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Aircraft Review : Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 by Aerobask


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Aircraft Review : Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 by Aerobask

 

Traditionally Aerobask are associated with very light, even quirky composite propeller or very light jet aircraft. So it came as a surprise when they announced that their next project was for them an extremely different and a far larger aircraft in the Dassault Falcon 8X, the new flagship of the Falcon range, and an aircraft that can can connect Paris to Hong Kong and Los Angeles to Beijing with no stopovers. Certainly an aircraft that is very far removed for what of anything they had created before. Their Falcon 8X has also been in development now for quite awhile with also a lot of previews and details leaking out about the project... so you would expected a release, well.... soon.

 

Instead Aerobask announced the release of another aircraft in the Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300, and to a point it is still in the same Private Jet or as we say the "Privileged" Jet category. The aircraft is a size and category smaller than the extreme intercontinental Falcon 8X, but still a huge step up in the other major differences from their other Aerobask aircraft...  you could say it is a big and significant stepping stone up to the Dassault, or an intermediate filler, the points to be seen here in this review of the Phenom 300, is what will be also coming in the Falcon 8X, and could also be a noted major sweetener on where Aerobask is now going as a developer.

 

This -300 is not the first Phenom in X-Plane, that release goes to Carenado and the Phenom 100, and like Aerobask they were also taking a next step up from their usual General Aviation single and twin aircraft categories. Oddly I didn't much take to the Carenado Phenom 100, it was slow (really slow for a jet) and it had some really odd and annoying quirks...     so overall I passed on the aircraft.

 

So here is the Aerobask Phenom 300...

 

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....   the first thing you notice is the quality of this aircraft, as it just leaps out at you, it is not just good, but in a high class of excellence.

 

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Everything is so smooooth and contoured. Mapping and NMLs (normals) are excellent, as are all the pronounced areas of the fuselage, and note the rivet work around the excellent metal window frame, the details like the APU vent and lower rudder trim are also really perfectly done. The up-swept wingtip fences are sharklet in shape and are beautifully mastered, intimate detail, like wing screws are also really well done in their details. All aerials and beacons are also well rendered, as are...

 

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...   the rear mounted pods that hold the twin Pratt & Whitney PW535E1 turbofans, that produce 15.471 kN (3,478 lbf) thrust each, they are both beautifully proportioned and realistic. Note there is no reverse thrust system on the Phenom. The fuselage concave around the engine mounts is excellent modeling in detail, can't be seen, but to know it is perfectly created for that perfect realism.

 

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If you like to gawp at all the lovely work and a lot of detail, then there is a lot of gawping you can do here, the underbody with the built in landing and taxi lights are all excellent, as are all the NACA ducts.

 

The undercarriage is very well detailed as well. You can almost feel the aluminium alloy castings and the way the gear assemblies are held together in their detail. Debatable is that that the castings are certainly well done, but they come with not a lot of wear or tear and grunge, oil or grease on their working parts? but the fineer material detail of all the assemblies is certainly there and are extremely authentic in detail.

 

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The main landing gear is a trailing-link arrangement, and all the supports, piping, linkages are all expertly completed, even with the required circlips and pins to hold it all together.

 

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The Goodyear tyres are expertly created, with nice shaping with the raised logo/lettering. Hubs and aluminium alloy wheel rims are also first rate.

 

Good glass and surfaces have become the normal now in X-Plane. Even a few years ago we used to do loads of "oohs" and "aahs" at these reflections and the expert depth of glass and nice glossy paint finishes since the introduction of Physically based rendering (PBR), in that models the flow of light in the real world and with the aim to achieve the real effects of photorealism...

 

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So externally the Phenom 300 is overall excellent.. but there are a few slight wobbles like around the cabin windows which are not absolutely perfectly rounded, but are modeled more with straighter lines than curves.

 

Before we move inside there are a few details to note in the options on the menu.

 

Menu

The popup menu (X-Plane window) is accessed by the X-Plane plugins, and the menu selection is at the bottom, or by pressing the "Aerobask" logo by the IESI.

 

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There are Five tabs that cover; Ground Options, VSpeeds, More Options, Sounds and About

 

Ground Options : The ground options page has on the left a Fuel Loading set of sliders, and another for weights of the Pilot, Passengers and their Luggage. Lower are all the aircraft weights of the selections chosen.

 

Right on the page are Ten Selections; Open Passenger Door, Open Baggage FWD LH, Open Baggage FWD RH, Open Baggage AFT, Open Fuel Panel, Camera to Fuel Panel, Open GPU Panel, lower are three options covering Ground Power Unit (GPU), Static Elements and finally you can hide the cabin.

