DEVELOPMENT DIARY · 0.43.0
Astarojna 0.43: your cockpit, your way
A panel you build, touch and use as part of your cockpit. Version 0.43 brings together new controls, engine instruments, X-Plane integration and improvements for pilots who keep a tablet beside them.
0.43.0 is the new stable release. Features marked experimental remain in development; available commands and readings depend on the simulator and aircraft.
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Asta Deck: build your control panel
Buttons, switches, guarded switches, knobs, sliders and ignition keys share one workbench. Combine controls on a grid, choose their sizes, rearrange the panel and customize their appearance.
We revised text, proportions and touch targets for tablet use. Setup distinguishes keyboard shortcuts from simulator integration. Where the aircraft exports matching data and feedback is configured, the panel can follow changes made in the cockpit.
Continuous button activation expands the available controls. Experimental OBS integration also supports building a panel for recordings and streams.
Asta Controls: your levers in one place
Landing Gear, Flaps, Propeller, Mixture and Airbrake form a dedicated instrument. Choose the levers and their order; width follows the assembly, and height is adjustable. Multi-engine aircraft can use separate mixture and propeller controls.
Landing gear has more visible lights and its own handle. Indicators follow exported simulator state: green for down and locked, red in transit and off when retracted, where those states are available.
Flaps support configurable positions, percentages and short labels. Mechanical or digital indicators show the readings. We also improved visual response so levers follow your finger while commands travel to the simulator.
Asta Display in X-Plane: touch the aircraft panel
Compatible detached X-Plane windows can appear inside Asta Display. Choose the source for each display, preserve its aspect ratio and use touch to interact with controls in the captured window.
Each display retains its selection. Tablet navigation arrows switch pages independently from the computer. GPS, flight displays and weather radar can join your layout according to the windows provided by the aircraft.
DCS: displays and visual configuration
Asta Display also belongs to the Asta Deck family in DCS. This work includes command organization, configuration assistance and a clearer relationship between the buttons and the display.
Export still depends on the screens available in each module and its simulator configuration. The recording on this page shows real tablet use; it does not imply automatic compatibility with every DCS aircraft.
From the virtual cockpit to your tablet
Learn from the cockpit
The X-Plane assistant combines presets, command lookup and Learn from cockpit. It helps identify commands activated in the simulator and associate them with panel controls.
Known controls can receive matching feedback automatically. Otherwise, choose an available reading or leave feedback unset. Aircraft-specific logic and plugins may still require manual configuration.
Two engines, individual instruments
RPM, manifold pressure, fuel flow, temperatures and oil readings now have individual instruments with engine selection. Arrange them in two columns, compare engines and position each gauge where you need it.
Alongside the classic Astarojna appearance, a family inspired by Beechcraft Baron 58 instruments is available in X-Plane. RPM gauges use a cleaner ×100 scale. Readings depend on data exported by the aircraft.
A different attitude
The Soviet-style attitude indicator was built detail by detail: Russian inscriptions, bank scale, slip indicator and an aircraft reference rotating around its center.
The shaped aperture, bezel and finish bring the physical character of the instrument onto a screen. Decorative knobs are part of the artwork and do not imply working simulator commands.
Tablet, camera and personalization
The tablet gained overlay access, page navigation and headtracking controls. Camera, axis, sensitivity and calibration settings help adapt tracking to the device position.
Mobile headtracking still uses the browser camera at this stage. Native TrueDepth support remains future work. The Astarojna camera page for OBS offers resolution choices including 1080p and 4K, subject to device and browser capabilities.
Background colors and images complete panel customization. Build a layout around the way you fly, your commands and the instruments you want in view.
Capture that can recover
Display capture now runs in a separate process. If a Windows capture call blocks, the app can stop the capture worker and attempt recovery while retaining selected displays.
Automatic attempts are limited. If recovery fails, the computer and tablet show an error with Try again. This mechanism does not restart the simulator or the Windows capture service.
The change passed automated recovery, interface and integration tests. The latest capture fix still needs additional confirmation in real GPS/radar sessions; persistent Windows service issues may require further investigation.