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1. Aircraft Review : British Aerospace 146 Professional XP12 by JustFlight/Thranda
   

   thranda Aircraft Review : British Aerospace 146 Professional XP12 by JustFlight/Thranda

   Stephen posted a topic in Airliners Reviews

   Aircraft Review : British Aerospace 146 Professional XP12 by JustFlight/Thranda It was the accidental success story that even the aircraft manufacturers of British Aerospace were surprised by? It was certainly not expected to be a big seller, but it was, if just under 400 airframes produced was considered a major success story, but this was a very adaptable and flexible aircraft with great performance for the operastors. 70 or so are still operational and a great aircraft it is. The British Aerospace (BAe) 146 was created to fill in a marketing gap. Faster and bigger than a regional turboprop, but smaller than a standard airliner like the 100 seater segment Fokker 100 and even the smallest of the Boeing 737 family. Designed for the regional and short-haul markets, the 146 was manufactured from 1983 until 2002. The aircraft was offered in three variants, the 146-100, 146-200 and 146-300. The equivalent Avro variants were RJ70, RJ85 and RJ100, plus the QT "Quiet Trader" and QC "Quick Change" variants. The BAe 146 was marketed heavily as a low maintenance, low operating cost, feeder airliner. Design simplicity was the priority, as any components used were off the shelf products that could be easily sourced with a minimum of specialised tooling required. This went a long way to keeping the maintenance costs of the airliner down. Using the knowledge gained in the production of the Trident and Airbus A300, the wing was made also of as few components as possible. There are no leading edge slats and the top panel of the main wing is a single piece. The wide passenger cabin of the aircraft had a standard configuration of 5 abreast seating, although a high density 6 abreast configuration was also available... but the most significant aspect of the BAe 146 was it's 4 engine configuration. Just Flight in cooperation with Thranda Design released the BAe 146 Pro for X-Plane 11 in April 2021, by all accounts it wasn't a big seller, confounding the developers and in fact everyone else. This "Whisper Jet" was a great simulation by all accounts, but it just didn't catch on. Part of this review is to delve into the enigma of the aircraft, as there was a very intense debate for a very long time if to covert the BAe 146 Professional to X-Plane 12. For most of the time the answer was simply no, but a small hardy contingent kept up the argument (including yours truly), to give the 146 Pro a second chance of success, and here we are, the release of the BAE 146 for X-Plane 12. The Just Flight version of the BAe 146 is not the first one released for the X-Plane Simulator as that notion easily goes to the "Avroliner Project". I had been a huge supporter over the years of the AvroLiner Project by Andreas Much... The "Avroliner Project" was one of those projects that you signed up for, with consistent updates coming along mostly twice a year, but with smaller "Overnight" updates in-between. I loved the aircraft immensely and it was very good for it's time, but the project, sort went a bit sparse with more attention given over later to the actual website than the aircraft, but it is not to forget how much a leader the aircraft was for X-Plane in it's heyday development. So the change to the Just Flight version was expected to be a foregone conclusion, but even myself didn't fly it much in the intermediate years, so the introspection is also for myself as for the developers. British Aerospace (BAe) 146 XP12 by JustFlight It is not as simple as adjusting a few areas and re-releasing an aircraft in X-Plane 12. There are a lot of differences between the X-Plane versions XP11 to XP12. As textures, flight dynamics, lighting and loads of other areas are all required to be changed... but get it right and you get this X-Plane 12 glow. The Just Flight BAe 146 package is very extensive with eight variants, three main sizes are the 100, 200 and 300 Series. BAe 146 Series 100 Length: 26.19 meters (85 feet 11 inches) - 70–82 passengers (single class), 94 passengers (high-density layout) BAe 146 Series 200 Length: 28.55 meters (93 feet 9 inches) - 85–100 passengers (single-class layout), Up to 112 passengers (high-density layout) BAe 146 Series 300 Length: 31.01 meters (101 feet 9 inches) - 100–112 passengers (single class), 128 passengers (high-density layout) Out of these three Series sizes there are other variants of the BAe 146... The freighter versions come in two types on both the -200 and -300 series, top the QC "Quiet Change" pass/cargo and lower the QT "Quiet Trader" cargo. And all Freighter 146's come with a very large opening cargo door left rear. There is however one other QC Livery for the -200 in a RAF Military quise and detailed with military elements. CC.Mk2 - RAF Statesman (ZE701) – Queen’s Flight both Queens Flight aircraft are -100 Series aircraft (now retired), and note the infrared countermeasures on the side and rear of the Queens Flight Aircraft. CC.Mk2 - RAF Statesman (ZE701-Modern Livery) – Queen’s Flight There are also two Series -200 Formula 1 aircraft... "Bernie's Flight" if you wish. Altogether there are 44 different liveries for the six different variants. Modeling and detail It was four years ago in X-Plane 11 that we were "wowed" by the quality of the Just Flight BAe 146 Pro, as for the period it was very, very good. But we are now in the X-Plane 12 era, and that significantly moves everything up a few notches, as the lighting is now extraordinary good bring out the detail. Still the differences are stark, as XP11 looks now almost cartoony compared to the realism of XP12. Yes we have here exterior models that are stunningly detailed, featuring 4096x4096 textures for clarity and Physical Based Rendering (PBR) materials to produce these realistic metallic, plastic and glass surfaces. It's all here, looking brilliantly good in the Spanish sunshine. Get in close and you see those far more detailed textures, they would now barely register in XP11, but here you see the detail of everything, yes the BAe 146 Pro has that X-Plane 12 shine, a glow of knowing it is better era than ever before in the X-Plane Simulator.... You have to gotta love it! To a point we knew that the JS 146 would be very good in X-Plane 12 (thanks to Thranda's skills), but the fight was worth the results. The wing is high cantilever one piece with no leading edge spoilers but a metal casing, but it is highly efficient with the 146 being a STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, so the flaps also drop to an extreme to 33º for maximum lift, it comes with great animations on those flap extensions that are worth observing, and to note the excellent in tail detail with the airbrakes open. All fabrication by Just Flight here is very Rotate (MD11/MD80) in style and design. Runway turn lights are set in the wing root shoulders, and the Taxi/Landing lighting are in the middle of the leading edge wing. The Avco Lycoming ALF 502 H engines are beautifully modeled and perfectly shaped, they each deliver approximately 6,500 pounds of thrust, or 26,000 lbf combined. The Inlet and exhaust areas are perfect and nicely cast with a realistic metal cowling on the inlet and lovely shaped engine mounts. The internal fans are highly realistic, but there are no thrust-reverser systems on the BAe 146. The JF BAe 146 is exceptional in the gear detail and realism... The nose gear is stubby, with just the Nose Gear Torque Link Retention Plate/Guide Plate (often called a “pepper shaker”) showing. Eagle Claw trailing link main gear is exceptional in detailing. The work here is based on G-JEAO - Serial No. 1010 LN:10, which was retired from service with British European Airways in 2000 and is now preserved at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum. And the detail reproduced here is from that aircraft in all it's glory. Tyres are excellent as are the cast rims, and bolt detail and are connected to a trailing-arm suspension assembly. Glass is of course excellent, nicely shaped with great depth, tint and reflection... and delivers in realism. Notable are the aerodynamic strakes on the nose/fuselage that add in authenticity to the aircraft... side windows are also perfectly realised with a mottled tint on the glass Menu/Features The menu is surprisingly quite small with only eight selections to choose from and it is positioned via the usual JustFlight left screen side arrow, scrolling on the arrow will make it transparent. There is another menu built into the pop-up AviTab tablet. The side menu eight selections cover; ‘Toggle power’ icon (the lightning bolt) will toggle between ‘Cold & Dark’ and ‘Ready for Take-off’ states, Checklist panel, Flight computer, Animation panel (Doors and Ladder), Autopilot (Panels), Toggle the VSI between analogue and digital TCAS, "TMS" Thrust Management System and the Weather radar... and on the bottom of the tab are the arrows to change the livery. The Animation panel allows you to open all four main fuselage doors, with extendable stairs on the left front main entry door. .. and the two lower Cargo Doors and if you are using the Cargo variant then the menu changes to access the one large left rear cargo door. There is an GPU (Ground Power Unit) toggle and now you have a physical GPU unit and chocks (both missing on the XP11 version) Cabin All four access doors are highly detailed (as are the extended stairs), but on board there is a little bit of 3d modeling in the crew seating, but most of the forward galley is simply Lo-Res textures (images) and the quality depends on your Graphic/Texture setting... It is not bad at full resolution, but to be honest I expected more 3d detail in the galley areas. There has been a big effort to control the framerate and that is obvious here, so again it is very Rotate in using images more than objects and textures on the bulkheads and sidepanels. Cabin is the same... the X-Plane 12 higher quality textures work better for you here, certainly at max-resolution, so it is nice looking cabin, airy and bright with the six across seater layout and not the more spacious five across seating layout. Seats are again good, rather than excellent, again using the use of 3d modeling work to keep the numbers low. Depending on the variant, the seating materials and style can be different, here they come with dropdown trays or not. Overhead locker detail is images, not bad at full resolution, but quite lo-res ziggy at lower texture-res settings. Again both forward and aft galleys are the same treatment, again not bad at full-res, poor lo-res at lower graphic settings. For the cargo it is nicely modeled inside with an internal space to carry a maximum of nine standard LD3 containers, but only one LD3 is represented here. The QC "Quick Change" variant does not have the combo seating and cargo interior, but it is just the same Cargo layout as the below QT Quiet Trader variant Cockpit You can close or open the connection door between the cabin and the cockpit, by selecting the door knob... it is a tight squeeze to get into the office, but very realistic in tone. It's small in here, and they somehow even add in a rear centre jump-seat (folded, and actually-animated), note the extremely massive OverHead Panel (OHP), and the ceiling air-vents can be moved (animated). Both the Captain's and First Officer's chairs are superb, great seat molding and shape with a highly detailed frame lower, and covered by a lovely full blue/cream dot wool material. Armrests are also all fully animated, and fold up neatly to the side of the chairs. Note the third folded seat behind the First Officer's station, better still you can move both the Captain's and First Officers chairs forward via a slider, then slide out the jump seat via it's own slider and lower the seat cushion... now that is a great feature. Yokes are lovely, and fully active with A/P Disconnect, Electric Trim. You can hide both Yokes or each one individually by clicking on the Yoke base, which is a nice option. Note the slide out coffee cup holder and both pilot's can use their own tiller. It is noted in the Manual to use the SYNC button right Yoke, but that tool does not work on the X-Plane version (It does on the MSFS), we get V/S instead. The pedestal is very nice and boxy, but extremely well done... centre of the top of the pedestal is a (again X-Plane default) weather radar, with VHF COMMs set below (you have to turn them on). Airbrake (Speedbrake) and Flap lever strides the stubby four impressive throttles, they have a fuel safety switch on each lever, to disengage, but as noted there is no reverse thrust levers (you have to move the Airbrakes manually as well), and a large trim wheel left. There is a transponder that allows an ATC code and flight identification code to be entered, with XPNDR/TA and TA/RA selections. Bottom pedestal is an active BRAKE TEMPºC panel, ADF1 & ADF2 Radio and console lighting knobs (three). There was no EFB/Tablet on the XP11 version. There is now by selecting the black square on the sidewall on each side. It is still pretty basic, the earlier "Doors and Reflections" panel with added (cabin) announcements, Empty Weight, Zero Fuel Weight, Total Full Weight and Gross Weight. There is also a built in Avitab (plugin required) Instrument Panel I love the layout of this instrument panel, complex, clockwork and very well done for an aircraft of this era in the crossover period. This is the old era or dials, the RJ series was the (semi) glass era. Close up panel detail is simply first rate and very authentic, with nice highly realistic instrument reflections. The electrical power system on the BAe 146 has both AC and DC power services. AC power is supplied by two (outer) engine-driven generators, an APU-driven generator, a ground source and a hydraulically driven standby generator. The standby generator also supplies DC power. DC power is normally provided by transformer rectifiers (TRs) which convert the AC (provided by the engine and APU generators or the external source) to DC. The aircraft battery provides an emergency DC supply and also, via a standby static inverter, an emergency AC supply. The AC and DC supplies are distributed by a network of busbars classified as normal, essential and emergency. The normal busbars are duplicated to form the basis of a two-channel system: channels 1 and 2, both having AC and DC busbars. Even when I selected GPU and select the right power selection, aircraft still didn't receive any power? it was the bus-tie (two switches) and here are the points to make... as the 146 has a lot of the switchgear and in here it is mostly a three-way switch system, and finding the correct switch and the right switch position can need a little study... no it needs a LOT of attention. The central Artificial Horizon is very authentic in detail... known here as the Attitude Director Indicator (ADI), it provides a visual presentation of the pitch and roll attitude of the aircraft on a spherical display. The side scale shows glideslope, and localiser deviation is presented on the lower horizontal scale, and an inclinometer is mounted on the lower front face of the instrument. F-Fast and S-Slow indications, plus the ILS indicator... There is a secondary backup ADI right. Left of the ADI is the Airspeed Indicator with built in Mach markings, Right is the Altitude Indicator. Above is a very good and highly detailed Annunciator warning panel which you can test and adjust the brightness and follows the white, green, blue, amber or red legends warning system. There is a Instrument Comparator Monitor (ICM), compares the Captain’s and First Officer’s primary attitude and heading displays and if a difference shows warnings (ICM panel is upper left of the ADI) Lower centre Instrument panel is the Horizontal situation indicator (HSI), with built in Vertical Speed Indicator, with Heading indicator, MILES (to go) and GND Speed displays. The 146 has an identical twin gyro-magnetically stabilised compass systems installed. A flux valve is situated in each wing. With selections 1/2 that allows transfers to the other heading display. ... lower are the brake pressure dials. Note the Radio altimeter above the VSI. Two instruments left of the HSI is a Stopwatch/Clock and a Distance Bearing Indicator (DBI) for VOR1 (DME 1) and VOR2 (DME 2). Note the Radio altimeter above the Vertical Speed Indicator. As noted in the Menu, the standard Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) can be switched to a combined VSI and TCAS display. In addition to indicating the vertical speed, it also displays any potential TCAS conflicts. Right of the VSI is a backup Altitude Indicator... On the First Officer's right side pane the layout is a little simpler, but has mostly the same Standard Six instrument layout... Centre are the same nice Attitude Director Indicator (ADI), Horizontal situation indicator (HSI), with left the Airspeed Indicator, Distance Bearing Indicator (DBI) and to the right the Altitude Indicator and Stopwatch/Clock with the Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) set below. To the left centre of the First Officer's main instruments is the Thrust Modulation System (TMS) panel. The TMS system operates in a variety of modes and consists of a control display unit (CDU), through which the pilot can select a required mode of operation, which is interfaced with a microprocessor-based computer (TMC) driving an actuator on each engine fuel control unit to provide limited trim authority about thrust lever settings. System disconnect push-buttons are located on No.1 and 4 engine thrust levers. There are four modes the TMS system covers; Take-off (TO), TMS disconnect (GA), Maximum continuous thrust (MCT), Turbine gas temperature (TGT) and Flight descent (DESC). This TMS system is the heart of the 146, and the biggest point of flying the aircraft correctly, we will cover the TMS system at the takeoff point. Centre Instument panel is dominated by the four engine sets of readout dials... ... per engine row they cover with the top five dials; Oil Quanity, Oil Temp and Oil Pressure. N1 output, TGT (Turbine Gas Temperature) and N2 ouput. Fuel Flow (FF) with Fuel Used indicators... bottom row are the three Fuel Gauges. There are three main fuel tank compartments; The Main wing compartment, Feed(er) tanks and a Surge tank... Fuel consumption is per variant; 146-100 : 425 kn: 2,468 kg (5,441 lb)/h, 146-200 : 423 kn: 2,483 kg (5,474 lb)/h, 146-300 : 429 kn: 2,517 kg (5,549 lb)/h... with ranges of; 146-100 : 82 pax: 3,870 km (2,090 nmi), 146-200 : 100 pax: 3,650 km (1,970 nmi) and 146-300 : 100 pax: 3,340 km (1,800 nmi). The Master Warning System (MWS) provides the flight crew with indication of aircraft systems malfunction, status and the system is displayed on a very large warnings panel centre (Annunciators) and can be tested via button on the MWS Panel upper right (arrowed) and again it follows the white, green, blue, amber or red legends warning system. Very top right of the center panel is a Engine Vibration Indicator Monitor (EVIM) comprising of four separate meter mechanisms presenting vertical indication displays for engines 1, 2, 3 and 4 from the left which can be tested (arrowed lower, lower left). Below the EVIM is the flap position indicator 0º-18º-24º-30º and 33º degrees, Spoiler Indicator and Landing Gear Handle/Indicator. OverHead Panel There is a lot of switchgear and detail on the OverHead Panel (OHP). All the aircraft's various systems are grouped together in panels, that can be split into upper or lower Overhead Panel(s). Upper OHP. There is a lot on these upper sections and selections of the panel, that are usually sited in the lower sections. Top of the left are Yaw Dampers, and the "Main" switches for Autopilot and Avionics power. Anti-Skid and Lift and an Hydraulic panel fills out the left. The Hydraulic power is provided by two independent systems, Yellow and Green, each having an engine-driven pump (EDP) as its main source of power as well as a standby power facility and the switch arrangement means you can control both Yellow and Green channels. The Fire Protection system on the Just Flight 146 is quite comprehensive. Each engine is equipped with a fire detection system which consists of four detector loops in two parallel pairs. When the loops are subjected to heat, a signal is transmitted to a warning system as soon as a preset temperature is reached. The warning system comprises of red and amber flight deck presentations with associated audio warnings. Each engine is also equipped with a fire extinguishing system consisting of two extinguisher bottles for each engine. The bottles are in the nose cowling of each engine. The APU, Wings, pylons, fuselage spine, electrical equipment bay and the air-conditioning equipment bay are all active in warning systems. Right Panel top is the External and Notice lighting panel, with the Air-Conditioning Panel set below. Lower OHP. The full left side of the lower OHP covers the Fuel Panel, then the Electric Panel. Top centre of the lower OHP is the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) panel, then below the Engine Power and Start panel. Set below is the Ice-Protection warnings and switches. Right top lower OHP, is a large Pressurization Panel that covers with the Air Supply Panel, more Ice-Protection warnings and switches bottom centre and lower bottom right is an annunciator lighting and OHP lighting adjustment panel. Very bottom centre is the lighting switchgear for FlightDeck Emergency, RWY Exit Lights, Landing Lights and the left and right windscreen wipers (Three-Way) and finally the Seat Beat light switch. As this JustFlight BAe 146 is a "Study" grade aircraft, then the systems and their operations are quite comprehensive. The manual does thankfully detail everything here, but the depth of the system knowledge required here is quite high. So "Study" means just that in going deep into these systems and understanding them to get the best out of the simulation. Autopilot The Smiths SEP 10 BAe 146 automatic flight guidance system has an integrated autopilot and flight director system which provides a three- axis stabilisation and two-axis manoeuvre computation in pitch and roll, in addition to flight director computation. Study is again required here as the layout of this AP panel is quite different, the ALT (Altitude) ARM is hard to see, but I love the winding ALT SEL knob (you will find that mouse wheel settings are more accurate), and the HDG (Heading) knob is centre lower panel (took me ages to find that?) Also centre are the Course selection knobs (both NAV1 or NAV2). VHF navigation has a panel to itself on the left, you will need to turn it on via the switch, and then press the centre knob to activate (there is a Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) panel lower pedestal). VHF NAV right is VOR 2 (NAV2) radio and besides there is a brilliant "ILS TEST" system for the instruments. Engagement of the autopilot is indicated by a green triangles on the AP button at the top of the panel. The bottom row selects lateral modes and the middle row selects vertical modes. There is a Turbulence mode (TURB) mode... This mode is one of a PITCH and ROLL attitude hold, with the initial datums being those at the time of engagement. On selecting TURB, any other pitch or roll mode (or armed state) will disengage. The autopilot is not your standard layout, and you use it differently as well. This is an interesting point to make. Most pilots new to this flight deck would simply want to jump in and fly the BAe 146... but that would be simply deadly. These 146's have a very unusual switchgear layout, plus the systems created here are very deep... this JustFlight BAe 146 is noted as "Professional" in that it is a "Study Grade" simulation and the extensive and deeply detailed manual bears that aspect out, the manual alone is 247 pages in size and a study of the systems and layouts are essential to getting the very best out of this aircraft. Even I had to stop, do the manual in a professional way and then go back to setting up the aircraft before doing any other aspect of understanding this complex simulation, yes I noted that statement again as it is an important point. FMS (Flight Management System) The FMS was the biggest barrier in to transferring the XP11 JS 146 to X-Plane 12, and the history is complex. The original XP11 release only had at the time the X-Plane default FMS, which was a very basic system, so it wasn't very well received. An extensive update for the XP11 v1.2.1 then updated the BAe146 to the better UFMC (Universal Flight Management Computer). It is not the same unit as in the P3D aircraft version as that uses the UNS-1Lw SBAS-Flight Management System or UNS-1, here it is still an Universal system with the long facia plate, that makes it look more of a default FMS than it actually really is. The UNS-1Lw has the shorter plate as on the FJS Q400. But this UFMC unit was then not available for XP12, as the developer was not available? Somehow the issue was resolved... and so you have in the JF 146 X-Plane 12 with four options with the FMC. A blank panel (no FMC), the X-Plane default FMC, thankfully the UFMC "Universal" and the bezels for the RXP GTN 750/650 Touch (3rd Party addon). Any FMC options can be selected via the Menu on the X-Plane Banner/Plugins Both the UFMC and Default XP have pop-out panels, but we will continue with the UFMC version as it both compliments the aircraft and is the most comprehensive to BAe 146. Lighting The BAe 146 lighting is extremely impressive, but also extremely complicated to use. There are five lighting panels to adjust, one each pilot side, OHP and rear console and the odd lighting knob set around the OHP. Most overhead (Storm, are on both side panels) and a rear Pedestal lighting panel. But one set of lighting totally threw me, it took 20 min of frustration (not in the manual) to find the culprit for the rear overhead cockpit lights, the switch for them was on sited high the entrance right wall.... aggggh! Left side Instruments and Centre dials are adjusted via the left lighting panel and the right side instruments are lit via the right hand panel, Glareshield lighting is via knob lower left OHP. and this is glorious stuff, it is the X-Plane 12 lighting dynamics and it shows. Main panel lighting lights (lovely flicker) activate the fluorescent tubes and filaments, which are really well done set under the glareshield. The best lighting feature is the centre adjustment knob on the lighting panel and two buttons for "SILL" and "LAP"... press SILL and you have a magnificent adjustable flexible