 

As noted you can open/close both front nose baggage compartments, the main access door, and the rear baggage door...  Static Elements consist of; Wheel Chocks, Cones, Pitot and Vane covers and engine inlet/exhaust covers... and all of the baggage compartments have a number of cases inside depending on the passenger load. At the rear left there is also an Ground Power Unit (GPU), that you have to switch off the engines and open the GPU Panel to use.

 

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Right front wing there is also a Fuel Panel. This is an active panel that can be used to refuel the aircraft, and to get there quickly then select the "Camera to Fuel Panel" selection.

 

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There is a Power Switch and the selection of which tank to fill, and to INC (Increase) or DEC (Decrease) the amount of fuel you want in the tank. Finally you remove the fuel cap, and select the "Refuel" switch to start the refueling which is noted above the refuel switch, and the full fuel capacity is 2428kg (5353 lbs), Lamp Test and Shut-Off Test also both work. But there is no external Fuel Truck. The quality of these options is sensational in detail.

 

Pressing the Static Elements "off" will remove the covers and show you the engine fan blades, which are again expertly created.

 

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VSpeeds : Second Menu Tab is for the adjustable setting of the vSpeeds, in;V1/Vr, V2, Vac, Vfs and Vref, you can also enable (or disable) the ATR or Automatic Thrust Reserve system.

 

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More Options : Third Menu Tab covers the general options of the VR (Virtual Reality), Screen popups, G1000, G1000 Synthetic Vision (options), Instrument Tape transparency (three options in Opaque, Medium and Full), Instrument and Windshield reflections and if you want the Co-Pilot visible in the cockpit, there also two options for the IESI (Intergrated Electronic Standby Instrument) for popout options.

 

Sounds : Fourth Menu Tab covers the sound sliders

 

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About : The Fifth Menu Tab covers the people that worked or were involved in the Aerobask Phenom 300 project.

 

Cabin

Aerobask always did sensational cabin interiors, so you know it will be something special...  as usual they didn't disappoint.

 

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Up the stairs and into the cabin, and there is three person sofa on the right side of the aircraft, on the left is a small buffet/galley encased in a nice light wood finish.

 

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The cabin has nine seats, the sofa for three as mentioned, a club arrangement for four and two rear single seats. Both tables are animated and when opened, the left has an iPad on a stand and on the right there is a full cup of hot coffee...

 

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....  there is an orange juice as well if the coffee is too strong. Each seat has an opening panel that contains two switches to raise or lower the blinds, and switches for the overhead spot light, the blinds can also be raised or lowered by the lever on the lower line of each window.

 

Rear of the cabin there are two in panel doors that can be opened...

 

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...  inside to the right is a handwash sink, of which the water does pour out of the tap, the right hand drawer can also be opened to reveal the image of that elusive other Aerobask project the Falcon X8, a sign of a "Coming soon'? On the right is a toilet under a flip up seat...

 

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...  when you have done your (um business), then just press the button on the wall to flush! Certainly a first in X-Plane, flushing toilets, god MS2020 users will now get really seriously jealous. And at least you can now use the toilet in flight before landing.

 

Cabin materials and decor is absolutely first rate in quality, this is cabin you would want to spend a lot of time in, and for once in the back.

 

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A super nice feature (it does not work unless you have set the Flightplan?). Are two screens on the roof to show the aircraft's position in it's flight profile, the departure and destination airports are shown as is the current UTC time.

 

There are five different cabin fitouts to match the exterior livery (you could also mix and match the interiors if you are so apt). My favorite is the dark wood and light material textures, but all are interesting, and even the lovely abstract patterned carpets change in colour as well.

 

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As an option you can hide the whole cabin, if your framerate or computer specs are suffering (that badly?). But to me that is like tearing the heart out of the aircraft and is just leaving it in a big black hole.

 

Cockpit

It is usually surprising how small it is in aircraft like these, if you have had the chance to sit in, say a Lear jet then fitting into a small round tube is the feeling. Here in the Phenom the cockpit it is also small, tight and crowded.

 

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Cockpit detail is again excellent. You would have been quite disappointed if Aerobask had been a bit shortshifted in here, but it is an extremely nice place to fly and be in this aircraft. In an odd note though, is the curtains don't close, or the armrests are not animated either, which is a given on most of these aircraft. But the cockpit design and as the quality of the materials in here is simply first rate. There is no doubt about that Aerobask feel and look in the design, but here it is all display in a bigger scale and palette than we have ever seen before.

 

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The detail and the quality all around you is astounding.

 

Power (external) on and the instrument panel comes alive. Here you have the X-Plane three screen G1000 system, but highly modified by Aerobask.

 

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The twin ram-horn yokes can be hidden, but not individually, only together...   detail and design of the rams though is excellent.

 

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When powering up there is a full system align sequence. The IESI (Intergrated Electronic Standby Instrument) is not just a backup Artificial Horizon, but a full separate system to the main avionics of the aircraft (in other words if everything fails, then the IESI will still (should) work).

