Reality Expansion Pack: The most realistic X-Plane engine ever

The Engine’s Logic

The Reality Expansion Pack features the most complex piston engine logic ever experienced in X‑Plane. It is 100% custom. It does not rely on internal X-Plane dynamics and it completely overrides the default piston engine modeled in the sim.

This big improvement is available for all the aircraft targeted by REP.

Why? Because a custom logic works to simulate all the different components you find in a real engine.

The code inside REP recreates the behavior of the pistons, the cylinders, the oil, the fuel lines, the fuel injectors or the carburetor (based on the fuel metering type), the battery, the cowl flaps, the spark plugs and all the other little things that make an engine alive.

The result is that you need to properly manage the engine. If you don’t, the engine will revolt against you, leaving you alone just when you need it more.

In fact, you have to follow the proper procedures to start it up, to warm it up and to fly it to the sky.

Just like the real thing, the engine wears out one flight after another. If you do not take care of it, such as replacing the oil when necessary, it will die on you one day or another.

The engine logic is enhanced with each upgrade. That is, with every upgrade you get more things to care about and more stuff to learn when in flight.

Engine Pimp-ups

REP’s custom engine model allows to simulate real aftermarket modifications in them sim, such as tuned exhausts to provide more power or balanced fuel-injectors for better fuel economy.

The Features

This is the list of things that REP is able to simulate within X-Plane:

1. Proper procedures for pre-heating, priming, and startup
2. Realistic engine spool-up and “roar” at startup
3. Starter overheat and wear
4. Turbocharger with automatic waste gate
5. Turbocharger with fixed waste gate
6. Turbo lag
7. Realistic engine torque
8. Correct EGT behavior
9. Perfectly matching power output (BHP) at every regime/setting
10. LOP and ROP operations
11. Spark plugs fouling
12. Interchangeable spark plugs between default and fine-wire
13. Switch between default and balanced fuel-injectors
14. Switch between default and tuned exhausts
15. Correct cowl flaps drag
16. Realistic engine vibrations (needs HeadShake)
17. Cylinders compression
18. Cylinders cracking and seizure caused by improper engine management, such as running at high RPMs when the CHT is still too low
19. Propeller movements at low speed caused by the cylinders compression
20. Fuel filter clogging
21. Fuel vapor in the fuel lines that may prevent a startup
22. The “popping” and “spitting” sounds of a big bore engine
23. Oil viscosity at different temperatures
24. Different oil types (SAE10W30, SAE30, SAE50) that can be replaced in the hangar
25. Oil filter clogging
26. Oil fluid quality reduction
27. Oil pump failures
28. Vacuum pumps failures
29. Electric pre-heating
30. Winterization kit

The Behavior

Did you know that X-Plane’s default piston engine is not as good as you may have thought when it comes to simulating a specific engine model? That is because it is designed to “just fit” every kind of airplane.

It means that it’s made out of compromises to be “good enough” under every operating condition. That is, it’s not “realistic enough” to be used to simulate a specific engine model.

This is where REP enters the game.

Every engine simulated by REP is so realistic that it has its own behavior. Something that you won’t find in the default X-Plane engine.

REP’s engines can starve on fuel vapors or be flooded by the fuel itself if not managed correctly.

Every engine outputs the correct HP at every regime set. You will get the correct fuel consumption and thrust under any operating condition.

You have to correctly prime the engine before startup, depending on the temperature of the cylinders.