stalks with a light on them... they can be positioned anywhere for the illumination of the instrument panel or side panels. There is LAP (animated overhead) and side panel lighting and lovely centre pedestal lighting via three knobs FWD, AFT and FLOOD. There is a third entrance/cockpit overhead light, the switch is noted as the "Flight Deck Emergency" lights... or really the STORM lights. OHP lighting is excellent, press the panel test switch to be amazed! You can dial everything down to a minimum for takeoff and landing phases. So in reality there are so many combinations you can find to get that perfect lighting scenario, for on the ground, in the air or for minimum approach instrument lighting... it is all quite perfect. There is far more lighting in the cabin. The main overhead lights can not be adjusted, but on the X-Plane 11 version as there was no cabin lighting at all when it went dark? but it is a now a very nice place to be in this cabin at night. Galleys have a separate lighting switches as does the EXIT lighting, which is excellent. The "No Smoking" or "Seatbelt" signs don't light up as their areas are only graphics. Externally the cabin looks excellent as well. As with the cockpit, the external lighting is extremely good as well again updated to X-Plane 12 specifications.... Navigation lights are three-way selectable; Off-Lo and Hi, however the ENTRY lighting switch can be mistaken for external use, but it is noted for the overhead cockpit use? Wing root shoulders has two sets of lights for the excellent runway turnoff lighting, and for wing (ice) lighting which is also excellent... both taxi and landing lighting is in the wing leading edge. Both taxi and landing lighting are in the wing leading edge. And you can only have one set or the other on a three way switch, which plays havoc if you use separate switches for the Taxi and Landing Lights. The Taxi lighting is wider and the Landing beams tighter, longer and more focused, but brilliant in both actions. Navigation, Beacon and Strobe are first rate with nice ground reflections... .... and the tail lighting is simply gorgeous. Flying the BAe 146 There are as noted a lot of depth in the systems in this JustFlight 146. So the awareness of all the systems and their layout positions is essential before tackling any flight. The built-in (Menu) Checklists are also invaluable to getting everything ready for flight, again I stress, that this 146 is not a hop in and fly aircraft, there is simply too much going on to do that quick fly aspect. A big help here is the excellent tickoff checklist from the side Menu, or put it on the Command toggle for quick access. As you go down the list you can check green the action, very comprehensive, and easier than a paper version. Starting up the APU, is quite easy... then switch on the aircraft batteries, select APU GEN and provide power to the busses. When you switch, either power, air-conditioning, hydraulics in that every action has an effect and all seen in the gauges... the depth of the systems here really are phenomenal... UFMC "Universal" Although added in later to the JS BAe 146 Pro, the "Universal" UFMC was a more authentic addition to the 146 over the original default system (which was simplistic and quite awful). But this addition is still many ways basic, however it is a far more an interactive tool with the aircraft and it comes with an extensive detailed manual to explain the details and actions. There an excellent "Performance PERF INIT" page and "Takeoff References", and a lot of weights and details are filled in automatically... but a few can't (CRZ.CG) and that knocks a few brownie points off the depth of the system, and two routes RTE 1 and RTE 2 can be filed and selected. All DEP (SID) and ARR (STAR) and route Waypoints are easily inserted, and VNAV calculations are well done (Yes the 146 has VNAV). Route editing is very good, but you don't have the PATH option here with STEP movements. There is no route to see either, so it is recommended to test the route on another (Aircraft) system and edit the route there to find anomalies and recording them to make sure the routing is correct before inserting the route in the UFMC. There is a HOLD function and PROG (Progress Pages) are also available, we will look at other PROG pages (2/3) in the air. Hidden under the VNAV button are the ECON (Economy) pages for CLB, CRZ and 286 (ECON 286 - best cruise speed). The FMC helps the flight crew with navigation, performance optimisation and automatic fuel monitoring. The flight functions manage the aircraft’s lateral flight path (LNAV) and vertical flight path (VNAV) via the autopilot. This FMC also tunes the navigation radios and sets the desired courses for various procedures such as approaches, SIDs and STARs, using the navigation database to supply the necessary data to fly all routes. So the UFMC is a great addition here. Starting the BAe 146... although the aircraft IS complex, the engine start is quite easy. Make sure all the fuel pumps are on, set the APU Air on (Bleed), START PWR (on), Ground Start (off position) CONT-IGN (x2) on and the START MASTER... .. select the engine you want to start, but always first an outer engine for a generator power supply via the main switch... Then press the START switch... The Avco Lycoming ALF 502 H engines will then spool up very, very quickly to the 20% n2 starting point, were at this point you up the throttle from the detent (release throttle lock) to the idle position to start the fuel flow, the engine then completes the start procedure to settle around the 52% n2 running in idle. Engine sequence start is basically in reverse order 4-3-2-1. If you want the full whine and intricate startup sounds then you will be disappointed here, because there is isn't any, well a little, but these tiny Avro engines are super quiet, even when all four are running it is hard to hear anything from the cockpit, except for a nice humm... the 146 isn't called the "Whisper Jet" for nothing. Now you clean up the OHP, switch off all the engine starter switches... except the two CONT-IGN, in case you need to relight the engine in flight. APU Bleed off, and APU shutdown, Electrics on, all ENG AIR on and set the cabin altitude dial, if the pressurisation is correct you should get the twin dials moving to anti-clockwise full. It is very important these actions are completed, if not you get loads of alert and warning noises in the air. Final checks of the GRND (Ground) test panel... the test of the "Stall Warning" alert will jump you out of your seat, but all the different sounds are very authentic, and a double check of the MWS Panel is also a good thing to do... There are significant differences between the different three variants, even by load capacity and weight as well, so this -300 at a gross full weight feels very heavy, even ponderous in the taxi, I don't mind that aspect as I love heavy aircraft to fly for the feel, but you have to be aware of the wide band of feel of flying the 146 in it's size (variants) and weights. In the taxi it is nice to tootle around the taxiways, but as noted you need a little thrust to move the set weight. Two notes... you can physically move the tiller to steer the aircraft as well as using the standard (joystick) yaw which is a brilliant option, it was usually one or the other. Another point is to check the "Config" button on the centre of the pedestal, which is similar to the Airbus "Config" test. It tells you if the aircraft is fully set up for takeoff, if not the red "Config" alert will show in the MWS... aircraft ‘doors not closed’ warning system is also part of the config system, if it doesn't scream at you, you can smile a grin of a professional in setting up the aircraft (correctly). Just Flight will give you your TO/Landing VRefs and current gross weight centre panel lower right, good to note. A note about the Honeycomb Bravo. As I now have the system I have the four engine (lever set up) which is excellent. There is no profile, so the AP is a unusual setup on the default profile, so yes HDG, ALT (even V/S) works, but IAS does not (explained in a moment), Flaps are a bit hit and miss as I have no physical notches but there are selections (notches) on the JS 146 Flap gradient. Overall it's excellent. Thrust Modulation System (TMS) The TMS system operates in a variety of modes and consists of a control display unit (CDU), through which the pilot can select a required mode of operation, which is interfaced with a microprocessor-based computer (TMC) driving an actuator on each engine fuel control unit to provide limited trim authority about thrust lever settings. I admit to making a mistake in the X-Plane 11 review on not focusing on the "Thrust Modulation System". To a point I think misunderstanding this TMS system was one of the biggest barriers to enjoying the aircraft, as it can have a profound effect on the way you fly the BAe 146. But I also found the TMS system in the X-Plane 12 is now far more refined with the better XP12 dynamics than with the XP11 version, putting even more emphasis on using the system correctly. When you fly most airliners, you usually push up the throttle to full power for Takeoff, or go into the GoAround mode even if the engines are using a FLEX thrust (derate). Do that in the BAe 146 and it will go seriously wrong quickly, in most cases you will plummet into the sea. Those lovely little Avco Lycoming ALF 502 H engines are pocket-rockets, but also very fragile if you abuse them, and they will blow out extremely quickly at full throttle power... do that a few times and your love affair with the 146 has suddenly become a broken relationship... this is where the TMS comes in. Today we have modern FADEC "Full Authority Digital Engine Control' to control engine parameters, but this 146 has one foot in the old analog world, so you could say the TMS is an early version of FADEC, or a manual interface instead of the mostly hidden fully automatic engine parameter system we currently use. You will use the TMS panel a lot. You can use the pop-up panel from the menu, but that is still a two step process to get it to appear. I would recommend to use a Command toggle for a one button view or hide selection, it needs to be quickly accessible, even for visual use. Press the PWR (Power) to start. every time you use the TMS you have to run the TEST (to align it). If you shut it down you can't just power it up again. On the test mode the system goes through every selection to verify the system, then you are ready to use it. First we will look at the "SYNC" mode... the idea of the Sync mode is to align the engines to one single parameter, in other words what one engine does, the others are then synchronised to do the same actions, so the settings for one are then the same as all four engines. In this case you can set the CTRL selection to either follow the N1 or N2 engine thrust output, and the MSTR selection is to Sync to either Engine 1 or Engine 2. "Modulation" is basically the operating parameters, or the thrust limits you can go to in the various phases of the flight. Pressing the TO (TakeOff) button will show you the highest limit N%/ºC you can go to with the takeoff thrust, here 93.7%. This is set by setting your current Airport temperature 15º in the T REF ºC You can adjust or "Derate" the TO percentage by adjusting the Airport temperature, here 35º to derate to 90.7%, you can do the opposite of more thrust output by setting the temperature lower than the Airport's local temperature. Once these settings are done you are basically ready to fly.... the route today is LEBL (Barcelona) to GMMN (Casablanca) 818 nm, about the normal flight for a regional airliner, the BAe 146-300 has a standard range of 1,700 nautical miles (3,150 km). You could note the TMS as being a Semi-Automatic system, it isn't as we noted a full AutoThrust system, it's job is to protect and keep the engines within their limits (and of why it is so easy to burn them out quickly). On throttles up all the Engines (top row 1-2-3-4) light up to signify the TMS system is now active.... first you will advance to around 25% thrust, and get the aircraft moving. Besides working your takeoff roll, your eyes also have to be glued to the TMS panel. When all four of the triangles disappear you stop moving the throttles, then the TMS system will take-over, driving an actuator on each engine fuel control unit to provide limited trim authority on the thrust output to the set N%, in other words it will takeover your throttle and advance only to the highest set parameter allowed for the engine reliability, noted here as 930% v2 - Rotate is around 124 knts, and you will go into a 10º climbout... "Positive Climb" The TO mode is limited to a 5 minutes maximum continuous use at full takeoff thrust, because you are set at the very upper limit of the Engines performance. So you will switch as soon as you can to MCT (Maximum Continuous Thrust), this mode changes the N% output to a lower thrust setting, and more within the Engines parameters, here 85.7% (Down from 93.0%) to protect the engines. Again if any triangles appear you have to adjust the throttle (slightly) until they all disappear again. It is noted that a lot of 146 pilots don't use the MCT option, but go directly to TGT (Turbine Gas Temperature) as we shall see. If you think the thrust management is tricky, the the AP - Autopilot just confounds the issues. As there are no V/S (Vertical Speed) or Speed controls visible on the panel. Mostly V/S is controlled by adjusting your pitch then reselecting the V/S to hold that pitch (trim can do the same job). I did find that I could use the V/S selection with my Honeycomb Bravo V/S controls, but that is sort of cheating. Mostly the TMS will control your climb speed (TO Mode/MCT Mode) by holding a speed, there is an IAS button, but in reality you adjust your thrust manually to change your speed, then the IAS will hold that thrust setting... the IAS can also be used to adjust your V/S. But there is one other mode you can use... TGT (Turbine Gas Temperature) to control the speed. Selecting TGT will give you control over the N1 output (or thrust). When in the TGT mode, you can adjust the N1 output on the TMS panel lower left (TGT ºC), this is synced to the N1 engine output (remember all four engines are synced together). So when you adjust the TGT output you increase your speed (or lower the speed), that is shown on your N1 engine outputs on all four engines, as noted 146 pilots go straight to this mode to get speed control. There is one more mode in DESC (Descend) which we will use later on approach. 146 Climb rates are around 2,000 to 3,000 fpm to 10,000ft, then 1,500 to 2,000 to 20,000ft, 1,000 fpm to 30,000 and finally 500 fpm to TOC (Top of Climb) in most cases you rarely fly higher than 31,000ft. The RJ series with the more powerful engines could do 35,000ft. You need to be very steadfast in controlling the TGT output. It's very tricky or it can trick you. You need a high output to climb. but then reduce N1 TGT at altitude (obviously)... but finding the sweet spot to TGT º to keep it on the set bug is tricky(er) that it looks? Suddenly you have an overspeed (alarm), so you reduce the TGT output%, then it starts falling too low, and up it goes, then it's too high again? so it take practise to find the right (narrow) window to keep the speed consistently at the point you want, for me it was 725º, but it took a long time getting there. The above shows why a lot of users found the BAe 146 Pro hard to fly, but learn and to get this TMS working for you and not against you, it is clever and very immersive to do, but you have to understand of what it does and be aware of the Engines limitations to get the best out of the system and the aircraft. The BAe 146 also has a complicated pressurization system. You have to set the Cabin Altitude (usually 6,000ft), but making sure the system is correctly set. (all) ENG AIR switches have to be on, PACK 1 and PACK 2 have be on (it looks the opposite way around) but the lights will go out if correctly set. If you don't set the environment system you will get consistent alerts/warnings (flashing), it will drive you up the wall. The UFMC has very good PROG or "PROGRESS" pages, and there are three pages. 1st page is the standard waypoint, dis, time and fuel use... 2nd page covers Wind, speeds and Fuel Quantity, and the 3rd page covers RTA (Required Time of Arrival). This page is used when a flight crew needs to arrive at a specific time, which is useful in delay situations. The Kgs to Lbs settings conversion it is set on the INIT REF INDEX page, so if you use Kgs (like me) it can show in Imperial (fuel) numbers as default and confuse you if not changed. I'm already over the Pillars of Hercules — one on the Rock of Gibraltar (Europe) and the other on Jebel Musa (Africa)... The Straits of Gibraltar is another name. There is a lot to do to get the aircraft ready for landing. ILS Freqencies 109.90 INR - RWY 35R, and 112.50 SLK the entrance VOR to INR. In the UFMC they are noted (under PARK) but these are just false numbers to look nice, they are not actually active, so all the frequencies are set manually, left and right on the glareshield. Top of Descent (TOD)... and you now press the last TMS mode in DESC. This will set the TGTº at 60, or idle, or the lowest thrust setting you can use, and the 146 will automatically lose height at around 1000 fpm, you can adjust more (or less) vertical speed via the V/S. You have to careful here not to lose too much speed, as you are tempted to re-engage the TGT mode to boost the speed up, it works to a point, but don't over do the idea. Part of the trick is to use (lower) the Flaps in the circuit to reduce the speed at the same output power, get it right and it can be a smooth transition for the final approach... I want everything right before I get to SIDI KHEDIM (SLK VOR) as it it is the entrance directly to the 35R ILS, so speed and Flaps at 30º are set early, and gear is already down, speed is around 140 knts in this configuration. The gear drag rubs off a little speed as well, so you have to compensate for it, as now your under manual throttle control and have now shut down the TMS. As at these lower speeds as there is now no need for engine protections. In the turn to final approach you flick off the HS/R NAV to NAV to use the ILS Frequency, and the beams come alive and you select V/L (VOR LOC) mode to arm the localiser hold mode and the GSL (glideslope) mode to arm glideslope hold mode. Flaps 33º (Full). Throttle control is very finicky in the ILS beams, get the speed wrong and the 146 will start to nose bounce, so you can't go too slow, or too fast, but you have a F-S gauge on the Artificial Horizon that helps in finding the correct speed, but your still adjusting the throttles all the way down to threshold to get the best performance out of the aircraft, on the slope the speed is 124 knts, most 146 pilots love this controlled phase of the flight, noted as with "good handling even in crosswinds; responsive but not twitchy". On the lower slope the speed is 120 knts, and your still consistently fine tuning the throttles to match the speed (Honeycomb Bravo). In the flare the 146 can get a bit pitchy, and so you can get a too nose high angle, so you need to be aware in controlling that aspect, touch was around 102 knts, which is close to the 95 knt stall speed. The wing airbrakes are automatic, but you have to manually open the rear clasp door speed brake, once under the 100 knts the wing brake drops back down, but the roll out speed is slow anyway and only a little braking is required, so no reversers? you don't need them at these low landing speeds. And we are back in the taxi phase... and Mohammed V International Airport stand E9 awaits. Thoughts on shutdown are that the Just Flight BAe 146 Pro is an excellent Simulation of an 70's era aircraft, but with that aspect so are the dynamics of flying an in this now 50 year old era, as the 146 reminds me a lot of the Dash Q400, but with jet engines. Phases of the flight requires certain skills to master, some pilots call it "Like a bus with four hairdryers", which is funny, but probably not far from the truth, another quote is “You had to fly it—not program it.” and again that is true as the challenge here is to master the dynamics and that the hydraulic and electrical systems were robust but somewhat overengineered for a regional jet, the 146 feels overengineered everywhere... but that is the satisfaction of this Simulation. ___________ Summary The British Aerospace (BAe) 146 is a short to medium range airliner. Faster and bigger than a regional turboprop, but smaller than a standard airliner, and the 146 was manufactured from 1983 until 2002 with just under 400 airframes. The aircraft was offered in three variants, the 146-100, 146-200 and 146-300. The equivalent Avro variants were RJ70, RJ85 and RJ100, plus the QT "Quiet Trader" and QC "Quick Change" and Royal Flight/Military variants. Powered by four small Avco Lycoming ALF 502 H engines that produced 6,500lbf of thrust each. There was a standard configuration of 5 abreast seating, although a high density 6 abreast configuration was also available and used in this aircraft. This is the highly anticipated JustFlight version of the BAe 146, but not the first RJ or 146 released for the X-Plane Simulator as that notion easily goes to the "Avroliner Project". The BAe 146 Pro was released by JustFlight originally for the P3D platform, the aircraft was then redesigned for X-Plane by the renowned X-Plane developers Thranda Design for X-Plane 11, a slow seller, the aircraft was ambivalent to be upgraded to X-Plane 12. However persistence prevailed, and so here is the XP12 version of the JF BAe 146 Pro. All major systems are covered from Fuel, Fire, Hydraulics, Air-Conditioning, Electrical, APU, Pressurisation, Iceing, Oxygen, Master MWS - Warning systems, Engine Air supply, Communication systems, Authentic Smiths SEP 10 Auto Flight systems the and extensive features of Thrust Modulation System (TMS) and AviTab menu and intergration, and you have four optional FMS systems including the "Universal" UFMC. All external and internal modeling is excellent and now upgraded to X-Plane 12 features and dynamics, it also comes with 44 high quality liveries and lots of perfect detail externally. Internally the cockpit is of perfect detail and immersion including for excellent VR (Virtual Reality). With moving armrests, chairs and even a pop-out third jumpseat the detail is ultra realistic with XP12 lighting effects. The cabin is although is a little lo-res and basic, but better here than in XP11. QT Cargo has huge detailed door, and two menus service all opening doors, AP pop-ups, Quick start, checklists, TMS pop-up, basic weights and fuel loading. Both Internal and external (complex) Lighting has been upgraded to X-Plane 12 with excellent results and the cabin is now fully lit in dark, fully developed 3D extensive sounds are also exceptional. This is a very highly detailed Simulation, but to be aware of the deep complex flying operations and clockwork instruments, this is no Boeing or Airbus in operation, more FJS Dash8 Q-400 (Q4XP) in detail and era designed operations with the authentic unique "TMS" Thrust Management System in the aircraft. The extensive manual is a deep 247 pages of systems and features, not just systems, but the 146 comes with reproductions of authentic systems that requires study and operation... so the package is a "Study" grade and a Professional aircraft to learn and operate. In X-Plane 11 the JF BAe 146 Pro was priced just under US$75.00, expensive, but still worthy on the amount of the 8 variants and the huge amount of features provided at the time. For X-Plane 12 that price has been moderated to US44.95, a bargain here on what you receive in quality and features, and for customers who own the BAe 146 XP11, they will get a 40% Discount on that release price (US$26.97), which has to be the bargain of the year. Certainly extensive in pretty well any area you would want to delve into, just pick one and be absolutely blown away by the depth of this BAe 146 Series from JustFlight. We expected it to be good in coming over to X-Plane 12, but it delivers extensively as a very deep but authentic simulation. But be aware, that depth of systems and operation, they do require time to learn and be put into practise, and there is a lot of areas to cover and a lot to learn to get the best out of these 146s. Certainly this clever regional airliner is no, drop in and fly (unless you want a lot of alarms in your ears, or plummets into the Sea), but again that is the aim of this very high level of study simulation aircraft, the skill level required is high here as well and you will need to commit to the aircraft to get the very best out of it... do that, and you will get an exceptional simulation in return.... Absolutely Highly Recommended, and the deal of the year!. ________________ Yes! the British Aerospace 146 Professional XP12 by JustFlight is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : BAe146 Professional XP12 - JustFlight Price is US$44.95 Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, Mac or Linux 8 GB VRAM Recommended Download Size: 3.8 GB Current Version: XP12 (May 22nd 2025) Customers who own the BAe 146 XP11, will get a 40% Discount. Discounted Automatically applied at checkout Designed by JustFlight and Thranda Support forum for the BAe 146 XP12 Download: for BAe 146 Pro is 3.8Gb. There is only one folder to install; JF12_BAe_146 Full Installation is 5.43Gb in your "Aircraft" Folder. (only X-Plane 12) Documentation There is excellent full coverage documentation and installation details, and separate FMC guide. 146 Professional X-Plane 12 manual.pdf (247 Pages) 146 Professional X-Plane 12 Variants and Liveries Guide.pdf EULAstandardcommercialandacademic2025.pdf Universal FMC 146 Professional X-Plane 12.pdf ________________ Review System Specifications:  Windows - 12th Gen IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU - 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - PNY GeForce RTX 3080 10GB XLR8 - Samsung 970 EVO+ 2TB SSD Software: - Windows 11 Pro - X-Plane 12.2.0 (Beta) but checked in XP 12.1.4 Plugins: JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 Scenery or Aircraft - LEBL - Barcelona XP by Aerosoft (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$27.99 Aircraft Review by Stephen Dutton 22nd May 2025 Copyright©2025: 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) All Rights Reserved.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   • May 28May 28
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     • 1
   • • just flight
2. NEWS! - Aircraft Released : PA-28-161 WARRIOR II XP12 by Just Flight
   

