A MobiFlight custom firmware device for ESP32 that implements a Garmin G5-style glass cockpit Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) for MSFS 2020 or 2024. This device provides a high-fidelity, physical glass cockpit display using an ESP32-S3 microcontroller with a 4-inch LCD display. Based on real world G5 manual, this is a completely stand alone device that only requires MobiFlight to interface with MSFS. The display and logic is completely contained on the ESP32.
This code supports both HSI and PFD in a single code base. Use MF to select display configuration. Ability to switch between displays at run-time (like the real device) is not implemented.
UPDATE Nov 2025: You may now select the device from the menu. There is only one custom device type (CCs CC_G5). It will remember which device type it is when selected from the menu, or use the MF Message "Device Type" to control it from your MF config. NOTE: The message IDs have now changed to support the single device/dual mode setup. Your old .mcc files will not work. There is a new Community file set in the Community folder and new sample MF .mcc files in the MF folder. Use G5 ROOT CONFIG.mcc for a single device or G5 AIO.mcc for duals. The create_dual_g5_config.bat can be used to duplicate the G5 ROOT CONFIG.mcc for dual device. However you will need to update with the SN of your devices.
Both displays get around 16fps. I initially thought this was unacceptably slow, but in reality it's fine. Smoothing of input values and sub-pixel rendering allows smooth, realistic movement of dials and tapes.
This project is pushing the bounds of the memory on the ESP32-S3. While the device has ample PSRAM, using it is much slower than main memory and the fps drops quickly. Currently we are out of room for new sprites.
PFD (top) HSI (bottom) as the C172 intercepts the Localizer on an ILS approach.
More photos and video below!
- Attitude Indicator: Real-time pitch and bank display with artificial horizon
- Flight Director: FD command bars showing autopilot guidance
- Airspeed Indicator: Tape-style airspeed display with V-speed markers (Vr, Vx, Vy, Vg, Vno, Vne)
- Altitude Indicator: Tape-style altitude display with autopilot target bug
- Vertical Speed Indicator: Real-time VSI
- Slip/Skid Indicator: Turn coordination ball with turn rate indicator
- CDI (Course Deviation Indicator): Horizontal and vertical deviation bars
- Glide Slope Indicator: ILS/GPS approach guidance
- Autopilot Status: Visual indication of active and armed autopilot modes and parameters
- V-Speed Configuration: Customizable V-speeds via on-screen settings menu
- On Screen Message Indicator Identifies if connection to MF is lost
- **Encoder click knob adjusts baro by default or click to enter menu and adjust other parameters
- TO DO
- Target AP VS bug on VS scale.
- Target AP speed for FLC on speed tape
Improve blinking of AP and Altitude on status changeDone.Add battery status and logicDone.Add startup/shutdown sequencesDone.Add "Out of range" chevrons that point to horizon in unusual attitudesDone. Also fixed inverted flight displaysSwap between HSI and PFD at runtimeDone.
- Compass Rose: 360° rotating compass with true heading display
- Heading Bug: User-adjustable heading target with indicator
- Course Deviation Indicator: Full CDI with to/from indicator
- Glide Slope Display: Vertical approach guidance
- Bearing Pointers: Dual bearing pointers supporting:
- GPS waypoint bearing
- VOR1/VOR2 radials
- ADF bearing
- Configurable via internal menu system
- Navigation Source Display: GPS/NAV1/NAV2 indicators with color coding
- Ground Speed & Track: Current groundspeed and GPS track
- Distance to Waypoint: Nautical miles to next GPS waypoint
- Wind Display: Wind speed and direction arrow
- Approach Indicators: ILS/LOC/GPS approach type display
- OBS Mode: Manual course selection support
- TO DO
- Add battery status/logic
- Add startup/shutdown sequences
- On-Screen Interactive Menu: Rotary encoder navigation
- Adjustable Parameters:
- Heading bug
- Course/OBS selector
- Bearing pointer 1 & 2 sources
- V-speed settings (Vs0, Vs1, Vr, Vx, Vy, Vg, Vfe, Vno, Vne)
- HSI or MFD display
- Virtual MobiFlight Encoders and Buttons
- Allows dynamic use of the rotary encoder without messy state management in MF
- High-Performance Graphics: LovyanGFX library, 480x480 display.
