We are happy to announce the release of REP 5.0.2 for the PAE Addons G36 Bonanza.
This update moves the G36 directly from REP 4.8 to REP 5.0.2. Therefore, this is not a small incremental update. It is a major step forward.
The Second Aircraft Updated to REP 5.0
This release is an important milestone for the REP ecosystem.
The A36 Bonanza was the first aircraft released already based on REP 5.0.
The G36 Bonanza, instead, originally shipped with REP 4.8.
With this update, the G36 becomes the second aircraft fully aligned with REP 5.0. Both Bonanzas now share the same technical foundation and simulation philosophy.
All the other REP aircraft will follow, one by one, and update to the new version.
REP 5.0 as a Platform
REP 5.0 is not just a feature update.
We redesigned the internal architecture to make all systems more consistent and interconnected. Every subsystem now interacts with the others in a coherent way. Therefore, engine behavior, sounds, vibrations, and failures always remain aligned.
REP 5.0 is also the foundation for future aircraft. This update brings the G36 fully into that new generation.
Better Performance Through a Cleaner Architecture
REP 5.0 does not only introduce more features. It also improves performance.
By removing old and unused code paths and simplifying internal logic, REP 5.0 is lighter than previous versions. Many operations are now more efficient, and several systems require fewer internal updates per frame. As a result, the simulator spends less time managing REP systems, even though the simulation itself is more detailed.
This means better performance, lower overhead, and a cleaner foundation for future development.
Deep Engine Simulation: The Continental IO-550
With REP 5.0, we cleaned up and simplified the internal engine code. Over the years, many features were added to REP engines, and part of the logic naturally became layered and harder to evolve. With this release, we removed obsolete and inefficient code and rebuilt the engine model around a clearer and more coherent structure. This allows all engine subsystems to interact more consistently.
These improvements are clearly visible in the Continental IO-550. This engine has been deeply simulated in REP since version 3.0. Its behavior did not change in philosophy, but REP 5.0 makes it more coherent and predictable across all operating conditions.
The Continental Continuous Flow Fuel Injection system has always been modeled as in the real engine. Fuel flow depends on throttle position and engine RPM, without automatic altitude compensation. This kind of behavior cannot be reproduced correctly using Plane Maker alone. By fully overriding the default engine, we have complete control over how fuel flow, mixture, and engine response interact.
The same applies to the turbo-normalized configuration. Switching between normally aspirated and turbo-normalized setups does not rely on predefined tables or simulator tricks. Both configurations share the same underlying engine logic, with pressures, temperatures, and turbo behavior emerging naturally from the simulation.
REP does not tweak X-Plane’s default piston engine. It replaces it entirely. Each cylinder of the IO-550 is simulated individually, cycle by cycle. Power output, temperatures, vibrations, and wear all come from the same internal model.
You may often read claims of “custom engine models” in many add-ons. In practice, most still rely on X-Plane’s internal engine logic. With REP, the engine is fully overridden via sim/operation/override/override_engines. This gives us full control of the simulation and ensures that engine behavior comes from physics and internal state, not from layered corrections.
Turbonormalized Engine: Deeper Integration in REP 5.0
The turbo-normalized option was already available before REP 5.0.
With REP 5.0, we significantly improved how the turbo system integrates into the engine model. Pressures, temperatures, turbo RPM, and thermal behavior now interact in a much more detailed way. Throttle, mixture, wastegate, and exhaust energy all influence each other correctly.
This update also includes fixes and refinements up to version 5.0.2. Engine temperatures such as EGT, CHT, and TIT now behave as expected in the turbo-normalized configuration.
Improved Air Conditioning System
REP 5.0 also improves the air conditioning system simulation.
The cabin thermal model is fully simulated. The A/C condenser door is animated. The belt-driven compressor applies a real mechanical load to the engine. The blower adds electrical load to the system. Dedicated sounds simulate both the blower and the compressor.
Ambient conditions and ventilation affect system efficiency. Therefore, managing the A/C correctly matters, especially on the ground and during climb.
Engine Vibrations and HeadShake Integration
Engine vibrations in REP do not come from a generic camera effect. They come from the engine itself.
In REP 5.0, vibrations are a direct consequence of what happens inside the cylinders. Combustion quality, firing order, and engine smoothness influence the vibration profile in real time. Therefore, the aircraft feels different when the engine runs cold, when you run very low RPM, when mixture is not optimal, or when a cylinder does not behave perfectly.
With version 5.0.2, we further improved the HeadShake integration. REP now drives HeadShake in a more precise and stable way, especially at low RPM and during transitions such as throttle changes, prop adjustments, and power reductions. This gives you a clearer feedback loop: you can feel when the engine runs in a comfortable range and when it starts producing the kind of roughness you would avoid in real operations.
This also helps with training good habits. For example, you will immediately notice when you keep RPM too low for too long on the ground, or when the engine is not happy with your mixture setting. The cockpit does not just look alive. It reacts to engine physics.
Sounds, Visuals, and General Refinements
This update also includes several refinements:
- Improved engine sounds
- Enhanced propeller visual effects
- Better flap and fuel pump sounds
- General polish and consistency across the aircraft
Updated and Improved User Manual
The user manual received a major update.
We reorganized its structure, expanded the content, and improved the graphics. The manual now reflects REP 5.0 systems and workflows more clearly and consistently.
Free Update for All Existing Users
As always, this update is free for all current users.
You can update the aircraft using the SkunkCrafts Updater.
Alternatively, you can download the full installation package again from the X-Plane.org Store and reinstall it from scratch.