   just flight NEWS! - Aircraft Released : PA-28-161 WARRIOR II XP12 by Just Flight

   Stephen posted a topic in News! The latest developments in X-Plane

   NEWS! - Aircraft Released : PA-28-161 WARRIOR II XP12 by Just Flight The PA-28-161 Warrior ll by Just Flight is the latest release in the Piper PA-28 Cherokee family of two-seat or four-seat aircraft built by Piper Aircraft. Previous in this series from Just Flight are the PA-28R Turbo Arrow III and Arrow IV XP12, and the Piper PA-28-181 Archer TX/LX XP12. This series are all upgrades to X-Plane 12, and if you purchased the JustFlight PA-28-161 Warrior II for X-Plane 11, there is a 20% discount to upgrade to the XP12 version. PA-28-161 Warrior II is four-seater, fixed landing gear aircraft with a Lycoming O-320-D2A or -D3G engine of 160 hp (119 kW), gross weight 2,325 lb (1,055 kg). First certified on 2 November 1976. Changes from the PA-28-160 included a tapered wing, and it was certified on 1 July 1982 for gross weight of 2,440 lb (1,107 kg). The Warrior was set between the Cherokee and the Archer aircraft series. This highly detailed simulation of the Warrior II has been developed by Just Flight's in-house team and Thranda Design following comprehensive, hands-on research with a real-life Warrior II, G-BOZI, based at Conington Airfield in the UK. The PA-28-161 Warrior II for X-Plane 12 features new 8K textures inside and out, with a new refurbished interior, and completely reworked exterior textures featuring PBR materials. Also included is a brand-new tablet EFB featuring a plethora of features such as aircraft configuration, customisation options, states and interactive checklists. Numerous animations include a multi-animation passenger door that, when open, responds to G-forces and air resistance. The Warrior also features a completely new FMOD sound pack from Sim Acoustics which uses high fidelity recordings from the real aircraft. To take advantage of improvements to the X-Plane 12 engine, the flight model has been rebuilt with scratch-built airfoils to match real-world data and refined fuselage and control surface geometry, meaning the aircraft will perform even closer to its real-world counterpart. AIRCRAFT FEATURES Model Accurately modelled PA-28-161 Warrior II, built using real-world aircraft plans Numerous animations, including multi-animation passenger door that, when open, responds to G-forces and air resistance, baggage door, cockpit window, sun visors, oil cover and optional wheel fairings Ground equipment including chocks and tie-downs 8K textures are used to produce the highest possible texture clarity PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials with real-time environment reflections for superb quality and realism completely reworked for X-Plane 12 Detailed normal mapping for down-to-the-rivet precision of aircraft features X-Plane 12 native rain effects Cockpit A truly 3D virtual cockpit right down to accurately modelled seat belts and screw heads - every instrument is constructed fully in 3D with smooth animations Brand-new blue cockpit fabric based on a recently refurbished aircraft Tablet EFB with a selection of apps (see below) Fully functional and comprehensive IFR-capable avionics fit including: - KMA 20 audio selector unit - Fully Featured X-Plane-native GNS530 (supports procedures out of the box, and supports Navigraph and Aerosoft custom nav databases) - KX 175B COM 2 / NAV 2 radio - KN 62 DME unit which can display information from NAV 1 or NAV 2 - Century 21 autopilot with lateral hold modes (HDG, NAV, APR, REV) – hidden autopilot altitude hold system included for convenience - KT 76A transponder unit - KR 85 ADF unit - Support for RealityXP GTN750 (sold separately, Windows only) Yoke-mounted flight timer/clock GoodWay compatible Ability to change barometric units from inHg to MB in altimeter adjustment Pop-up autopilot window Animated toe brakes Functional throttle quadrant tensioning system Radio knob animations routed through plug-in logic, for optimum movement fidelity and sound synchronisation Tablet EFB The EFB includes a selection of apps providing useful tools and customisation options: Aircraft Options - open/close the aircraft’s doors, enable/disable glass reflection, enable/disable ground equipment and more! Weight & Balance - adjust the aircraft’s weight and balance using the built-in configuration app and centre of gravity table. Instrument Options - choose to have the cockpit avionics visible in the 3D cockpit or have them pop out on 2D panels. Static Liveries - change aircraft liveries without exiting to the main menu. Dynamic Liveries - customise the aircraft’s paint scheme without leaving the aircraft. Features Modern and a Classic liveries whose colours can be fully customised in the aircraft, without the need for any complicated paint kits. Engine Configuration - view the condition of the engines and enable enhanced simulation options such as spark plug fouling and vapour lock. DynaFeel - adjust the force required to move each of the control surfaces. Checklists - interactable checklists for every stage of flight. AviTab support Aircraft systems Custom-coded fuel system, including the option of automatic fuel tank switching for use on those long-distance cross-country flights (this option is remembered for future flights) Custom-coded electrical system with functional circuit breakers, avionics power circuit and emergency bus controls. Circuit breaker logic is linked to X-Plane's internal failure logic, so if the plane is set to fail a certain electrical component after a certain number of hours, the circuit breaker for that element will pop out. Realistic landing gear with slow/fast tyre rotation animation (blurry when rotating fast), precise shock absorber animation and wheel chocks and tie-downs Functioning carburettor and primer controls Dedicated interactive EFB page displaying values such as fuel tank weights and imbalance, fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil temperature, battery charge (with quick charge option) and information about spark plug fouling and vapour lock condition Simulated vapour lock condition, with warning pop-up and suggested actions Simulated spark plug fouling condition, with indication of percentage of fouling Lighting system includes separate lighting control for gauges (via rheostat) and realistic implementation of navigation light / radio light rheostat Functional electric trim control on yoke (requires electric trim button to be pushed) Custom external light logic with custom strobe light pattern and custom light halos for added realism Liveries The Warrior II is supplied in the following six paint schemes: EC-IOS (Spain) G-BNOH (UK) G-BUIF (UK) HN-PNL (Switzerland) N3572M (USA) VH-PZN (Australia) OTHER FEATURES Realistic and accurate flight dynamics based on real-world performance and handling data, and input from Warrior pilots, completely reworked for X-Plane 12 Brand-new authentic sound set, generated using X-Plane's state-of-the-art FMOD sound system Custom sounds for switches, doors, warnings and more, featuring accurate location placement of sounds in the stereo spectrum, 3D audio effects, atmospheric effects, adaptive Doppler, exterior sounds spill in when window or door(s) are opened, different sound characteristics depending on viewing angle etc. Comprehensive manual with panel guide and performance data Option to launch X-Plane's weight and balance manager window from the custom EFB The XP12 version however is only for this X-Plane version. Images are courtesy of JustFlight And... Flight Sim Awards 2025 Winner! ___________________ Yes! the PA-28-161 WARRIOR II XP12 by JustFlight Thranda is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : PA-28-161 WARRIOR II XP12 On sale: US$42.99 Requirements: X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, Mac or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 837 MB Current version: 1.0 (March 20th 2025) PS: If you own the JustFlight PA-28-161 Warrior II for X-Plane 11, a 20% discount will automatically be applied at the checkout on the X-Plane.OrgStore NEWS! by Stephen Dutton 21st March 2025 Copyright©2025: 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) All Rights Reserved

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   • March 21Mar 21
3. Aircraft Review: PA-28R TURBO ARROW III / IV XP12 by Just Flight
   

