News! - Another EMB! : Embraer 120 by Dreamfoil Creations   It was a shock to the system!  Dreamfoil Creations did an aircraft, as the chopper maestro went all "Fixed Wing"? Once you got over that shock, then there was the secondary hit to the system in that it was brilliantly good, if quite difficult to fly.   That aircraft was the Embraer 110 Bandeirante, that had an X-Plane11 update only recently back in August 2018. Yes I loved that aircraft, but now here comes the next aircraft in the Embraer linage with the Embraer 120 which is still a turboporp, but a larger if next size up in commercial aviation circles.   A few images were posted on Dreamfoil's facebook page, but I would recommend NOT to go and look at the nice images, because you will want it right now! It looks like a beautiful, beautiful thing...     ...  look away now as you DO NOT want this aircraft! as It will eat away at your soul....   LOOK away... you don't want it.   Of course you do!   All images are courtesy of Dreamfoil Creations   ________________________________________   News by Stephen Dutton 19th November 2018 Copyright©2018: X-Plane Reviews   Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)    

Looks great, thanks for the review. I thought the same about the rain effect the first time seeing it in a video, not great.

You can take-off quite quickly without pain or long checklist. You've indeed to take care of few parameters but in the end, you're already flying before the first 10min. After that, in VFR or IFR, she's perfect to have fun.

Would by it in a minute without that immersion package.  Same thing with A2A on the other platforms.  A lot of us have 'been there, done that' and just want to fly. 

Thanks interesting, and I agree...  I note in the review that the sounds are "debatable" I personally was not much taken either, but remember that X-Plane11.30 has very different systems now for engines of this caliber, so the next update should be interesting...  and yes updates could be more frequent. SD

feedback?   yes, internal sound is horrible and gets me and anyone i know un-install this plane unless somebody realizes that this needs to be re-done.  Quickly.   Besides the horror sound, an aspect is the missing response of individual prop power, which according to pilots flying this type in real life is a key experience in the twin otter.   Yes, the graphics i do like, it's done nicely and the aircraft type has potential to be a favourite among all, but it needs things redone please.   last critic is the lack of performance variability on approach. i have flown this plane as a cockpit observer in the caribbean, and i can tell you: base-to-final approaches are aggressively banky and steepy due to  the special terrian this plane operates. Short approaches are this plane's thing.    But this virtual product does not include any of these parameters, it is not slowing down when it should, and it does not speed up when it should.   Reverse thrust is hardly noticeable, but it should create tremendous prop noise and shake the frame and get a fast rest.    I hope somebody is in contact with that developer and gets him do at least the sound thing quickly,  despite that weird ingame-update program, nothing has happened since release.   Releasing benchmark planes like the DHC6 means special responsibility and dedication.   No one else is gonna do it after this one has been hitting the market, so there is no competition unfortunately.   overall feedback:   graphics great noise horrifying physics arcade  

Aircraft Review : SIAI-Marchetti SF.-260 by JRollon and SimCoders   The SF.260 was designed by Italian aircraft designer Stelio Frati, with production work originally performed by Milan-based aviation manufacturer Aviamilano. It was even before the aircraft's maiden flight that the project was then purchased out in the whole by SIAI Marchetti, who had purchased the rights to the design and the manufacturing which continued to be performed by this firm until the company was themselves bought out by Aermacchi in 1997.   The aircraft is two-four seat single engined trainer, that also had the capabilities as a very light-weight strike aircraft, and that made it very popular for small airforces. It is renowned aerobatic aircraft as well, and so this is a very versatile aircraft was built to the standards of a jet aircraft rather than a light-weight trainer. Around 850 aircraft have been built since 1964, and the aircraft is still in production.   JRollon and SimCoders Javier Rollon is a very early X-Plane designer from Spain. His aircraft include the CRJ-200, BAE Jetstream 32 and the T34-C Mentor, but more unknown is that he is the main developer that is responsible for most of the default aircraft that comes with the X-Plane simulator, so fly the Boeing 738, or Boeing 747-400 or even the Space Shuttle and you are flying in one of JRollon's aircraft.   SimCoders are a specialist plugin developer studio that started out with their excellent "Headshake" plugin, but their main focus has been on REP's or Reality Expansion Packs that give both the X-Plane default or payware (mostly Carenado) aircraft added capabilities and features not included within the original package.   With this SIAI Marchetti it is the first time that SimCoder's have been included in the original development of the aircraft, so this package is not a divided or addon pack, but both areas have been developed together as a one single whole package.     First impression is that the included feature list is huge for such a small aircraft, add in the SimCoder pack and it gets really big. So no expense has been spared here by either developer on this little trainer/strike aircraft.   Walkaround The SF.260 uses the Simcoder REP as it's menu system, so any or most menu options or features are accessed through that system.   But first let us have a walkaround of the Marchetti, and have a look at the intimate details of the aircraft, however to access some areas it is required to use the REP pack menu system...   I have always been a bit contentious towards some of JRollon's designs, no doubt they are excellent. But they sometimes they come across as a bit heavy handed, note the X-Plane Boeing 747-400, or the CRJ-200. They are very good make no mistake, but usually feel a bit heavy and dark in their designs and graphics. So my first thoughts on the Marchetti, was then is this aircraft going to go down that same dark dirty route, but to be fair Javier has not done an external payware aircraft for years, as the Laminar contracts have kept him away from the main stream so to speak. So in someways this aircraft is a new look at his current design philosophy and in the way he has adjusted his style to the newer X-Plane11 era and it's dynamics.   There is one thing that has been very highly noticeable from about the same time last year and that is the sheer upward thrust of quality in detail and realism... from a reviewers point of view this level and the sheer speed of this upwards movement, can also make you look like a bit of a twat. Go back to last year and the gushing of "Brilliant", "Authentic" and "Realism" can look now a bit outdated. But the announcements were made in context to the level of design and the version of X-Plane you were working with at that time. All you can say here is, this is a new higher level of dynamics for X-Plane once again...     If you love detail, then this Marchetti will be an aircraft that will really get your jollies off...  words of "Incredible" and "amazing" do so easily roll off your tongue.     The undercarriage is the point of truth for any design, and yes there are a lot of great assemblies out there, but "this" detail is something else, and I have a few thousand real aircraft gear images to back me up. The detail and complexity is absurd, almost an art form, but overwhelming is the wear and tear detail...  the liveries that come with the Marchetti are large in size at 4096x4096 and downloads are 131mb each, but they hold some incredible detailing.      It is not just the wheel assemblies that are outstanding as in their craftmanship, but the wheel-well boxes are highly realistic as well. Just look at those tyres and tell me you have seen better...   Wing profile and detail is again excellent, but it is in the minute that you see brilliance... note the wing-tip fuel tank drainage plug. Lighting assemblies on the wing-tips are a work of art. The static wicks are highly realistic, as they flop in the static position but are animated in flight; they are positioned on the wing, elevator trailing edges and rudder trailing edge.       Panel fit, riveting and design is first rate, as it is hard (and so many developers get don't the right amount of groove to make the panels realistic and so they look wrong), but not so here...  note the lovely NACA duct on the fuselage.     I have a bit of an obsession with glass, as to me perfect glass means a perfect aircraft, it is all in the shape, the thickness and the reflections.... and just when you thought it couldn't get any better, like with JustFlights Hawk T.1a then along come this masterpiece, with not only a perfection of a glass canopy, but a section of tinted glass set within the glass... and look carefully and the glass is also scratched by the elements in the air, these scratches are very and highly realistic when viewed in flight, and more so the VR (Virtual Reality) mode.     Part of this extraordinary detail is the engine as well.... a Lycoming O-540-E4A5, 195 kW (260 hp) 6 cyl horizontal opposed engine!     You can only access the engine via the REP menu... which I found a little annoying, surely we could have a selection to access the engine like the other static items? Note the excellent air-cooling pots or cylinders, and every nut, screw, wire and pipe is here...  it is simply extraordinary detail.   Cockpit and Cabin It has been a journey around the Marchetti's exterior, so how is the interior and does it live up to the same quality and detailing? Some how you already knew that this not going to be the usual case...     ...  although the instrument panel looks excellent, it is the seats that really early on that catches your eyes.     This is obscene to almost sick in realism... the folds of the leather, the inner seat panels...   agggh...  it is just...  well. The highlight (yes there is more than that that leather) is in the seatbelt stitching, ribbing and design...  ohhh! beautiful, and tell me where there is better?       Internal cabin paneling is also exceptional, lovely leather (this is an Italian aircraft after all) and again those ripples and folds... note the metal foot plate with screws on the floor.     Instrument Panel Getting to the business end of the Marchetti you know it is already going to be good...       ...  and the detail, features and quality is going to be very high, and so you are certainly not going to be disappointed either. It does feel military but not that far removed from a general aviation aircraft. Note the lovely folds in the leather on the edge of the glareshield.   First point is quirk or is it a intentional point. The lower "Avionics' switch does not turn off the avionics suite? (it is actually switched off in flight?) even with the battery switch flipped off. The only way to stop the avionics draining your power is to pull out the circuit breakers? (arrowed) and yes they all are active. There is another avionic kill switch I found later (almost hidden) in the "Emerg Avionics Master". This Emergency Battery is made by 28 AA batteries, and the Emergency Battery is connected to the ESS Bus and so over-riding the standard avionics Bus .   