 

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The IESI displays; Attitude (pitch and roll), Standard or barometric-corrected altitude, Indicated airspeed and VMO Limitation, Indicated Mach number and MMO Limitation, Lateral acceleration/slip indication, Vertical speed, ILS (alignment), Altitude in meters and the Heading.

 

G1000 Avionics

The Phenom comes with the Laminar Research G1000 Avionics system, but obviously it also comes with some custom tweaks. It is a PFD - MFD - PFD (Primary Flight Display/Multi-Functional Display/Primary Flight Display) configuration...

 

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...   either both the PFD or MFD display can be popped-out either with the Aircraft symbol in the centre PFD, however the pop-out selector can be also quite hard to find on the MFD as it is not positioned like with the central PFD centre aircraft symbol, but it is a touch spot that comes on to the screen in the top centre info boxes for you to select (arrowed). Screens are highly adjustable and you can also hide the bezels (for home cockpit use or for custom setups). I have found over the last few years the PFD and the MFDs have been getting duller, with maybe the reflection effects, but they are and can sometimes be quite hard to see in brighter light.

 

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The G1000's PFD main flight instruments are all the standard layouts, with the artificial horizon, speed and altitude tapes, bank roll scale and roll pointer and HSI (horizontal situation indicator), course and heading pointer which are all in one. The FD (Flight Director) elements are also shown. Other features include "Inset" map, alerts, REF/TIMER, NRST, XPDR, both VOR 1 and 2 pointers, DME and Wind (3 options) ... top banner includes Radio NAV (left) and COM (right) Autopilot info (centre).

 

Note the Crew Alerting System (CAS). it comes as standard with the G1000 system, the CAS system of the Aerobask Phenom 300 will display WARNING (Red), CAUTION (Yellow) and ADVISORY (White) alerts, in that order of priority.

 

A few custom features allow you to adjust the radio frequencies directly with a mouse scroll wheel while holding the cursor over the frequency you want to adjust. Another custom pop-out adjuster panel can also be used with the "Altitude" (press arrowed), Heading and Baro pressure and all can be inserted directly from the keyboard for speed...  then you just press the green band to insert the number, very quick and easy. A note is that when you use this function, the view movement is frozen (keyboard focus), until you hide it again.

 

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The optional Engine Information System (EIS) is available on this version in the PFD in the Emergency mode, selected by the Red button (arrowed bottom left), it also shows the full EIS.

 

MFD - Multi-Functional Display

 

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The Multi-Functional Display consists of; Engine Information System (EIS), MAP Functions and Flightplan (planning and execution).

 

Top left shows in systems the ATR Symbol. In the event an engine loses power after V1, an Automatic Thrust Reserve (ATR) feature kicks in. ATR looks for a difference in fan speed of 20 percent or more between the two engines. Should this happen, the thrust of the operating engine is boosted by 5 percent (about 170 pounds), helping the climb rate during the rest of the takeoff profile.

 

Engine Information System has the system pages in having two selections, but the second system option in only changing the Oil Temperature to a "Fuel Calc" (Fuel Calculation) readout, and showing the amounts that can be; Decreased, Increased or Reset.

 

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EIS systems shows; N1 (with number readout) and ITT- Inter Turbine Temperature (with number readout), N2 (number only) and N2 Oil Pressure and Temperature readouts, Fuel Flow (FF-Kilo per hour), Temperature, Oil Temperature, Landing Gear Position, Cabin data, Flap Position and finally Roll, Pitch and Yaw Trim positions.

 

MAP, is standard Laminar, but still extremely good in range from 2000ft to 800nm, Options include TROPO and AIRWAYS.

 

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Flightplan creation and operation is all Laminar G1000 standard, with PROC (Procedures) for departure and arrival.

 

To date the G1000 is really the standard version with a few nice Aerobask tweeks, but there are also two custom options in this system.

 

The first custom option the set on the MFD lower left of the panel (arrowed), and that is a set of custom coded synoptics pages that are displayed to the Multi-Function Display (MFD). The MFD synoptic indication is designed to provide additional information to the flight crew about the system state and operation. There is an Electrical Page, Fuel Page, Anti-Ice Page and an (aircraft) Status Page,.

 

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Synthetic Vision

The second custom option is one of the main features of the aircraft, in the Synthetic Vision tool made by Oscar Pilote and Aerobask.

 

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You can switch to the original default (below) darker brown and duller blue by turning the Synthetic Vision option off.

 

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We will look at the Synthetic Vision and it's features more so in flight.

