A2A AccuSim Cherokee 180C is out!

[gavink42]

A2A released their new PA28-180C for both FSX and P3Dv2 today... And, what a great follow-up it is to their 172 Trainer!

This is especially cool to me, since I own a 1966 Cherokee 180 that is almost identical to theirs.

Looking forward to getting on the network with what I fly in real life!

- Gavin

[Ryan B]

How does it fly compared to yours?

Obviously we don't get a feel in FSX but are the numbers similar?

[gavink42]

I've run thru all of my normal climb, descent and approach settings. Give or take 50-100 RPM, the A2A PA28 performs almost identical to mine. Control surfaces cause the sim to behave as I would expect from this model aircraft. The effect of extending and retracting flaps on pitch is also nicely done.

I'm (still) having a great deal of pain with my Saitek yoke, and will be looking at other options for a long term solution. </Grrrr off>

The way FSX/P3D handles elevator trim is also an issue for me. If I let FSUIPC "fix control acceleration", it operates much too slowly. If I turn that option off, I don't know how fast the trim is moving at any particular moment. So I tend to overshoot my desired setting. I use SPAD, so there's hope that I can resolve it that way.

The STEC-30 operates different than many other autopilots, and A2A has modeled it perfectly. I have an STEC-40 which has no altitude hold function, so I plan to ignore the ALT functionality. Otherwise, I find the other modes are very familiar.

It's very nice to fly a sim aircraft that is laid out and operates almost exactly like what I fly in real life!

- Gavin

[Ryan B]

Thanks for the write up !

[tcarney]

Gavin,

They're pretty pricey, but if you're looking for a new yoke and an more intuitive trimming (two birds with one stone), I've been pretty happy with the Flight Illusion force feedback yoke. Since a big part of trimming is by feel (relieving the pressure on the yoke or stick), trimming without FFB makes for a lot of guess work. The yoke is solidly build metal, and fun to watch in autopilot mode. My only complaint with Flight Illusion is their support. They're not very responsive at times, which is pretty bad for a product that costs so much.

I've only flown a Cherokee once, but I'm thinking of picking this one up, just for the detail and the control surface modeling (e.g. the elevator lift during run-up). I'm hoping some day they give the AccuSim treatment to the DA40 that I fly.

[flyingdrill]

This is a great plane. I still wish that Scott had chosen to do the Warrior II or Archer II (or even later models!), as I reckon that there are more of them around, and many of us learned to fly (for real!) in these. Never mind. Yes, it would be lovely if he'd try a DA40 - which is now my favorite, but then he'd have to choose between the avgas version or the diesel! I'd like him to do the avgas version, which is more likely in the USA!

There's a very good DA42, with FADEC diesels, made for X-Plane.

[tcarney]

I'll have to dust off my X-Plane and check out that DA42. There are three DA40s available from Iris, Lionheart and Abacus. The first two are XLS models and are pretty decent (though not on the level of an A2A aircraft). The Abacus one is the TDI (diesel), but it's not that great. It feels like it was rushed and lots of things weren't modeled.

[flyingdrill]

Yes, I have the Iris and Lionheart DA40s. Not a lot of difference between them. There's actually a DA40 for X-Plane, and it flies well, but the panel is a somewhat crude analogue version. The DA42 is much better!

[Ryan B]

Alabeo is doing a Diamondstar for FSX/P3D


http://www.alabeo.com/index.php

Looks like no glass though - don't they all have G1000's in real world?

[tcarney]

2004 was the first model with the G1000. 2003 and prior were steam, usually with a GNS 530/430 combo. I think there were some early ones made with Avidyne Entegra systems as well, though I've never flown one. Very cool about the Alabeo one in development. I'll have to keep an eye out for that.