   just flight Aircraft Review: PA-28R TURBO ARROW III / IV XP12 by Just Flight

   Dominic Smith posted a topic in General Aviation Aircraft Reviews

   Aircraft Review: PA-28R TURBO ARROW III / IV XP12 by Just Flight By DrishalMAC2 Introduction Just Flight, in partnership with Thranda Design, has brought the PA-28R Turbo Arrow III and Arrow IV to X-Plane 12, adding another impressive aircraft to their lineup of high-quality general aviation simulations. Known for their detailed recreations of aircraft such as the Arrow III and the C152, Just Flight’s Turbo Arrow III/IV raises the bar with its intricate modelling, advanced systems, and realism, all tailored to X-Plane 12’s capabilities. This review will explore the visual fidelity, flight dynamics, systems, and overall experience of the Turbo Arrow series in X-Plane 12. Based on real-world flight data and feedback from pilots familiar with the aircraft, this model captures the distinctive turbocharged engine characteristics and handling, making it an excellent choice for pilots seeking a detailed simulation of these touring and instrument-training aircraft. Note: For a more in-depth look at the features of the PA-28R series, including the original Arrow III, you can check out Stephen’s comprehensive review of the Just Flight/Thranda Designs PA-28R Arrow III for X-Plane 12 here. Many aspects, such as the high-quality modelling and systems, carry over into the Turbo Arrow III/IV, so this review focuses on what makes the turbocharged variants unique. Installation Installing the Turbo Arrow III/IV is straightforward. The download package is approximately 2.2 GB and unpacks to 3.1 GB after installation. Simply extract the files into the “Aircraft” folder within your X-Plane 12 directory. Once in the simulator, activate the aircraft using the provided serial key, and it’s ready to fly. Documentation Just Flight provides comprehensive documentation, including a detailed manual that outlines the aircraft’s specifications, panel guide, and procedures. The guide also covers the use of the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) and advanced systems like engine management, custom electrical systems, and weight and balance. Additionally, an Operating Data Manual (ODM) is included, offering useful performance data such as take-off performance for various flap settings. Whether you’re an experienced sim pilot or a newcomer, the manual provides invaluable insight for operating the Turbo Arrow III/IV realistically. External Modelling and Textures The Turbo Arrow III/IV’s exterior is meticulously modelled using real-world aircraft plans and features high-resolution textures. While the external textures are of excellent quality, they are notably clean. Adding some general dirt and grime could enhance the immersion of a well-used aircraft. The attention to detail is evident in the rivets, panel lines, and subtle wear on the airframe. PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials add realistic reflections and surface details, further enhancing the model’s appearance under varying lighting conditions. Static elements, plus other aircraft options such as the opening and closing of doors are toggled from Just Flight’s Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) (more on that later). Each livery, from the UK’s G-BYKP to the USA’s N-6919R, is recreated with care, showcasing the aircraft’s global appeal. The package includes three liveries for the Arrow III and an additional three for the Arrow IV. A template livery is also provided for those who want to create their own designs. Cockpit and Interior Inside the cockpit, the Turbo Arrow continues to impress. Every instrument is fully modelled in 3D, with smooth animations and authentic wear that reflects real-world usage. Key cockpit features include: Detailed seat belts, screws, and upholstery. Adjustable panel lighting for night flights. VR compatibility, offering an immersive experience for VR pilots (untested by me due to lack of VR hardware). Customizable avionics configurations, including the ability to pop out instruments for ease of use. The cockpit textures are generally of high quality, though some areas, such as the footwell and roof, are of lower resolution. This appears to have been done for performance reasons, but it’s not a significant issue, as these are areas rarely noticed during normal operations. Prioritizing performance is critical, especially in X-Plane 12, and this balance is well maintained. Avionics The aircraft is IFR-capable, featuring a KMA 20 audio selector, KX 175B COM 2 / NAV 2 radio, KN 62 DME, and a KR 85 ADF unit. The GNS530 is fully integrated, supporting procedures out of the box and offering compatibility with Navigraph and Aerosoft databases. For those seeking an enhanced avionics experience, the aircraft also supports RealityXP’s GTN750. Custom Systems Engine Management: The turbocharged Continental TSIO-360 six-cylinder engine is modelled with realistic performance, including simulated spark plug fouling and vapor lock. These conditions are displayed on the EFB, providing insights and solutions for maintaining engine health. Fuel and Electrical Systems: The custom fuel system includes an automatic tank-switching option for cross-country flights, while the electrical system features functional circuit breakers integrated with X-Plane’s native failure system. Landing Gear: The retractable landing gear is equipped with detailed animations, accurate shock absorber movement, and an emergency extension system. These accurately simulated systems, implemented by Just Flight, add a new level of immersion to this aircraft. Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) The EFB is a standout feature, offering a range of tools and customization options: Aircraft Options: Enable or disable ground equipment, reflections, and advanced simulation features like engine wear and fouling. Weight & Balance: Adjust payload and fuel directly within the EFB, with changes reflected in real time. Instrument Options: Enable or disable GTN 750/650 integration (third-party), toggle popups for the GNS 530 and Century IV. Engine Config: Monitor engine parameters, refuel the aircraft, and recharge the battery. Livery Customization: Switch between static and dynamic liveries or create custom paint schemes on the fly. Configuration: Toggle options such as engine running, automatic fuel switching, and adjust the flight model feel via the DynaFeel system. Checklists: Interactive checklists cover all flight stages, including emergency operations. Flight Computer: Displays a wealth of in-flight information, including temperature, ground speed, endurance, range, nautical and statute miles per gallon (NMPG/SMPG), density and pressure altitude (DALT and Press ALT), true airspeed, fuel flow, fuel used, and headwind/crosswind components, particularly useful for cross-country navigation. Additional Shortcuts: Includes quick access to X-Plane 12 native menus, such as the logbook, ground handling window, and AviTab (if installed). Flight Dynamics and Performance The Turbo Arrow III/IV’s flight model is built using extensive real-world data and feedback from experienced pilots. While I haven’t flown this particular aircraft in real life, I do regularly fly a C152 for flight training and have some relevant experience in the handling and operation of general aviation aircraft. That said, the PA-28R is a more powerful aircraft, with a heavier build and a low-wing design compared to the high-wing design of the C152 I’m used to. These differences naturally affect the flight characteristics and stability of the Turbo Arrow, offering a distinct experience for pilots transitioning from lighter, high-wing trainers. Take-off and Climb Take-offs in the PA-28R Turbo Arrow III and IV are smooth, with a recommended rotation speed of approximately 70 knots. The aircraft climbs steadily at around 90 knots, providing a realistic and predictable experience. Cruise Once airborne, the aircraft handles beautifully, performing exactly as expected for this class of aircraft, thanks to the fine-tuning by Just Flight and the excellent flight model in X-Plane 12. Setting the manifold pressure to 28 InHG and the RPM to 2,300 using the throttle and propeller lever respectively establishes a typical cruise. The aircraft flies smoothly and performs particularly well when practising power-on and power-off stalls, behaving as expected for a low-wing GA aircraft. Landing and Ground Handling Landing the PA-28R is a breeze. It handles very well, simulating the additional ground effect of the low-wing design, and the effects of adding flaps feel realistic. Ground handling is also well executed, making it fairly easy to maintain control during landings or take-offs. The landing gear animations are excellent, with both fast and slow rotation sequences included, further enhancing immersion. Overall, the aircraft performs as expected across all phases of flight, from taxiing to approach and landing. The ability to switch between the Turbo Arrow III and IV variants in real time is a unique feature, allowing pilots to appreciate the subtle differences between the two models. Night Lighting The Turbo Arrow III/IV features adjustable cockpit lighting which works well. The rheostat-controlled instrument lighting allows pilots to fine-tune their setup for comfortable night flying. However, as mentioned in Stephen's earlier review of the Arrow, the rear cabin is quite dark. Sound Design Just Flight makes excellent use of X-Plane’s FMOD sound system to deliver an immersive audio experience. Engine sounds, switch clicks, and atmospheric effects are well-executed, with dynamic adjustments based on viewing angle and cockpit conditions. Opening a window or door changes the sound environment, adding an extra layer of realism. The clickable headphone jack is a thoughtful touch, muffling and quietening the sounds to simulate wearing a headset in the cockpit. Overall, the audio design is fantastic, with the start-up and shutdown of the turbocharged engine being particular highlights. Conclusion Having spent the last few weeks putting Just Flight’s PA-28R Turbo Arrow III/IV for X-Plane 12 through its paces, I have to say the experience left me extremely impressed. Standout features like the detailed modelling, advanced systems, and immersive flight dynamics all combine to create an add-on that captures this iconic aircraft almost perfectly. The only minor improvement I can think of would be sharper cockpit textures, but as it stands, the Turbo Arrow III/IV is a must-have for X-Plane 12 users. Whether you’re a student pilot like myself looking for a training platform, or an enthusiast seeking a realistic touring aircraft, this add-on delivers on all fronts. ________________________ The PA-28R TURBO ARROW III / IV XP12 by Just Flight - Thranda Design is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: PA-28R TURBO ARROW III / IV XP12 Priced at $42.99 Features MODEL Accurately modelled PA-28R-201T Turbo Arrow III and PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV, built using real-world aircraft plans Numerous animations including multi-animation passenger door that, when open, responds to G-forces and air resistance, baggage door, cockpit window and sun visors Ground equipment including chocks and tie-downs 8k interior and exterior textures are used to produce the highest possible texture clarity PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials with real-time environment reflections for superb quality and realism, completely reworked and upgraded for X-Plane 12 Detailed normal mapping for down-to-the-rivet precision of aircraft features. EFB livery switcher for switching between the Turbo Arrow III and IV variants in real-time without needing to use the aircraft menu X-Plane 12 native rain effects COCKPIT A truly 3D virtual cockpit right down to accurately modelled seat belts and screw heads - every instrument is constructed fully in 3D with smooth animations Cockpit textures feature wear and tear based on reference photos taken in the real aircraft to produce an authentic environment Tablet EFB with a selection of apps full of useful tools and customisation options: Aircraft Options: Open/close the aircraft’s doors, enable/disable glass reflection, enable/disable ground equipment, and more! Weight & Balance: Adjust the aircraft’s weight and balance using the built-in configuration app and centre of gravity table. Instrument Options: Choose to have the cockpit avionics visible in the 3D cockpit or pop them out on 2D panels. Static Liveries: Change aircraft liveries without exiting to the main menu. Dynamic Liveries: Customise the aircraft’s paint scheme without leaving the aircraft. Features Modern and a Classic liveries whose colours can be fully customised in the aircraft, without the need for any complicated paint kits. Engine Configuration: View the condition of the engines and enable enhanced simulation options such as spark plug fouling and vapour lock. Thranda DynaFeel: Adjust the force required to move each of the control surfaces. Checklists: Interactable checklists for every stage of flight. AviTab support. And much more! Fully functional and comprehensive IFR-capable avionics fit including: KMA 20 audio selector unit Fully featured X-Plane-native GNS530 (supports procedures out of the box, and supports Navigraph and Aerosoft custom nav databases) KX 175B COM 2 / NAV 2 radio KN 62 DME unit which can display information from NAV 1 or NAV 2 Autocontrol IIIB autopilot unit with navigation, heading and roll hold (hidden autopilot altitude hold system included for convenience) KT 76A transponder unit KR 85 ADF unit Support for RealityXP GTN750 (sold separately, Windows only) Interactive logbook panel for logging your flight details (X-Plane native) Yoke-mounted flight timer/clock Independently operated left and right (standby) altimeter GoodWay compatible Ability to change barometric units from InHG to MB in altimeter adjustment Pop-up autopilot window Animated toe brakes Functional throttle quadrant tensioning system Radio knob animations routed through plug-in logic, for optimum movement fidelity and sound synchronisation AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS Custom-coded fuel system, including the option of automatic fuel tank switching for use on those long distance cross-country flights (this option is remembered for future flights) Custom-coded electrical system with functional circuit breakers. Circuit breaker logic is linked to X-Plane's internal failure logic, so if the plane is set to fail a certain electrical component after a certain number of hours, the circuit breaker for that element will pop out. Realistic landing gear system with intricate retraction animation, slow/fast tyre rotation animation (blurry when rotating fast), precise shock absorber animation with multiple linkages animated accurately, and wheel chocks and tie-downs Functioning alternate air and static source controls Fully implemented back-up landing gear system Dedicated interactive engine EFB page for displaying values such as fuel tank weights and imbalance, fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil temperature, battery charge (with quick charge option), and information about spark plug fouling and vapour lock condition Simulated vapour lock condition, with EFB warnings and suggested actions Simulated spark plug fouling condition, with indication of percentage of fouling Lighting system includes separate lighting control for gauges (via rheostat) and realistic implementation of navigation light / radio light rheostat Functional electric trim control on yoke (requires electric trim button to be pushed) Functional ELT which is automatically triggered above 4.6 G Simulated fan and vent system with realistic blower sounds (linked to circuit breaker logic and electrical system for realism) Custom external light logic with custom strobe light pattern and custom light halos for added realism Requirements X-Plane 12 (not for XP11) Windows, Mac, or Linux 8 GB+ VRAM Recommended Download Size: 2.1 GB Current version: 1.0 (October 31st, 2024) Discount info: Customers who own the PA-28R TURBO ARROW III / IV XP11 can get this new XP12 version for 10% off. Discount will automatically be applied at checkout. Review System Specifications Windows 11, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32GB DDR5 RAM, RTX 3070Ti ________________________ Aircraft Review by DrishalMAC2 21st December 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   • December 21, 2024Dec 21
   • 2 replies
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     • 2
   • • drishalmac2
4. Update Review: Cessna 152 by Just Flight - Thranda Design
   

   just flight Update Review: Cessna 152 by Just Flight - Thranda Design

   Dominic Smith posted a topic in General Aviation Aircraft Reviews

   Update Review: Cessna 152 by Just Flight - Thranda Design By DrishalMAC2 Introduction Just Flight, in collaboration with Thranda Design, has introduced the widely recognised Cessna 152 (C152) for X-Plane 12, marking another milestone in their impressive lineup of general aviation aircraft. Following the success of their Arrow III and Turbo Arrow III/IV, this C152 release promises a high level of detail and an immersive flight experience. Based on the real-life C152, G-BGAE, from Conington Airfield, this simulation promises a top-tier experience for both training and casual flights. In this review, I will examine how the Just Flight C152 performs in X-Plane 12, focusing on its visual fidelity, flight dynamics, systems, and overall experience. For those of you looking for a more in-depth review, I recommend checking out Stephen’s original review of the Just Flight C152 in X-Plane 11. For reference, I fly the C152 in the real world as a PPL student. As a student, I pay particular attention to the aircraft’s performance in various configurations and stages of flight. This experience is fresh in my mind from real-world flying, giving me a solid foundation for reviewing the C152 in X-Plane 12. Installation Installing the Just Flight C152 is a straightforward process. After purchasing, you download the compressed file from your store account, which is around 700MB zipped and expands to about 750MB once extracted. Extracting the files is simple using any standard ZIP utility. From there, you just place the aircraft folder into the “Aircraft” directory of your X-Plane 12 installation. For the X-Plane 12 version, you'll need to take an extra step. Go into the “JF_152” folder, then navigate to “XP12_ACF”. Rename the “JF_C152.txt” file to “JF_C152.acf” and move it into the main “JF_C152” folder, replacing the existing file when prompted. Make sure there's only one .acf file in the “JF_C152” folder, with none left in the “XP12_ACF” folder. The whole process only takes a few minutes, and the aircraft will be ready to fly once you've activated it using your serial key, which can be found in the “My account” section of the store page. Documentation Just Flight has provided comprehensive documentation, including a 58-page manual that covers vital information such as an introduction to the aircraft specifications, a systems guide, a panel guide, and instructions on how to fly the C152, along with normal and emergency procedures. Having reviewed this information, I found it to be very accurate, with the procedures closely matching what I’ve been taught during my PPL training. The C152 also comes with an Operating Data Manual (ODM), which provides various performance figures such as climb and stall performance. These numbers are quite accurate and align well with what I've experienced in the real aircraft. Additionally, a EULA and changelog are provided. External Texturing and Liveries The Just Flight C152 comes with a variety of high-quality liveries representing several countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany, and Australia, reflecting the global appeal of this two-seater aircraft. The external textures are modelled in high definition, providing clarity down to the rivets. Just Flight’s attention to exterior detailing, from the aircraft's markings to the subtle wear and tear of an older airframe, helps immerse users in the simulation. The use of PBR materials further enhances the realism, with light interacting with the aircraft’s fuselage in a lifelike way, particularly under different lighting conditions. The aircraft appears beautifully polished yet rugged, as you'd expect from a well-used training aircraft. Personally, I think the exterior textures are more than sufficient for this model. 3D Model and Animations The C152 model is built using real-world aircraft plans and extensive photography of G-BGAE, ensuring that the virtual version stays as true to life as possible. Numerous animated elements, such as working doors, windows, air vents, and even a realistically moving ignition keychain, contribute to the level of detail that sets this aircraft apart from other add-ons. The animations are fluid and seamlessly integrated into both the cockpit and exterior models, enhancing the aircraft’s realism. On the ground, you’ll notice the inclusion of chocks, tie-downs, and other ground equipment, creating a realistic pre-flight setup. Cockpit and Internal Texturing Inside the cockpit, Just Flight has delivered a near-perfect replica of the C152’s interior. The 3D modelling is precise, down to the screws and seatbelts. Each instrument is fully modelled in 3D, and the wear and tear on the dashboard and controls is based on reference photos from the real aircraft. This adds a level of authenticity, creating a well-worn yet functional cockpit environment. The C152 features a fully VR-compatible cockpit, although I am unable to test this myself. All knobs, switches, and levers are responsive, and users in virtual reality will appreciate the carefully designed manipulators and snap points, making it easy to interact with the various controls. The cockpit lighting is adjustable, with dimmable instrument lighting providing flexibility for night flights. The internal texturing is acceptable. The panel, yokes, and upholstery all show signs of aging and use, which contributes to an immersive flying experience. Users also have the option to turn off window and instrument reflections for a clearer view, particularly in different lighting conditions. However, the age of the aircraft model does show in some areas, as certain textures are not as high-resolution as those found in newer aircraft releases. I believe sharper textures would help bring the aircraft up to more modern standards. Avionics and Systems The Just Flight C152 is equipped with a comprehensive set of avionics, perfect for both VFR and IFR flying. The standard setup includes a KX 175B COM 1/NAV 1 radio, RT-359A transponder, and ADF 300 unit, all of which are fully functional and easy to operate. The avionics are simple but effective, making the aircraft ideal for both flight training and casual flying. It’s worth noting that the aircraft does not come with an autopilot, which is standard for C152s. A custom weight and balance manager is also included, allowing users to adjust fuel, payload, and CG configurations, with changes accurately reflected in the aircraft's performance. One standout feature is the custom-coded electrical system, complete with functional circuit breakers. If an electrical component fails (which can be triggered by X-Plane's failure system), the corresponding circuit breaker will pop out. This level of system detail adds an extra layer of realism, allowing pilots to simulate full electrical failures and troubleshooting scenarios. Control Panel The C152 includes a control panel accessible from the left of the screen, allowing pilots to manage doors, GPS pop-ups, reflections, lighting, and more with ease. While the layout may feel a bit dated, it’s still functional and covers a wide range of options, from door controls and GPS pop-ups to sound volume adjustments and state setups like 'cold and dark' or 'ready for take-off.' Some settings, like the altimeter scale, even carry over between flights, which is a handy touch. Stephen’s original review delves into more detail on the control panel’s layout and features, but overall, it's a solid, versatile tool here that serves both casual and dedicated simmers well. Hopefully, Just Flight will update this panel to bring it up to X-Plane 12 standards. Flight Model & Performance The C152 flight model is spot-on, thanks to comprehensive research and feedback from real-world pilots. With its 110hp engine and fixed-pitch propeller, the aircraft handles exactly as you’d expect from a two-seater training plane. Takeoff and Climb Take-offs are smooth, with a recommended rotation speed of around 55 knots, and the aircraft climbs steadily at about 65 knots. However, I noticed that with the trim set at take-off, the aircraft tries to rotate by itself at around 40 knots, which is not accurate. This happens regardless of the CG settings in the menu, but setting the trim nose-down helps fix the issue. Aside from that, the aircraft handles just like the real thing, with climb performance being spot-on and drag across different flap configurations seeming quite accurate. I can fly this aircraft almost exactly as I do in real life, with very similar power settings, and it performs just right. Of course, there are slight variations due to weather and weight and balance. Cruise and Flight Characteristics In cruise, the C152 maintains about 90 knots at 2300 RPM, ideal for leisurely VFR flights or practicing navigational exercises. In flight, the aircraft feels highly responsive. The controls are tight, and the aircraft reacts predictably to inputs, making it an excellent trainer. The stall characteristics are also accurately modelled, with power-off stalls occurring at around 50 knots and a subtle wing drop typical of the C152. I found the stall behaviour to be incredibly realistic, closely mirroring how the real aircraft responds. Landing and Ground Handling Ground handling is equally well-executed. The tricycle landing gear is forgiving, allowing for smooth take-offs and landings. The animation of the landing gear, including slow or fast tire rotation, adds to the immersion, making it easy to judge your ground speed visually. Sounds Just Flight has made great use of X-Plane’s FMOD sound system, delivering a rich and immersive audio experience. The engine sounds are multi-layered, with subtle shifts in pitch and tone as you throttle up or down. Atmospheric effects, like wind noise, dynamically change depending on whether the windows or doors are open, adding an extra level of realism to the in-cockpit experience. Sounds for switches, doors, and other cockpit interactions are crisp and well-placed within the stereo field. Not all sounds are present, though, such as the door opening and closing. That said, the essential sounds are all there. The engine sounds are decent but could benefit from improvement, particularly during start-up and shutdown. The flap sounds are well done, though in my opinion, they're a bit too loud. Night Lighting The night lighting in the C152 generally provides a well-rounded experience, with adjustable cockpit lighting that offers some flexibility for night flights. External lighting, including the landing and navigation lights, is bright and clear, casting realistic halos and reflections on the aircraft surfaces. However, while the dome light technically illuminates, it doesn't seem to impact the actual cockpit lighting as it did in the X-Plane 11 version, which might be a letdown for those looking for the same effect. Overall, the lighting setup creates an immersive experience for low-light flights, though it could benefit from minor adjustments. Rain Effects One feature I really enjoyed was the new rain effects in X-Plane 12. The droplets look incredibly realistic on the glass, adding an extra layer of immersion to the overall experience. Conclusion Just Flight's Cessna 152 for X-Plane 12 is an impressive addition to their lineup, capturing the essence of this popular training aircraft with remarkable accuracy. The seamless integration with X-Plane 12's latest visual and physical enhancements, combined with high-quality modelling, textures, and accurate flight dynamics, delivers an immersive experience for both training and casual flying. While there are minor areas that could benefit from improvement, such as some interior textures and sound details, the overall package is comprehensive, offering an authentic replication of the C152's characteristics. This makes it a valuable tool for both PPL students and enthusiasts seeking a realistic and engaging general aviation simulation. From my own experience, I can confidently say this aircraft is a must-have for student pilots training on the C152. ________________________ The Cessna 152 by Just Flight - Thranda Design is now available from the X-Plane.Org Store here: Cessna 152 Priced at $45.99 Features MODEL Accurately modeled C152, built using real-world aircraft plans and comprehensive photography of the real aircraft Numerous animations, including windows, doors, air vents, sun visors, map compartment and realistically animated ignition keychain that responds to G-forces Ground equipment including chocks and tie-downs Authentic labelling and placards based on those found in the real aircraft, including unique airworthiness documentation for each livery based on the country of origin HD textures are used to produce the highest possible texture clarity and immersion PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials with real-time environment reflections for superb quality and realism HDR lighting (real-time illumination of interior and exterior surfaces) Detailed normal mapping for down-to-the-rivet precision of aircraft features New: End-user configurability (via Manifest.json file) COCKPIT A truly 3D virtual cockpit right down to accurately modeled seat belts and screw heads - every instrument is constructed fully in 3D with smooth animations Cockpit textures feature wear and tear based on reference photos taken in the real aircraft to produce an authentic environment Full VR support (VR manipulators, camera snap points, tweaked for comfortable usage) Interactive checklists for every stage of flight Aircraft configuration system that will allow you to choose between 'cold & dark' or 'ready for take-off' (if aircraft is stationary on the ground) Fully functional and comprehensive IFR capable avionics fit including: KMA 20 audio selector unit KX 175B COM 1 / NAV 1 radio RT-359A transponder unit ADF 300 unit with ADF/REC/BFO modes Interactive logbook panel for logging your flight details (X-Plane native) Flight computer panel with useful information such as fuel burn, endurance, speed and wind speed/direction GoodWay compatible Ability to change barometric units from InHG to MB in altimeter adjustment Option to activate flashlight from within pop-up window, to aid in those pitch-black cold and dark starts at night Option to remove window and instrument reflection effects Animated toe brakes Radio knob animations routed through plugin logic, for optimum movement fidelity and sound synchronization AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS Custom-coded electrical system with functional circuit breakers. Circuit breaker logic is linked to X-Plane's internal failure logic, so if the plane is set to fail a certain electrical component after a certain number of hours, the circuit breaker for that element will pop out. Realistic landing gear with slow/fast tyre rotation animation (blurry when rotating fast), and wheel chocks and tie-downs Functioning carburettor heat and primer controls Dedicated interactive engine pop-up window displaying values such as fuel tank weights and imbalance, fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil temperature, battery charge (with quick charge option), and information about spark plug fouling and vapour lock condition Simulated vapour lock condition, with warning pop-up and suggested actions Simulated spark plug fouling condition, with indication of percentage of fouling Lighting system includes separate lighting control for gauges (via rheostat) and realistic implementation of radio light rheostat Custom external light logic with custom strobe light pattern and custom light halos for added realism Requirements X-Plane 12 or X-Plane 11 Windows, Mac, or Linux Video card: 4GB VRAM Minimum Download Size: 950Mb Current version: 1.9.2 (May 12th, 2023) Review System Specifications Windows 11, AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 32GB DDR5 RAM, RTX 3070Ti ________________________ Update Review by DrishalMAC2 31st October 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copying of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions).