 

GCU 477 Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) is a  “Keypad” based system that provides alphanumeric, softkey, and flight planning function keys used to interface with a Garmin Integrated Flight Deck. On the glareshield is the GFC 700 AHRS-based automatic flight control system (AFCS)

 

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The GFC 700 has an odd quirk to be aware of...  pressing the ALT (Atitude) button is the way in here to change your speed from IAS to Mach, and not with the usual Speed section which just "Syncs" to the current speed. The HGD (Heading) knobs then syncs to the current heading position. There is also a nice Whiskey Compass positioned on the centre windshield partition.

 

Lower panel has three panels that cover; left - Fuel, Pusher, HYD Pumps (hydraulics), ELT, Pusher and Signs/Belts (seat). Centre - Heating, Ice Protection, TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System) and Landing Gear. Right - Pressurization and Air Conditioning.

 

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Lower centre panel covers; Fire, Trim, ENG (Engine) Start/Stop and Engine Ignition

 

Left Pilot side are seven panels; Top is a very nice a functional "Test" panel that covers - Fire, SMK DET (Smoke Detection), Annunciators, Stall Prot (Protection) and Ice Prot (Protection). Next is the Pneumatic panel (bleeds), Electrical (Main and External), Oxygen Mask, Oxygen, Voice/Data Recorder...  Audio panel.

 

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Right CoPilot side is mostly blank, but has another Oxygen Mask and Audio panel.

 

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Centre pedestal/console is quite simple, with the small twin throttle levers, with settings of; MAX, TOGA, CON/CLB, MAX CRZ (Maximum Cruise), note the TO/GO button on the side of the throttle handle. Left top is the Flap position; 0 (up) - 1-2-3-FULL. There is a Speed Brake (Open/Close) here as well. The red pull up handle is the Parking Brake.

 

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VR iPad AviTab

One feature is the AviTab iPad and it is located in the side storage bin. Obviously created for VR interaction, it is highly useful for the 2d generation as well as It works with the Avitab (Aviators Tablet) plugin. It works quite well in a basic form with mostly for access to stored pdf files and note taking, but internet access would be a nice feature. My use here was with the Navigraph Chart (Subscription) access that is now also available (make sure you have AviTab v0.3.18). The sited just left of the pilot's eyesight, the tablet is very good as is the size in, not to big or too small for ready use.

 

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Internal/External Lighting

As you would expect the lighting is pretty impressive. The main lighting panel is above the windshield, with the External switches to the left, and the Internal switches to the right.

 

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The actual lighting panel is nicely lit for use at night and above the switches is a main cockpit light (dome) that is lit by a button...  Between are two spot lights, that you press to turn on, and turn to adjust the brightness...

 

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Main instrument and text lighting is all connected altogether, but adjustable...

 

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...  Main cabin lighting is also very good. The "Upwash" adjustment is really the overall cockpit and cabin lighting set together...

 

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...  but the lighting is highly adjustable to get the right feel. There is also four (above the club seating) lights, that can be activated directly on the roof or by the switch in the seat side console...

 

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...  another feature is the "Effect" switch that has three positions; Off/Dim/Bright. This turns on the highlights under the table and on the edges of the console in the club section, and highly effective it is.

 

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There is however no lighting in the rear toilet area or the sofa/galley area, so if you want to go to the toilet or wash your hands, pour a drink..  whatever, you will have to ask the pilot(s) to up the main overall lighting. The closed door however does light part of the front of the cabin. Personally I think a few more lights connected to the "Effect", for the front galley and rear amenities area would fill out the cabin a bit more fuller and nicer.

 

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External on the ground does have two clever lights on the Fuel Panel and around the rear luggage/GPU area...

 

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....   the door entrance lighting is pretty impressive as well.

 

External lighting has the front Taxi/Landing lights that are very effective, but all four underside lights come on for both settings...

 

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...  wingtip lighting is sensational. There are the navigation lights (red/green), and a rear white light that lights up the sharket, and all for a nice view out of the cabin. Top and bottom fuselage strobe lighting is also excellent with a nice bright LED effect, but there is no tail lighting or top of tail beacon. Overall the lighting is highly impressive.

 

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Flying the Phenom 300

The flightplan today is Dublin (EIDW) to Bristol (EGGD). Passengers are in and the fuel is loaded at 1298.9 kg. Not really a major stretch for an aircraft like this, that has a range of 3,723 km (2,313 mi, 2,010 nmi) with IFR reserves, and we are loaded with five occupants.

 

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Starting the Phenom 300 is a breeze, okay...  certainly very, very easy. You don't need the GPU actually running to to start the engines, but it does help...  Switch up the ignition switch for the selected engine and then turn the "Engine START/STOP" knob to "START" and that is it, just hold the START position until you get a slight "thunk" and the engines start their start sequence. The engines have a Full Authority Digital Engine Control, known as FADEC. So most of the starting, the running procedures and the limits are all controlled electronically,

 

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So from a pilot's point of view the Phenom is very easy to set up and start...  most actions here are automatic in systems, but there are a few procedures to cover to get the aircraft ready for flight, and they can be found in the Crew Alerting System (CAS), but you will still need to cover the very good and provided checklists to cover them all.

