Diamond DA40 released by Alabeo

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Yet another drop dead gorgeous release from the Alabaeo guys, this time the single-engined Diamond DA40. Popular with private GA owners and training companies around the world, there are a few of these on the Pacific registers so repaint options abound. I never tired of these Alabeo releases, or the Carenado stuff for that matter. Sure sometimes they cop some flack for candy over systems trade-offs but they just look so darned good its hard to criticise.

Features: Vision Microsystems VM 1000 Engine Instrument, Superb material shines and reflections, Volumetric side view prop effect, Gauges reflections, Windows scratches and Blades shines, High quality 3D model and textures, Blank texture for creating your own designs, Realistic behavior

Checkout the Alabeo product page for more info

CaptainSim 777 release v1.4

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CaptainSim have a business model they’ve followed a couple of times now where custom

ers are invited to buy pre release versions to fund the completion of the project. Essentially you receive a visual model with panels and systems that flesh out over subsequent releases and have bugs hopefully ironed out over time as the final release approaches.

I bought into the program for the 777 and although it has a lovely external model and what looked like a decent cockpit it wasn’t without its issues, even after the initial v1.0 release.

I’ve personally experienced ridiculous cockpit panel behaviours/responses, start-up sequences that were just random, climb-outs that were comical, LNAV and VNAV tracking that was diabolical, FMC/CDU and MCP weirdness and a whole bunch of other highly irritating stuff. This was despite following published procedures for de-installing/re-installing between releases and initialising the aircraft by placing at CS recommended starting airports and states otherwise the damned thing would lose the plot.

So you could say I wasn’t holding out much hope for this latest v1.4 release. Imagine my delight when after a cold-n-dark start-up and IFR leg from Hamilton to Wellington (yes I know, hardly typical) the ruddy thing behaved FLAWLESSLY !!!

Well… close enough…

  • pre-flight, FMC setup etc all went fine (although this was ok for me previously too)
  • start-up sequence went well, I dig the panel, it’s nicely done, good level of detail, interactions seem to be subtlety improved
  • taxi and handling are great, the thing looks good and feels big but seems to move accordingly on the tarmac
  • take-off roll and climb-out were fine, I was running a light load so was pretty sporty but not stupidly supersonic like previous releases have been for me
  • LNAV and VNAV tracking were bang on, this has been weak in the past in my experience
  • on approach to Wellington the TOD and general descent profile behaviour was bang on, really pleased with that
  • LOC capture was smooth without any wild redirection to align and GS capture and tracking went well all the way to finals
  • AP and AT off and hand flying to touch-down felt very good, responsive but still felt like a heavy aircraft as I guess it should
  • touch-down, reverser’s, spoilers, auto-brake, roll-out, and taxi-to-gate all went swimmingly

The few niggles I had weren’t show stoppers…

  • at start-up Cranking right starter resulting in left-engine start
  • C-N-D default is still to have all controls hydraulic valves isolated, you have to use the pesky guarded switches right at the back of the overhead to enable Yoke/Pedals (is this realistic? does PMDG do the same?)
  • De-selected one of the Generator drive switches and no combination of selections would re-enable it, the whole flight was fed from the other generator

Overall I’m a happy camper. After a few more legs I’m sure I’d be at the point where I could recommended this for the budget concious amongst us

iOS A321 Gauge By PositionGames

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Interesting looking new iOS app from Position Games here. Imagine it’s quite usable as a general Airbus gauge set and probably across various Sim models. You need a free client installed that I guess works with SimConnect to make the actual calls to the Sim. Be an interesting way to monitor your long haul flights from somewhere else in the house :)

more info at the Apple Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a321/id886156967?ls=1&mt=8