I bought it and don’t like it one bit. Quit the tutorial after reaching the first nav point. Had to drag the VKB stick out of the cabinet to use as a tiller (right handed stick in my left hand…awkward), couldn’t keep it trimmed properly for 10k feet, AP is goofy, configuring the HC Bravo gave me fits, and the lack of an inflight checklist for a somewhat complex aircraft is unforgivable. Sounds were mediocre and looks were mostly acceptable. $50 down the drain.
Back to the Cessna twins and Kodiak till the PC-12 comes out. FSR500 looks awesome, but I don’t want to fly around snooty rich people between Hilton Head and West Palm. No doubt I’ll buy it at some point, just not feeling it right now.
For nose steering you can double-bind Nose Steering Axis to rudder pedals. Works OK for me even for take off (not as if MSFS ground handling is so perfect that it matters… can keep it straight so it’s fine). There may be a better way I have not thought of.
I didn’t have problem with trim. Honestly not tried AP yet - I don’t usually use it unless I’m going for a very long straight leg (I usually don’t!). My throttle worked with my usual TP profile.
Agree about Checklist, and what @Jigsaw407 said about the failures. Should be there for this price. It is way too expensive in the current market.
HPG H160 : What is with this sim? One month I am replicating Youtuber flights in an old rustbucket or a sort of glider with an engine, the next month I am just feeling cozy like a cat in a brand spanking new helibird, checking out oil rigs and moving rich fishermen to remote british islands. Basically all I do now. If you fly a pattern, manage your speed on the downwind, 100 knots or less. You can slow down quickly, and you can descend quickly, but you cannot slow down and descend quickly.
A2A Comanche : It has to be second. There is nothing better than this.
FSReborn Sting S4 : Since I bought this, this is the plane the sim uses as default GA in every freaking airport. A great flier, with the smoothest characteristics.
Asobo Savage Cub : Flyable by just looking through the windshield.
Aeroplane Haven Cessna 140 : Always a treat to get some airmiles in this little tub.
Azurpoly Fouga : A classic. If you are remotely into jets, this needs to be in your hangar.
JPL Cessna 152 : Still the best Cessna in my hangar.
Asobo Cessna 172 : Second best Cessna
Flying Iron F6F-5 Hellcat : If want my warbird fix, this is the one I go to.
HPG H145 : Took it out of the hangar again. The second best heli in the game.
Worth mentioning :
Cowan H125 : does not have the auto trim features of the HPG heli’s which makes it very tiring to fly with my setup. A bit basic in the cockpit but not a bad aircraft.
I took the plunge on the weekend against my better judgement and regret my purchase already. The ground service stuff with the arriving passengers and fuel truck is a nice novelty that wears off quickly and the aircraft itself is nicely done, but has two big strikes against it in my book:
The glass cockpit of course, which is just terrible to look at by default (so much clutter, such garish colors). Not the developers fault, just the nature of the beast.
And it’s boring to fly. The M500 doesn’t even have manual prop controls. The RPM are governed automatically and kept at 2,000 at all times.
I know already that I will opt for the TBM 850 every time I want to fly this type of aircraft. The FSR500 will gather dust very quickly.
Also, the in-flight service function feels kinda silly for this kind of aircraft. Does the pilot throw a thermos and some snacks in the back? There sure is no galley or much room for a crew.
At this point I consider my purchase a donation to a good developer, but the aircraft is not for me.
Eh, I’ve wasted money on worse. No failures, no wear/tear, no checklist.
The trim issue was related to a power setting that was related to missing a couple of switches during start-up – no mention of inverters in the tutorial. Of course that would have been avoided with a checklist .
I gave it one more chance after posting my rant. Flew a couple of SD 3-60 cargo routes. No visible cargo?
It did fly pretty nicely once I got the engine power settings under control, and visual and ILS landings were pleasant enough.
As for the plane itself, I wasn’t crazy about the view from the cockpit. The view to the front is like looking through a mail slot and to the left side I felt like I was sitting in the middle seat of a 737. That’s just aircraft design I guess. Still, for an aircraft that I’d prefer to mostly hand fly I’d prefer better cockpit views.
Oh yes it is like flying a very wide shed with small and high windows, and stuff you don’t want in the house stacked up along the walls so you can’t really get close to the sides
I guess as I have Tobii it helps a lot, as I can duck down and lean to the side. That is something I liked about it though to be fair - have to really move around inside this chunky thing
This is the way I’ve thought I would feel if I got the plane. I therefore haven’t and don’t intend to. The fact that it’s a Marketplace exclusive is also an issue for me.
I’ll be honest folks, been in the doldrums lately, and my list is unchanged as I think I’ve maybe flown 4 times in the past 2 months (could be more, but it feels that little).
Maybe it’s the winter months and the clocks changing , who knows!
I think I’ll take the Comanche and WB-Sim out for a ‘sky trip’ from the top of Scotland to the south of Italy, alternating between the two and trying municipal and small airports instead of the usual and more popular suspects.
Low, slow, scenic and bringing me back to the fun of it all.
Anyone else going through a lull at the moment, or are all gung-ho for the FSR500?
Apologies, not my usual daft and light-hearted post this time around.
You can set the clock, and the weather, to whatever you want in OUR world!
I know what you mean though. I’ve found a new drive by joining some group flights. Takes you places you may not have ever been, through some stunning scenery and views, maybe picking an aircraft you’ve not flown for a while.
Maybe give it a try? Could get you back into it in a different way. @FlightsWJoel are always particularly excellent. Light-hearted, listening to Joel on stream whilst we fly and chatting to a great bunch of people on voice chat in Discord for some funny banter and a mutual sharing of our hobby. Also flying close to loads of other planes (especially if you own them so can see them properly or use the M3 model matching app) Is fun!
Joel is a really likeable guy. Has a great personality and character, and a fun approach to the flights. He puts real good thought into his flight plans with excellent routes and length, and a good variety of plane types from event to event. Loads of others do too but that would be a good start!
The Maddog has interested me quite a lot but Ive not bought it because of the 90€ price.And its never on sale.Ive not noticed it anywhere in your Top10 tables or seen it mentioned by any of your responders.
I wonder if very few have bought it because of the price - or its so good the purchasers are so happy and tied up flying it that they havn’t had time to gell everyone?
List unchanged at the moment. H160 might get on it at some point after some teething troubles are resolved ( and the action pack version appears ), there’s all sorts of MSFS wierdness ahem “magic” coming to light atm. Zero interest in single engine passenger turboprops no matter how good they might be, I can’t think of many things more boring. I’ll wait a few patches to form a solid opinion on the Shorts.
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