All the instruments are beautifully done with wear and tear scratches on the glass, but they are also very realistic in that the cockpit instrumentation needles will be more precise with a newly calibrated gauge rather than with an old one. So you can tap over an indicator or a bulb light to try to correct its error or fix it while in the cockpit. And I like the way the artificial horizon is lazy and floating with no power.   Instruments are complex, heavily detailed and focused on the left seat flying pilot. Standard Six instruments are in the classic layout with Airspeed Indicator, Artificial Horizon and the Attitude Indicator positioned top, and the Turn Coordinator, Heading Dial with built-in Course Deviation Bar (CDI) centre and the Vertical Speed Indicator complete the lower set. Lower row has a fancy chronometer, a ADF/VOR pointer and a CDI or Course Deviation Indicator (VOR 2, and switchable to VOR1)   Right side pilot has backup instruments with RPM dial, Manifold Pressure and Attitude Indicator line of sight with a secondary Attitude Indicator right lower. Suction dial, Fuel Flow and Temperature gauge. Centre panel has landing gear lever and Flap switch Up to 50º in continuous movement and not stepped. Then there is two rows of engine gauges that cover Oil Pressure, Oil  Temperature, Cyl  Temperature, LoadMeter (top) L(eft) tip tank Fuel, L(eft) wing tank Fuel, R(ight) wing tank Fuel, R(ight) tip tank Fuel (lower) - (64 gallons). The full set of active circuit breakers and lighting switchgear is on the bottom row.     Under the glareshield there are four dials, they cover L to R: Fuel Pressure, Engine EGT (Exhaust Gas Temperature), Flap position and Acceleration G movement.   Outwardly the Avionics stack looks like the standard fit-out you usually have, but this layout has far more built in active features.     Top of the stack is the standard issue Garmin 347 audio panel with the X-Plane Garmin GN430 GPS system below (COM1/VOR1). The Bendix/King KX165 NavCom is quite a comprehensive unit with: Active/Standby frequencies mode, Channels mode, CDI mode, Bearing mode, Radial mode and Timer mode. The next Bendix/King KR87 ADF Receiver is also very comprehensive with ANT/BFO/ADF modes and FLT/ET mode with SET/RST button. The Marchetti uses a Bendix/King KFC225 Autopilot with highly realistic Startup animations, ROLL and PITCH mode, HDG/NAV/VS/ALT modes and Yaw Damper...  finally bottom is the Garmin GTX330 Transponder with built-in Altitude Monitor mode, Count down mode, Count up mode, Flight Time mode and OAT/DALT mode, altogether they are quite impressive to use. None pop-out and that includes the default GNS 430? but the KFC225 is very easily accessible from the pilot's position.   You can use the XSaitekPanels plugin and also install the  RealityXP's GTN750 GPS as it can also can be used if you have that (expensive) option.   Centre pedestal is tiny but excellent with; standard Throttle, Propeller and Mixture levers which are lovely and beautifully designed, the Fuel tank switch is set below...  note the nicely crafted joysticks (can be hidden) and trim wheel.     The SF-260 has twin-throttles with another on the far left... Italian trainee's are expected to learn to fly via the left hand on the left throttle and the right hand on the stick...  Another lever lower down is a feature, with if you use Simcoder's "Headshake" plugin with the aircraft you can adjust the vibrations of either a loose or tight seatbelt, by just adjusting this lever!   Rudder pedals are beautifully crafted, and the guides as they are animated are also very realistic (arrowed).       Lighting The panel lighting is sensational as well, there is only one adjustment via both knobs at each end of the instrument panel...  the phosphorous lighting dims slowly at night, and looks highly realistic. There is also a small yellow light above the pedestal for maximum detail and the lighting glows beautifully at night.     External lighting is very good as well.     Strobe and beacon lights are bit strong but fine, navigation lights and there is a single nose landing light....   that single light however is quite strong.   REP or Reality Expansion Pack The built in REP package is pretty well the standard version that SimCoder's produce for other aircraft. But because it is already interwoven into the aircraft it does feel far more solid than the other REP packs. I personally am not totally a user of REP packages as they can be a bit over excited on the various systems (early engine starts were almost impossible), but they have improved quite a lot lately, so we shall see how the fully installed REP is either a bonus or a negative to this aircraft.   The REP can be accessed by two menu options... one is in the X-Plane plugin's menu and the other is a pop-out on the left side of your screen...     The left side screen menu tabs can be partially or fully hidden.   The top plugin menu has more options with the screen version only using the centre six tabs. The first two include; "Settings" and "Wear out to".     Settings include: Enable the plane damages, Show failure messages, Show tips, Show side menu on mouse hover only, Save and restore the plane status between sessions, Enable hypoxia effect, Roll axis drives ground steering, Use US Customary (pounds and inches), Pilot/Copilot altimeter use InHg and Enable engine monitor.   Most of the above can be switched off, like the failure messages, tips and engine monitor. The mouse hover option is best ticked off as well... but the Save and Restore option is excellent in leaving X-Plane and coming back to the aircraft, which is then set exactly the same way as you left it, including warm fluids, CHT and Oil Temperature, switches position, the fuel on-board, the loaded weights, the engine fluids quantity and quality and the feature is excellent. To reset to cold, just uncheck the box.   Wear out to; The aircraft comes with some significant failures built in and you can regulate them by setting the "Wear out" condition, there are four settings with:   Brand New or the engine is brand new and all the onboard systems were just as tested. Privately Owned (new): this is an almost new aircraft that has been privately owned with care. The engine as well as the other systems will have some hours logged but no issues are in place. Privately Owned (old): this is an aircraft that has been owned privately for years. The engine as well as the other systems will have much hours logged but no issues are in place as the private owner kept the plane with good care. Flying Club: Buggered!   The centre six selections on the plugins menu are the same six on the left side tab menu, they include:   Kneeboard Mass & Balance Walkaround Tow Maintenance Report Automatic Engine Start     All menu options have pop-up panels and you can move them around the screen, but you can't scale them, which is a bit hard as some are quite large and can cover vital instruments... so the panels can get in the way in flight, not so much on the ground. For VR users there is a custom system to access the menus and text inputs in the VR mode, so there are both systems available in the 2d and 3d environments.   Kneeboard: This panel contains the aircraft normal and emergency checklists together with the performance reference tables (there are also key assigns to operate the kneeboard without using the menus).   Mass & Balance: This panel is used to precisely load the plane, a Center of Gravity envelope is provided. There are settings for Pilot/Passenger/Baggage weights, Fuel Weight, Landing C.G protection and an aircraft summary is also provided.   Walkaround: The walkaround feature is a combination of several areas, in settings for the aircraft in fluids and fuel, opening features and static elements.     A lot of users are already very familiar with this REP system and it is excellent, but if you want say just the chocks positioned it is a long way around the walkaround to do so? The pop-up panel has two areas of walkaround choices, one is the main "Pre-Flight Check" and the other is the "Lights Check"   Lights Check: This checks all the lights around the aircraft, and includes the instrument panel lighting. Note the excellent tip tank fuel cap detail!     Pre-Flight Check: Does two actions in testing areas around the aircraft for flight and adding or removing static elements. It also shows fluid levels of the various systems.     Static elements include: Wheel chocks, Canopy cover (nice), Wing and tail tie-downs, engine inlet covers and pitot cover. Tyre condition and wear is shown, in case they need replacing.   Contentious for me is that this option is the only way to get access to that amazing Lycoming O-540-E4A5? It would be nice for the engine access to be part of the static elements? You can check the oil and its condition level.      Fuel quantity and contamination levels are also shown, nice fuel cap...   The active flying surfaces test feature is still here and it is very good....     ...  with the surfaces covered which are the ailerons, flaps, elevator and rudder.   All in all the walkaround system is excellent, and there is a key command available to manoeuvre quickly through the walkaround menu.   Tow: The tow feature allows you to pull the aircraft from the front nose position, you use your joystick to move left-right and backwards-forwards and at different speeds.     Maintenance Report: There is a comprehensive clipboard that is a Maintenance Report... It is important to understand that the Marchetti is when used very vulnerable and has a significant built in "Custom Damage & Maintenance System". And ANY system can be damaged if used the wrong way. The Maintenance Report is one way to keep the pain away if used regularly, and it shows you the current condition of the aircraft. Note it can only be used if the engine and power is switched off, and then for the maintenance to be done on the aircraft.     Engine Autostart: The REP provides you with a way to automatically start the engines. So get down on your knees and say "Thank God" for this option...  It can be a pain to start, certainly from cold.   Final two menu options are: "Toggle Static Elements" which is all on or all off, with no individual choices (it can be a key input as well).... and "About" which is what the current REP pack is being used.     Flying the Marchetti! Outwardly this a computer program, but inwardly this Marchetti behaves like a real aircraft. The O-540-E4A5 engine breathes, has the correct (or poor) fuel flow and there is a combustion model to which all  power outputs, the Cylinders Head Temperatures or the Oil Pressure which are all regulated. so the power output can be depending on climate and certain conditions, like for instance altitude...  yes it is all very complex, but also highly realistic. Noted features include...   Oil type, quality and quantity affects the engine behavior and the spark plugs may foul because of carbon deposits, Leaning the mixture at the wrong time or in the wrong way may cause damages to the engine, there are carburettor dynamics and ice accretion. Engine preheater and winterization kit: the engine may be preheated on winter using the provided electric engine heater. If the engine is not heated correctly, it then won’t start or may be damaged after start.   