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   • October 31, 2024Oct 31
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     • 2
   • • cessna
     • drishalmac2
5. NEWS! - UPDATED : Traffic Global XP v1.1.0103 by Just Flight
   

   NEWS! - UPDATED : Traffic Global XP v1.1.0103 by Just Flight

   Stephen posted a topic in News! The latest developments in X-Plane

   NEWS! - UPDATED : Traffic Global XP v1.1.0103 by Just Flight Doing a review a few weeks ago (vFlyteAir's Piper PA28R Arrow III G5 - E1000) we came across a nasty bug that crashed the SASL plugin and made the review extremely hard to process and complete. Problem was we couldn't find the culprit? Was it in the vFlyteAir aircraft itself (very rare, as vFlyteAir are exceptional in their release products), but it took a week or so to locate and outer the issue. Oddly the problem was caused by Just Flight's Traffic Global plugin... again another extremely rare thing to happen, and why would it cause so much damage to the PA28R Arrow? Just Flight had only just earlier done an extensive update to Traffic Global v1.1.0012 12th January 2022, and included was details of changes to the X-Plane Traffic Warning system (or to intergrate the plugins aircraft with your aircraft). Called the "Traffic Collision Avoidance System", or TCAS this system shows and alerts you to other aircraft on a collision or in your immediate vicinity, and usually shown on your aircraft MAP or HSI display. So we had a nasty conflict, caused by "Apparently the X-Plane datarefs sometimes getting set to NIL values" and between two areas not really connected... and this is why the TCAS system in X-Plane has never really worked well together in synchronicity. There is also the current situation that with the highly updated version of the ATC (Air Traffic Control) in coming in the new, now close to release X-Plane 12, in that the TCAS system will be better intergrated into the core X-Plane default software (we hope of course). So did Just Flight jump the gun too quick in intergrating the new X-Plane 12 TCAS system into the older X-Plane11 version? Or was it just a nasty bug, or even a bad idea that didn't work? Well here is a very quick follow up update release to cover the problem in TG v1.1.0103. Just Flight have also done other changes, but overall this update was put out to fix the TCAS conflicts, that means if you use Traffic Global, then you will need to update to this new version to fix the nasty bug conflicts that goes to heart of any SASL plugin that uses X-Plane's TCAS features. v1.1.0103 Changelog - Stop labels jittering - Compatibility workaround for RXP - Don't apply ft/m conversion when formatting flight-level values for labels. - Fix incorrect positioning of radar/flightplan/departureboard window buttons after disabling and re-enabling the plugin. - Improvements for runway operations where a single taxiway enters two connecting runways - Add squawk codes to TCAS data - Replay mode didn't start correctly and didn't restore aircraft after replay ended - Fix exit positions for aircraft with offset reference datum - Fix debug display of exits and ground positions - Fix for default key mappings possibly not being added - Clearer indication of why ASXP may not be connected - ActiveSkyXP NetAddress value is not read from config.ini correctly - Fix distant labels not being drawn (broken in 1.1.0081) _________________ Who says life is easy being a reviewer.... If you have Traffic Global XP from Just Flight, then go to your JF account and download the new Traffic Global XP v1.1.0103.exe installer, and do the update by following the prompts. _________________ Yes! Traffic Global XP v1.1.0103 by JustFlight is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : Traffic Global (Windows) Price is US$52.99 The application is also available directly from JustFlight Traffic Global (Mac) Price is US$52.99 Requirements X-Plane 11 Windows only - For the MAC Version, go here Download Size : 2 GB Current version: v1.1.0103 (February 22nd 2022) ____________________________ NEWS! UPDATE by Stephen Dutton 25th February 2022 Copyright©2022 : 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) All rights reserved.

   

   

   

   • February 25, 20223 yr
   • • just flight
     • traffic global xp
6. News! - Previews : Just Flight Bae146 Professional for X-Plane
   

   News! - Previews : Just Flight Bae146 Professional for X-Plane

   Stephen posted a topic in News! The latest developments in X-Plane

   News! - Previews : Just Flight Bae146 Professional for X-Plane Just Flight via their facebook page have shown off some more spoiler images of their coming Bae 146 Series aircraft. The images cover the Bae 146 features including: AviTab (EFB) integration – a popular freeware EFB. Cockpit night lighting. Avionics/systems progress, e.g. VSI/TCAS Brake temperature indicator WXR New animations such as variable pilot and jump-seat positions, and cabin doors/stairs (with 2D control panel). Passenger cabin/galley area. There is also an interesting shot of the Menu Door system, which looks different from the usual Just Flight Menu system, and the unique split tail 146 airbrakes... fuselage detail looks excellent. All three variants of the -100, -200 and -300 are included in the package and noted on the P3D product page is also the (Cargo) 146-200QC, 146-200QT and 146-300QT and the two Military variants of CC.Mk2 and CC.Mk3 as part of the package. But the Bae 146 Professional will also be the most expensive Just Flight product yet for X-Plane, as the Prepar3D version of this aircraft is available from the Just Flight store at $84.99, so expect the same when released. That release was noted 'sometime next month is the current target but that's not a guarantee'. I personally can't wait... but another month of waiting! A must have... Images courtesy of Just Flight Fackbook page is here ____________________________ (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.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   • February 17, 20214 yr
   • 3 replies
   • • just flight
7. Plugin Review : Traffic Global by JustFlight
   

   Plugin Review : Traffic Global by JustFlight

   Stephen posted a topic in X-Plane Plugins and Simulator Addons

   Plugin Review : Traffic Global by JustFlight I have flown before X-Plane had any Traffic and ever since it has made it's way into the X-Plane Simulator, and personally it is one of the really big important plugin's you can add for your X-Plane experience. Having empty airports just does not seem realistic, and sitting in line waiting for your takeoff slot is a high moment in your flying realism factor... so yes I am a huge fan of Traffic action. There are currently a few tools to create Traffic in X-Plane. First is the worse with the X-Plane built-in A.I. system which is limited to 21 aircraft and if you use real addons it is also a major drawdown of your computer's processing power, so mostly you avoid it at all costs. Second is the JARDesign X-Life, which builds up and upon on the basic A.I. system and makes it actually usable, but it is still limited to same 21 aircraft limitation, but X-Life does have many clever features and many fans. The big Traffic solution is World Traffic 3 by Classic Jet Simulations, that is the current dominant plugin for your Traffic needs. I will state that personally I am a big fan of WorldTraffic3 and it's system, and any review comments are in that context, however WorldTraffic3 is highly complex, requires a lot of maintenance and can be quite buggy at times. So here is a new entrant into the Traffic realm from JustFlight which an English based company in the form of Traffic Global. Installation The install of Traffic Global is painless. You download a Windows .exe (currently the application is Windows only, but a MAC and LINUX version is promised later in the year) of 1.36gb. Activating the Installer will ask you first to verify the legal requirements, then start the install process... ... if the installer can't find an install address it will ask you for one. Note: I am installing Traffic Global on a completely clean X-Plane11 install (ready for Vulkan) so the X-Plane install is empty of my usual addons and features (except Custom Scenery) and this keeps the WorldTraffic3 Install completely separate on the other X-Plane version). When they install the address is verified and then the installer will process and install the application. When the install is complete, the installer will show you your current install version and any changelog, then complete the install. As an installation process it was excellent... The installer places one folder in the X-Plane/Resources/Plugins folder (208mb) and one in the Aircraft Folder and note the full install size in the aircraft folder is a whopping 9.26gb Any updates requires you to download the complete application again and run the installer through the same process, when done you get an update of again the current version and changelog. I will note that any changes you do (on say adding or changing aircraft files will be lost, so you will need to backup these items) Traffic Global in X-Plane On starting X-Plane you get a "Thank You" note from JustFlight, then you have to register the license to use the application... the license is on the Plugins/Traffic Global/Settings panel and requires your email address and Key number... and that is basically it for the install. You can setup your keyboard settings on how you would like to access Traffic Global via the X-Plane/Keyboard menu, I set mine differently than WT3 of which I used mostly the FKeys, the selection is of course your choice but the default settings also use the FKeys. Traffic Global Menu There are Seven main Menu items: Settings, Radar, Flight Schedule, Flight Path View, Dump Airport List, Show Missing Airports and Show Missing Liveries... two separate items include Help and Create Minidump Settings This menu panel is your main settings panel. Top is the current data of what is running in the application, in: Models, Routes, Active Aircraft and Airports... another area notes what actual airports you can use. The "Traffic Density" slider allow you to adjust the amount of aircraft and schedules you want to run in Traffic Global, obviously you will push the slider for the full density, but I found it produced almost no traffic (a bug?) so the best position was to set the slider just slightly below, the slider could also be a bit temperamental in giving you your full density or not? Dynamic Density: This will see the level of AI traffic that will be continually monitored and, if necessary, reduced if your PC’s processor is not able to maintain all the active traffic.Personally I turned it off, because it constantly changes the schedules and so made the aircraft appear and disappear on the fly. Synthetic GA: General Aviation aircraft don't run to schedules, so won't show up in routing, so this option creates fake GA routes to fill in the skies around you, as I don't see many GA aircraft or in the simulation and it isn't noted in the user manual either, I will note this as a new and coming feature. Sound: if you want the Traffic Global aircraft sounds or not, and the adjustment "Internal Volume" of that sound... Effects: the same as sound but visual effects like aircraft smoke from the engines or tyres on touchdown. View Mouse Speed: You use your mouse for a lot of the viewing and movement (a scroll function is required) in Traffic Global, so you can adjust your mouse speeds to your preferences without disturbing the main computer default settings. Label Size: You get an on screen aircraft data label for information on: Airline, Registration/Aircraft Type, Gate No. and Distance... In the air the Gate No. is replaced by FL (Flight Level) and Speed (Knts). So in the settings menu you can adjust the size of the data on your screen (press "Insert" to hide) and also via insert toggle the data label can be shown as: "All Aircraft’, ‘Only flying aircraft’ and ‘No overlay’. UDP Port Number and UDP Multicast: If you are driving external PCs across a network, you can override the UDP port used for communications, and if you send network data individually to each external display, you can also select to use Multicast instead, which sends only one copy of the data to all the displays. To note that Traffic Global does support networking across multiple computers and information is available to do so. Uses the internal Use TCAS but it is limited to 21 aircraft Collide with User: You can allow the A.I. aircraft to collide with you, but if you do it will crash your aircraft and a restart is required, and the A.I. can be set not to steal an airlines slot, if not the plugin will insert another airline in that position. Same with substitutes, if no aircraft file is available Traffic Global will substitute another one, but that aircraft could be a blank. Map Intergration: first a note that current updates note issues with this feature with Laminar Research's known bugs, but the visual tool of displaying the active aircraft and their callsigns on the X-Plane local map is a brilliant feature... Preferred View: in the Radar, Flight Routes and Departure Board displays, you can click on an aircraft and have the simulator switch to a view that shows that aircraft. This control allows you to choose which view is used by default... the settings are "Centre on AI" or "Follow as AI". Radar The Radar display (default hotkey Ctrl+F9) shows a typical radar scope window, and it is centred on the pilot’s current location. The Radar screen shows all of the nearby active AI aircraft. You can choose whether or not to display aircraft on the ground. This is a very versatile Radar screen unlike the fixed version in WT3. You can have the screen normal size (larger) or scale it down to just the radar scope... .... you can select any aircraft on the scope for details and show the actual aircraft selected, and it's data is available in the side box. Other data noted includes how many aircraft are being tracked and shown. There are three options in the top box: Show Parked A/C (Aircraft), Sticky Hover and Info on Hover. There is also a wide scale of distance on the scope from 150nm to 0nm. At the lowest 0nm distance (Show Parked Aircraft toggle must be on) to see the aircraft that are parked at the gates, and this really shows the depth of scale you can have. If you do have the "Show Parked Aircraft" toggle on then it not only shows the aircraft at your airport, but all the other airports in the selected radius, the problem with that you will get a lot of aircraft sitting on the ground mesh with no actual airport scenery? so use this selection only if you want to focus on your own airport. Sticky hover will hold on the screen the aircraft data, move over the scope and it only flashes on with the mouse hover. Info on "Hover off" will show every aircraft's data on the scope's screen (above). Schedule This pop-up panel show you all your current airline schedules. It gives you your local time and UTC (GMT) times, Day, Airport and active Flights Selections include: All Aircraft, Departures, Arrivals and currently Active flights (can be also be used with the tickbox ALL, DEP and ARR selections). The Schedule panel shows you your ↗︎ Departures and ↙︎ Arrivals and the aircraft symbol denotes an aircraft is sitting at a gate. And the Gate No. is also shown along with the Aircraft Type, Registration and Airline. The window is scalable and you can cycle between nearby airports using the [ and ] hotkeys. Flight Path View This is a visual tool that was used in development of Traffic Global, but has been left in the application for your use, and what a great tool it is. The panel will show you the current airport layout and the position of any active aircraft available and you can also select any aircraft to follow. The panel is scalable to cover the departure and arrival areas and see (choose) any other airports nearby... On a departure (and arrival) the panel will show any departure routes for the selected aircraft, and positioned at the bottom of the panel is the aircraft's altitude profile... ... this altitude profile will change to the full profile of the flight, the only note to make on the full profile is that the altitude number is hidden left until it reaches a certain altitude point in the profile. The same flight path profile is shown for an arrival and any aircraft can be selected to see the arrival altitude data, again the landing altitude profile is shown on the lower section of the panel. The Flight Path View will also show a non-active airport like with EGPN - Dundee by tdg... ... Traffic Global does rely mostly on the X-Plane ATC routes to do what it does, and thankfully over the last few years there has been great strides made in filling out the default "Global Airports" and most of the addon payware scenery with better data. But the point is if the airport does not have the built in ATC routes or they are not configured correctly then Traffic Global will not work or not work perfectly at that airport, mostly this covers older X-Plane10 airports. However I have found that Traffic Global does not completely rely on the ATC routes but on ALL the provided data from the .apt data... overall many airports I thought were not going to work did, so it is a very good application in getting around a lot of these inconsistent issues. Dump Airport List This selection will do a current airport data dump to your resources/plugins/Traffic Global/resources folder. It lists all the data associated with that airport in the DAT format (you can read it via NotePad) . Show Missing Airports and Show Missing Liveries These selections will take you to the files in the HTML format of which items are missing or has been replaced with something similar. The list is updated every time you restart X-Plane with any changes. Help and MiniDump Last two lower Menu selections covers a link to the Q&A help page at JustFlight and a MiniDump of current data to your "Output" folder, the dump is a very similar to the X-Plane log.txt format. Information Overlay One item not situated in the dropdown menu, but is an option is the "Information Overlay" (Shift+I) that puts your current Traffic Global and computer performance data on the top right side of your screen. Views Visual navigation in Traffic Global is very intuitive and exceedingly easy... arrow keys will move the aircraft in the direction you want.... ... and your right click mouse selection will move the aircraft around the centre in the free angle dimension. Other views via hotkeys are Camera centred on an AI aircraft : Ctrl + F2 Camera following an AI aircraft : Ctrl + F7 Camera centred on an AI aircraft, looking at the player : Ctrl + F3 Camera centred on the nearest airport : Ctrl + F6 Camera centred on the nearest airport, looking at an AI aircraft : Ctrl + F5 Select the next airport for airport-to-aircraft camera : Page Up Select the next runway at the current airport for airport-to-aircraft camera Camera centred on the player, looking at an AI aircraft : Shift + Ctrl + Page Up Ctrl + F4 Select the previous airport for airport-to-aircraft camera : Page Down Select the previous runway at the current airport for airport-to-aircraft camera Reset view orientation to default : Shift + Ctrl + Page Down Home Reset stored tower offset : Shift + Home Camera centred on one end of a nearby runway, looking at an AI aircraft : Shift + Ctrl + F5 ____________________________ Aircraft You are not going to be disappointed in the range of aircraft available here. Most common types are well covered, as are most airlines, all the usual suspects in A320,A330,A350,A380,B738,B777,B744,B789 to the regional DHC8, CRJ, MD11, MD80 are all well represented. There is a slight cartoony feel to the aircraft, mostly caused by the grey cockpit and side windows, but otherwise this is a decent effort to create credible liveries with an almost nothing frameweight and on the whole JustFlight have done exceedingly well. To note that already a lot of painters that are changing the liveries to a more realistic style, so those visual cartoon points could be updated better in the future anf JustFlight encourage this aspect. In the dark all the AI look very good, but the painters have done the old LIT trick of putting the light reflections on the front fuselage and it doesn't look realistic in the air with the landing lights switched off and most certainly while sitting at the gate, I don't like that old fashioned idea. Sounds are uniform but overall very good and realistic. Aircraft animations however are a bit basic. Flaps do extend, but the thrust reversers and airbrakes just flick open before touching down, and don't realistically open slowly, then they will suddenly flick closed again and well before the aircraft has slowed or in some cases not even started slowing down at all... a bit of refinement is certainly required here. ____________________________ Impressions of Traffic Global My very first impression when doing an X-Plane11 start was one aircraft sitting at KRSW? I went to KRSW (Florida SouthWest) and this was because I know the airport extremely well and the WT3 traffic patterns there, so yes this is a comparison with WT3 at KRSW, and with only one aircraft at a gate and I wasn't particularly at first impressed? KRSW is quite busy at this time of the day (09:30am)... it required a juggle of the "Traffic Density" slider to suddenly make more and the normal traffic appear, but if I set it at the totally maximum setting then they would disappear again, so I found the slider position just slightly below the maximum setting as the more consistent position. I will note that a restart of X-Plane and the issue never happened again, so I will put it down to a first time install start up glitch. Any startup, airport location or time change has instant changed traffic, there is no "ReSync" required like with WT3, and the frameweight is very, very light, as I usually lose around 4-8 frames depending on the size of the scenery with WT3 in the same conditions, so I was very impressed by that. For a bit of fun speed up X-Plane via the time of day and watch the aircraft move very quickly as in a timeframe film, but be warned it messes up the synchronization and causes AI aircraft collisions and some other very odd behavior. Schedules showed not many early departures (first was 10:50 to Detroit), but with plenty of arrivals starting with a Spirit service from Boston (09:37).. Closer to the arrival time the Spirit A320 is shown arriving but note the time as 09:42 with a 09:55 arrival time at KRSW... so far excellent At the allotted landing time the Spirit is still doing circuits? and odd circuits at that over KRSW, in fact the aircraft will keep on doing circuits until 10:02? nothing wrong with that at busy traffic periods, but there are no other aircraft due to land until 10:28? and the circuits are being flown at an altitude of FL010 or 10,000ft, which is pretty high and so close to the airport... then breaking away from its circular pattern the A320 will do a death dive from 10,000ft to 2300ft within 5nm? ... and the dives were not a one off event either as here is a frontier A320 doing the same steep descent profile? The earlier Spirit then quickly disappeared into the undergrowth? This early landing before the runway aspect has been fixed in the later version, the aircraft now do actually land on the runway, but the roll out (time from the wheels touching the ground to the exit to the taxiway) is very short and again not very realistic. We have to first note there are no SID or STAR approaches in Traffic Global, and that is fine, but very consistent here are long, long circuits and poor landings... here are the holding circuit patterns at KATL- Atlanta which are not at all very realistic... Airport accessibility A point to make is that there are no assigned gates in Traffic Global, so like here at YBBN - Brisbane the Domestic Terminal is full of wide-bodies, and the International Terminal is almost empty, this pattern is at all airports. And the International Terminal didn't get much attention all day either, so the aircraft placements are all mixed up and you can't change that placement aspect either. Obviously if you have set the density slider to maximum you will find it hard to find a parking slot if flying between the large airports. A slight less density setting will not lose you that severe loss of activity, but you then will have a few parking slots to choose from. And a quick look at the "Flight Path View" of the airport and you can see any empty slots to choose from. One area I was impressed with was how well Traffic Global coped with many of the scenery aspects of not having in WT3's case specified ground routes. Traffic Global in taking all of the X-Plane.apt data and recreating an effective ground route operation was very impressive. I checked many poor airport sceneries with no or poor ATC routes and most of them worked, but badly set out ATC routes actually were worse than no ATC routes, but many of the tdg sceneries (no ATC routes) to my surprise actually worked quite well, but poorly implemented ATC routes also caused strange direction changes and our favorite WT3 hate in runway pops in disappearing aircraft. So overall I was very impressed of this important aspect. Procedures But let us now get to the core of the what a Traffic application is supposed to do. Yes it fills out airports with animated aircraft and the traffic flies to destinations and arrives at the designated airport... but there is another angle of which a Traffic application has to excel at, and here is the core of the issues with Traffic Global... personal interaction. Taxi behind a AI aircraft and it will with no warning flicker or simply change direction, and this sudden movement can be quite bad and consistent at taxiway turns, or be more odd at the gate on pushback (switching backwards to forwards position?) and okay I can still live with that and even the fast taxi speed. But the biggest point in realism above all is your arrival profile. For one if you use SID/STARS of which we now routinely want to do for simulator realism, then your Traffic Global flow is not going to follow your same arrival STAR route, TG may do a close parallel arrival, but you won't be able to file into a landing pattern with other traffic around you (your aircraft is programmed to do another and legitimate flightplan), and again the TG arrival aircraft is also oddly flying around you at FL010 or 10,000 ft when it should be in a remote holding pattern or the approach phase. Mostly the approach landing rules are that you arrive at your STAR entry point at the above or designated FL010, but you will immediately depending on the length of your STAR arrival or distance to the destination airport then lower your altitude to either 6,000ft or 5,000ft until then on final approach do your final lowering of your altitude to 3,000ft to 2,000ft to capture the ILS beams... So basically with the circular holding patterns at 10,000ft and then the plummet to 2,500ft by your visual AI aircraft is not going to be a very realistic simulation of you trying to fall in to a realistic traffic arrival pattern is it? and there are a lot of little flight profile quirks like this throughout the application in procedures... so everything is really, really good about Traffic Global except the most important item of flight profiles and departure/arrival procedures. Obviously the use of SID/STAR procedures like you have in WorldTraffic3 would be a major additional feature for Traffic Global and I can accept their absence, but I find it hard to understand how these arrival procedures are so badly and unrealistically are implemented here, or were they just overlooked in the effort to create the correct visual look? So the pros and cons with WorldTraffic 3 and Traffic Global depends on how you want to approach each application. If you want the total ease of use and operations with full active airports then Traffic Global is outstanding, but if you require the correct procedures, airport aircraft placement and realistic aircraft animations then WorldTraffic 3 is far more to your taste and obviously WorldTraffic 3 is more to your taste if you want to adjust minute things like airport flow, taxiway flow and gate selection of which there is limited adjustment available, it is unlike WT3 currently a closed application in these areas. ____________________________ Summary Airport Traffic is a necessary requirement for an active and visually simulating simulation. There are a few applications in X-Plane for traffic with the default A.I., X-Life and of course WorldTraffic3... Traffic Global from JustFlight is a new entrant into the Traffic application realm. First point to make is to create a realistic traffic application for any simulator is is a very complex undertaking, so in any Traffic application there will always be kinks and odd situations, but when they work well they are amazing and highly realistic tools. WorldTraffic3 has been in development for years and has evolved into a very comprehensive visual tool, so this new Traffic Global entrant has not only a big mountain to climb, but to add in any new ideas and elements to the genre. Traffic Global is highly impressive in it's installation, efficiency and great versatile tools, including a Radar Screen, Schedules and Flight Path View and excellent intuitive view interactions. Supplied aircraft and liveries are already a huge library and the application of creating ground routes and parking positions is excellent. Instant on and traffic density choices are also very, very good, the application is a very simple, install and to use tool to fill out quickly your airports and skies with traffic. So on the hardware side the application is certainly very modern and a major step forward in simulation aircraft traffic flows, but on the software procedure side, there is a lot needed to be refined. There are no SID/STAR procedures and very odd arrival (and some departure) procedures are not very realistic at all in a high class simulator environment, speeds and attitudes are wrong in the air and on the ground, and holding patterns are simply laughable. Landing positions are unrealistic and aircraft flickers are constant, aircraft effects except for the sound and particle effects are basic and again not very realistic in operation, in gate movements they are again very questionable and not very realistic, and yes I miss the WT3 pushback truck. It really comes down to that if you want instant and accessible traffic with almost no framerate lag and with the total ease of use the Traffic Global is excellent, but if you want realistic procedures and realistic airport operations plus the option to adjust your preferences then most likely WorldTraffic 3 would be your better option. Personally of the two currently WorldTraffic 3 would still be my preferred option for the procedure realism and operations, but if JustFlight could make the software procedures realistic and add in more realism to the aircraft's effects then the vote would very easily change as the newer more accessible operation and high efficiency of Traffic Global is very, very good.... for the hard core it still would be WorldTraffic 3, but for newcomers and for the users that want simplicity then currently then JustFlight's Traffic Global is a better choice. _____________________________________ Yes! Traffic Global by JustFlight is NOW available from the X-Plane.Org Store here : Traffic Global The application is also available directly from JustFlight Price is US$52.99 Features Hundreds of combinations of airlines and aircraft provided - Traffic Global comes with 65 aircraft types over 860 liveries covering most of the world’s airlines. Over 600,000 flights included by default – the flight database is created from recent commercially sourced flight data and processed using custom tools specifically written for Traffic Global. It has up-to-date flights covering more than 3,000 global airports with complex, multi-point, multi-day flight schedules. High performance – even with hundreds of AI aircraft on screen and more being simulated nearby, simulator performance is barely affected. Traffic Global is highly multi-threaded. AI respond to the sim pilot – as you move around the airport, other traffic will do its best to stop and allow you to pass. Collision with AI is possible but can be disabled. Seamless start-up – there is no need to manually configure a flight plan or wait when you start a new flight or move to a new airport; Traffic Global loads everything in the background and is usually ready to go as soon as your flight starts. Full 3D sound for all aircraft – each AI aircraft has engine and equipment sounds modelled in 3D using the widely supported OpenAL. Volume is controllable independently of X-Plane’s own. Simple installation – no messing around setting up subscriptions, additional files or per-airport custom setups. Traffic Global is ready to run 'out the box'. Compatible with third-party airports – Traffic Global uses the same data for airport definitions as the simulator itself, so third-party airports, both commercial and free, will be used if they are installed. Many new camera types – seven new controllable external views allow you to follow individual AI aircraft, either independently or in association with your own. Three new control windows – a radar display centred on your aircraft, a flight board switchable between all nearby airports, and a flight plan display showing nearby airports, taxiways and flying aircraft are provided. Each has hotkeys and can be detached from the main X-Plane window. Full X-Plane integration – new map layers showing flying or grounded AI aircraft are added to X-Plane and most hotkeys can be re-assigned using the standard X-Plane settings. Networking support included as standard – serious cockpit builders using more than one PC to control their displays get the same traffic across their entire setup. Extendable – new or altered aircraft liveries can easily be added and will be used with no additional configuration. New traffic can be added using freely-available tools; Traffic Global uses the same traffic database format as Prepar3D and Flight Simulator X. Potential for third-party plugin integration – Traffic Global publishes 'datarefs' exposing the locations of all nearby traffic and includes example code for using them. Requirements X-Plane 11 fully updated Windows only Download Size : 1.3 GB 10gb disk space IS required for the full install Current and Review Version: 1.0.8818 (January 12th 2020) Installation and documents: Download for Traffic Global is 1.30gb and the downloaded .exe installer does the full install and expansion of files in the X-Plane/resources/plugins folder plus an aircraft folder is placed in the "Aircraft" X-Plane folder at 9.26gb. Documentation: Full manual provided. Traffic Global XP Manual _______________________________ Review by Stephen Dutton 16th January 2020 Copyright©2020: 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) 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 1Tbgb SSD Software: - Windows 10 - X-Plane 11.41 Addons: Saitek x56 Rhino Pro system Joystick and Throttle : Sound - Bose Soundlink Mini Plugins: None Scenery or Aircraft - KATL - Atlanta International UHD v2 by Nimbus (X-Plane.OrgStore) - $28.95 - KRSW - Southwest Florida International Airport by Aerosoft (X-Plane.OrgStore) - $24.95

