Post by Tom Goodrick on Dec 10, 2010 11:00:04 GMT -5
I have had an older version of this in FS9 for a couple of years. This new version is improved in several ways. No FD adjustment was required. I almost used the panel that comes with it except for a couple of things. It does come with the map in the panel. But it does not have the engine instruments and throttle visible on the panel. When I saw that I decided to use one of my standard panels for the testing. I used the one recently polished up for the Cherokee 6.
You will notice one thing right away when trying to taxi to the runway. It does not turn with stick or rudder. (I fly these days without ruder pedals using "autorudder". Pedals would get in the way when I use the laptop and my recliner. Yeah, I know it is pure laziness.) I think i remember reading that the real SR-20 uses differential braking as the only steering method until the rudder becomes effective at 50 knots. So this is realistic. It only takes a few minutes to become adept at taxiing with the brakes (F11 and F12). Indeed I taxi this with two hands on the keyboard: one on the throttle keys and one on the brake keys.
Climb and cruise work fine. 75% cruise works out to be about 157 KTAS. There was nothing in the instructions this time about the parachute. It was not mentioned. But I treied the slash key - "/" - and it worked great. The chute comes out very realistically and the aircraft swings a little under the chute as it descends. Take care NOT to CUT AWAY THE CHUTE at low altitude with a second tap on the "/" key. Also it is best to cut the engine before deploying the chute but, as with the real one, deployit if you are out of control before things get worse.
The only bad part of the model are the wheels. They dig into the ground while taxiing causing a lot of ground friction so you need 1750 rpm or more to taxi. I'll take a look at that. there might be a scrape point in the way.
A curious thing about the set up that I have not yet fully checked out is the "automatic rpm device." There is no prop control un the original keyboard - only a throttle on the pop-up sub-panel. My prop control with my panel was completely ineffective. But the rpm settings and manifold pressure seemed to be reasonable during my short flight. I don't think they used a special gauge to control this so I do not know what the deal is yet. I'll find out.
Basically, it is a nice plane to fly and a great-looking plane, especially when you open both gull-wing doors on the ramp. Popping the chute in the middle of the field will get people's attention!
You will notice one thing right away when trying to taxi to the runway. It does not turn with stick or rudder. (I fly these days without ruder pedals using "autorudder". Pedals would get in the way when I use the laptop and my recliner. Yeah, I know it is pure laziness.) I think i remember reading that the real SR-20 uses differential braking as the only steering method until the rudder becomes effective at 50 knots. So this is realistic. It only takes a few minutes to become adept at taxiing with the brakes (F11 and F12). Indeed I taxi this with two hands on the keyboard: one on the throttle keys and one on the brake keys.
Climb and cruise work fine. 75% cruise works out to be about 157 KTAS. There was nothing in the instructions this time about the parachute. It was not mentioned. But I treied the slash key - "/" - and it worked great. The chute comes out very realistically and the aircraft swings a little under the chute as it descends. Take care NOT to CUT AWAY THE CHUTE at low altitude with a second tap on the "/" key. Also it is best to cut the engine before deploying the chute but, as with the real one, deployit if you are out of control before things get worse.
The only bad part of the model are the wheels. They dig into the ground while taxiing causing a lot of ground friction so you need 1750 rpm or more to taxi. I'll take a look at that. there might be a scrape point in the way.
A curious thing about the set up that I have not yet fully checked out is the "automatic rpm device." There is no prop control un the original keyboard - only a throttle on the pop-up sub-panel. My prop control with my panel was completely ineffective. But the rpm settings and manifold pressure seemed to be reasonable during my short flight. I don't think they used a special gauge to control this so I do not know what the deal is yet. I'll find out.
Basically, it is a nice plane to fly and a great-looking plane, especially when you open both gull-wing doors on the ramp. Popping the chute in the middle of the field will get people's attention!