There is an animated pilot... at first I thought it was a young Austin Meyer? not to sure close up...  he is fully animated with lovely movements reflecting his pilot's position, and in a nice effect is that he moves his head and upperbody forward in some movements and his hands move perfectly with the joystick.     Simcoder's "Headshake" plugin is recommended and so do I recommend it here also. You can use the XPRealistic Pro plugin as well if you wish, but a few extra features are used with the Headshake version and it is free.   Startup can give you the shakes literally, but with great cold engine sounds and intermittent running until the engine warms up (with a bit of throttle for a fair while and then idle). Close the canopy and the external sounds dull, press on the lovely headphones between the seats and the sounds dull even more to reflect wearing the headphones...     A bit of thrust, brakes off and your away, you don't need a lot of throttle to get the SF-260 moving, but I have the twin throttles on my Saitek X56 Rhino set for one lever as the throttle and the right lever as the mixture, and using both you can find a nice taxiing balance.     A bit of flap 14º (the secondary runway is really short at LIML-Linate 17/35 6011ft, (972m)) and with full rich mixture and power up...  the headshake can make the aircraft feel more twitchy than it really is and propeller yaw (to the left) is extreme, but around 90 knts I pull back on the joystick...     Flaps to zero as soon as...  and up goes the gear. The Marchetti is complex on the ground, but a very simple aircraft to fly in the air...     ...  it is an aerobatic aircraft, but it flies beautifully and is quite an easy aircraft to manoeuvre around it's solid axis... Simcoders note that "Low stick movements are sufficient to cause a high roll speed. If pilot over corrects it may easily end up in Pilot Induced Oscillations (PIO) around the logitudinal axis."   Performance is not really exceptional...Rate of Climb is 9.1 m/s (1,791 ft/min),  Cruise speed is 330 km/h (178 knots, 205 mph)... with 236 knts Max. The range is 2,050 km (1,107 NM, 1,274 mi) and a Service Ceiling of  5,790 m (19,000 ft). But I found it hard to get into the 180 knt range, and so I backed off in case I blew something up... you feel that way in this aircraft.     But this is a very nice place to be in, visibility is excellent, the SF-260 must be absolutely brilliant in VR.     The SF.260D engine is normally aspirated. That is, the maximum air pressure that affects the engine is the outside atmospheric pressure. It is also affected by visible moisture, the Carb Heat knob must then be operated to avoid carburettor icing at low engine RPMs or icing conditions. Icing and effects are not on the aircraft yet, but with the new icing and carburettor effects being in the X-Plane11.30 version, I would expect them on the aircraft in the near future.   Sounds are custom, are fully customised and are not actually FMOD...  and they come with custom engine sounds that ensure high performance and the best aural quality with dynamic immersive sounds in both the internal and external views. They are very good and highly original, but I found the cruise sounds a bit droney and almost a "ooooonnnn" sound that you soon got really tired of.   KFC225 Autopilot is super nice to use even it it does not pop-out, at least it isn't buried somewhere hard to access...       From the point you drop the gear (note the above read warning light that the gear is up?) you get the buffeting, highly realistic...     ... but the Marchetti is a tricky aircraft to fly at low speeds, but I don't know if the Headshake is overswinging the effect, but the aircraft is very swinging in the horizontal (not much wind either). so you can over compensate. Approach speeds are 80 and 90 kt in the landing-configuration and stall speeds are right at the 61-kt limit, but you get a buffeting right at the approach of the stall speed (around 67 knts), but it makes it tricky to land and it feels quite fast as you arrive as well. Any throttle reduction is with care, as you can very easily lose height and lift... so the aircraft needs a fair bit of practice and even skill in flying the SF.-260 at this approach phase of the flying. And I have had three or so landings and still need to totally get to grips with the low speed handling, but again we don't spend this much cash and expect the aircraft to be basically very easy to fly.... we expect total realism, and that is what you have here.     X-Plane does have a bad habit of grabbing you at the final phase and pulling you down on to the runway, and even with these several landings I haven't been able to dial that out, which I have done with other aircraft...  but I will keep trying to find that last minute fine balance.     Overall the SF.-260 has an amazing feel, and it is highly realistic in flight...     There is a rain effect, that puts water droplets on the glass... but overall it feels more like flashing Christmas tree lights than raindrops? and they don't wash away in flight as you gather speed very well either...  other developers have done a better set of water drop actions in this area.     A final note is that if you use X-Plane's replay mode, the aircraft has a habit of jumping badly when you come out of the replay, it always hop's or jumps a small distance?   Liveries There are eleven liveries with the JRollon Yellow set as the default...  All are huge 4096x4096 4K textures of extremely high quality.     Note the very nice SimCoder's Promo livery.   Summary When I first saw that US$40+ price I went 'oooh", that is high for a small single-engined aircraft. But as this review went on, and on and looking at the size of this review and then work your way through the very extensive feature list, then this Marchetti is now looking like an absolute bargain.   There is no doubt that Javier Rollon is a master developer. Certainly this aircraft will put his skills at the very top of the tree, list...   whatever as one of the very best in X-Plane, and thankfully his older dark heavy period seems to have been buried. But this is simply sublime work... even you could class it as one of the best in this category in X-Plane currently.   The detailing and the quality of the modelling here in the SF.-260 is off the scale, jaw-dropping it's sheer complexity and with ultra-fine detail... this is realism 101. You won't find better, and there is some excellent aircraft out there now in X-Plane. Overwhelming is the sheer interior detailing, the excellent exterior work including the magnificent undercarriage...  and... and...  that fully complete working Lycoming O-540-E4A5 engine, it is all "gone to heaven stuff"   Features and the depth of immersion of the systems, switchgear and even the avionics are all ultra deep and very accessible... and we haven't even got to the intergrated SimCoder REP's or Reality Expansion Pack yet. Yes this package is worth US$20 alone, but here it is fully immersed into the Marchetti, with all the walkaround and static element features the package provides and it is extensive in depth and again in the way it is interwoven with wear and tear, and the general use of the aircraft...  this is a machine you have to look after, even babysit to keep it in a fully functional form, just like... well the real aircraft.   After all the "oohs and aahs" then is there any negatives? Well no access to that lovely engine as a static element, I feel is just crazy, you want to look at it and even see it with the machine running?, more access to the individual static elements and I think the rain effects need another rethink... It is a tricky aircraft to fly as well, very easy in flight, but taking off and in the low speed zones you really need your best flying skills, I'm not crazy about the in flight cruise sounds either, but it is highly probable they are totally authentic.   So the Marchetti SF.-260 master class from the master, and come also with the excellent SimCoder REP package as part of the deal, Look back through this review and you can't say you are not getting overwhelming value for your money and it is also VR ready... and so is this Marchetti maybe even the best aircraft in depth and detail that has been released this year in 2018 as well?..  Highly Recommended!   _____________________________________________________________________________________     The SIAI-Marchetti SF.-260 by JRollon and SimCoders is a new release for X-Plane11 and is available here at the X-Plane.OrgStore   SIAI-Marchetti SF.260   Price is US$44.95   Features:   Code driven flight dynamics - Super fun to fly, requires your attention all the time - Realistic takeoff, landing, cruise, and overall performance - Realistic aerobatics - Realistic stall behavior (watch your ailerons!) - Impressive spin behavior - Realistic roll speed at both high and low speeds   Outstanding 3D model and liveries - Very light on FPS - High performance 4K texture - 10 Liveries included - Blank textures with PSD available to create your own livery - Tire blowout is shown - Propeller blades bend on belly landing - 3D modeled engine components - Custom rain and ice effects   Realistic onboard systems and procedures - Pre/Post flight walk-around - Custom hand towing mode: use your joystick to push/pull/steer the aircraft on ground - Realistic Mass and Balance - Complete electrical system with working Circuit Breakers - Custom landing gear warning system - Custom stall warning system - Custom vacuum system - Custom flaps system with realistic white-arc behavior - Custom fuel system - Custom cabin ventilation and windshield defrost system - Working Emergency Avionics switch with Emergency Battery - Working emergency landing gear extraction procedure - Canopy can stay slightly open during flight   Custom Damage & Maintenance System - Any system can be damaged if used the wrong way - Persistent aircraft state: each livery has its own state that is saved between flights. Damage is cumulative. - Maintenance Report available to check the status of the aircraft and do the maintenance and repairs   100% Custom Piston Engine - The Lycoming O-540-E4A5 is modeled down to the smallest bolt and breathes air like a real engine - Custom fuel pump and fuel filter - Realistic Oil System affected by Oil Viscosity. Choose the best oil grade for your kind of operation. - Spark plugs fouling. Change the spark plugs type in the maintenance report. - Working engine preheater - A custom algorithm simulates the fuel/air mixture and its combustion - Custom carburetor system with custom icing behavior - High fidelity power curve - Custom system failures - Realistic startup behavior and procedures - Automatic startup option for quick start   High fidelity cockpit - All switches work like the real ones - The cockpit is illuminated by 3D lights - The instruments wear out and may give incorrect reading. Tap over them to temporarily try to reduce their error. Fix them in the maintenance report. - The cockpit light and indicators bulbs may start blinking and fail. Tap over them to temporarily try to light them up again. Replace them in the maintenance report. - Realistic phosphorous lights that dim at night as time passes by - Working Circuit Breakers that you can use to shed the battery load in case of generator failure - Support for RealityXP GNS - Bendix/King KX165 NavCom     - Realistic startup animations     - Active/Standby frequencies mode     - Active only mode     - Program mode     - Channels mode     - CDI mode     - Bearing mode     - Radial mode     - Timer mode - Bendix/King KR87 ADF Receiver     - Realistic startup animations     - ANT/BFO/ADF modes     - FLT/ET mode with SET/RST button - Bendix/King KFC225 Autopilot     - Realistic Startup Animations     - ROLL and PITCH mode     - HDG/NAV/VS/ALT modes     - Yaw Damper - Garmin GTX330 Transponder     - Realistic Startup Animations     - Altitude Monitor mode     - Count down mode     - Count up mode     - Flight Time mode     - OAT/DALT mode     - PA mode   HeadShake Integration - Use a custom lever in the cockpit to strengthen the belts and reduce the G-Force effects during aerobatic flight Custom three dimensional sounds - Custom sound engine that ensure high performance and quality - Dynamic immersive sounds in both internal and external views - Sounds are muffled by closing the canopy and wearing the headsets - The canopy can stay slightly open during flight to let some fresh air in: you will feel the wind blowing on your face - Enjoy the engine sound suffering the torque effects during aerobatic flight VR Compatible   Requirements: X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 2Gb VRAM Minimum - 4Gb+ VRAM Recommended (release and review version v1.01) _____________________________________________________________________________________   Installation: Download for the SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 is 264.45mb and the unzipped file is deposited in the "Fighters" X-Plane folder   Download of the separate SF-260 Liveries file which is 1.07gb is also required...   ...  and the combined installation is 1.35gb. Key authorisation is required for the Simcoder REP package and a restart is required.   Skunkcraft's Updater is also installed   Documents: User documents are extensive with both a User Manual and Checklist -References   REP-SF260-checklists-references.pdf REP-user-manual.pdf   It is highly recommended to read the user manual before flying the aircraft.   _____________________________________________________________________________________   Review by Stephen Dutton  16th November 2018 Copyright©2018: X-PlaneReviews   (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)   Review System Specifications: Computer System: Windows  - Intel Core i7 6700K CPU 4.00GHz / 64bit - 16 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo 512gb SSD  Software:   - Windows 10 - X-Plane 11.25 (tested also in X-Plane b11.30b4) Addons: Saitek x56 Rhino Pro system Joystick and Throttle : Sound - Bose  Soundlink Mini Environment Engine by xEnviro v1.07 US$69.90 : Headshake Plugin - Free : WorldTraffic 3.0 Plugin - US$29.95 Scenery or Aircraft - LIML - Milan Linate Airport 1.0.0 by tdg (X-Plane.Org) - Free     

Plugin Review : Blue Sky Simulations Sounds for the FlightFactor-VMax Boeing 777   If there is one aircraft I know intimately well it is FlightFactor's/VMax Boeing 777. Mostly it has been in the Freighter version and the many, many nautical miles have passed by our aircraft's nose. I like to create real world operations and one I have ran for years is the logistic aspect of moving the Formula 1 Circus around the world. The Formula 1 season is split into five sections, Early Flyaway races (Asia), Early European Races, Canada, (mid season break) Late European Races and Late Flyaway races (Asia/Americas/Middle East). The aircraft logistics are not required for the central European races because the race equipment is moved via the various teams own cargo road transporters, and "Flyaway" races are of course the seven or so armada of aircraft required to move the whole circus.   As most race weekends start on a Friday the equipment (and race cars) need to be on the ground usually on the Tuesday, with most departures from the UK (Heathrow - or East Midlands Airport) or Munich for Swiss and Italian teams. So all departures usually leave on the Saturday to fly over the weekend to arrive (or pop out the other end) on the Monday or latest Tuesday, late logistic deliveries usually show up on the Wednesday. The first race is actually the hardest as it it is the longest route to Melbourne Australia (LHR-SIN-MEL) and you can be in the air for the whole weekend traversing yourself halfway round the world..   so as I said I have spent a fair few hours looking out of the B777F's windows and listening to the comforting hum of those huge GE90's toiling away outside and pushing me onwards to my destination. With the anticipation of the start of the long haul with the engine startup whine and the total relief of final engine shutdown on arrival.   For it's age the sound set of FlightFactors Boeing 777 Series is quite good, except for the usual diviners and complainers out there, that note it is nothing or anything like the real B777 aircraft. But as we have found with most aircraft that have been given the full Blue Sky Star Simulation sound pack treatment, in that it can transform the aircraft to a whole and complete new level. So try to fly JARDesign's or FlightFactors Airbus A320 Ultimate without the sound pack treatment installed and you are cast back into the dark ages once you have sampled the sheer range of the sound and the complexity it brings to the simulation.   So I was certainly excited and very wanting the fact the Boeing 777 has now the BSS sound pack available for it's own use.   Sound Pack Installation I will be honest in that I have found Blue Sky Star Simulation sound package installations a bit of a challenge. In reality they shouldn't be as they are as easy as dropping or replacing the current sounds in the aircraft's root folder, but the FF A320 Ultimate install took a fair while to get working as did this install with the Boeing 777. The problem stems from the fact that most BSS installs tend to be different between the different aircraft, that is not BSS's fault as most developers have their own different system of how their aircraft utilises the X-Plane or custom sounds.   BSS have simplified the install process, but sometimes the manual can be a bit ambiguous, do you install the full folder or install the items in the folder, in then the various folders of sounds, and the certain plugin folders that require the plugin elements, but then also show in the X-Plane plugin folder..  so do they go in there? BSS say just just drag and replace, but show no completed install images (there is text below) but again it becomes ambiguous to the install. I did install it right, but it still didn't work? (which made the whole thing even more confusing), but the FF B777 version needs to be v1.9.14 and although I only did a full FF B777 update only a month ago and I was using version v1.8.12 and the BSS plugin would not work with that version...  so you need to redownload the B777 and update it to v1.9.14 to make these sounds work.   Downloaded BSS package includes both Boeing 777 Worldliner (B777-200LR) Pro version and Boeing 777 Pro-Extended (-200ER/-300LR/Freighter) versions...      ....  there are also notes included for the Flight Attendants Announcements Manual, Installation and main Manual. Install of the Worldliner -200LR version is straight forward as it is only a one variant conversion. Inside are two folders: Plugins and Sounds...   Plugins folder has two items "sound3d-1" and ".xlua" and both are merged into the FF B777 plugins folder.     The sounds folder is then merged with the same name "sounds" folder in the B777 root folder, but be careful as if you just move the custom sounds folder into the root sounds folder it may just sit there? Just make sure all the different sounds are merged correctly (it should ask to merge files?) into the various folders.   The Pro-Extended version has three sound packs for all the three other variants (-200ER/-300ER/Freighter), but this where it gets tricky...  as you can only have one sound package for each variant? So you have to pick the one you want to use and then use the same two plugins and sounds folders to install the required package like you do above. Here I have picked the "Freighter" variant.     So what to do if you want to fly say another variant. Well this is where it gets messy, because X-Plane does not allow allow different variants of the same aircraft within the one aircraft folder? So BSS advise to merge each variant that you want to use, but that is a bit messy and worse if the sounds start to get mixed together up in the "sounds" folder?   My solution (above right) was to create three different full merged and completed folders I could just switch around, still messy but at least the files are correct, if you want the -200LR version then just use the Worldliner Pro sounds. In reality X-Plane has had issues of no variants within the same aircraft folder... think GHD (Ground Handling Deluxe) or the different numerous aircraft folders of the same aircraft clogging up your menu selection panel, maybe a solution may come in time from Laminar Research.   You know if the installation is correct if the plugins menu shows you the "Sound3D" menu.     The "Volume" selection opens a panel to adjust the various sounds... the "Life" selection is set at 0%. This selection is the noise in the rear, say cabin crew or cargo loading... You have to turn it on or off as you please, and there is a set of positions to make it work... Seatbelt sign has to be set to auto, and the front left door has to be open... this is a confusing one, because the front left door on the FF 777F does not open? or I have never got it to open? So it doesn't work,   You can change the chatter by switching the seatbelt switch to "On" about midway in the boarding process, pushing the external beacon button will commence the "welcome announcement".   In the cockpit If you are expecting huge noises when you push or move switches then you will be disappointed, yes they are all there, certainly if you turn the volume up to (extremely) high, but that is not what the sound pack is about...  each switch, knob and lever is totally correct as per the real aircraft, so if the click noise is low in here, then it is on the real aircraft. As you move over the panels and switchgear you do find that movement satisfying click as you do... more importantly is the background hum, it brings the aircraft alive in the feel you get when you board a real aircraft...         There are 850 sound samples that you are accessing here, from the smallest movement to the larger "Alerts" and yes the alerts are loud and in the "jump in your seat" kind of realism. All system feeds are audible. Switch the environment buttons and you feel the bleed disappear, the same when you set the engine bleed for start, fuel pumps hum (quietly), but don't be fooled as it is pretty quiet up here, the B777 is not an old clanker like the Boeing 727.      External walkarounds are now also far more dynamic. With the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) running it can be heard from the front of the aircraft, but gets louder and more dynamic as you go to the rear, yes the sound is 3d aware as you move around the aircraft...  sadly those huge GE90 engines fans don't windmill (yet), but I feel if they did you would hear them grinding (scraping?) when moving.   Engines! Of course the engine start is always going to be an event... and the sound package does not let you down here. From the moment you turn the start switch (No.2 first) to the subtle start whine, you know it is the business, watch the n2 display climb till it is at 25% and then you click up the fuel flow and the engine start process accelerates.     