 

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Once all the engines are running and settled, then just turn off the ignition switches, then to go, release the park brake and push up slightly the throttles, and it is all as easy peasy as driving a car.

 

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Taxiing around airports is also easy as easy, the aircraft is very nice to point and turn, with nice control of the required thrust...

 

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...  this is aspect very helpful on busy traffic days, like today at Dublin.

 

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Setting yourself up to fly is also easy, as there is nothing else like setting flaps or something, but to simply push up the throttles to just below the MAX...  and GO!

 

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If you get the yellow bands in the top N1 readout then your throttle setting is too high, so just knick them both back a touch under the N1 100% limit...

 

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You can rotate around V2 140knts+10 or 150knts, and the Phenom will simply leap into the air...

 

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...  be careful in not over-rotating, as about 12º-15º is perfect, Your climb rate can be as high as a massive 4,000 fpm...

 

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...   and the Phenom just climbs up like a banshee, but the aircraft is also very sweet to roll left as you power away from the airport.

 

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TO/GA and MAX are the same thing and the only setting that the FADAC system will over-ride the throttle. But beware that MAX Thrust is only intended for Emergency Usage (OEI).  As in case of an OEI event detected by the FADEC, the APR (Automatic Power Reserve), if armed, will engage and force the operating engine into MAX Thrust Rating without the need of pushing the Thrust Lever to the MAX Position. Reducing the Thrust to CON will, however, disengage APR and switch back the to CON Thrust Rating. But overall like most Private Jets there is no ATR or Auto-Thrust, so all the power or throttle settings are done manually, the setting CON/CLB is best used for the climbing...

 

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There is a full dynamic FMOD soundpack by Daniela Rodriguez Carari, and very good sound it is with accurate doppler effects, distance attenuation and full aircraft flyby effects. The volume externally is quite loud , and I had to reduce the volume to about 25%, internally the Phenom is a pretty quiet quiet machine, because the powerplants are set so far to the rear... in the cabin you get a slightly muffed roar... but acoustically the sounds are very good. The Phenom though is simply Phenomenal looking in the air (pun intended).

 

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Maximum Performance is 834 km/h (518 mph, 450 kn), with a Service ceiling of 13,716 m (45,000 ft), which is very high, and the fuel burn is 346 kg/h at 364 kt and 456 kg/h at 431 kt (at FL410).

 

My cruise is set at FL320, or 32,000ft...  with the climb over I select the "MAX CRZ " position on the throttle and the Phenom settles down at around 284 knts...

 

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...  the Phenom does however have a slight pitch nose down in the cruise, Aerobask say this is normal, but may try to refine the pitch later, but it does not effect the speed, the long droopy nose sort of exacerbates the angle of the look.

 

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Synthetic Vision

The big feature as noted in the Aerobask Phenom 300 is the Synthetic Vision plugin tool made by Oscar Pilote and Aerobask themselves. This visual system was actually created for the Falcon 8X, but is actually debuted here on the Embraer. Access to the Synthetic Vision as noted is via the Menu/More Options tab.

 

Once activated then the outside heavy cloud cover disappears and you can see all the terrain below, you can select to have just the Topology showing or both the Topology and the Terrain together. It is very similar to the very old X-Plane forward view from years back, but totally refined here into something far more realistic...

 

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...   it is also available on the pop-out screen, and both PFD displays.  The Instrument Tape transparency over the Synthetic Vision has three options in; Opaque, Medium and Full, and in the end of testing all three, I selected the middle medium transparency as the best compromise, unless you wanted a full external view...

 

phenom300 - Synthetic Vision 7.jpgphenom300 - Synthetic Vision 6.jpgphenom300 - Synthetic Vision 5.jpg

 

A note though. The plugin relies on the X-Plane default textures to show the terrain and runways, if you land or use a custom airport, then once you come off the runway the visual aspect goes to a blank colour, so you have no outside visuals in those conditions, however even in this context the visual look is far lighter and far better that the dark browns and blues of the default Artificial Horizon.

 

The Synthetic Vision is also highly usable at night for following terrain and Topology in the dark.

 

phenom300 - Synthetic Vision 9.jpgphenom300 - Synthetic Vision 10.jpg

 

I'll let the very capable Co-Pilot follow the flightplan and have a little rest in the rear sumptuous cabin.

 

phenom300 - Cruise 4.jpgphenom300 - Cruise 5.jpgphenom300 - Cruise 6.jpgphenom300 - Cruise 7.jpg

 

Have a cup of coffee and watch the clouds fly by, it is not all heavy work when doing reviews.