- Accurate colors: Magenta for GPS, Green for VOR/ILS
- Multi-Layer Sprites: Complex overlays for no-flicker refresh
- Smooth Animations: Low-pass filtering for heading and deviation displays
Established on the Localizer
RNAV approach
PFD Menu
HSI menu
- ESP32-S3 DevKitC-1 with PSRAM (4MB or 8MB recommended)
- 4-inch LCD Display (480x480 or compatible resolution)
- Guition ESP32-S3 4827S043C (recommended--built in ESP32-S3 with clean wiring)
- Search AliExpress for "guition 480x480". Should be around $25 US.
- Alternative: Standard 4-inch SPI LCD with proper pin configuration
- RP2040 Microcontroller (Raspberry Pi Pico or similar) - for rotary encoder interface
- See this repository for more information https://github.com/ccrawford/CC_G5_Slave
- This can be skipped if you are using the Guition screen and don't need the power button
- LED and power button are operational
but startup/shutown logic and battery are not implemented
- Rotary Encoder with push button. Whatever EC11 variant you have will work.
- Ring-lit push button I'm using a 9mm ring-lit white led momentary push button.
The LCD connection depends on your display module. For the Guition screen, SPI and control pins are
pre-configured in 4inchLCDConfig_Guition.h and 4inchLCDConfig.h
- Guition Screen Configuration This is more fully described in the https://github.com/ccrawford/CC_G5_Slave repo
- SDA: GPIO1
- SCL: GPIO2
- INT: GPIO40 (interrupt from RP2040)
- GND
- Standard Configuration:
- SDA: GPIO15
- SCL: GPIO7
- INT: GPIO16 (interrupt from RP2040)
- GND
- RP2040 code is at https://github.com/ccrawford/CC_G5_Slave
- Pins are in that code.
- Rotary encoder, and LED+Button connects to RP2040
- RP2040 acts as I2C slave at address
0x08 - Sends 3-byte protocol: encoder delta, encoder button, extra button
- Receives LED status indication code.
- 5V USB power sufficient for most configurations. USE A POWERED USB HUB.
- LCD backlight may require up to 300mA at full brightness
- VSCode with PlatformIO extension
- Git (for cloning repository)
- Python 3.x (for build scripts)
- MobiFlight Connector v10.x or later
- Custom community device configuration (see Installation)
Display Configuration
- CC_G5/4inchLCDConfig_Guition.h - Guition screen settings
- CC_G5/4inchLCDConfig.h - Standard LCD settings
- CC_G5/G5Common.h - Common definitions and settings structure
Build Configuration
- platformio.ini - Core MobiFlight configuration
- CC_G5/CC_G5_platformio.ini - CC_G5 specific environment
- get_version.py - Version management script
- copy_fw_files.py - Distribution package creation
Helper Scripts (in Scripts directory)
- deploy.py to copy the board and device files to your MF Community directory
- various .png -> .h helper scripts to create sprite bitmap header files
Project Structure
CC_G5/ ├── CC_G5/ # Main device code │ ├── CC_G5.h/cpp # HSI implementation │ ├── CC_G5_PFD.h/cpp # PFD implementation │ ├── MFCustomDevice.h/cpp # MobiFlight integration │ ├── G5Common.h # Shared definitions and menu system │ ├── CCi2c.h/cpp # I2C encoder interface │ ├── Community/ # MobiFlight connector files │ │ ├── boards/ # Board definitions │ │ └── devices/ # Device message definitions │ ├── Images/ # Font and bitmap resources │ └── Sprites/ # 16-bit color sprite images ├── platformio.ini # Build configuration └── _build/ # Generated firmware and packages
Adding New Features
- Modify device classes in CC_G5/CC_G5.cpp or CC_G5_PFD.cpp
- Add message handlers in set() method
- Update corresponding .device.json with new message definitions
- Test with PlatformIO
- Generate distribution package
Links
- GitHub Repository: https://github.com/ccrawford/CC_G5
- MobiFlight: https://www.mobiflight.com