Stephen Posted July 21, 2022 Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 Aircraft Update : Cessna 208 Grand Caravan DGS series v1.1 by Thranda Design Back in April 2022, Thranda Design released their version of the venerable Cessna Caravan 208B, in three forms, Standard, Grand Caravan and Super Cargomaster variants. The Grand Caravan is 4 feet (1.2 m) stretch of the Caravan, and Cargomaster is the cargo version. The Cessna 208 Caravan is also and overwhelmingly the most popular utility aircraft ever produced by Cessna. There is a lot, if even a overwhelming amount of features on the Thranda 208B machine. Included are clever and unique features to give the user a lot of personal options. Known as "Dynamic Generation Series" or DGS, this is a Thranda speciality feature that takes full advantage of X-Plane's flexibility for in-sim, real-time modifications. Here you can change the actual livery to your own designs, build the instrument panel to your own liking as well, including options of the Aspen EFD 1000 glass instrument and a special 3d bezel for the insert of a RealityXp GTN 750 unit if you own that add on. For a full review of the features and the release version of the Thranda Caravan... ... then go here; Aircraft Review : Cessna 208 Grand Caravan DGS series by Thranda Design At the time of the original release of the 208B. Thranda noted that with an update later in the year, would come more features, and here is that update, completely free to current purchasers via the Skunkcrafts plugin (make sure you turn the "beta" option off). In the X-Plane "Flight Configuration Menu", you will now have a new version of both of the aircraft in the 208B Caravan and Grand Caravan Amphibian variants. They are noted in the Seaplane category as well. Amphibian The Amphibian uses the wheels to move the aircraft around on hard surfaces, the Float version does not have any, and both options are available here. Here is the Amphibian. We know that all Thranda Utility aircraft come with the Amphibian and Float options, so it is no surprise that the detail and quality of the floats are exceptional, as they are here. The retracting wheel system is also well done, and high detail with all the spars, nuts & bolts, and wire tensioners which are perfect, you won't get better. Rear rudder detail is also down to perfection, they raise and lower of course via a handle between the pilots seats, notable is that you can also raise and lower the rudders via the Menu, MISC. Extra (very nice) guide control fins are notable on the rear elevators, and to raise and lower the wheeled gear is via panel on the instrument panel, with BRIGHT and DIM options. Of course the liveries match the Floats, but also you still have the "Dynamic Livery" tool to create your own float design and change the Registration. In the air the huge floats look exceptionally good, but they also come with a huge drag penalty, you feel it, all that extra weight. Floats You switch to the "Float" option again via the Menu, MISC. Select FLOATS to switch, you can also hide those elevator fins here as well if you want to do that option. Float shape and design is really, really good, even perfection... it is pretty close. So all round it is a great float package, but there is currently no Ski option. G1000 Avionics Another promised feature, was the option of the Garmin G1000 Avionics. And again that feature has been delivered here. It is a three display set up, with left and right PFD - Primary Flight Displays, and a single centre MFD - Multi-Functional Display. The G1000 system is the Laminar default avionics, there has been nothing added except for the slightly different engine readout parameters. As with all Laminar G1000 displays they pop-out, but just one PFD and the MFD. The G1000 panel is selected via the PANEL options, as a preset from the Menu, obviously you can adjust the screens to suit yourself via the Dynamic Panel feature. The Aspen EFD 1000 can be used here as a backup instrument, as are the three Airspeed, Artificial Horizon and Altitude dials lower centre. The Aspen also pops out for ease of use. Wheels - Mud Flaps On the Standard and Grand wheeled aircraft there are two new features, again set out on the MISC Menu... Here you have the choice of Normal or the Tundra larger tyres, and Mud Flaps are available on all wheels. Mud Flap detail is again very good and authentic... Checklists Last main feature is that the Checklists (on the Menu) that now turn green as you select them. The rest of the v1.1 update covers mostly just bug and addresses some very small minor issues, the changelog is below. Altogether a really nice all round update to an already great