Are you using the OpenXR Toolkit? You can change the zoom with it to normalize cockpits.
Like the Pipistrel Virus, the Zlin Shock Ultra is also a Premium/Deluxe only addon.
Presumably because they are Premium Deluxe, both these excellent aircraft tend to get ignored.
Another option, which I picked up in this sale but don’t yet have much experience with would be the Touching Cloud JW1.
So far I’ve spent more time setting up a controller profile for it than actually flying it, I found it was different enough to control that it was best to set it up from scratch. In fact I’ve set it up to fly on the xbox controller, it being the only aircraft I use the controller for flying. Perfect for relaxed flying on the sofa without all the hotas+mouse+keyboard faff.
From the flying I did do, it was already fun, interesting to control, able to go quite quick but also able to go really slow and stop or hover. It has several flight modes to help make this all easier. Since it’s a jetpack it has unquestionably the best view possible in the game, and capable of horizontal and vertical flight.
It includes a parachute which felt quite realistic and I really like, that was something I’d long wanted in the game. And of course, if you want to get a better look from the ground then you just land and walk around!
I’d say definitely pick this one up in the sale, for the variety, and it might just become your favourite observation vehicle. Oh and low level high speed buzzing of the ground or other objects is definitely an adrenaline sport.
One thing I’m hoping will come to xbox is PPG, a powered paraglider. I don’t know if there are any for PC, but now we have gliders properly sorted I’d hope that it’d be possible to build one in the sim. I think it would be heaps of fun, and also perfect for sightseeing.
Unfortunately he stopped developing that further, so I don’t think it’s supported any longer.
Well, as long as it works!
I can see Fuji-san in the distance.
I saw a post on that. At the time zero copies had been sold! I reckon now it’s on marketplace he’ll pick up a bunch of sales and hopefully that will prompt a revival. I’m convinced that a jet pack for half of the price of a captain sim empty aeroplane must appeal to the xbox masses.
I love it too but there’s no way to control the prop rpm with the Xbox controller, at least I don’t know.
It’s very hard to land without
My Picks:
Payware : Flight FX Cirrus Jet Has great visibility, Sorta fast, but great low and slow also. easy to fly, but has a little complexity to it also. Well done inside and out graphically and very good flight model.
Stock Diamond DA40. Great Visibility also. Also good flight model, Feels like sitting in a chair in a bubble. Make sure you download the mod for it as well on Flightsim.2
Rob
The view from the Sting - I did a partial leg on the Iberian Connection Bush Trip from when Spain and Portugal were upgraded. That huge canopy and low sill is amazing.
If the wings were a bit further back that would be perfect. The vision jet has the wings fully behind which is great.
Agreed on VisionJet, but the slow part may not be achievable (at least, I have a difficult time at speeds around 100 kts). Probably hands down winner for sightseeing would be a helicopter, see something interesting? Stop, Hover, Move on. I think I’m gonna buy the Optica, just to see.
I didn’t know that! I just got the toolkit and ultimately got it to work. Unfortunately for the Pipistrel I can’t seem to find a setting that feels right. If I scale it up so it feels right in height then the pedals look like they’re far out of reach. But even though the Pipistrel doesn’t seem to like me, I’ll be playing around with the toolkit in other planes. I’m sure it’ll be quite useful! ![]()
Yes, there’s a lot to this VR stuff! And even more in understanding how to use the toolkit ![]()
I see what you did there ![]()
I have flown a steam gauge fixed prop version of the Sting S4 in real life and you do have a pretty good view in real life though being low wing there is always a blind spot under the wings.
The MSFS addon is pretty spot on. Only significant difference I have noticed is it seems to be harder to wipe off speed in the MSFS version but that may well be because the MSFS one has a CSU instead of a fixed prop.
The wear and tear features are great. I had an incident a week or two back where it would not taxi straight and after checking my real life pedals and other gear I decided to look at the wear and tear in the Sting EFB and discovered I had completely worn out the left brake pad and apparently as a result the left brake was binding and the thing was all over the place in taxi.
Circuit in the FSReborn Sting S4 that I recorded a few months back that gives a reasonable idea of visibility.
Found one that’s a good compromise between a brisk walk and no visibility:
The “Little Nellie” auto-gyro which I downloaded and flew around a bit over my old stomping-grounds in Chesapeake Va. . .
(These are not pix of my flight, they are taken from the page referenced below.)
Ref: https://flightsim.to/file/55491/wallis-wa116-autogyro-little-nellie
The visibility is outstanding, (better than the Optica, minus the pet), is as stable as a rock on flat ground, and can go anywhere you want.
Give it a try and report results.
I’ve just discovered the Got Friends Astro One.
It looks like it has all the capabilities of a helicopter, without the steep learning curve.
It can loiter efficiently, but still get itself going when you want to see something else.
I really don’t have a lot of time in it, (maybe five minutes?), but so far, it looks like a Hot Smokin’ aircraft to me.
I bought the Optica, seems about as slow as you can go in an enclosed prop-driven aircraft. Very enjoyable, lots of glass to enhance views, just learning it’s capabilities. Seems like it wants to fall from the sky at any moment, but usable. I bought the cheap version from marketplace before I realized there were two versions. Anybody have both and want to comment?
I have the Got Friends version, the full-up one, and it will try to fall out of the sky if you get below about 80 kts.
No stall warning, it just doesn’t want to fly.
It’s pretty boss, but a smidge unstable at times.
I’m messing with the Astro One (also Got Friends), and it’s a sort-of quad-copter.
The fussy part is that it’s specifically designed to use a game controller, not a stick and throttle.
Wrong!
There’s a pretty steep learning curve for this beastie too, especially landing in one piece.
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Thanks, Jim! The Orbx version seems to have all the characteristics of the Got Friends version, minus the cat, dog goldfish, winter skis, etc., but if there’s something that sets them apart, I’d buy the Got Friends version. Perhaps the modeling is better or better liveries, but Orbx was $5 vs $15, so I saved gas money… LOL!
Tim





