Hello,
Since no additional comments were sent to me about the last test version, to celebrate this day of July 4th I propose in advance the release of this v1.0 on my web home page:
http://frenchvfr.free.fr.
As very often people use the direct address and then “Google Translate” to have the site in English without realizing that I offer ALL my web pages in FR but also in EN so to overcome this here is the direct address:
=> AERONCA 7 Champ : French-VFR - Downloads
Capabilities:
- Native aircraft developped for MSFS 2020
- Totaly functionnal under MSFS 2024
- Primer and Pull-through to be able to make hand start
- PBR textures [4K]
- Sounds WWISE (environment) and WAV (engines)
- Doors and windows can be open with “sound system”
- Icing capabilities
- 3 engines and flights model: C-65 (Vintage) C-75 (Restored) C-95 (Floats version)
- Paintkit in next release
This post is to talk about the addon and upcoming releases so please send me your support requests via my email address given in the POH documents (Documentation directory). I will not respond to any support requests via this post.
Good flights 
26 Likes
Just spent an hour or so in this wheeled version. I was a tester for CAS with his Cub. Your flight model is very close to what I would expect. Good job my friend. I will test the other planes with floats and restored versions soon. THANKS!
1 Like
This aircraft was developed and tested in the first 6 months with two “olds” Aeronca pilots: Roy and Mark. This post is the conclusion of this one:
Although quite similar, the Piper and the Aeronca are quite different aircraft in terms of flight models. Great vigilance has been brought to the behavior of the suspensions which are very characteristic on the Aeronca.
Regarding 3D modeling, it is compliant in terms of LODs with Asobo’s recommendations and should be able to be modified without too many problems to become a native MSFS 2024 aircraft, which the CAS will have more difficulty doing since it was created from a single LOD including both the inside and outside, that is to say the method of creating aircraft for FS2004.
It was designed and thought in view of this evolution.
A number of improvements are already planned and implemented to enhance the functionality of this aircraft:
- a graphical interface to carry out the PRE FLIGHT visits (the one I developed on the Golden Age Simulation Stearman)
- an advanced engine management module in order to be more realistic (respect of operating temperatures)
- a small radio and a GPS portable for “young pilots” who are always afraid of getting lost
6 Likes
Very nice gift. Thank you. I think it flies great and is right on target for what you expect. You can feel the effects of the air around you very well. Being somewhat of a trainer model comes across in the sim. Easy to handle. I consider this a keeper in my hangar.
3 Likes
Outstanding! I just grabbed myself a copy and I also split the release announcement over at SOH into its own thread.
3 Likes
Thanks. I have also posted it on AVSIM. Feel free to spread the word anywhere appropriate.
“Participation is Proportional to Promotion”
1 Like
I imagine you’re like a kid in a candy shop Roy! My heart is full knowing that you get to fly the Champ again!
Happy Flying Capt!
2 Likes
Thank you for a great plane! It flies well and will also be in my hangar, just like another plane of yours, the PBY. Both are well done.
1 Like
Checked out all three versions. Great planes. Lot of fun here.
1 Like
During the 15 month development period, while working with “Lagaffe”, I kept telling him that at least 50 people will want this plane. In only 1 day 109 people have clicked on the download link on his website!
8 Likes
after a busy weekend, I’ll be picking her up this evening. Looking forward to taking her up!
1 Like
Just picked this plane up last night and had a go with the “vintage” one and the floatplane. Great little plane to fly low and slow with and honestly didn’t have much trouble with it at all. One thing I did notice, I was trying to set a pilot weight while on the ground prior to engine start, no matter what I typed it would load for a second and then snap the weight back to zero. I didn’t see anything in the manual about that so not sure what was going on there.
The oil can and gas pump animations are an awesome little touch. Overall very enjoyable to fly, I’ll definitely be revisiting it and I still have to try the restored version out. Great work @LagaffeVFR5476, thank you for this marvelous model. It is parked next to your Catalina in my hangar. @rgp1942 thanks for getting the ball rolling on this project, we can’t have too many small tail draggers, I hope you’re enjoying it as much as I already have.
In this version, I deliberately restricted certain things:
- the pilot appears automatically as soon as the engine is started
- the pilot’s weight is automatically set and appears in the payload as soon as the pilot is visible (see above)
- only the passenger is clickable (compass correction or rear seat mouse zone)
- the passenger’s weight is automatically updated.
<Component ID="PILOT_VIS" Node="PILOT_0">
<UseTemplate Name="ASOBO_GT_Visibility">
<VISIBILITY_CODE>
(A:PLANE IN PARKING STATE, bool) !
(A:PAYLOAD STATION WEIGHT:1, Pounds) 70 >
and
(A:CAMERA STATE, number) 2 == (A:CAMERA VIEW TYPE AND INDEX:0, Enum) 1 == (A:CAMERA VIEW TYPE AND INDEX:1, Enum) 4 == and and
(A:CAMERA STATE, number) 2 != or
and
</VISIBILITY_CODE>
</UseTemplate>
<UseTemplate Name="ASOBO_GT_Update">
<FREQUENCY>9</FREQUENCY>
<UPDATE_CODE>
(A:ELECTRICAL MASTER BATTERY, Bool) 1 == (A:GENERAL ENG COMBUSTION:1, Bool) 1 == and
if{ 1 (> L:A7_PILOT_VIS, Bool) }
(L:A7_PILOT_VIS, Bool) 1 ==
if{ 75 (>A:PAYLOAD STATION WEIGHT:1, kg) }
els{ 0 (>A:PAYLOAD STATION WEIGHT:1, kg) }
</UPDATE_CODE>
</UseTemplate>
</Component>
If the pilot is visible so it’s a pilot who will weigh 75 kg (french unit) 
Why? to respond to the requests made by the person who requested this add-on … and because the Weigh and Payload window no longer means anything since Asobo added a slider at the top that allows to bypass all the physics associated with this setting 
If you know how to use the Notepad and if you know a little about the configuration files, it will be up to you to modify this test (I help you, it’s in the external animations file but I would not provide support in case of modifications).
PS: If you like repaints for this aircraft, Killbilly on S.O.H. has made 3 liveries which are marvellous ! (section Resources). You can see them here: AERONCA 7 Champ Public Release | SOH Forums (page 1 and 2)
2 Likes
Ah, this makes sense. I did not check it after I started the engine so I did not realize this, I got tired of seeing the 0 and not being in the air 
This is acceptable to me though, 75kg is a bit heavier than I actually am but I will leave it be as it flies just fine the way it is. On the note about the passenger, is the passenger intended to make an audible exclamation when made visible? I thought that was a little odd.
Yes, that slider makes no sense to me. It evenly distributes the weight and makes weight and balance non existent (I am in 2020 so not sure if it does the same in 24).
Those repaints are very cool. I like the fictional pacific northwest inspired paint. Very fitting for the float plane I think.
2 Likes