 

phenom300 - Cruise 8.jpg

 

Anyone that flies Private Jets in X-Plane will tell you the tricky part of flying them is the descent and landing phases. The aircraft itself is nice to fly, but you have to very skilled in the thrust requirements. There is of course no ATH or AutoThrottle, so you have to set or find your own Vref speeds (many are well noted in the manual). In time you will note the correct speeds and throttle settings, the feel of the aircraft's pitch is important as well...  but if new to Private Jetting it may take a few or more flights to get expert on the machine in these vital phases of flight...

 

Over South Wales it is time to descend from FL320... if descending around 2,000 fpm, then you will always use the airbrakes as these small sized jets are slippery buggers. The spoilers are also semi-automatic, electrically commanded and hydraulically powered, and they also act as a Ground Spoilers System (on the ground or when landing), Automatic Roll Spoiler (in Flight) and as a manual Speed Brake (in Flight).

 

  phenom300 - Cruise 9.jpgphenom300 - Cruise 10.jpg

 

The "Bank" allowance is shown on the FD (Flight Director), in Full bank it is to the full out side of the marker, a 1/2 bank sits just inside of the yellow inner markers, this is your only indication the "bank" function is actually activated.

 

phenom300 - FD 1.jpgphenom300 - FD 2.jpg

 

Down into the low dense cloud below 5,000ft, the Synthetic Vision tool starts to play major dividends, I can see the landscape easily, but the windows are now just a total white (grey?) out...

 

phenom300 - EGGD 1.jpgphenom300 - EGGD 2.jpg

 

The low cloud breaks out around 2,500ft, but still it is highly misty and you have very low visibility, again the Synthetic Vision is a godsend. More so on this eastern approach into Bristol RWY 27, as there are deadly hills just before the airport parameter, it would be very, very easy to fly too low in the mist and directly into them around Winford.

 

phenom300 - EGGD 3.jpgphenom300 - EGGD 4.jpg

 

Finding the speed sweet spot on the final approach is tricky? early approach is around 180 knts, then the settings are Flaps 3 and Gear Down, 45% N1 to hold around 130-150 knts. In most cases it is easy to get a nose up (pitch) at the setting you think you need, only to go lower in the speed to get the aircraft correctly posied to land...  that speed I found (finally) was around 120 knts, Full Flap...

 

phenom300 - EGGD 5.jpgphenom300 - EGGD 6.jpg

 

With now several landings under my belt, I have got that approach speed right, but I still have a habit of reducing the throttles too quickly once over the threshold of the runway, just a little slower in reducing the power will give me more lift and a smoother (if longer) landing...

 

phenom300 - EGGD 10.jpgphenom300 - EGGD 11.jpg

phenom300 - EGGD 12.jpg

 

...  but, and there is a big but here? As you are very conscious you have no reverse thrusters or any help in slowing the aircraft down once on the ground. So you tend to do the slowest approach and landing you can...  Overall though the worry is unfounded. The Phenom does have those auto-spoliers working for you, and the brakes are also highly effective in rubbing off the speed, so the Embraer does actually slow down quite quickly and effectively. Not much flare is required or needed at the last minute either, but your pitch angle has to be right to do so.

 

phenom300 - EGGD 7.jpgphenom300 - EGGD 9.jpg

 

Note that once I leave the Laminar default textures and move to the custom airport textures, I lose the ground (in this case taxiiway) imagery in the Synthetic Vision (arrowed).

 

You do think about you approach in the Phenom every time after you have landed, and start to work out how to do it better the next time around. Overall it is the only phase of the flight that does require skill, in every other phase the Phenom 300 is very easy to fly.

 

phenom300 - EGGD 13.jpgphenom300 - EGGD 14.jpgphenom300 - EGGD 15.jpg

 

As a note, there is an incredible video to share on a full transfer flight from FTW (Fort Worth) to SAT (San Antonio), I have listed the video below, there is a lot of information in here to learn and practise, to get the full experience of flying the Phenom 300.

______________

Liveries

There are ten liveries and everyone is highly detailed and sensational, two are shiny metallics including the N33ZF "Lighting Blue" Default. One livery HZIBN is in both 4K and 2K resolutions.

 

phenom300 - Livery_Lighting Blue.jpgphenom300 - Livery_D-CFMI.jpgphenom300 - Livery_F-HJBR.jpgphenom300 - Livery_N66M.jpgphenom300 - Livery_HZIBN.jpgphenom300 - Livery_HZIBN LR.jpgphenom300 - Livery_N6A.jpgphenom300 - Livery_NIO204.jpgphenom300 - Livery_PT-PVL.jpgphenom300 - Livery_US Coast Guard.jpg

_________________

 

Summary

A full size Private Jet from Aerobask is a step up in scale and design for Aerobask, it isn't the promised Dassualt Falcon 8X, but a category smaller jet in the Embraer Phenom 300, but this aircraft is a huge indication of where Aerobask are going as developers and what to expect from the Falcon 8X when it is released.