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   • January 14, 20205 yr
   • 13 replies
   • • just flight
8. News! - Announcement : PA28-181 Archer lll by Just Flight - Thranda
   

   News! - Announcement : PA28-181 Archer lll by Just Flight - Thranda

   Stephen posted a topic in News! The latest developments in X-Plane

   News! - Announcement : PA28-181 Archer lll by Just Flight - Thranda In the same vein as their Piper Arrow and Turbo Arrow, the next release from Just Flight is the PA28-181 Archer lll... This aircraft fits into the Piper PA28 family with first the earlier Cherokee, then the Arrow and next in line was then the Archer variant which had a five inch fuselage extension, wing span increase, larger horizontal tail, gross weight increase over the Arrow, it will also be a analog gauge aircraft as this version is the Archer lll that first flew in the mid-nineties, it is the current Archer LX and DX that have the G1000 avionics suite, the aircraft is visually different because of the iconic Archer round engine inlets. So here are some nice pictures... Features: Accurately modelled PA-28-181 Archer III, built using real-world aircraft plans and comprehensive photography of the real aircraft Numerous animations including multi-animation passenger door that, when open, responds to G-forces and air resistance, baggage door, cockpit window and sun visors Ground equipment including chocks and tie-downs HD textures are used to produce the highest possible texture clarity PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials with real-time environment reflections for superb quality and realism Detailed normal mapping for down-to-the-rivet precision of aircraft features Cockpit A truly 3D virtual cockpit right down to accurately modelled seat belts and screw heads - every instrument is constructed fully in 3D with smooth animations Cockpit textures feature wear and tear based on reference photos taken in the real aircraft to produce an authentic environment Interactive engine start checklist that responds to user inputs and sim variables Interactive checklists for every stage of flight Aircraft configuration system that will allow you to choose between 'cold & dark' or 'ready for take-off' (if aircraft is stationary on the ground) Fully functional and comprehensive IFR capable avionics fit including: - KMA 24 audio selector - Fully featured X-Plane-native GNS530 (supports procedures out of the box, and supports Navigraph and Aerosoft custom nav databases) - GNC 255 COM/NAV 2 radio - KN 62 DME unit which can display information from NAV 1 or NAV 2 - S-TEC autopilot with lateral hold modes (HDG, NAV, APR, REV) and vertical modes (ALT, VS) - TT31 transponder - KR 87 ADF - Traffic-Watch ATD-300 traffic awareness unit - Strikefinder stormscope - HSI and ADF gauges - Support for RealityXP GTN750 (sold separately, Windows only) Interactive logbook panel for logging your flight details (X-Plane native) Flight computer panel with useful information such as fuel burn, endurance, speed and wind speed/direction GoodWay compatible Ability to change barometric units from InHg to MB in altimeter adjustment Option to activate flashlight from within pop-up window, to aid in those pitch-black cold and dark starts at night Pop-up autopilot window Option to remove window and instrument reflection effects Animated toe brakes Functional throttle quadrant tensioning system Radio knob animations routed through plugin logic, for optimum movement fidelity and sound synchronisation Aircraft systems Custom-coded fuel system, including the option of automatic fuel tank switching for use on those long distance cross-country flights (this option is remembered for future flights) Custom-coded electrical system with functional circuit breakers, avionics power circuit and emergency bus controls. Circuit breaker logic is linked to X-Plane's internal failure logic, so if the plane is set to fail a certain electrical component after a certain number of hours, the circuit breaker for that element will pop out. Realistic landing gear with slow/fast tyre rotation animation (blurry when rotating fast), precise shock absorber animation and wheel chocks and tie-downs Functioning carburettor and primer controls Dedicated interactive engine pop-up window displaying values such as fuel tank weights and imbalance, fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil temperature, battery charge (with quick charge option), and information about spark plug fouling and vapour lock condition Simulated vapour lock condition, with warning pop-up and suggested actions Simulated spark plug fouling condition, with indication of percentage of fouling Lighting system includes separate lighting control for gauges (via rheostat) Functional electric trim control on yoke Simulated fan and vent system with realistic blower sounds (linked to circuit breaker logic and electrical system for realism) Custom external light logic with custom strobe light pattern and custom light halos for added realism Realistic and accurate flight dynamics based on real-world performance and handling data, and input from PA-28 pilots Authentic sound set, generated using X-Plane's state-of-the-art FMOD sound system Custom sounds for switches, doors, warnings and more, featuring accurate location placement of sounds in the stereo spectrum, 3D audio effects, atmospheric effects, adaptive Doppler, exterior sounds spill in when window or door(s) are opened, different sound characteristics depending on viewing angle etc. Comprehensive manual with panel guide and performance data PSD Paint Kit included so you can create your own paint schemes Dedicated pop-up window for sound mixing, allowing for individual adjustment of the volume of exterior sounds, in-cockpit sounds and various effects Custom weight and balance manager window The Archer III is supplied with ten liveries from the UK, USA, Canada, France, Australia and Germany: G-CIFY (UK) G-CCHL (UK) N6092U (USA) D-EFVC (Germany) PH-AED (Netherlands) C-GUXL (Canada) HB-PPN (Switzerland) EC-JQO (Spain) VH-PPR (Australia) F-GNCH (France) All earlier Just Flight GA aircraft and the Arrow are priced around US$42.00, so I would expect the same... release is noted by Just Flight as "coming Soon!" JustFlight are here: JustFlight Should be on the X-Plane.OrgStore very soon... Images and text are courtesy of Just Flight ________________________________________ News by Stephen Dutton 24th January 2019 Copyright©2019: X-Plane Reviews

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   • January 24, 20196 yr
   • • just flight
9. Aircraft Review : PA28R Piper Arrow III by Just Flight - Thranda
   

