knts is the touchdown speed and the stall speed is a low 61 knts.

 

 

There is a built in BETA reverse, and the best way to access it is to use a key input "Toggle Beta Prop" from the X-Plane menu. It works, but I haven't used it enough to see how really effective it is. Using the brakes is your last option, and if you have runway space then use it to run off the excess speed and keep control. Overall I was very impressed with the low speed approach, it gives you time to adjust and fly the aircraft with time on your side.

 

With most aircraft in this category (mostly price wise here) in that these are very finely tuned aircraft need time and practice to get the very best out of them, certainly brilliant for flying, but they require certain skills and professionalism to extract the full potential from their dynamics.

 

 

Liveries

A wide selection of twelve liveries gives you plenty of choice and use, but mostly based in Europe and USA... they are all high quality and 4K refined with the Metal skin COBALT and the magic N333AK the highlights, N410LT is the default. There is a White (for painters) and Lo-res liveries that are also available through Aerobask website.

 

 

Summary

It is an Aerobask aircraft... many will purchase on the name alone. That is for a quality aircraft, huge features, brilliant ideas, massive internal detail and materials. So does the E1000 - G1000 Edition live up to all that high acclaim... of course it does.

 

This the second version of the Epic 1000 from from Aerobask, but discount the similarities right there, because this is a complete ground up redesign of the aircraft, and for not only X-Plane11 but for X-Plane11.30 as well... it is all in here, and it shows in every dynamic of its PT6A turbine performance and also real world latest certification prototype performance and in it's complete dynamics of the perfect use of PBR in glass, reflections the sheer quality and depth of its design. X-Plane11.30 boots-based wings and stabilizer de-icing system and working oxygen system (11.30 again) and functional breakers are also part of the in-depth systems.

 

Features are clever and well thought out, including the various tools required for Virtual Reality use and even the use of AviTab. Menus are clean and well thought out, but the static elements are all grouped together with limited flexibility.

 

The title says G1000, and that is the main feature of the E1000... the Laminar Research G1000 avionics suite and tools. And very good it is if you are willing to study the manual in depth to get the very best out of the avionics suite. There are no compromises now unlike with the earlier G900 based system, it is good and works well in here. Only point is the dark and bland default PFD Artificial Horizon screens, not a fan, and they spoil the customised side of the aircraft and a surprise they were installed here, and I have seen a better AH on the Laminar G1000. The other avionic features includes the MD302 backup instruments and GFC700 autopilot...  nice.

Flying dynamics are good to excellent, but the aircraft requires skill to get the really best return out of the aircraft, then the E1000 will return the favor back in full. Sounds are also fully dynamic with full FMOD spatial surround sound.

 

A comprehensive review details a very comprehensive aircraft... that is nothing new for Aerobask, they deliver... they deliver brilliantly - Highly Recommended.

 

_______________________________

 

 

The Epic E1000 - G1000 Edition by Aerobask is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store here :

 

Epic E1000 G1000 Edition

 

Priced at US$34.95

 

Features :

Aerobask quality 3D model

• Completely reworked and re-scaled exterior and interior model
• New 4K PBR textures
• 11 stunning liveries out of the box
• Color-matching interior based on livery
• White (for painters) and Lo-res liveries available through Aerobask website
• Smooth and VR-friendly manipulators

Professional Flight model

• New flight model by X-Aerodynamics
• Tested by actual owner Gianfranco Somma of Somma Aviation
• Matches latest certification prototype performance

High quality sounds

• full FMOD environment by Daniela Rodriguez Careri
• samples from real PT-6 engine
• in-game volume control without pausing the sim

Enhanced Laminar G1000

• Integrates new XP11.30 GFC700 autopilot
• Custom MFD PT-6 engine parameters (on PFD in reversion mode)
• Optional mouse, scrollwheel and dialpad support for easy data input
• Optional keyboard support for dialpad and flight plan input
• Custom detachable popups with fixed ratio and all optional features above
• Note: some of the optional features may need VR-mouse at the moment

Deep system emulation

• Realistic engine startup procedure
• Implements new XP11.30 boots-based wings and stabilizer de-icing system
• Implements new XP11.30 oxygen system for emergencies
• Functional breakers, with configurable reliability
• Fully simulated MD302 Standby Attitude Module

Special effects

• Rain and windshield icing using librain plugin from Saso Kiselkov
• Dynamic reflections
• custom heat blur effect on both sides
• custom engine twin-contrails

Other

• Avitab tablet, with integrated options panel
• Detachable and VR-friendly 2D options panel
• Preferences, fuel and payload saved between flights

 

Requirements

X-Plane 11.30+

Windows, MAC or Linux - 64 bit Operating System

4Gb VRAM Minimum - 8Gb+ VRAM Video Card Recommended 

Current version and Review Version : 3.22 (Feb 12th 2019)

 

Installation and documents:

Download for the Epic E1000 - G1000 Edition is 446.70 Mb and the unzipped file is deposited in the aircraft "General Aviation" X-Plane folder at 521.40 mb.

Avitab (Aviators Tablet) requires the download of the plugin and for the Navigraph charts you need a Navigraph account.

 

Documentation:

Huge amount of documentation, with full manual, (including training flight), Laminar G1000 manual, Performance, checklist and guidelines included. Documents for MD302 and AviTab are also included. A real world document (Get to) "Know your PT6A" is also part of the package.