 

Aerobask are renowned for their quality externally, but overwhelmingly more for their lavish interiors, and in this respect the Phenom 300 is outstanding in modelling, quality and design. Excellent in all aspects is certainly in it's internal design, the cabin comes with five different interiors or to blank out the cabin altogether to save frameweight. Lighting is also very good, with plenty of internal options, but the galley and rear amenities areas are not lit, but only adjustable with the overall cabin lighting. Notable is the running tap water on the sink and a toilet that actually flushes. Blinds can be dropped, ceiling route display, console controls and coffee and orange juice is also on offer via the folding animated tables.

 

Aircraft systems are excellent. From a fully customised Laminar Research G1000 three display set up, with a IESI (Intergrated Electronic Standby Instrument), GCU 477 Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) “Keypad”, GFC 700 AHRS-based automatic flight control system (AFCS), Automatic Thrust Reserve (ATR) and a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system. The pop-up AviTab tablet is also installed.

 

Main feature is the Synthetic Vision plugin tool made by Oscar Pilote and Aerobask, that allows you to see through cloud or have a visual on the terrain in the dark.

 

The Phenom 300 is very easy to set up, start up and fly, but a little tricky on approach like all Private Jets with no ATR (AutoThrust), but that is also the attraction. The slight nose down pitch is unusual at cruise, but you get used to it.

 

A release from Aerobask is always an occasion, notably for not only the quality of the product, for the list of extensive and spectacular features, but also for the refinement on release. Testing and refining is done before and not after release, so you are purchasing quality and fulfilment in the aircraft from the start and not long, long after your purchase via updates, yes they will be few bugs, but mostly the aircraft is total and complete on release...  the built in Skunkcrafts updater will cover those bugs quickly anyway.

 

High quality releases like the Phenom 300 from Aerobask, only come along once once every quarter of the year, so savour this exceptional aircraft and enjoy the freedom of owning your own personal private jet...    Highly Recommended!

_______________________________

 

X-Plane Store logo sm.jpg

 

Yes! the Embraer Phenom 300 by Aerobask is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : 

 

Phenom 300

Price is US$44.95

 

Features:
  • -  High quality interior and exterior 3D model

  • -  High quality PBR 4K textures

  • -  Flight model and performances based on the real datas.

  • -  Custom FADEC, ATR and Thrust Levers behaviour.

  • -  Realistic engine behaviour (as far as XPlane allows us to customize it).

  • -  X1000 PFD and MFD from Laminar Research - Custom system pages, EIS, VSpeed and CAS

  • -  Synthetic Vision made by Oscar Pilote and Aerobask

  • -  Aerobask X1000 TouchScreen feature

  • -  GFC700 autopilot with custom CSC mode (FADEC-based cruise adaptive thrust system) + 2D popup

  • -  GCU477 (alphanumeric keypad) supporting new LR commands for XP11.50 + 2D popup + physical keyboard on-demand capture

  • -  Accurate custom coded IESI with 2D popup

  • -  High quality FMOD sounds (recorded from a real aircraft) from Daniela Rodríguez Careri

  • -  Full-mode FMOD aircraft - Accurate doppler, distance attenuation and flyby effects.

  • -  Enhanced night-time lighting ambience with spill lights for a great rendering

  • -  Simulated Stall Protection and Stick Pusher system

  • -  Custom Electrical, Bleed Air, Fuel, Pressurization (ECS), Engine Fire and Ice Protection systems.

  • -  Avitab support in 3D tablet (requires the Avitab free plugin).

  • -  Animated Cabin with Passenger Control Tablet (Shades, Tables, Doors and “airshow” system).

  • -  Various 4K PBR liveries and additional 2K PBR livery for low-spec hardware

  • -  VR-ready and VR-friendly

  • -  Custom documentation based on AFM, POH, PTM and QRH.

  • -  Tested and approved by real EMB-505 Phenom 300 pilots

 

 

Requirements

 X-Plane 11
Windows, MAC or Linux 
4 GB VRAM Minimum - 8 GB+ VRAM Video Card Recommended 
Download Size: 600 MB
Current and Review Version: 1.0r (23rd March 2021)

___________________________________

 

Installation and documents:  download for the Phenom is 600.00Mb and the aircraft is deposited in the "Aircraft" X-Plane folder.

 

Full Installation is 1.24Gb

 

"AviTab" VR-compatible tablet is required, download is free, and installation is in your X-Plane/Plugins Folder.

