Garmin G5

The Sim Innovations Garmin G5 is an interpretation of the real G5 unit build by Garmin. It is in no way a training aid for the real Garmin G5 flight instrument!

G5 primary flight display

G5 horizontal situation indicator with VOR bearing pointer active

General description

The Garmin G5 panel consist of two instruments, the G5 screen (either PFD or HSI) and the bezel. Together they form the G5 in it's original aspect ratio (4:3). You can scale the panel as a whole to make it fit in your instrument panel, the default panel size is 782x822 px. The instruments in the panel were made in twice the size, assuring the image quality stays to an optimum. You can also use just the G5 screen, without the bezel, and control it with hardware inputs. You can either use one G5 as PFD or HSI, or have both a PFD and HSI in your panel.

 Garmin constantly updates their G5 software. We try to keep track of these changes, but you will definitely see discrepancies. Also note that G5 layouts and settings vary between aircraft, and that our G5 settings and layouts might not correspond with what you expect. 
 We have to find a setting and layout that works for most cases, that means that we have to make concessions.

PFD

Regular primary flight display with autopilot information on top. On the left you'll find airspeed, which can be configured as Knots, Miles per hour or Kilometers per hour. On the right you'll find altitude in feet and vertical speed in feet per minute. On top you will see the heading indicator, with a magenta triangle indicating ground track, and a either green or magenta indicator (VLOC or GPS) for the navigation source. Each of these indications have their own autopilot bug corresponding with the autopilot setting. The roll indicator has two green triangles indicating a rate one turn based on true airspeed. On the bottom you will also see the classical turn rate indicator, together with a slip indicator ball.

HSI

The HSI display shows a CDI, with a GSI on the right side when vertical guidance is available. Switching between sources is done in the aircraft itself. On the top left you will see the wind vector when the OAT probe is enabled. On the top right distance is shown in Nautical miles when the selected source is GPS. The CDI can be overlay-ed with a single and double bearing pointer. The source for these bearing pointers can be selected from the menu.

Menu

Press the dial to bring up the menu, and rotate the dial to scroll trough the menu. Press the dial again to activate the selected menu item. Once having selected for example the heading, the value is changed by rotating the dial. Pressing the dial and holding it pressed will synchronize with your current value. So for example pressing and holding the dial with heading change selected will synchronize with your current heading. Pressing the dial again will hide the current setting window.

Rotating the dial with the menu hidden will set the barometric pressure on the PFD, on the HSI it will set your autopilot heading. Pressing and holding the dial with the menu hidden on the HSI , will synchronize the autopilot heading with your current heading.

Battery indicator

Both the PFD and HSI simulate having a battery build in. When the bus power is removed, the battery indicator will show up, indicating the remaining battery life. Once the bus power is back on, the battery will slowly charge.

Single and double cue attitude indicator

User properties

• Attitude indicator: Either single cue or double cue. As shown in the example to the right.

• Operational mode: Single or double G5. When using one G5 in your panel, select single. This will trigger certain features, like going back to PFD when flying in unusual attitudes.

• Initial function: Should this G5 behave as a PFD or HSI.

• G5 Device number: This number should correspond with the user property setting for the bezel. And is used when you have more than one G5 in your setup.

• Airspeed: The airspeed unit. Knots, Miles per hour or Kilometer per hour. The selected unit is also displayed on the airspeed tape. Ground speed, true airspeed and wind data is always in Knots.

• Barometric unit: Inches of mercury, Hectopascal or Millibar. Displayed on the PFD. Barometric pressure settings are directly linked to the altimeter, this isn't desirable, however this is the only option due to the X-Plane autopilot being linked to the altimeter. Maybe we will find a workaround in the future.

• Temperature unit: Fahrenheit or Celsius. This is used for the outside air temperature if you have this enabled.

• Vertical speed scale: Low: vertical speed up to 1500 ft/min. High: vertical speed up to 3000 ft/min.

• OAT probe: Turning this on will give you outside air temperature, true airspeed, wind vector and density altitude (on ground).

• Rate of turn triangles: Turning this on will show green triangles indicating rate one turn on your roll indicator.

• Speed markers: Each speed marker can be set individually with a minimum speed of 20. Setting a speed below 20 will hide the speed marker.

• V speeds: Speed color markings on the speed tape. VSO (Stall Speed with Landing Configuration), VS (Stall Speed), VFE (Flaps Extended Speed), VNO (Normal Operating Velocity) and VNE (Never Exceed Speed)

Hardware

The G5 instrument has hardware properties, allowing you to connect buttons and a rotary encoder. Note that this instrument is not compatible with the RealSimGear G5. If you want it to be compatible, then please contact RealSimGear.