Ok, looks like we’ll finally get a proper RV8!
Also, if you’d like to see the G3X updated, please visit this thread and upvote it! Upgrade Garmin G3X to NXi Standards
At least it will be released with an analog cockpit as well.
Can’t wait for this one.
Hoping we get her in our hangars soon!
After watching Skyrunners videos of him flying from Germany to Alaska in his RV8, I’m eager to do the same!
That was an epic video, and that guy has some serious stones.
Indeed he has! I was going to do it in the RV14 originally but decided to wait until the 8 came out.
I’ll be going the opposite direction from SR, Colorado up to Alaska and then east.
Also thankful we have Campout by //42 so I can quickly set up camp after the long legs.
Will this be the RV-8A (tricycle gear?)
What engine?
150 HP Lycoming?
180 HP Lycoming ?
200 HP IO-360?
250 HP Lycoming IO-360A?
Lycoming IO-360 (180HP), 2 blade and 3 blade props, and both 8 and 8A as well as G3X and Analog cockpits. The SU15 G3X will be modeled, with eventual support for TDS and PMS GTNs as well as the Asobo GNS430.
Wasn’t this due out today??
Still is as far as I know. Day just started.
Depends where you live. If SWS are based in Cyprus then it is currently 17.17
Looks like someone pressed the button -
First impressions are pretty good! I will say my first flight ended in a CTD about 20 minutes in… that could totally be my system of course. I took out the analog tailwheel 3 bladed version. I fly only in VR.
And to that, it is phenomenal in VR. Great views, great panel clarity (although the text on the switches is washed out so you have to zoom in to see what it says). Uses VR zoom. The sounds were great (although on the ground it sounds like it is going to sputter and die at 1000rpm lol).I tried following the checklist, which says to start with the mixture cutoff then advance when it catches, but I could not get the engine to start without full mix from the start. Wish you could partially open the canopy.
Ground handling with the tailwheel was good… until takeoff. I had a slight crosswind, and as soon as I got to full power I veered off the runway. I am no stranger to tailwheels in the sim, lots of cub flying, and Spitfire/BF109 time. It is definitely a bit wacky.
In the air she felt alot heavier than I imagined it would, but really nice. Stable. Easy to trim out, and a joy to handfly. Tried some stalls… drops a wing nicely. Did a few steeeeep turns, easy to keep level. A couple of rolls felt great.
The analog cockpit felt sparse, no trim indicator for example… look forward to trying the glass. Overall I think this is a winner… maybe they can work on the tailwheel takeoff action… but I only did one takeoff, so perhaps my technique will change.
This type of airplane is right up my alley… great in VR, fast enough, but able to go into small challenging strips. And SWS prices very appropriately! Nice.
In regards to the CTD and if you’re using the TDS750, from Discord,
For anyone picking up the RV-8 there a new version of the TDS GTN add-on - v1.1.0.5 (1.1.0.4 got replaced as it was triggering a CTD) which looks to add G3X support and is required by the optional RV-8 panel mod
Nah, PMS here
I had to update on here because my 2nd flight blew me away. This airplane is awesome. I used the tailwheel two bladed prop version… with the glass cockpit all in VR. The takeoff issues were probably my technique. Did a few more this flight… keep the stick back and fly her off… and you are in business. It handles beautifully… 10000 feet 165 TAS… then dive down and rip along the river… then land at a grass strip… all with the updated G3x that can take you IFR. This is the airplane I have been waiting for…
MSFS is a bit wonky with tailwheel handling. If the wind is exactly down the runway, it feels pretty realistic. The slightest crosswind, and once you lift the tail it gets wild which is not realistic at all. It’s like it ignores the fact that full throttle prop-wash gives you all the rudder authority you need for anything. Stick into the wind does help a bit.
SWS did a fantastic job with the RV-8. Just like the RV-10 & RV-14 it looks fantastic, sounds great and is just pure joy to fly. But I do agree that the crosswind behavior is a bit extreme.
Here is a flight with it around Monument Valley. Hopefully it’ll be useful for someone to get a first impression. Please ignore the horrible landing, that was purely on me.
It’s pretty darn good overall. I really like the sounds.
The airspeed indicator design seems off though. Flap operating range I believe should cap at around 87 knots. The analogue panel versions have it at 85 mph. The bottom end (Vso) is also too low at 50 mph - should be 50 knots. I found this out the hard way (I crashed), so at least that speaks well for the flight model!