You feel (hear) the different start stages and the 4-stage LP, 9-stage HP compressor with the 2-stage HP and 6-stage LP turbine noises that are highlighted up to the full GE90 whine and then you have the full 110,760 lbf (492.7 kN) of thrust that each engine provides available.     Oh yes! it is great, brilliant...     The thrust roar from behind and the sucking air whine from the front, I must say they must have had a ball recording these engine sounds so close up to the donor Boeing 777!   Move your position to any degree and even adjust to high above the aircraft to hear the changing engine dynamics, nothing is repeated, all angles are covered and custom. I will note the external (realistic) high-pitch whine which is quite high, and it could give you a headache if you have headphones on for long periods or give the speakers a bit of a workout.     Main park brake off and with a little throttle to get the B777 moving and the engine pitch changes really well to any minute throttle movements, very impressive.     You still get the annoying original FlightFactor concrete thunks, and bangs as you taxi? and they now seem even more absurd than before.     Now comes the real test...   pushing forward the throttles brings the engine speed up to the takeoff settings. There is a nice pause then the power builds and the aural feedback is again very impressive. It is quite different than the standard B777 sounds, but you realise very quickly how good these custom BSS sounds really are, and your attention is divided in absorbing in the noise of that thrust power and watching the aircraft gain speed down the runway...     ...  externally it is a roar, but the right sounding roar that you are very familiar with if you have seen (and heard) a Boeing 777 takeoff in front of you, I am very impressed in the subtle changes in pitch and bass as you gain speed and finally gain lift, your mind is here, but you are hearing there and it is so critically important that the sounds reflect the actions you under take in flying the aircraft...  poor sound just doesn't do that, yes it sounds good, but you want active sound that changes with speed, movement and actions, these custom sounds do deliver well in that aspect... but that experience is what you pay for as well.       I will be honest in an aircraft like the Boeing 777 you are isolated up here front cockpit and well away from most of the noise, but with rotation you have reached the critical moment of full thrust, wind and air flow action on the wings and the engine noises as well.     Gear retraction noises are well present, but you soon realise the wind noises are not over done either...  too many developers love high wind noise sounds for some bizarre reason? Yes the wind is present but realistic, but more so is the environmental feel in the cockpit...           You now see and feel...  and hear the power....     The cockpit is certainly far more dynamic than before, like noted I am very familiar with this cockpit and it's feel, and this is far, far better than it was without the sound pack, it an overall sensory thing and not just a few addition sounds. You could spend time and pick out each element that make up the whole, but it isn't that, that is actually effective...  it is the realism.     Part of that realism is the sound pack also adjusts to the real world physics... as you go faster (and higher) sound is more diluted in volume and N1, N2 sounds and with some smart logic the volume changes depending on the speed of Mach. It does work, and again it highlights the realism.     If you walk along the freight deck the sound dynamics do change to your position, not as much as I have heard on other aircraft (like BSS's A320s), but the sound dynamics are certainly in play...  strangely it does feel and sound as cavernous as it looks.     You can adjust the individual volumes of course via the menu with a master internal and external volume, secondary settings are for APU, Bass (engine), Environment (In Flight), Environment (on Ground), External (Engines only), Life (cabin crew and passengers), Switiching (Switchgear) Systems (Noises) and Weather.     Blue Sky Star Simulation's recommend not to change any volumes (except Life) and I agree, there is nothing that feels wrong or set to high or low.   I found FlightFactor's Boeing 767 sounds a year or so back the game changer in aural dynamics, but this is actually better, as no matter the noises you can access in the cockpit, and that is important, it is that overall environmental feel, that energy you feel in aircraft and the power and push of those huge turbines that is the most rewarding aspect of getting aircraft to feel realistic in a simulator. And finally I feel that sound in X-Plane has now caught up with the rest of the simulator in dynamics, the really hard part is that when you now fly anything else without this sort of aural soundtrack it all then feels a bit flat and empty, although I do admit the FMOD sounds thankfully do help in this case, otherwise it would have been unbearable.   TOD (Top of Descent) and in a real aircraft you feel the tone change in the engines, as the power is reduced to go down... you hear and feel that tone change here very well, very, very real.   You are nearly whisper quiet on approach, there is just the hum in the background until you unlock the gear and then the noise and wind consumes the cockpit.     I usually use XPRealistic Pro for this action, but except for the missing vibrations, the BSS pack does a brilliant job if not better at this dirty air phase.       Finals and touchdown brings back in the mechanical aspect, yes you feel the gear and touch via your ears as much as the yoke...  then the bit you all wait for...     ...  full thrust reverse is excellent, as the thrust pushes out of the side of the engine cowlings, but you also hear the full power of those GE90's doing the work.     Alerts and here with the "autopilot disconnect" are from the real B777, so they are authentic, but there are no altitude callouts...  APU is started on the taxi in...     ...  back comes the "thunk, thunk" with taxiing, but you sorta get used to it.     Engine wind-down is actually very quick, but sounds authentic, and very good as well....  move around to the tail and in the quieter moments the APU sounds come back in to fill the void.     Summary I am not going to make excuses for the FlightFactor/VMax Boeing 777 Pro. It is an old aircraft by X-Plane standards, and even if the aircraft has had an X-Plane11 update, it is in reality still an X-Plane10 aircraft... but still a very good one. A version 2 of the aircraft is overdue, but promised for 2019.   This review brings together two new elements to the aircraft, in X-Plane11.30 with the new particle effects and engine adjustments and the new custom sound package from Blue Sky Star Simulations, so can you make an old dog do new tricks?... well yes you certainly can as both do a simply magnificent job in making the B777 come alive.   The sound package is extremely comprehensive, 850 different elements make up the package and it has taken a full year to construct, but the results have been well worth all that considerable effort.   The sound package does transform the aircraft and brings it totally alive and really it is a must have if you already own the big Boeing twin, or even thinking of buying the B777   You totally feel the difference in every phase of flying the Boeing 777, and like I noted at the head of this review, in that I have spent more long haul time in this aircraft, than any other, and so I would know that difference. And yes the big effects in engine start (and shutdown), reverse thrust, alerts, system switching gear and wind noise are all exemplary, it is for me the sheer cossetting of the environment as you power along at a high mach through the heavens...  pure simulation, and sound simulation at it's best...  highly recommended!   There is a BSS video that goes through all the systems and sounds that are available in this sound package here YouTube...   ______________________________________________________________________     Yes! the Blue Sky Star Simulation Sound Package  is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here :     BSS Flight Factor Boeing 777GE Sound Pack   Price is US$19.99 ...  Yes! you do need the:   Boeing 777 Worldliner Professional - US$59.95   Boeing 777-200LR   or the extended version;   Boeing 777 Worldliner Pro- Extended Pack - US$89.95   Boeing 777-200 LR
Boeing 777-200 F (Cargo)
Boeing 777-300 ER
Boeing 777-200 ER   as one or both versions of the above aircraft is Required for the use of this BSS sound package   Download The BSS sound pack is a HUGE 2gb download, so make sure you have enough storage space... Install instructions are at the head of this review.   ______________________________________________________________________   Blue Sky Star Developer Site : Blue Sky Star Simulations   Plugin Review by Stephen Dutton 13th November 2018 Copyright©2018: X-Plane Reviews   (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)    

Aircraft Review : Cessna Citation ll S550 by Carenado   When a new personal/private jet is released for X-Plane11, you now want to go off and have a little party for yourself, as they are usually quite rare and it is well worth celebrating the event. And so it is with Carenado's latest release with the extraordinary Citation ll S550. The Citation family has quite very a wide variation of business jets in the straight wing (early models) and swept wing (later models), low, mid and T-Tail tailplane configurations, forward mounted engines, mid high mounted engines, rear high mounted engines and the aircraft has grown from the early 42ft 7in to the latest 700 Citation's length of 73ft 2in... so take your choice as there is a Citation that will cover every marketeer's dream as Citation family consists of around 6 or 7 families of aircraft, as so they say as for no one really actually knows the real variant count, including Cessna themselves.   This aircraft is the Citation ll S550, the second version released from Cessna and a stretch over the Citation l in 42ft 7in to 51ft 2in of the ll, mostly for the more cabin legroom than anything else. The first two early 1970's versions were the most popular because the  S550 or S/II can be certified for single pilot operation, but this version also pushed the upper MGTW limit of 12,500 pounds for single pilot operations. So just about anyone with a private pilot’s license and a multi-engine endorsement could purchase and operate these Citations until a later IFR rating changed the ruling to two man operations.   The Citation S/II is the faster, heavier, longer-range version of the Citation II with improved JT15D-4B engines and the aerodynamically enhanced wings.  The -4B engines provide greater thrust at higher altitudes than the Citation II -4 engines.  Although the same length as the Citation II wing, the S/II wing is aerodynamically superior with the same Super Critical drag reducing technology used on the swept wing Citation III and has longer flaps and ailerons.   The difference between the S/II and the original II is the extended wing root of the S/II.  The S/II also has larger Fowler flaps and they are positioned closer to the fuselage than on the II. Closer up one would also notice the TKP anti-icing system along the leading edge of the wings. This is the one and only Citation model to feature the TKS system.   