   thranda Aircraft Review : PA28R Piper Arrow III by Just Flight - Thranda

   Stephen posted a topic in General Aviation Aircraft Reviews

   Aircraft Review : PA28R Piper Arrow III by Just Flight - Thranda The forward march to the Holy Grail of simulation is ever on going. The constant steps in to recreate the almost exact feel and replication of an aircraft for casual fliers but more importantly for trainee pilots in the wanting to get experience on the aircraft before tackling the real thing. In many ways the General Aviation segments in simulation are then always the most competitive in this field and as to get that right if perfect characteristics relayed through the controls and the general operations of the aircraft can easily deliver a mother lode of financial returns. Carenado have dominated this area for years and rightly so as their aircraft are extremely good in their quality and really deliver in the areas of flying characteristics. But in the last few years it is now getting even more highly competitive in this category. Players including Airfoillabs, Aerosphere but mostly with vFlyteair in their quality and the shear design of their aircraft are now starting to crowd out a field that to a point Carenado had to themselves in X-Plane. So here is a new player in Just Flight with a collaboration with Thranda or by another name one of the greatest of all developers in X-Plane in Dan Klaue. Just Flight are new to X-Plane as developers but they already have an extensive record for aircraft in Flight Simulator/P3D and so this is in the first significant crossover aircraft for Just Flight for the X-Plane platform and that their first foray is set the above US$40 price of this aircraft at US$41.99... and in any point of view that is a lot of money for a GA aircraft (In X-Plane) and only Carenado with their larger aircraft have been nudging in the around the US$40 market, and even then in the sub US$40 pricing and not above. So which ever way you slice this aircraft here in this review it always going to come down to that price and value as the main marking points, it also notes is that at that price you can nit pick here as well... as you will be expecting it to be extremely good on just for that very pricey reason. PA28R Piper Arrow III by Just Flight - Thranda Your very first impressions of the Archer III are thankfully in the "wow" category, as the aircraft is very good in the flesh. Certainly well within the high quality detail that you get with any Carenado, but with even slightly more in the detailing quality.... The aircraft does look quite brilliant in X-Plane11's lovely lighting. So that is an excellent start as this is a very nice looking but more importantly in the feeling of a very nice aircraft in X-Plane. The Piper Arrow III is also the first aircraft in X-Plane to use the latest in plugin's with the SASL v3.0. This is a totally rescripted engine and thankfully doesn't require those multiple Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables packs. It is a far more efficient script as well and far more framerate friendly. This is a very complex and heavy aircraft (in download size), but it ran very efficiently for me here. But this latest SASL v3.0 is also very new, and a few users have had installation issues (mostly in the authorisation setup). Overall I had no issues with SASL v3.0 but a few users may pick up a few early bugs, this new plugin is certainly the way of the future and with that it will bring a lot of new benefits to X-Plane and a few of those early v3 features are on this aircraft. The quality of the detailing is shown by the wingtip and the perfect aerodynamic wing chord, the great reflections here above note the shape perfectly. External Detailing The chrome spinner is "see your own face" perfect with excellent shinyness. 3d modeling work is overwhelmingly very good, with perfect panel fit and no outstanding straight line points anywhere but perfect curves. Glass is perfectly curved and with depth and excellent reflections. Panel riveting either painted or exposed is excellent. All appendages in latches, door hinges, fuel caps, access panels are all created as perfectly real. There is dirt, but the general view is that this is much loved machine with a regular wipe down after every flight. This aircraft is based on a real-life Arrow III in G-BGKU, that is based at Conington Airfield in the UK. Roof antennas and radio aerials are perfectly cast and every aspect on the Arrow has been covered, you are wanting for nothing more here. Note the really well done rudder corrugation work... and the same excellent work is also extends out on to the flaps and ailerons (below left). Undercarriage is also top notch with all the struts, uprights and links perfectly recreated as is the brake hydraulic fittings. If you want to get millimeter close there are a very few slight small gaps, but nothing here to wipe the smile from your face. Front strut has the same detail and worn metal quality as well, and all tyres, rubber and wheel components are excellent. Internal Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 engine of 200 hp (149 kW) is roasted worn and it is a real shame the engine cover doesn't come off to see the same detailing inside the cowling. The Arrow is a part of the PA28 Cherokee family, but in this latest more modern reincarnation as it is a four-seater that includes a five inch fuselage extension, wing span increase, a larger horizontal tail, gross weight increase and other minor changes over the earlier Cherokee and the Series III here also has the retractable landing gear arrangement. There is only one entrance door on the right, and a substantial baggage area behind the rear seats. It is beautifully kitted out and detailed inside, but no luggage... The right side door is an amazing piece of work by itself... construction and fittings are amazing in detail and quality, and yes we are talking just about a door here on an aircraft. The 3d modeling is exceptional, latches, paneling, aircraft plate, door locking mechanism and that lovely red cloth door covering that is worn on the edges.... and we haven't finshed there yet as it is animated, not just open the door animated, but you actually open the door by yourself animated by sliding your pointer across the lower panel and then when the door is actually open, you have to be careful as it moves around in any wind! Internal Detail As you would have gathered by now is that the aircraft's upholstery is a bright red woven cloth and it is simply sensational in the sheer detail, form and fittings. I have seen some great and well created internal upholstery, but this cabin is probably one of the very best, but the really significant aspect of the interior is that you can feel that overwhelming redness surrounding you in the cabin as it reflected off the seating and out and on to the harder surfaces... ... and that creates another level of awareness in realism. Close the door (or opening) and there is first your own movements to do the action and then there are two latches to fasten it tight, it is clever in that when you tighten or release the latches then the door moves in that much more tighter shut (or the open) position and the latch sounds and movements are incredibly good, small but very clever details that makes the aircraft come alive with realism. Detailing freaks will need oxygen while looking around this cabin, there is so much to take in and so much to love. Instrument Panel The design of the instrument panel is early 1967 Arrow clockwork and not the later glass-panel Aspen Avionics EFD1000 PFD fit-out that comes with the latest Arrows, mostly in the Turbo's. Here it is straight classic dial, all the way. You get that moulded imprinted 70's look and feel and it is all not that bad for that... it is a very classical feel. The thin style yokes can be hidden just by clicking on them a' la Carenado, but overall it is a busy instrument panel. Under the panel the detail is very good as well, but get right under and it does stop in detail once out of normal seating eyesight. Note the three-way fuel tank switch left. Between the front seats is your elevator trim and flap handle, there is an emergency gravity assist gear drop lever here as well that works. Panel design is absolutely first rate, beautiful detail and with all the sheer realism you can get in simulation today, a highlight is the lovely glareshield with realistic stitching... you just feel and touch it, or is that a caress for the sheer ownership of it all. Panel actually comes with two conditions in "loved and cared for" and "worn" or unloved and scruffy. This panel condition changes with the change of the liveries, the difference is set via the default "worn" or the insertion of the "clean" version files in the appropriate livery folder in I1, I2, I1_LIT and I2_LIT... it it would be very easy to cut&paste the files if you wanted a clean version on a certain aircraft's registration. Worn is the top row and the clean version is the bottom row, for the review I am using the clean version. As you change the livery then the aircraft's registration also changes on the panel which is a nice touch. Instrument panel is set out with the Standard Six instruments that are centred in line of sight of the flying pilot with the Airspeed Indicator, Artificial Horizon and the Attitude Indicator on the top row and the Turn Coordinator, Heading Dial and Vertical Speed Indicators set out directly below. Left of the six pack top is the Gyro Suction dial with the Bendix/King ADF indicator set below. On the right top is a Garmin OBS VOR indicator (VOR1) and the same OBS VOR indicator (VOR2) below. I prefer the pointer VOR needle than this version as it is better for circuits and runway lineup (that is if the VOR is placed close to the runway). All the main dials are older black/white in design and not with the coloured Artificial Horizon you can also have in this aircraft. Mid-left panel gauges are standard Cherokee with Oil Press, Oil Temp and Alt Amp on the left side and Left Fuel tank, Cyl Head Temp and Right Fuel tank on the right of the yoke. Lower-left panel has a basic Piper "AutoControl IIIB" Autopilot, which we will cover more in detail later, the start key and a Manifold Pressure (inHG) and Fuel Flow gauge (Gallons per hour). Another gauge here is a Tachometer/RPM dial with built in Hobb's meter. Avionics The basics of the avionics in the Arrow are old, the only modern gadget is the centre stack mounted X-Plane default Garmin GNS530, and yes of course it pops out. There is also the provision to install Reality XP's GTN 750 unit, but this is an addon extra and costs you another $49.95. The audio panel is a very early model Bendix/King KMA T20 TSO which is above the GNS530, below bottom is the Benedix/King 76A transponder. The right side stack has a Bendix/King KX 175B radio for VOR in COM2 and VOR2 (COM1 and VOR1 is set via the GNS530). Then below is a Bendix/King KN 62A DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) set, the Benedix/King KR 85 ADF radio is set out below the KN 62A. I would certainly be interested in a glass panel Aspen Avionics EFD1000 PFD system in an aircraft like this, there is Arrow aircraft out there suitably equipped and that system would be great for the more later and modern style training. Lower right panel is an Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) indicator and you can rotate the screw to control the position of the red (maximum value) needle and left of the EGT is a comprehensive set of active circuit breakers. There is a fan switch and heating controls as well. The only instrument on the right side is a standby Altimeter and spare hobbs meter. There is a set of rocker switches mid lower panel for (L to R) Power (Battery & Alternator), Fuel pump, Landing Light, Anti-Collision Lights in rotating and navigation and Pitot Heat. Either end of the switch panel are two scroll wheels for Avionic brightness and instrument brightness. The centre mini-pedestal has the familiar Throttle, Propeller and Mixture levers, but also a mixture lever lock on the side that restricts the mixture lever from moving below a 40% setting. The levers are a bit odd in that you have to move your movement upwards to move the levers down and vise-versa and in busy traffic conditions it can be annoying in the actions being the wrong way around. Also you have to use your switch gear before moving the Propeller and Mixture levers to the full forward position as they cover the avionics lighting scroll wheel, main power switches and fuel pump switch. Below the mini-pedestal is your aileron trim wheel and park brake lever. The yoke is fitted with a digital chronometer. The mode button allows you to toggle between either the clock mode or the timer mode. On top of the yoke but very hard to see is a black electric trim button with down (forward) and up (rearwards) adjustments. Menus The menu is situated on the left-centre of your screen and is activated by pressing the large ugly arrow tab... ... thankfully you can adjust the transparency if you have a scroll wheel on your mouse and in hiding it (tab still works hidden). The menu block is quite old fashioned and activated tiles show up in a red tint way that went out of style in the mid- 2000's There are seventeen menu tiles to use including: Top row : Open/close cabin door - Open/close baggage door - Toggle GNS 530 GPS pop-up window (or the GTN750 payware add-on by RealityXP) - Toggle window reflections and interior glass dynamic reflections - Toggle dome light if the engine is running, or flashlight when starting cold and dark. Middle Row : Toggle autopilot pop-up window - Toggle altimeter barometric pressure scale between InHg and mb - Toggle automatic fuel selector (switches fuel tanks automatically) - Toggle refill menu window - Open weight and balance window - Toggle volumes window Bottom row : Select ‘ready for takeoff’ or ‘cold and dark’ state - Toggle checklist pop-up window - Toggle flight computer pop-up window - Toggle logbook pop-up window - Toggle ground handling pop-up window - Toggle chocks and tie-downs. The arrows at the very bottom of the menu panel allows you to select the livery you require and far more quickly than the X-Plane menu. Doors (above right) include the side door and baggage door and the static elements include chocks and tie-downs, but no engine covers or pitot "remove before flight" tags. The window and instrument reflections are significant in the changes they make between in being switched off than on... instrument reflections are simply excellent with the setting switched on in that lovely red glow again being reflected back at you, off and everything is just bland and boring. There is a nice red (more redness!) overhead light which is adjustable on the roof with the light option on. Power off and you have the torch light to find your way around in the darkness, this is a nice if only the basic built in X-Plane tool used well. The checklist is good, but average to look at, but there is a reason for that... in parts to start the aircraft you are given a helping hand by having a "Dynamic Checklist" that if you press the checklist line it will do the action for you.... there is also the over-riding option of using the Full Start/Full stop menu tile. There are two menu options that give out data. One is the "Refill menu" but it is more of an aircraft situation panel that allows you to reset the fuel and battery voltage, there is sort of Centre of Gravity marker for fuel balance but not for the entire aircraft. Common now are great Weights&Balances setup pages and vFlyteAir have one of the best in this class... but not here on the Arrow III which is very surprising and sadly missing? Second data page is the "Flight Computer" that shows you a lot of relevant information for your flight, certainly very handy for longer distance flying as it shows you your fuel flow and estimated endurance and range and used fuel. There isn't a full failure menu per se. But there are active elements that cause spark plug fouling, vapour lock and battery drain of which all are very realistic and can be reset... Following the onscreen instructions can allow you to also learn what the cause is and how to fix them, like when I left the mixture too high and started to foul up the spark plugs (in my defence I was warming up the engine). It is very realistic though in that your actions (in this case adjusting the mixture) that the engine takes time to recover and runs rough and then slowly clears as it burns off the fuel and the details of the action in progress is shown on the "refill" panel. There is really good sound adjustment panel that covers Master, Avionics, Gyro/Pump, Radios, Enviro and UI sound volumes and the look of the panel and use is excellent. The Piper "AutoControl IIIB" Autopilot has a popup menu panel, but it is quite basic and strangely the only one without a scale adjustment? And this is the one that needs a scale adjustment more than any other popup panel... very odd. More on this later. The last few menu tabs are a bit odd as well... because they all just activate the X-Plane default menus. They include the X-Plane logbook, weight, balance and fuel, Ground handling??? and even odder the GNS530 popup ????.... Flying the PA28 Arrow III Your senses are far more heightened flying this Arrow III. I consider myself a pretty good flyer in X-Plane (for god's sake I have had enough practise) but the Arrow III does take your skill level again still a notch higher. Which is really hard today as flying quality is already high in so many excellent aircraft, but yes it is even better here... and will note the fact that I do require far more time yet to get the very best out of this aircraft, it is that challenging and has such a depth of feel and movement. Both power switches on... fuel pump and strobe light. The setting (from cold) of the mixture lever and throttle is important, too much fuel and you will flood it (or foul the plugs) so a half way position between low and high mixture is about right and then an inch of throttle. Get it right and the PA28 will start easily, but check the park brake is on before you churn the engine as it seems to load the aircraft with it set off? so when the engine starts you suddenly start going forward as well. If you do foul the plugs then it will take awhile to clear them and to get going again, but overall I found the PA28 far far better in starting than some aircraft that makes churning over the engine a career option... This Piper from cold is not really a start up and fly aircraft (use the menu quick start for that). Time is needed to get some heat into the engine and so a little time on warming it up is really needed. Again the mixture and throttle position has to be in the right place to keep it ticking over until it feels more loosened up and will idle with out stuttering or killing off (stuttering) the engine power altogether. First sense on startup is that excellent engine sound, the churn and start is formidable and highly, highly realistic, certainly the best sounds yet on a GA aircraft and that is said with no boast. Taxiing is excellent with the right mixture settings, slow enough not to conk out but not too fast in that you are on the brakes all the time, you know already that this Arrow III is something very special just by the feedback it is giving you, and you haven't even left the ground yet! I love the shiny curve of the front engine cover and the oil check flap detail on the right side of the engine cover, small but significant details. The oil flap is supposed to open, but I couldn't work it out? Mixture set to high and power up.... rotation is around 90knts, and you are flying. Your concertration is high and you are so focused on the feedback the aircraft is giving back to you... and those sounds are just amazingly great and realistic, it is time to bring out that wide grin on to your face... Handling is very realistic, it is so realistic and so engrossing in fact that I forgot to stow up the undercarriage... twice? God knows how because the gear creates such drag in the air and a lot of wind noise... but I did.... and again twice. Your focus is so high on the flying, with the roar of the 200hp Lycoming heavy in your ears.... you are working hard in this pilot's seat. You do have a autopilot in the guise of Piper's version called "AutoControl IIIB" which is about as basic as they come. It is situated on the left lower section of the instrument panel, but as noted there is also a popup in the menu. The popup is plainly annoying in that you can't scale it? It is huge and covers a large segment of your instruments, so there is absolutely nowhere to put it to keep it handy, so you have to keep opening both the menu and the autopilot popups to do any changes, so after a while you just don't bother to use it. The "AutoControl IIIB" has only two functions in holding the heading and roll L&R. You can adjust the heading (thankfully) via the Heading instrument knob, or switch off the heading on the AP and roll the aircraft to your new heading. There is a hidden function to hold your altitude (not on the real system) by pressing the "Piper" text above the coupler knob on the left part of the panel, It is hard to find and almost half-hidden but you do get a manipulator hand or finger to say it is actually there and but not when activated? It does work very well but the aircraft has to be perfectly trimmed before pressing it on... it deactivates with a kick as well when you adjust the trim wheel, so be ready for that. There is also a third item which is a button hidden behind the yoke that activates the electric pitch trim (on the yoke), but it seems to have no effect when pressed in when moving the pitch trim? So how do you adjust the pitch? I used my elevator trim and that works well, but it is very sensitive and it is not easy to use either as it is positioned down low between the front seats. My fix was to use a knob on my Saitek 56 Rhino (RTY 3) throttle system to adjust it... I'm not saying the electric trim will not do the same adjustment, which I suppose it would do.... but the RTY 3 knob I found was the best solution all round for trim changes with the RTY 4 knob is also set for the aileron/roll adjustment trim, but I rarely used that. Once in level flight, you have the heading selected and then come back off the yoke slowly while adjusting up the elevator trim to match until they are even. But that trim is highly sensitive and any rolls or changes in the throttle position will annoy the trim, so you have to control the aircraft via the yoke until it settles down or is then re-trimed adjusted into the new heading. So if there is a lot of manoeuvres (up or down, or a lot of heading changes) then it is easier to do all the changes and then just reset the elevator trim to hold position, as constant manoeuvres or changes is very work load heavy. You are very aware of the systems working behind the scenes. Fuel Flow, engine and oil heat and any changes in the electrical systems are noted on the dials and you have to make adjustments to cover the items like heating in cabin heating. Circuit breaker logic is linked to X-Plane's internal failure logic, so if the plane is set to fail a certain electrical component after a certain number of hours, then the circuit breaker for that element will pop out. There is also the simulated fan and vent system with realistic blower sounds ( also linked to circuit breaker logic and electrical system for realism)... The Arrow III is a very alive machine. The Arrow III's lighting is basic but it is very good in what it does. The panel is really very sepia and black/white in its design, but it does make for a very readable panel in the dark or in low lighting conditions. Note the nice glow off the GNS530. There is only one internal light and that is guess what? Red... This large light is set up on the roof with a big knob for adjustment, and very effective it is. It does give you a nice comforting feeling and surprisingly it is very effective. It does illuminate the whole panel well to find what you want... ... but you can tone it down enough to give you just the panel's outline when you require that better vision outside, like for takeoff or landing, so it is quite perfect. The external lighting is the same in just basic lighting with a strobe on the tail and navigation lights (or noted here as "anti-collision") There is a very strong nose landing light and the bright flashes of strobe lighting that don't strobe together which is interesting, in that you get the left wing and then the right wing in multiple flashes on each side. All external lights are very different in colour and in the more modern LED halogen bright than X-Plane dull, you get a brilliant star feel effect as well. You can lower the nose just by pulling the throttle back (slowly) then readjusting the trim to keep the lower speed and level out the flight... Your focus has to be 100% and be aware of what the aircraft is doing, any throttle reduce requires adjustment in pitch. Lowering the gear gives you a huge amount of drag, if you are trying to rub off speed then use the gear to do so, but be aware they can act like flaps in killing your speed badly, it is skill set you need to learn in first lowering the gear and then later the flaps and all the time controlling your height and speed correctly, It is not as easy as it sounds but practise does help, but your really have too work through your flying abilities, this Arrow III is certainly not an aircraft set on rails or a predictable flying machine, but the experts will revel in its realism. The aircraft is also extremely sensitive to winds, so even a slight 7knt wind is making you sweat to hold the on to centreline correctly on approach. Is flying this aircraft fun? Most certainly yes but in a tension physical way. 80knts and throttle control only required to lower the aircraft in speed to 60knts-65knts and your height down to the runway, no yoke input is actually required unless you want to rub off some last minute speed.... in this area then the PA28 is a very, very throttle sensitive machine. The aircraft will track true, but as noted it is very sensitive to wind and if that is factor then you will work for it. Back at the ramp you shut the aircraft down and hop out... ... you will crouch down and look over at the aircraft... hard. You know from now on there is going to be a serious relationship that is going to be long and ongoing here with this excellent Arrow III, but who will master who? Liveries There is one blank and eleven liveries provided : G-BGKU (UK) - G-BNSG (UK) - D-ERIN (Germany) - F-GJCB (France) - C-GQYI (Canada) - G-TEBZ (UK) -- G-TSGA (UK) - HB-PJA (Switzerland) - N4131C (USA) - N751LU (USA) - VH-SGE (Australia) and all are of exceptional 4K (4096 x 4096) texture quality. ___________________________ Summary The biggest impact here with JustFlight's and Thranda's Arrow III is in the... "Quality detail - Sounds - Flying&handling" triangle. In all corners in these areas then this PA28 is just exceptional, even a step forward in simulation awareness and feel. And for most purchasers these are the main requirements that will bring them to the table and do the deal. And that price here is high as noted in being above that US$40 marker for a GA light aircraft. But there are still a few notes to consider. In that there are a few quirks but not with the aircraft actually but with the extra features. The menu system is quite average in keeping with today's standards, in its layout and to a point its functionality. It is basic to a point, but it is however easy to use and thank god you can hide the awful menu arrow. No dedicated Weights&Balance menu is a major loss with this aircraft, there is a sort of basic version, but in today's market even sub$20 GA's have a decent Weights&Balance menu, the loss here is highlighted as the aircraft is sensitive to set up, and a weights vs Centre of Gravity graph is a high requirement. A menu that highlights fuel, baggage and passenger weights (yes all four) is a certain requirement and the items should be shown in either passengers and baggage in the aircraft (yes in 3d) and no in that the X-Plane native weight&balance menu is not a decent replacement. There is a nice pilot, but he isn't animated? and he still sits in there even if the aircraft is shut down and you are heading home with the keys. The non-adjustable for scale popup autopilot panel is really useless in this form, and I question if a few of the functions in altitude hold and trim adjustment are working. And what is in the idea that native X-Plane menu items are noted features, only the flashlight is really handy, but that is still only a keystroke away. But we are then only just noting the slight negatives... the rest is simply superlative. The detailing and quality is just overwhelmingly great, there is nothing you are left wanting for, and with that exceptional lovely red interior that is well... very red. But you can admire in the evolution in that the quality of materials used is still going upwards. Sounds are again simply exceptional that feature accurate location placement of sounds in the stereo spectrum, 3D audio effects, atmospheric effects, and adaptive Doppler effects, but overall it is the realism of the sounds that give you that real feel of the Piper aircraft Flying characteristics are superbly excellent as well. Your awareness is heightened and your skills do require another level again (unless you are an actual pilot). Only for the experts? It is a good question as I like all aircraft to be accessible to everyone, but experience is certainly an advantage here especially in the hand to eye to throttle control input. A decent throttle system is also then an advantage here. So do I actually like the Arrow III? Ohhhh yes, totally absolutely, is it worth the high dollar cost? Oh yes absolutely again, but there are a few areas that need attention as noted above, and if they had been covered then it would have been simply an absolute total clean sweep. Is this the best General Aviation Aircraft in X-Plane? then that question is always going to be a subjective question to any simulator pilot, but I think it is certainly one of the very best right now, and a well worthy future investment for your flying career. ______________________________________________________________________ Yes! the PA28R Piper Arrow III by Just Flight - Thranda is NOW available from the new X-Plane.Org Store here : PA-28R Arrow III Price is US$41.99 Features Accurately modelled PA-28R-201 Arrow III, built using real-world aircraft plans Numerous animations including multi-animation passenger door that, when open, responds to G-forces and air resistance, baggage door, cockpit window, sun visors and oil cover Ground equipment including chocks and tie-downs 4096 x 4096 textures are used to produce the highest possible texture clarity PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials with real-time environment reflections for superb quality and realism Detailed normal mapping for down-to-the-rivet precision of aircraft features. Cockpit A truly 3D virtual cockpit right down to accurately modelled seat belts and screw heads - every instrument is constructed fully in 3D with smooth animations Cockpit textures feature wear and tear based on reference photos taken in the real aircraft to produce an authentic environment Heavy and reduced levels of wear and tear in the virtual cockpit (changes according to selected livery) Interactive engine start checklist that responds to user inputs and sim variables Interactive checklists for every stage of flight Aircraft configuration system that will allow you to choose between 'cold & dark' or 'ready for take-off' (if aircraft is stationary on the ground) Fully functional and comprehensive IFR capable avionics fit including: - KMA 20 audio selector unit - Fully featured X-Plane-native GNS530 (supports procedures out of the box, and supports Navigraph and Aerosoft custom nav databases) - KX 175B COM 2 / NAV 2 radio - KN 62 DME unit which can display information from NAV 1 or NAV 2 - Piper Autocontrol IIIB autopilot unit with navigation, heading and roll hold (hidden autopilot altitude hold system included for convenience) - KT 76A transponder unit - KR 85 ADF unit - Support for RealityXP GTN750 (sold separately, Windows only) Interactive logbook panel for logging your flight details (X-Plane native) Flight computer panel with useful information such as fuel burn, endurance, speed and wind speed/direction Yoke-mounted flight timer/clock Independently operated left and right (standby) altimeter GoodWay compatible Ability to change barometric units from InHG to MB in altimeter adjustment Option to activate flashlight from within pop-up window, to aid in those pitch-black cold and dark starts at night Pop-up autopilot window Option to remove window and instrument reflection effects Animated toe brakes Functional throttle quadrant tensioning system Radio knob animations routed through plugin logic, for optimum movement fidelity and sound synchronisation Aircraft Systems Custom-coded fuel system, including the option of automatic fuel tank switching for use on those long distance cross-country flights (this option is remembered for future flights) Custom-coded electrical system with functional circuit breakers. Circuit breaker logic is linked to X-Plane's internal failure logic, so if the plane is set to fail a certain electrical component after a certain number of hours, the circuit breaker for that element will pop out. Realistic landing gear system with intricate retraction animation, slow/fast tyre rotation animation (blurry when rotating fast), precise shock absorber animation with multiple linkages animated accurately, and wheel chocks and tie-downs Functioning alternate air and static source controls Fully implemented back-up landing gear system Dedicated interactive engine pop-up window displaying values such as fuel tank weights and imbalance, fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil temperature, battery charge (with quick charge option), and information about spark plug fouling and vapor lock condition Simulated vapor lock condition, with warning pop-up and suggested actions Simulated spark plug fouling condition, with indication of percentage of fouling Lighting system includes separate lighting control for gauges (via rheostat) and realistic implementation of navigation light / radio light rheostat Functional electric trim control on yoke (requires electric trim button to be pushed) Functional ELT which is automatically triggered above 4.6 G Simulated fan and vent system with realistic blower sounds (linked to circuit breaker logic and electrical system for realism) Custom external light logic with custom strobe light pattern and custom light halos for added realism Other Realistic and accurate flight dynamics based on real-world performance and handling data, and input from Arrow pilots Authentic sound set, generated using X-Plane's state-of-the-art FMOD sound system Custom sounds for switches, doors, gear warnings and more, featuring accurate location placement of sounds in the stereo spectrum, 3D audio effects, atmospheric effects, adaptive Doppler, exterior sounds spill in when window or door(s) are opened, different sound characteristics depending on viewing angle etc. Comprehensive manual with panel guide and performance data, adapted to X-Plane 11 usage PSD Paint Kit included so you can create your own paint schemes Dedicated pop-up window for sound mixing, allowing for individual adjustment of the volume of exterior sounds, in-cockpit sounds and various effects Option to launch X-Plane's weight and balance manager window from the custom pop-up panel Requirements: X-Plane 11 CPU: Intel Core i5 6600K at 3.5GHz or faster Video card: 4GB VRAM (GeForce GTX 1070 or better or similar from AMD) Windows 10 / 7 / Vista / XP, MAC OS 10.10 (or higher) or Linux 2GB hard drive space Installation Download of the Arrow III is a huge 1,12gb and it is installed in your General Aviation Folder as a 1.38gb folder. It is a fair size in gb's is this aircraft package and the question will be what of the framerates? Overall I found it very good, but it does take a fair time to load up in X-Plane depending on the size of scenery you are loading up with it. A fairly good graphics card is highly recommended and not less than a 4gb is required. Documents Documentation is excellent with two manuals included: PA-28R Arrow III manual X-Plane PA-28R Arrow III ODM (Operating Data Manual) manual X-Plane The main aircraft manual covers everything including aircraft install, data with a fully detailed instrument locations and feature points and aircraft procedures (80 pages) ODM covers aircraft performance and associated graphs (32 Pages) _____________________________________________________________________________________ Review by Stephen Dutton 28th October 2017 Copyright©2017: 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 - GeForce GTX 980/SSE2 - Samsung Evo 512gb SSD Software: - Windows 10 - X-Plane 11.05 Addons: Saitek x56 Rhino Pro system Joystick and Throttle : Sound - Bose Soundlink Mini Plugins: Environment Engine by xEnviro v1.07 US$69.90 : XPRealistic Pro v1.0.9 effects US$19.95 Scenery or Aircraft - KHAF - Half Moon Bay by Rising Dawn Studios (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$19.00