 

Documents supplied are:

  • Install_Recommended_settings.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 Checklists.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - Normal Checklist.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - Reduced Normal Checklist_2xA5 (1).pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - Procedures.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - TOLD Card kg.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - TOLDG Cardboard x4 KG.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - TOLDG Cardboard kg.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - TOLD Card lbs.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - TOLDG Cardboard x4 lbs.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - TOLDG Cardboard lbs.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - Flight Manual.pdf
  • Aerobask Phenom 300 - Performances.pdf

 

Manual(s) are excellent with full aircraft data, system references, and full checklists and flying tips

 

Support forum for the Phenom 300

 

FTW to SAT full flight video...

 

___________________________________

 

Aircraft Review by Stephen Dutton 

23rd March 2021

Copyright©2021 : 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) All rights reserved

 

Review System Specifications: 

Computer System: Windows  - Intel Core i7 6700K CPU 4.00GHz / 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo 1TB SSD 

Software:   - Windows 10 - X-Plane 11.53

Plugins: Traffic Global - JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 : Environment Engine by xEnviro US$69.90

Scenery or Aircraft

- EIDW - Airport Dublin V2 by Aerosoft (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$24.95

- EGGD - Bristol International Airport by Pilot-Plus + (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$22.95

 

Logo Header X-PlaneReviews 200px.jpg

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 4/4/2021 at 11:52 AM, Almdudler said:

with all their talent, why don't they tackle something more wanted by the community,

like the C-130, A-400M, NH-90,  AH-1Z, MH-53E, EC-120, and 100 more.

 

 

 

 

Love the April Fools joke...   since when has Aerobask done Military and Helicopters?

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  • 3 weeks later...
On 4/6/2021 at 2:35 AM, Stephen said:

Love the April Fools joke...   since when has Aerobask done Military and Helicopters?

Lionel confirmed the GA and BizJet Segment spilling over while sales numbers remain small. He supports other project holders in their ventures and 

may eventually look into a different segment himself. There were discussions on other forums. 

They havn't done a lot of market analyses before they started their projects in the past, it mainly came out of what they thought they like and tackled it.

What sounds like a joke for you, maybe the start of a discussion, as developers sometimes need a hint from consumers into the right direction,

nothing wrong about it. 

Laminar started it, Microsoft started it, and others have done it for long. It's called consumer dialogue or "Listening".

My comment showed some options. 

The devs are networking behind our sight, each one cross-contributing in either project with their special knowledge, 

no matter which label, no matter fixed or rotor wing, mil or civil. You find Aerobask's Lionel's work in other products without knowing.

In that context chances we will see some of these aviation icons proposed may rise while you keep doing april jokes. 

If that helps you understand: Real life Airplanes are also built by a cross network of suppliers. What we see as consumers is the overall assembly.

So, dear Stephen, give consumer feedback and suggestions a fair chance and see how paths exist because they were made.

 

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21 hours ago, Almdudler said:

Lionel confirmed the GA and BizJet Segment spilling over while sales numbers remain small...

 

I agree that it would make a lot of sense for a developer to spend their creative time building aircraft/scenery that "users" really desire.

 

It sounds that there's a list somewhere of planes that are "highly desired".

 

Personally I like the GA area, in fact, I purchased the Phenom 300 based on Stephen's review. What a great plane!

 

Can you point out where I might look for a list of desired planes?

 

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On 4/23/2021 at 2:30 PM, Blueb said:

 

Can you point out where I might look for a list of desired planes?

 

@Bueb, identifyable over Forum Discussions or Feedback Platforms at some degree, observations, personal favourites, and a long year experience helps a bit.

Can not recall an actual dedicated poll ever done, which is surprising.

5 issues to face: The list of aircraft is long, comparing it against platforms and development status huge work. 

There are online poll tools available but making it work the way it provides good response is challenging,

and: there always remains the fact that consumers don't know what they want until they see the product. 

last issue is that not-so-good developers might pick a project (to make a bug) so excellent developers drop it.

 

I would create a poll if guys wanna help me.

@Stephen could facilitate the poll on this site, potentially a community's click booster.

 

Let me know please. both of you. thanks.

 

Due to the multi-role, multi-category, multi-nationality, propulsion variety of aircraft, production time and history (variants and upgrades),

the list becomes quickly chaotic and should be published as pivot with filter only.

Here a simplified list:

 

1     Civil aircraft

       1.1  Civil air transport

       1.2 Civil – general aviation

2    Military aircraft

       2.1   Fighters

       2.2   Bombers

       2.3   Reconnaissance, electronic warfare and Airborne Early Warning

       2.4   Carrier-based aircraft

       2.5   Air support/attack aircraft

       2.6   Training aircraft

       2.7   Transport

3     Helicopters and Autogyros

4     Racing aircraft

5     Experimental aircraft

6     Seaplanes and Amphibians

 

 

 

 

 

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Yes we will look into a poll, but my guess it will mostly always be very varied as most users use the simulator for a lot of their own personal preferences...   the trick is to poll a category, or your personal category and find the best in that list.

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