The Citation was never expected to perform as good as it should have done with a straight-wing layout for short field performance, but perform it did and in the 400 kt – 430 kt speed range and still with quiet fan jet engines. This performance has required a combination of very smart aerodynamic designs and innovative high-thrust light-weight fan jet engines from Cessna. So you can see why it is a very popular aircraft with over 7000 Citations being built.   Carenado Citation ll S550 The aircraft released here is a converted version of the original FSX/P3D 2015 aircraft, that version was also updated to v2.0 only last year, but it usually very hard to compare the two platforms as the X-Plane11 dynamics in performance and effects for they are altogether quite different, but you do feel and to a point see the original FSX design in the X-Plane version, that said it is excellent in the overall design and modelling... this is Carenado after all.   (Disclaimer) in this review there is a switch as I checked the out the new X-Plane beta 11.30 from v11.25, so some of the images show the new features of the beta... the review itself is not compromised as I flew the aircraft extensively in v11.25, before switching over, but it was very interesting to compare the two and I will note this in the review itself.     Walkaround Checking out my contract for the day, I give the S550 a walkaround...  I am constantly now being reminded now that I am spoilt, and aircraft lately in X-Plane11 are very, very good in design and we have come to almost expect this high quality design and work from developers. First of all is I like being spoilt, but the aircraft is priced at just under the US$40 mark, so you are expecting a certain amount of quality and development for your cash, and that is very evident here.     Glass and chrome have also been perfected and are both highly realistic, it is harder to create realistic glass than you think it is, as it is a horrible surface to work with, but the X-Plane PBR effects can work for you as much as working against you if you don't know how to get the glass feel right from the start.  All areas are highly reflective by the pro process that Carenado use, but I will talk more about this later...  Note the iconic Citation airflow and de-ice panels in front of the windscreen   Modelling is first rate, high quality. The hard part is getting very smooth reflective curves and reducing angular lines, they can show. More importantly is that these highly reflective surfaces can show up any poor workmanship, of course they don't here, as everything is really well done and the panel fit and highlighted riveting is excellent. All the undercarriage is well developed from the stubby nosewheel to the wide-set main gear single wheel layout.     Active gear animation is perfection, but Thranda have been doing these animations for years now, so you expect them to be good, as the nosewheel does still tend to vibrate a little on slow speeds or even when stationary until you get the full steering effect working.   The early straight almost square agricultural design of the wing is beautifully modeled, as are the lighting fittings on the leading/side edge of that highly defined wing shape.       The JT15D-4B engines and their housings are excellent and beautifully crafted, and I like the lovely red Citation ll engine covers as well..     The huge shiny chrome clamshell reverser doors are also perfect, with a great operation of the clam and slam actions. Fan blade detail is also excellent will brilliant animations.   All flying surfaces are expertly created, in shape and detail... and the tail with it's multitude of RF and VHF aerials including a cable line that shows the aircraft's real heritage and late 60"s in age.     In detail and even in the minute you are not missing anything, this is a through design and is very well developed in every area.   Menus Standard three Carenado menu tabs are on the left lower screen. A ) is for the lovely authentic Citation Sperry SPZ-500 pop-up Autopilot panel, that can be moved and scaled to size. C ) Is the standard Carenado ten preselected Views, Field of View, livery Selector and Volume panel. And O ) is the Options panel.      Options include Window and Instrument reflections. The Static elements provided here are still very basic with only two cones, NO wheel chocks? and flag pitot covers. The highly realistic pilot and co-pilot (and new) animated pilots in flight uniforms do disappear when you activate the static elements.      Doors opening include the main front left passenger door with a lovely designed built-in steps and a separate left and right nose front baggage lockers with no internal baggage. There is another option of the rear left wing GPU (Ground Power Unit). GPU's are very rare in Carenado aircraft, so savour this lovely chrome version...  the power connection from most angles looks like it is connect to the left engine, but it is not, but slots into the fuselage.     Cabin The Citations cabin fit-out is excellent and luxurious in a four seat club-style, and two extra executive seats.     Don't be mistaken, it is very tight in there in this class of personal jet. Just like the similar Lear Jets in that you have to bend down to do a lot of manoeuvres into those not so wide tight seats. But once in and seated it is not too bad. These are not a walk in headroom high sized cabin aircraft.     You get animated flip-out tables both sides of the club seats, and the window blinds are also all animated and can be moved to that perfect position you want. These cabins are however quite long in length as many of these types of Citations are used and are perfect for Medi-Vac work.   You can squeeze in three more passengers or crew. Two can sit on the front right bench, and that requires that you like the person a lot, I mean a lot!     ...  and a third seat is set opposite a small baggage area in the rear, but this feels more like the naughty corner than a executive ride.   Cockpit Forward is the lovely dark grain redwood wardrobe cabinet and animated door divider...     If you thought the cabin was tight, then the cockpit will really test your body's dimensions.     Some how you have to manoeuvre in your legs.. then the rest of you into that small space, and god help you if you are really tall and lanky?     Cockpit detail in incredible, but complex... worse is that Carenado don't provide an instrument panel manual, so you are on your own in trying to work it all out...     ...  seats are excellent, and look very comfortable and the armrests are animated.     Side panels cover personal side radio switches and connections, and breaker panels... the fuse panels are not active, which is now common on aircraft in this price range?  Pilot's paperwork window open's and then when open the outside noise will increase.   Authentic Citation S/ll yokes (can be hidden) with the lovely logo centre. Electric trim switches and AP Disconnect do work (arrowed).     Highlight is the excellent centre console. The Sperry SPZ-500 is rear with the bank trim and the very hidden rudder trim is on the rear panel. The X-Plane default FMC is centre with the throttles and flap settings are set forward console.     The throttles are exquisite, but the best parts are on the rear of the levers and out of view...   The throttle has two settings, and they are switched with the two catches hidden in the rear (yes they took a good 45 minutes out of my life in finding them?)   The two hook catches (arrowed) allow the throttles to go full backward to the fuel cutoff position, or just to the idle throttle position, you move them (catch up) to allow you to transition to each position both ways....     ....  the really lovely metal chrome thrust reverser levers are a work of art, with the full linkages as part of the assembly, I do recommend to have them set on a key input (I use my joystick trigger) as they can be awkward to use in that high workload point of the runway touch down. Upper console is the environment panel that controls the aircraft's pressurisation system, and I recommend to study the system on the ground before flight, as it is not actually hard to use, but the text and detail is quite small, and you need to understand where everything is.   Instrument Panel Like all complex things, you need to break the instrument panel down into sections to understand it. In aircraft there is in reality that most layouts are actually all very much the same, so it is just in the way instruments that are laid out and in here that is no different. The Citation's instrument layout would be familiar to any pilot that flew a medium to large twin-engined propeller aircraft. It also a semi-glass panel, or the mid-way point from the older clockwork instruments to the full glass cockpits of today, and in many ways the you have the best of both worlds and in the fact that pilots really love these sorts of mixed era layouts.     The aircraft comes with the EFI-500 "Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS)" of which is the jargon title for a standard Artificial Horizon or called here the "Electronic Attitude Director Indicator (EADI)" and Heading/Map instrument which is the "Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator (EHSI)" And of course both displays placed on top of each other dominate the panel on both sides and these displays are attached to the Sperry SPZ-500 Flight Director and Autopilot system. A secondary heading EHSI display is also part of the system and that is the weather radar mid-panel, but more about that and the EHSI in a moment.   Far left covers from the top down: a DAVTRON M877 Chronometer, OAT (Outside Air Temperature), angle of attack instruments and anti-ice fluid. Different positioning of the Radio/Com panel is repeated on the right side. lower are three dials that cover voltage (Battery and each engine) and all lower switchgear is the electrics panel. A nice feature is the working aural test switch (arrowed) for various systems. Left of the EADI is top the Airspeed Indicator, ADF/VOR direction pointers...  Right is Attitude Indicator (Digital) positioned top, Vertical Speed Indicator is middle and the backup Attitude Indicator bottom.     Right panel in the layout around the EADI is the same, the only change is that there is a backup Turn Indicator that replaces the backup Attitude Indicator on the left side. The right side has all the odd set dials including the HOBBS/Quartz meter (hour), Battery Temp, another M877 Chronometer (Radio/Com panel), Cabin Temperature, Oxygen Pressure and Gyro Pressure. There is a replica CMS400 Cockpit Checklist System, but it is a blank non-working panel.   Centre panel top are the engine gauge readouts that covers left to right: RPM %, ITT (Interstage Turbine Temperature), Fuel Flow (L&R), Fuel Quantity (6000lbs), Oil Temperature and Oil Pressure. There is an adjustable counter above the RPM readout, but I don't know what is for (no manual)?     Mid-Panel there is a very nice Annunciator panel, backup Artificial Horizon and Altitude hold select panel (arrowed), and it is an interesting one because it is set in 100ft increments where as 10 is 1000ft or as here 026 is 2600ft, so make sure you set it correctly?   Radio tuning panels are the old, old generation radio units (you can also set the frequencies in the FMC), they cover COM (1&2), NAV (1&2), ADF (1&2) and two other units cover ATC and TCAS, but work together as one setting to cover the Transponder frequency.   Environmental Panel is really good, with Cabin - Differential Pressure and Cabin Altitude gauges, the Cabin Controller below changes the altitude for the cabin pressure.       Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) There is a very wide section of choices when using the EFIS. First of all the lower EHSI operations panel will pop-out for use with the autopilot, as will the upper EADI and EHSI displays (all pilot side only?)...     ...  and there are four menu selections: NAV SCR (Nav selection), BRG (Background), HSI (Panel info) and MAP/GFX. All selections are done via the up and down arrows in the centre, if no menu selections then the arrows change the range distance.   NAV SCR covers your navigation selection of GPS (autopilot), VOR1 and VOR2.     BRG covers the background items on the EHSI, these are the VOR (1&2) pointers and GPS.   HSI displays information including wind speed and direction, heading and TTG - Time-To-Go (arrowed left).     MAP/WFX will display TCAS, WX (weather), TERR (Terrain), NavAids and Airport information... note if the asterix is on then it is selected, and then select "None" to clear.     The centre WX Weather display has mostly the same features as the EHSI and the again the display pops out, it is however more focused as a weather radar, but the TERR (Terrain) feature is excellent with three selections in; normal (black), Green and Yellow/Red.     There is one menu selection (the rest are buttons around the the display) that sets the VOR 1 and 2 background pointers, but note you have to select the "NAV" button on the bottom of the screen first to get access to the menu. The display also shows your flightplan route. Another note is that to select or deselect the NavAids or Airports, you have to do this on the EHSI control panel and not the WX panel. TCAS 1 and TCAS 2 are also available.   In the manual it states there is an ARC/360 mode for the EHSI, but there isn't? There is one on the WX Display, but it also shows in the upper (digital) altitude dial? All displays also have test modes... very nice.     The EHSI all a little complex and fiddly, so it is best to set your preferences on these displays either on the ground or if you are in the flight cruise phase, and the pop-out panels certainly do help in making the menus far larger to read, but like everything you soon learn and navigate the menus and buttons quite easily. Carenado do supply a pdf on the system for more information, but the details included are still basic.   Lighting Lighting in the Citation is excellent. There are five adjustable knobs that cover; Flood, Left, Right and Centre panel lighting and one to highlight the panel text and switchgear, EADI and EHSI display lighting is directly adjusted on the actual screens with the -/+ buttons. With all the instrument knobs set to maximum (below left) and the panel is quite bright, even in the sunlight as they try to overcome the heavy reflections on the instruments...   so you need adjust the knobs to your liking (about 70% full) and the visual feel is then simply very, very good (below right) ...     Above there are two spotlights that are fully adjustable, and a blue cockpit overhead light...  there is no switch, just touch the blue light to turn it out.     The cockpit and entrance door lighting looks great from the outside, as much as it does internally.     Cabin Cabin lighting is all overhead spot lighting, eight adjustable spots in all, and they all take time to adjust. Even when all on it is still a little dark, but effective, the rear baggage compartment with the naughty seat is very dark, so you wouldn't want to fly in there in the dark, a small overhead light in the rear (like the blur cockpit overhead light would have been nice. Note the lovely "Exit" signs, but they go out on the seatbelt selection, as both "No Smoking" and "Seatbelt" signs are illuminated.     Adjust the front cabin spots to illuminate the entrance to help boarding/disembarking.   External There is a huge choice of external lighting. Main inboard landing lights are complimented by two outboard Recog (Recognition) lights. Wing/Ice lights are very effective. There is also a high red Tail Beacon, Navigation lights with a white tail light, and new Hi-Flash strobes. Note the landing lights do shine through the gear doors from some angles, but this is more an X-Plane quirk than a Carenado one.     Another quirk is that the inner landing lights light up the sides of the forward fuselage, but more so light up the airflow and de-ice panels in front of the windscreen? It is quite bright (arrowed below) and can actually get in the way in a night landing, I switch off the landing lights (below right) to navigate around the airport... even a very dark one. But I would guess it is very authentic.     Overall the lighting is pretty well excellent.   _____________________________________   Flying the Citation ll S550 Setting the aircraft up is not too hard, but there are a lot of small checklist details to cover. Carenado do provide a pretty quality checklist (called "Normal Procedures") but otherwise you are now ready to start the JT15D-4B 2,200 lbf (9,800 N) thrust engines...   Just release the throttles from the fuel shutoff position by clicking the hidden catches...  (you get a nice click!) then put the fuel pump boost switches to ON, and finally turn both of the Ignition switches on. It is best at this point to disconnect the external GPU, you can start the engines with it attached, but it is best to shut it down now.     All there is to do now is to hit the starter button for each engine....  and the start whine comes into the cockpit. First the ITT will climb up to just above 600 ºc and then Turbine RPM hits in around 35%, next the FAN RPM will kick in around 10% and all settle down around 31.4% (FAN) RPM and then everything including the temps should slowly all settle back down to this idle speed, then just do it all again for the other engine, I always start engine No.2 first then No.1...  when at idle turn off the ignition switches and set the fuel pump boost switches to normal, and finally you have to "Reset" both Left and Right Generator switches to switch on the engine electrical power.     Yes you will find that the hairs on the back of your neck will stand up...  as this Citation sounds and feels amazing, more so is that the best is yet to come.     The S550 will taxi really nicely with a bit of thrust to get the aircraft moving, note the Carenado style nosewheel that needs a bit of speed before it will turn. Flaps are set to Takeoff and check the takeoff trim setting.   Power up to just under 80% then as you are a third down the runway then give the throttles 98% of thrust and you a seriously now moving forward...     ....  there is a marker (arrowed above) on the airspeed indicator which is set around 100 knts, and just pass that and you can then rotate. Its all too easy, to climb out and then turn away to your heading...     ....  and the Citation is a seriously nice aircraft to fly. Very smooth and the aircraft has a nice response to your inputs, yes you are grinning, this is great flying.     The heading rose clicks around as it turns, but some users have complained, but I love it...  leave it alone! It is different and makes you turn more exactly to the heading. A note here on the difference between 11.25 and the new beta 11.30. The new beta certainly feels far better in the takeoff roll (It actually stays straight) and in flight, this aircraft is soooo  smooooth, if performance was made for the Citation then beta 11.30 just highlights that aspect, I noted both engine performance now does not mirror each engine either, as they feel and act differently, and so your throttle inputs and lever positions have to reflect that slightly different engine output...  nice.     Rate of climb officially is 3040 fpm, and 930 fpm on a one engine climb out, but set the V/S (Vertical Speed) to around 2000 fpm and it will perform well there, the V/S scroll wheel on the pop-up panel sets the marker on the V/S dial (arrowed).     The pop-out Sperry SPZ-500 autopilot is a nice bit of kit, I love it, but I found in this early review (v1.1) version that the heading knob was erratic, but not so on the same knob on the centre console? Note the "320" for 32,000ft on the altitude hold.   Make sure you check the cabin pressure panel...  you adjust the cabin pressure altitude via the big knob, but it is the smaller almost hidden knob that will adjust the pressure flow to balance the air pressure...     1500 fpm, will cover 15,000ft to 28, 000ft, then 1000fpm to your full altitude noted at a heavenly 43,000 ft (13,100 m), follow the numbers and you will not lose speed during the climb. Throttle control is very important to get the right % of thrust to the climb rate, movements only need to be almost slight to adjust the thrust to keep it all happy, leave it or take your attention away and you could find yourself in trouble in losing speed and in going to low or going too fast, in both cases the aural (loud) stall trigger will activate if to slow and another alarm will frighten you if you are going too fast, this aircraft is all about thrust management...  so yes the Citation is really easy and nice to fly, but there is a bit of micro management to do to keep the aircraft happy.   Once at altitude then again speed management is the key... watch the speed numbers rising or falling in the EADI (arrowed) to adjust the finer throttle positions.     X-Plane default FMS is well intergrated into the centre console, but I am now finding it a bit bland in details compared to many others. I admit it is a generic design, but in reality it does not have a lot of important features like vertical speed altitude markers, fuel consumption and distance to destination, it just feels a bit bland and this aircraft deserves a far more quality unit. There is however a "Fuel Used" meter on the panel.   But at altitude and speed, this S550 is certainly the life. Even the most jaded simmer would love this aircraft with it's excellent cockpit and external sounds (note I found the external sounds a bit high until adjusted). it sounds so unreal, of course all sounds are FMOD and are highly dynamic.     It is pretty good in the rear as well, again "This is certainly the life!"     I will however comment on the reflections... nobody more than me celebrated the introduction of realistic reflections and of course those amazing PBR effects, but where is the line of too much reflection is simply too much. The Citation does bring that question up, and as very, very good as it is, there is the feeling here that the reflections are now getting a little bit overdone, this is highlighted on the window blinds, glareshield and the yokes, and the instruments at some lighting angles can be a bit over the top as well, as so does the external body of the aircraft from some angles. And you can't adjust them either (you can turn off the instrument and heavy window reflections) but I think this is now about the limit before it all starts getting a bit silly, and a few glossy tones down would bring the Citation a bit back to the more realistic and real.     Arrival in the UK, and Southampton is our destination. Range is just under 2000nm at 1,998nm (2,300 mi, 3,701 km) at a cruise speed of 403 knots (464 mph, 746 km/h, 0.7 Mach) at 35,000 ft (10,670 m), so you cover ground very quickly and easily.   As v11.30 beta was released mid-review, then my first beta flight was in the S550...  stunning it is, with the now superb contrails flowing off the wingtips.     