aircraft. ____________ With all that weight hanging down below you, the Caravan is an extremely stable platform, so you can easily set it up at a low speed for a water landing. Your out of the green and come down at around 65 knts, with a touch of the water surface around 60 knts in the flare, it's just so easy. The Caravan sits low in the water, but that is fine. One huge advantage is you have the powerful reverse thrust at your disposal once your in the water, it is like applying brakes on the water. I can't absolutely wait until I can use this Caravan Amphibian in X-Plane12, with that new totally realistic translucent water it is going to be magical. On the water you can use the "Slew" mode, that allows you to manually move the aircraft around in a disconnected X-Plane space. It functions by temporarily overriding the various aerodynamic and physical forces on the X-Plane settings, it is to allow the user to reposition the plane as desired. The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A is a very powerful engine. The PT6A-114A puts out 675 shp, enough to drag you, and those floats across the water and into the air with ease. Keep the floats flat as she builds speed (Flap 10º) and the Caravan will lift around 65 knts, again absolutely no problems to the aircraft. You gotta love it, it's brilliant is this waterborne Caravan! ______________ Summary Thranda Design released their version of the venerable Cessna Caravan 208B back in April 2022. At the point of release they promised an aquatic version of the Caravan 208B... and here it is. What you get in new features is an excellent separate aircraft of an Amphibian and Floats variants, both the Standard and the Grand variants of the Caravan are also covered. Excellent detail of the wheeled amphibian, is in contrast to sleek clean float version, moving rudders and retractable undercarriage are also available. Tundra Tyres and Mud Flaps are also new features for the Standard and Grand wheeled versions, and so is the installation of the Garmin G1000 Avionics three panel display. It is the standard Laminar default Avionics package, but that is very good anyway, and a great addition for the Caravan with the Aspen EFD 1000 that can be used as a backup instrument. Notable it doesn't matter anyway, because you can build your custom avionics and instrument layouts with the clever built in "Dynamic Generation Series" or DGS. Another point is how this aircraft has matured nicely now most of the early bugs have been fine-tuned out. Don't mistake it though, there is a lot going on here with so many different features and ideas flowing through the aircraft. Thranda Design are one of the most Premier developers for the X-Plane Simulator, and high quality and incredible detail are just part and parcel of the whole package. Update is via the Skunkcraft's plugin updater and to note this package is now over 6 Gb in size, that's a lot of aircraft, for a Cessna Caravan, and for one it certainly best Cessna Caravan you could buy currently in X-Plane, X-Plane12 will also be supported on release. It's a brilliant package. _______________________________ Yes! the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan DGS series v1.1 by Thranda Design is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: Cessna 208 Grand Caravan DGS series Price is US$44.95 Two Models in One - Both are included in this package C208 Caravan 675 C208 Grand Caravan Both planes come with passenger, cargo and now aquatic versions Requirements X-Plane 11 - Support for X-Plane 12 when available Windows, Mac or Linux 4 GB VRAM Minimum. 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 6 GB (yes, very large download file) Current version 1.1 (July 20th 2022) v1.1 update is completely free to current purchasers via the Skunkcrafts plugin (make sure you turn the "beta" option off). v1.1 Changelog C208B v1.1 changelog.txt _____________________ Aircraft Review by Stephen Dutton 21st July 2022 Copyright©2022: X-Plane Reviews Review System Specifications: Computer System: Windows - S1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU / 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - ASUS GeForce GTX 1080 8Gb - Samsung Evo M2 2TB SSD - Sound : Yamaha Speakers YST-M200SP Software: - Windows 10 - X-Plane 11.55 Plugins: Global SFD plugin US$30.00 : Environment Engine by xEnviro US$69.90 : RK Apps XPRealistic v2 - US$34.99 Scenery or Aircraft YMHB - Hobart International Airport & YCBG Cambridge Aerodrome 1.0 by TDG (X-Plane.Org) - Free (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) All Rights Reserved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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