I am not usually one to write a review on aircraft, but the Skyward Simulations DA50RG is very underrated in my opinion and worthy of mention.
Background
I purchased the DA50RG after much deliberation on whether I really needed it in my hanger. Having the A2A Comanche and the FSR 500, I figured this plane would fit a middle ground between the two in terms of speed, avionics, and utility. At right around the price of a cocktail ($16 USD), I figured it was worth a try even if it was a complete flop. I had moderate expectations for this add on due to the price, figuring it was somewhat like the Carenado aircraft which aren’t bad but don’t take your breath away either.
Modeling and Sounds
Upon loading it into the game the quality of the exterior and interior modelling immediately caught my eye. It looked like a $45 plane and not a $16 plane in my opinion - especially in the beautiful blue livery. The interior greatly exceeded my expectations as well in both day and night lighting. It looks great, it sounds great, and on first impression, we were off to a strong start.
Avionics and Flight Model
The avionics system goes off the default G1000Nxi by WT but I noticed the screens themselves seem a bit more matte in the sunlight than other G1000Nxi models in the sim - creating a glare effect in direct sunlight. This little detail was nice to find as in most real G1000 aircraft - the screens are indeed matte and difficult to see in the sunlight. The flight model was incredibly easy to fly without being excessively dull. After watching some videos on the real DA50, I realized that the agility and stability of the aircraft in the sim was not an attempt to copy a simple flight model - but actually true to the real deal. Finally, the 4 included liveries kept things interesting between flights with the red and blue liveries being my favorite.
FPS and Performance
Then there’s the actual performance of the aircraft in the sim. With such complex modeling and a glass cockpit, I expected it to perform poorly in the sim but was pleasantly surprised to find frame rates above 40FPS even in complex scenery environments. I rarely encountered stutters and have yet to experience an ABO or CTD to date. This, in my opinion, is an incredibly difficult feat for such a detailed aircraft. I don’t know how they pulled this off, but more dev’s need to get in on this.
Immersion and Fun Factor
Overall, the DA50RG is a joy to fly. So much so that I decided to take the time to write this review and take all the screenshots. I have spent a lot of time in the sim with highly immersive aircraft from the likes of PMDG, A2A, FSW and so on. Yet, this $16 plane has found itself a spot near the top of my podium as far as the best overall aircraft in the sim. While the DA50 lacks a EFB or failures simulations, I personally find myself spending little time with those features in other aircraft anyway. When it comes to something immersive that you can jump in to and go sightseeing, this little bundle of joy is one you shouldn’t miss out on!