Descending you can easily build up excessive speed with a steep descent, but he Citation is not as bad as many others in this category, so if you need them then there are some nice airbrakes that flip up in two selections out of the centre of the wing. They are operated by a switch and not a lever and the switch is covered by a metal bar below the left throttle lever.       Flaps give you four settings at UP 0º - T.O 7º - T.O & APPR 20º - LAND 35º, and you can control the early approach phase with 20º Flap and sit directly on the same 100knt marker point as you did at rotation...     ...  There is a speed "Fast/Slow" helper in the EADI (arrowed below) and it is important to use it! There is a trick as your approach speed is still the 100knts as noted, but when you go into the 3º ILS slope then naturally your speed increases, so you need reduce the speed again by selecting the FULL 35º flap setting and control your approach speed down again and still stay on that 100knt marker as the stall is noted only at a bit lower at 82 knots (94 mph, 152 km/h), but the aircraft is still and very fully controllable in this zone, lovely actually...     Decision Height is set via the arrows on the top of the EADI right (DH SET) and you get callouts at 2500ft.     Remember the gear is very wide-spaced, so you have to land the wheels together very much in the perfect level attitude, if not the aircraft will hop from one side to the other, animation of the undercarriage is excellent, as is the absorption of ground movement.   Those fine but straight wings deliver exceptional field performance, you get that amazing slow approach speed (for a jet) and the aircraft is very stable, and thrust control is very critical as movements in speed changes have to be small, but effective.     The S550 is very nice in the flare, and highly controllable, and you can place the jet down quite easily...     ...  but you have to do it early?  The thrust reversers are very powerful, but they do take a fair time to spool up to their full reverse thrust and you are using up runway fast as they do, but once the kick does come in the aircraft will then slow down quite quickly (so yes they are effective) but you also need to know when to close the cams again as if you reduce the speed too much it will bring the aircraft to a complete stop before you can get the thrust back up again to taxi, so it is a bit of a performance to get it all right and be in the correct runway exit departure taxi speed zone without stalling it all.     Liveries All six liveries are very good, very high quality, but all are basically a variation of the same stripe theme, except for the "General Logistics System" livery. The White/Blank is the default. Maybe the painters can bring in some more service liveries like "coastguards".     _____________________________________   Summary The FSX/P3D version of Carenado's Citation ll S550 has been one of Carenado's most successful aircraft, and it is not hard to see why it was so well liked and why it has such a big reputation on those simulator platforms.   Some features on the FSX version have been dropped for X-Plane, like the more intergrated Flight Management System (FMS). But what few features X-Plane users lose in the conversion they gain far more in the better dynamics and the effects that X-Plane11 delivers, and boy does it deliver.   On modeling and design of the Citation there is very little to fault, it is a beautiful aircraft and extremely well crafted and extremely highly detailed inside and out. My personal feel is that it is in areas that the S550 is a bit over reflective, a bit too shiny, and a bit too glossy, but it is an area others might disagree.   Full EFIS systems with the Sperry SPZ-500 autopilot avionics are all very well done with a lot of detailed features, there is a lot to learn on this EFIS system and to use with a lot of built in menus, and to a point it can get a little confusing as some functions do overlap each over, but it is authentic. You can use RealityXP's GTN750 FMC instead if you have that option.   It is an amazing experience to fly, as the Citation is excellent in your hands and feet, in many ways it is an easy aircraft to fly and comes with a great feel. But the aircraft also needs a lot of minute attention in flying it well in the details, and throttle inputs are in need of skill in all climb, cruise and approach phases to get the best performance out of the machine, but again boy, does the Citation ll reward you, if you are willing to put the extra work in.   Overall this Citation ll is an exciting aircraft in every area, at cruise you are certainly in X-Plane11 heaven, as this aircraft is about as good as it could get. The Citation is a personal/private jet transport, and so does it take the title of the very best Private jet in X-Plane11 now. The Dden Challenger 300 has ruled this category for years and years and rightly so, but I now think the Careando Citation ll is marginally if just better to put it now top of the heap, certainly worth owning if you love these sort of exclusive transports and it is a very, very nice aircraft to reward yourself with, and it makes you feel you are finally in that upper uber rich class...  Highly Recommended.   _______________________________     The Citation ll S550 by Carenado is NOW available! from the X-Plane.Org Store here :   Citation ll S550   Priced at US$39.95   Special Features Version 1.2 Only for X-Plane 11 State-of-the-art configurable FPS-friendly logic system Fully VR compatible Full PBR (Superb material shines and reflections) Features Specially designed engine dynamics for X-Plane 11 Flight physics optimized for XP11 standards Ground handling adapted for XP11 ground physics Physically Based Rendering materials and textures throughout PBR materials authored with industry-standard software used by the film and gaming industries Support for RealityXP’s GTN750* (integrated into 3D cockpit, when available) Goodway Compatible Realistic behavior compared to the real airplane. Realistic weight and balance. Tested by several pilots for maximum accuracy *RealityXP GTN 750 is sold separately   Included in the package 6 HD liveries + 1 HD blank texture S550 Normal and Emergency Procedures PDF S550 Performance tables PDF - 550 Reference table PDF Electronic Flight Information System PDF - Multi Function Display PDF Recommended Settings X-PLANE 11 PDF   Requirements:
Windows XP – Vista – 7 -10 or MAC OS 10.10 (or higher) or Linux
X-Plane 11
CPU: Intel Core i5 6600K at 3.5 ghz or faster.
Memory: 16-24 GB RAM or more.
Video Card: a DirectX 12-capable video card from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel with at least 4 GB VRAM (GeForce GTX 1070 or better or similar from AMD)
490MB available hard disk space (Current and review version v1.2)   Installation and documents: Download for the Citation ll S550 is 379.30mb and the unzipped file deposited in the aircraft "General Aviation" X-Plane folder at 499.50mb.   Documentation: Overall Carenado provide a lot of documents, but for the important main manual with instrument details, it was really missed for this review.   Carenado Copyright.pdf Carenado Recommended Joystick Settings XP11.pdf Credits.pdf Electronic Flight Information System.pdf Recommended settings XP11.pdf S550 Emergency Procedures.pdf S550 Normal Procedures.pdf S550 Performance tables.pdf S550 Reference.pdf X-Plane FMS Manual.pdf   ______________________________________________________________________   Aircraft review by Stephen Dutton 10th November 2018 Copyright©2018 : X-Plane Reviews   (Disclaimer. All images and text in this preview are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions)   Review System Specifications: Computer System: Windows  - Intel Core i7 6700K CPU 4.00GHz / 64bit - 16 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo 512gb SSD  Software:   - Windows 10 - X-Plane 11.25r2 (v11.30 beta was tested as well) Addons: Saitek x56 Rhino Pro system Joystick and Throttle : Sound - Bose  Soundlink Mini Plugins: Environment Engine by xEnviro US$69.90 : WorldTraffic 3.0 Plugin - US$29.95 Scenery or Aircraft - ELLX - Luxembourg Findel Airport XP11 by JustSim  (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$19.80 - EGHI - Southampton Airport by Pilot+Plus (X-Plane.OrgStore)  - US$19.95      

This one's going straight to the Christmas wish list!

News! - MilViz comes to the X-Plane.OrgStore   I was quite surprised that the new Cessna T310R by MilViz appeared on the X-Plane.OrgStore... I thought it would have been a developer site sale only? But no and here it is and now available for purchase with the security and service that we X-Plane users have come to expect from the X-Plane.OrgStore.   MilViz is a long term FSX / P3D designer since 1990, which is stone age in simulator years, and this Cessna T310R is their first aircraft to be developed for the X-Plane simulator platform, MilViz stands for "Military Visualizations" and that denotes the core of MilViz aircraft that are military focused.     First impressions... very, very nice and quite Carenado like in design and feel.     Designed for X-Plane 11 Optimized for X-Plane 11 engine and handling behavior Inclusion of PBR materials and textures Advanced FMOD sounds inside and out High Quality Textures & Modeling Physical Based Rendering (PBR) materials and textures for superb real-time reflections and shine Exterior and interior rendered with exacting detail and precision High resolution, beautiful textures with realistic weathering effects Smoothly animated parts inside and out     When an established FSX/P3D developer crosses over to X-Plane, then my first thoughts are always "Does this developer understand X-Plane dynamics and features?" and in this case the answer is a resounding yes, the 310R has all the correct elements and effects that gives you the the correct feel and immersion that you can expect if flying the 310R in the simulator...  oh yes it really does fly really well in X-Plane as well.     Realistic Simulation of the T310R Behavior designed to closely simulate the real world Authentic turbo performance and handling Realistic fuel load and tank capacities Realistic weight & balance Advanced Autopilot System Autopilot mimics real world behavior, requiring hands-on operation Simulation of VOR station 'Cone of Confusion' when approaching VOR station, requiring monitoring and switching from NAV to HDG to maintain proper course Authentic servo behavior reflecting realistic speed and accuracy GPS Configuration Options FPS friendly X-Plane GNS 530 & GNS 430 included by default Includes support for RealityXP’s GTN 750* & 650* integrated into the 3D cockpit
(* RealityXP products not included; may not be available for all operating systems.) Custom Aircraft Panel In-game menu panel allows for display of ground elements, switching liveries and changing the GPS displays Rain & Ice effects: Included is an implementation of Saso Kiselkov's rain & ice effects.     MilViz Flight Simulations can be found here: MilViz Flight Simulations     ______________________________________________________________________     Yes! Cessna T310R by MilViz Flight Simulations is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here :
Cessna T310R   Price is US$39.95   Requirements X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac or Linux 2Gb VRAM Minimum - 4Gb+ VRAM  Recommended Download Size: 335Mb Current version: v1.181107 (November 7th 2018)   ________________________________________    News by Stephen Dutton 8th November 2018 Copyright©2018: X-Plane Reviews