Your favorite GA single?

[Turner]

Hi Svilen,

Thank you for the info. I've read a bit about the Airfoil 172, honestly am interested in something a bit faster.

I hadn't thought much about the RMI... not sure it's something I'd really use that much! Good for practice, though.

I am actually leaning toward the Centurion... not sure about Turbo, but other than that, it seems to cover a number of the aircraft I actually fly, including the retract.

Anyone here using the Centurion? I'm also curious about its ground handling as the DA40 is awful.

I'll add my vote to any of the 3 REP enhanced planes (Carenado + Simcoders REP expansion pack). I prefer the F33 Bonanza to the other two but that's probably personal

Also the AirfoilLabs 172 is outstanding and close to A2A level (or on par with it after they finish the hangar/maintenance/faliures module in their next update).

The SoulMadeSim DHC-2 Beaver is also quite enjoyable.

If you're into rotorcraft, the Dreamfoil Bell 407 is the best civilian helo I've flown in any sim.

P.S. Something to consider: the F33 Bonanza has a dual RMI. The V35 and the C210 don't have one. It's a nice extra instrument to have in IFR and makes those DME arcs a lot easier

[Turner]

I love both of those - have only seen in videos though (and I think some of the PE demonstration videos use that Baron.)

For now, I'm trying to simulate the real-world stuff I fly so that I'm not distracted with learning new aircraft systems on top of figuring out everything I need to do in IFR but I can tell you that Pilatus is pretty tempting and probably great for longer flights.

My to favorite X-plane aircraft to fly are Carenado Barron BE58 and the Carenado PC12.

...

If looking for a FAST single engine it would be hard to beat the PC12's 260+ cruise speed. The Carenado PC12 model isn't perfect. I find the HSI difficult to read when the 3d cockpit is zoomed out enough to see out the window. Seems I spend too much time zooming in to be able to read the HSI.

The PC12 is also a big v$ maker on FSE with the ability to carry 10 PAX at fast cruise speeds. It's also able to operate from relatively short fields.

Carenado aircraft are even better when bought on sale.

[svilenv]

Anyone here using the Centurion? I'm also curious about its ground handling as the DA40 is awful.

You can't go wrong with any of the REP enhanced planes, so by all means go for the Centurion if you like it

Hera are unedited recordings of 2 full flights on Pilotedge in the Centurion + REP: KEMT - KSAN - KEMT.

The videos are a bit long and with little to none artistic value, but skimming through them should give you an impression of how the addon performs and operates (plus a bonus landing in moderate turbulence at KEMT):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubec7-R0gJQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AzBhusl-cc

[tbaac]

I bought the F33A with REP at the weekend. Its exactly what I'd hoped.
I've got a bunch of A2A planes and was looking for something similar to their Comanche in xplane, along with the general Accusim approach of the aircraft feeling 'alive'. REP does that for me.
I went for the F33A for the wing shape and the instrument layout (I like how the MAP and RPM are near the top of the panel, similar to the Comanche).

Only annoying thing is it won't work with xsaitekpanels for me.
Not sure what the issue is there.

[barcman1967]

Pushing the limits of GA, but Carenado PC-12 is my fave. Great cruise speeds and great short field / unimproved capabilities. It is also an AMAZING moneymaker on FSE.

I also fly the SouldMadeSim DHC-2 Beaver but it's fairly slow. Has great flight model and is a blast to fly.

Not a single, but Carenado Baron 58. Great VFR to IFR transition aircraft.

Just my $ 0.02

[ridikamus]

I have both the PC-12 and Baron by Carenado and fly them both regularly. The Baron is an easy recommendation - it's a nice, fast IFR aircraft.

The PC-12, on the other hand, is the most frustrating Carenado model I own. It uses a version of Carenado's manipulator technology that I have not found in any other model, and it's absolutely terrible. There are multiple threads (including someone earlier in this thread) about making sure you load your sim full screen before loading the PC-12 to avoid having the click spots all be in the wrong place. The altitude pre-selector changes in increments of 80 ft, which is the most annoying and puzzling thing ever. The heading and course bugs move in 2 degree increments, also massively frustrating. There's a bug that has been present since the release of the aircraft where if you pull the condition lever back to 50% or less the second generator drops offline and, once offline, the electrical system shunts the entire load to GEN1 and nothing you can do will get it to use GEN2 for the rest of the flight. I'm sure there are other issues with the model that I've forgotten, but you get the picture.

Somewhat related, flying turboprops presents unique challenges when coming from pistons. Changing power is not instantaneous like it is with pistons, so you have to learn to accurately anticipate power changes early enough to keep the aircraft on profile. Turboprops are also managed much differently, and have different performance profiles, compared to pistons. I'll finish up all that scary stuff by saying I adore turboprops - they're my favorite category to fly by far.

[Turner]

Hey everyone,

Thanks again for the great advice. Got the Centurion last night but only was able to fly for about 20 minutes. Will likely pick up REP this evening.

The F33A looks great too... as does the Baron... and...

David, thanks for the note on the detailed issues with the PC12. That type of stuff makes it a non-starter (no pun intended) for me.

Based on reviews and how much I see it used in videos, perhaps the Baron would be next... gotta work on my engine failure scenarios first, though.

Cheers
Andrew

[svilenv]

The next REP expansion pack to be released will be for the Baron as well

[Matthias Geiss]

The Baron is nice, and Simcoders also plan to release a REP for the 58. But no clues about a release date so far.

EDIT: I'm too slow.

[Turner]

Interesting, I was poking around to see what aircraft they were working on next...

On another note.. for the record... I wish I could turn off pilot / passenger models in all views... just saying.