COWS released there Diamond DA42!
It’s a great product and I’ve enjoyed flying it today.
But I’ve also found plenty of bugs. Some liveries the cockpits are messed up - such as the engine panel appearing on the left screen. Buttons not work (CDI for example). And not being able to engage the NAV button on autopilot if I created a flight plan in the plane.
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That is known Asobo/WT bug. I have this on all G1000 planes sometimes. Just restart flight and all we be good again.
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did it come with an EFB and some external goodies like wheel chokes?
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As far as I know they intentionally did it without tablet/EFB and all that stuff. Just a plane to fly. There should be plenty clickspots around the cockpit for pax and all you get. Probably in the manual. I don’t have the addon yet but that’s what Tommy wrote in another topic some weeks ago.
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First off, congrats to the COWS team for a fantastic release!
Nope. I have it. The manual only covers damage and state saving functions. I’ve looked all over the the cockpit for a clickspot to show at least the copilot, but can’t find anything.
As for my own observations, I posted this over at SOH:
OK - so after an initial flight, I have a few observations…
First, after spending a LOT of time in the DA62X mod by one of the members of the COWS team, I’d say the DA42VI (haven’t flown the TDI yet) behaves exactly as you might expect a lighter version of the DA62 to behave. There are a few nice touches like having to manually cage the standby horizon gyro. The only graphic issue I could find is that the toe brakes aren’t animated. However, my biggest complaint is the fact that I don’t have a copilot when I’m inside the cabin! Who knows? Maybe I’m missing a click somewhere, but I spent a decent portion of my cruise from Dominicci to TNCM looking for one.
Two big advantages of this one over the DA62 are the fact that the canopy and rear passenger door actually open, and without the A pillar, landing visibility is much better in the 42.
At just over $30 US, it’s a little pricey, but for Diamond lovers like me, I think it’s worth it.
Hey @MrTommymxr - will we be getting a visible copilot, or am I missing something?
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If you do add a copilot, please make it optional. I like flying without one.
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why should one buy the Cows Da42 ?
I bought it because I really enjoyed the developer’s Improvement Mod DA62, but absolutely hated the visibility out of the cockpit (which is the design of the real plane.)
It’s one of the simplest 2-engine piston planes to fly, and comes with the G1000, which I’m getting used to using. And from what I’ve heard, they did a good job with texturing, as well as the flight model.
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I agree, in fact I insist on flying without one. Nothing breaks immersion faster than an Asobo avatar in the next seat.
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It’s not just immersion. They block my view out the starboard side of the aircraft, and in some aircraft, block easy access to some controls.
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Either way, I just want to have the exterior view match the interior - that’s my #1 reason for wanting the copilot. Second is that I just don’t like being alone in the cockpit for that long.
But now that I’ve had a chance to play with it a little, I’ve found one issue that I feel needs to be addressed. The flood lights, both over the panel and behind the pilot’s head, tend to cut out. The light itself still comes on, but the emissions that should be illuminating the surrounding objects cut out. This pic was taken in bad weather at dusk, and before I started moving, the light was shining on the standby instruments. As soon as I started moving, it flickered and cut out. I came back for a bit after, but never stayed. If you look close, the knob is turned all the way up and the LED strip is well lit, but the instruments directly under are still in the dark.
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But that’s only on the external view, I believe.
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I would have sworn the passenger was visible in inside view, but i can’t get it to show now so I guess not. Also adding weight to the rear passengers doesn’t show them externally either.
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I’m really enjoying this aircraft, it’s quite well done.
I do have a repeatable issue though, I have no nose wheel steering after landing. I can see my rudder pedals moving, the rudder itself moves, but nosewheel steering is not working. The nosewheel steering works fine when taxiing for takeoff, the issue is only after landing.
I did look through the (real life) manual and couldn’t find anything that I need to be doing to re-enable nosewheel steering after landing.
Thanks,
Dave
The inevitable massive review from Fly From Home ( by someone with years in real DA42s too ):
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I have some issues with it, but as an familiarisation tool it seems good.
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YD still engaged?
One guy has this issue aswell, but all his planes do that.
Possibly, I actually don’t think I turned it off or on, will have to try that.
This is the only aircraft I’ve had the issue in.