 

• Avitab integration.pdf
• E1000_2019_manual.pdf
• Epic E1000 G1000 Edition Checklist Normal.pdf
• Install Recommended settings.pdf
• Performance Guidelines Epic E1000 G1000 Edition.pdf
• Quick-Doc MD302.pdf
• Know_your_PT6A.pdf

 

______________________________________________________________________

 

Aircraft review by Stephen Dutton

16th February 2019

Copyright©2019 : X-Plane Reviews

 

(Disclaimer. All images and text in this preview are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)

 

Review System Specifications:

Computer System: Windows  - Intel Core i7 6700K CPU 4.00GHz / 64bit - 16 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo 512gb SSD 

Software:   - Windows 10 - X-Plane 11.31 (v11.30 is required for this aircraft)

Addons: Saitek x56 Rhino Pro system Joystick and Throttle : Sound - Bose  Soundlink Mini

Plugins: Environment Engine by xEnviro US$69.90 : WorldTraffic 3.0 Plugin - US$29.95 : Avitab (Aviators Tablet) - Free

Scenery or Aircraft

- EGKK - London Gatwick Airport v2 by Pilot+Plus (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$21.00

- ELLX - Luxembourg Findel Airport XP11 by JustSim (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$19.80

 

 

 

[olderndirt]

As always a thorough and excellent review.  Had the original and used the discount - excellent decision.  It always was a sweet flyer but now looks the part.

[Wzrdjr]

I purchased the Epic E1000 but regret it.  It's a beautifully modeled plane, but that beauty comes with a major hit in FPS, even on a modern machines with a high end video card.  I can't get above 10fps with this plane loaded, when every other high end purchased plane I have is 30fps or greater.I purchased the Epic E1000 but regret it.  It's a beautifully modeled plane, but that beauty comes with a major hit in FPS, even on a modern machine with a high end video card.  I can't get above 10fps with this plane loaded, when every other high end purchased plane I have is 30fps or greater.

[Stephen]

It's not the Epic E1000...  I checked and my framerate is fine and on par with conditions?

 

 

I'm pulling 37 frames, which is normal? I would check you are not over your graphic card limits, if so pull the textures back a notch. my number is 3338mb textures set at high, so that would still be below a 4K card? If not I would try a complete redownload and a new install... SD

[Robder]

@ Wzrdjr Are you on a Mac? i have noticed very decremental results due to the Librain effects. Switching off Librain usually fixed the problem...

[Wzrdjr]

On 5/6/2019 at 5:22 PM, Stephen said:

It's not the Epic E1000...  I checked and my framerate is fine and on par with conditions?

 

 

I'm pulling 37 frames, which is normal? I would check you are not over your graphic card limits, if so pull the textures back a notch. my number is 3338mb textures set at high, so that would still be below a 4K card? If not I would try a complete redownload and a new install... SD

 

So glad you are getting such a great FPS with the Epic.You must have an amazing machine.  

 

I consistently get that framerate on every other plane (such as FlightFactor, SSG, Carenado), but the Epic is stuck around 9-10fps.

 

My machine is a configured with a Xeon 3.0 Ghz (turboboost to 4.5) with 10-cores (so 20 hyperthreads), a 2 GB SSD, 32 GB of RAM, and a Radeon Pro Vega 56 with 8 GB of VRAM.

 

X-plane's settings...   

Anti-aliasing is less than half.

Number of World Objects is Medium.

Reflection Detail is High, not max.

There are no other AI aircraft.

 

So, respectfully, I think it may have something to do with the Epic or at least it's configuration.  Even with the reflections off in the Epic's options, I'm not breaking 10fps.

 

Thanks for your input though!

 

9 hours ago, Robder said:

@ Wzrdjr Are you on a Mac? i have noticed very decremental results due to the Librain effects. Switching off Librain usually fixed the problem...

 

Librain is not and has never been installed.  And the refections are all off in the Epic options.  So that can't be it.  Thanks for the suggestion though!

[Stephen]

No your computer is far better and more powerful than mine? it should eat it....  try a new download, or check your log, tried pulling out all your plugins (except the basic required) because that is not correct? and check AviTab? Stephen

[ilankrt]

I am simulating X-Plane11 on my iMac high end (end 2015) and getting also low framerates between 11 - 15 fps. My graphic parameters are in the middle of range. Astonishing enough that the simulation itself is running smoothly. I think that simulating under real weather condition using SkyMAXX and my recording software are the main reason for it.

 

Epic1000 new version is not the best aircraft model on X-Plane market, it is the best of the best - no doubt !  

There is nothing to add or to wish (or maybe a landscape view on PFD) 

[frp529]

How can I enbale rain effect. I checked rain effect option on panel of E1000 already. But it's still not  activated.

[Stephen]

Librain plugin goes into the XP Resources/plugins folder, but it doesn't work anyway in the Beta 11.50.

[RobbieRob]

It is a nice aircraft but I do not agree with your assessment of the flight dynamics. In my opinion the flight dynamics are poor. It is overpowered on ground. The aircraft is very unstable especially in pitch. Elevator trim is exaggerated. Performance might be correct according to the numbers but flight behaviour is very nervous. 

 

I do not have any experience flying the real aircraft but I dare to say that it should no behave like this. In other words, nice eye candy, poor flight model. 

[rocky]

I have the Aviatek G1000 hardware and able to hide G 1000 bezels on default aircraft but I am unable to do so with the `Epic 1000.  Any advice would be welcomed on how to hide the bezels.