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   • October 26, 20177 yr
   • 7 replies
   • • just flight
     • piper
10. Aircraft Review : PA28R Piper Turbo Arrow III / lV by Just Flight - Thranda
    

    thranda Aircraft Review : PA28R Piper Turbo Arrow III / lV by Just Flight - Thranda

    Stephen posted a topic in General Aviation Aircraft Reviews

    Aircraft Review : PA28R Piper Turbo Arrow III / lV by Just Flight - Thranda In October 2017 Just Flight with partner Thranda released the PA28R Piper Arrow lll. Which by all accounts it is an extraordinary aircraft. The aircraft is also in the company of some of the most competitive competition with both AeroSphere Simulations and vFlyteAir both providing the same Arrow lll versions for choice. All are good, but vFlyteAir's version just updated is also exceptional. In reality the vFlyteAir version of it's Arrow lll should have won my best aircraft of the year for GA aircraft, but the update was released to late to take into consideration, but still the JustFlight/Thranda Arrow lll would still have picked up the top gong because it does lift up the level of immersion and the overall realistic sheer flying feel of the aircraft. Mostly I thought that was going to be the only JustFlight/Thranda release of 2017, but just days before Christmas on the 22nd December they then released this version of the Arrow in the lV and also threw in a Turbo for good measure. So if your first thought was "oh that's a bit of a deal in having to now buy another expensive Arrow lll to get the Turbo". Then don't fret that one as if you do already own the original Arrow lll then this Turbo lV can be added to your pleasure for just only $14.99 and you also get the Arrow lll Turbo as part of the package. The "Turbo lV" is distinctive because it has a T-Tail instead of the lower conventional rear tailplane. Which gives the aircraft a more cleaner line. The debate is if it is more effective, because the tailplane is high out of the prop-wash and you need a slightly higher speed (75 kts) to takeoff, but they don't create much drag and that is reflected in the slightly higher speed 153 knts (Arrow lll is 149 ktns). As noted the Arrow lll in the low tailplane version but now with a Turbo that is also part of this package, so if you want the extra power but with the conventional tail then you have both. Switching between aircraft types is done via the livery menu, change the livery and you change the aircraft type at the same time. So there is only one aircraft (.acf) file and so all set preferences and settings work between both aircraft. Interiors Many users found the Arrow lll interior a bit overwhelming with all that reddness... personally I loved it, but if you want some relief from the red then the Turbo has a more subdued feel with both Turbo versions having different colour schemes. The Turbo Arrow lV cabin has a mixture of browns and ochres... ... and the Turbo Arrow lll cabin is more to the full shades of blue. They both don't have the drama of all that red, but the interior fit-out is still exceptional. In times of course you still have that funny overwhelming feeling of reddness, but that is not the original colour scheme passed over, but it is the overhead red night light and turn it down and the red mist feeling goes away. The only visual differences between the standard Arrow lll and the Turbo aircraft is that the distinctive hump has gone over the engine... Arrow lll Turbo The Turbo's nose is slightly different and more aerodynamic, but the differences are minute here in speed. Version 1.3 These details relate to all three Arrow lll/lV versions. For the original release Arrow lll it has been upgraded to v1.3 and although this package is noted as v1.0 it is in reality the v1.3 version across the board, so all changes noted are relevant to all the Arrow versions from JustFlight/Thranda. The only differences are in performance and aircraft dynamics with the conventional tail and the T-Tail versions. There are besides the different types and interior colour schemes, the three aircraft are exactly the same in configuration and avionics, so X-PlaneReviews comprehensive review : Aircraft Review : PA28R Piper Arrow III by Just Flight - Thranda is totally relevant for the detail and design of this Turbo lll/lV version. A few of my gripes have thankfully been covered with the v1.3 update, most are minute small in the full scheme of the aircraft but still the changes here are very welcome. Click the chocks and the pilot now goes home... "bye, bye... Mr Pilot see you tomorrow". The autopilot panel was non-scalable before and took up a lot of space... now it is scalable and makes it's use and positioning so much more effective. The sounds panel has had a few tweeks and I like the "Enviro" option to turn down the wind noise (I have another wind noise on the XPRealistic plugin). The average looking menu panel remains, but you get used to it but not the odd native X-Plane X-Plane tiles for : logbook, weight, balance and fuel, Ground handling and the GNS530 popup? Electrics have had some attention and the excellent circuit breaker panel shows now the extent of the electrical detailing... pull (or click) the "Instrument Panel" breaker and it goes dark, all lighting breakers work as perfection as well. The key switch turns "off" in no power now as well. Flying the... Turbo The flying characteristics between the Turbo and none Turbo are not significantly different, but you do feel the slightly extra power... The original 200hp version was not the quickest horse out of the block and with a slight headwind 140 knts was about as fast as you flew. Here the Turbo is noticeable if not in outright power but in the back of your seat power feel, the 153 knt cruise does feel faster as does the takeoff roll. As with the Arrow lll the trim is crucial for balance, it is still tricky to fly unless you get that trim setting absolutely right, once sorted the aircraft is a masterclass in feel and handling... Like I noted in the original review. This aircraft needs time and time in hours to understand its characteristics and talents, the more you fly the aircraft, the more it comes to you. But no one can waste the time up here with this Arrow, just looking at it will set your heart pumping. One of the most noticeable aspects is the drag on the aircraft in power. So dropping the gear or flaps, but also in the throttle position creates significant drag. Even if you pitch down, if you don't reduce the power the aircraft will not descend in the same parallel. So even if you hold the pitch and increase the power then the aircraft will rise or again fall with a decrease of power, it is that finely tuned an aircraft and makes control as much for the throttle as for the yoke. T-Tails are known for their sudden loss of lift, so remember that in the landing phase you will have no prop-wash to get you out of trouble, and so too high a pitch can hide the tail from the airstream and you can fall into a stall. I still put the mixture to lean to land, but the idle ratio has had some adjustment in v1.3 and that makes it about perfect with not that surge of power when the aircraft is back on the ground.... lovely. Liveries There are two sets of liveries for both the Turbo in : N48427 (USA), D-ERMT (Germany), G-OBAK (UK), HB-PMB (Switzerland), VH-LLA (Australi T-Tail aircraft : D-EAIV (Germany), G-BOGM (UK), OE-KFT (Italy), OK-MAN (Czech Republic), N3023K (USA) There is blank for the Turbo lll, but both aircraft come with photoshop paintkits included... and all liveries are of exceptional 4K (4096 x 4096) texture quality. Summary This package extends out the original Arrow lll aircraft to three versions (if you buy the extended Turbo pack here for the $14.99 offer), and that really opens up your choice between the original, the Arrow lll with a Turbo and the Arrow lV (T-Tail) with again the Turbo, you also get three different custom interiors as well and I am quite sure it is not too hard to create a Turbo with the Red interior. If your finances don't stretch to that, then just buy this Turbo package and still get the two great Arrow Turbo aircraft, as both are a great deal. All aircraft detailing and quality is top-notch, the cabins alone are worth the investment, and they are some of the best in X-Plane and that is saying something as there is some great interiors out there. Avionics are great but not exceptional, a glass panel Aspen Avionics EFD1000 PFD system would be to die for in this aircraft and no dedicated Weights&Balance menu is a surprise as well. This package and the original have all been updated to v1.3 and few early kinks have been cleaned up, the JustFlight/Thranda Arrow is even better now than before, but this is an outstanding aircraft, but requires a lot of skill and time to really get the best return for the investment, but what an investment... ______________________________________________________________________ Yes! the PA28R Piper Turbo Arrow III / lV by Just Flight - Thranda is NOW available from the new X-Plane.Org Store here : PA-28R Turbo Arrow III/lV Price is US$41.99 Note - If you have already purchased the Arrow III by JustFlight you can purchase this new Turbo Arrow for only $14.99. Find your coupon code under your Arrow invoice at the store (doesn't apply to Arrows from other designers). Features MODEL Accurately modelled PA-28R-201T Turbo Arrow III and PA-28RT-201T Turbo Arrow IV, built using real-world aircraft plans Numerous animations including multi-animation passenger door that, when open, responds to G-forces and air resistance, baggage door, cockpit window, sun visors and oil cover Ground equipment including chocks and tie-downs 4096 x 4096 textures are used to produce the highest possible texture clarity PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials with real-time environment reflections for superb quality and realism Detailed normal mapping for down-to-the-rivet precision of aircraft features. Ability to use the in-flight livery switcher to switch between the Turbo Arrow III and IV variants in real-time without needing to use the aircraft menu. COCKPIT A truly 3D virtual cockpit right down to accurately modelled seat belts and screw heads - every instrument is constructed fully in 3D with smooth animations Cockpit textures feature wear and tear based on reference photos taken in the real aircraft to produce an authentic environment Interactive engine start checklist that responds to user inputs and sim variables Interactive checklists for every stage of flight Aircraft configuration system that will allow you to choose between 'cold & dark' or 'ready for take-off' (if aircraft is stationary on the ground) Fully functional and comprehensive IFR-capable avionics fit including: - KMA 20 audio selector unit - Fully featured X-Plane-native GNS530 (supports procedures out of the box, and supports Navigraph and Aerosoft custom nav databases) - KX 175B COM 2 / NAV 2 radio - KN 62 DME unit which can display information from NAV 1 or NAV 2 - Piper Autocontrol IIIB autopilot unit with navigation, heading and roll hold (hidden autopilot altitude hold system included for convenience) - KT 76A transponder unit - KR 85 ADF unit - Support for RealityXP GTN750 (sold separately, Windows only) AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS Custom-coded fuel system, including the option of automatic fuel tank switching for use on those long distance cross-country flights (this option is remembered for future flights) Custom-coded electrical system with functional circuit breakers. Circuit breaker logic is linked to X-Plane's internal failure logic, so if the plane is set to fail a certain electrical component after a certain number of hours, the circuit breaker for that element will pop out. Realistic landing gear system with intricate retraction animation, slow/fast tyre rotation animation (blurry when rotating fast), precise shock absorber animation with multiple linkages animated accurately, and wheel chocks and tie-downs Functioning alternate air and static source controls Fully implemented back-up landing gear system Dedicated interactive engine pop-up window displaying values such as fuel tank weights and imbalance, fuel pressure, oil pressure, oil temperature, battery charge (with quick charge option), and information about spark plug fouling and vapour lock condition Simulated vapour lock condition, with warning pop-up and suggested actions Simulated spark plug fouling condition, with indication of percentage of fouling Lighting system includes separate lighting control for gauges (via rheostat) and realistic implementation of navigation light / radio light rheostat Functional electric trim control on yoke (requires electric trim button to be pushed) Functional ELT which is automatically triggered above 4.6 G Simulated fan and vent system with realistic blower sounds (linked to circuit breaker logic and electrical system for realism) Custom external light logic with custom strobe light pattern and custom light halos for added realism Requirements: X-Plane 11 CPU: Intel Core i5 6600K at 3.5GHz or faster Video card: 4GB VRAM (GeForce GTX 1070 or better or similar from AMD) Windows 10 / 7 / Vista / XP, MAC OS 10.10 (or higher) or Linux 2.5GB hard drive space Current version: 1.0 (Dec 22nd 2017) Installation Download of the Turbo Arrow III/lV is a huge 2,21gb and it is installed in your General Aviation Folder as a 2.48gb folder. It is a fair size in gb's is this aircraft package and the question will be what of the framerates? Overall I found it very good, but it does take a fair time to load up in X-Plane depending on the size of scenery you are loading up with it. A fairly good graphics card is highly recommended and not less than a 4gb is required. Documents Documentation is excellent with two manuals included: PA-28R Turbo Arrow III-IV manual A4 X-Plane 150.pdf PA-28R Turbo Arrow III-IV ODM manual A4 X-Plane 150.pdf The main aircraft manual covers everything including aircraft install, data with a fully detailed instrument locations and feature points and aircraft procedures (80 pages) ODM covers aircraft performance and associated graphs (32 Pages) _____________________________________________________________________________________ Review by Stephen Dutton 8th January 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 11.05 Addons: Saitek x56 Rhino Pro system Joystick and Throttle : Sound - Bose Soundlink Mini Plugins: Environment Engine by xEnviro v1.07 US$69.90 : XPRealistic Pro v1.0.9 effects US$19.95 Scenery or Aircraft - KHAF - Half Moon Bay by Rising Dawn Studios (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$19.00 v1.3 Changelog (the same as the v1.0 notes for this Turbo lll/lV) Changes/fixes: Improved prop disc visualization effects Brightened landing spill light Hiding pilot when static elements are enabled Tweaked internal lit texture (text) Improved electrical system Fixed “Avionics Off” item in checklist Added “Ground Roll” mixer to co-pilot volume knob. Fixed flap deflection time Revised gyro sound Fixed halo artefacts Adjusted idle ratio Fixed NAV1/2 flip switch to be entered when in GPS mode. Made starter key set to “Off” when starting from cold and dark Upgraded SASL to 3.12 Added change log

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    • January 8, 20187 yr
    • 2 replies
    • • just flight
      • piper