Neuroflight Reims - Cessna F406

Transcription

1 AVSIM Commercial Scenery Review Neuroflight Reims - Cessna F406 Publisher: Neuroflight Rating Guide Description: Reims Aviation Cessna 406 Caravan II file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (1 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

2 Download Size: 3 zip files totaling 77.3 MB Format: Executable file after unzipping 3 files to an empty folder residing outside FS9 Simulation Type: FS 2004 FS 2004 Aircraft Add-on Reviewed by: Zane Gard AVSIM Staff Reviewer The AVSIM Commercial Rating System: 1 Star to 5 Stars (with 5 stars being exceptional) Please see details of our review rating policy here. Introduction The 400 series of twin engine aircraft from Cessna have quite a history. They were originally born out of a desire for Cessna to capture the Beechcraft Queen Air market with a newer design that was lighter in weight with a comparable payload and would fly faster on less fuel. Cessna was successful in this endeavor and proceeded to build many variants from the early 1960 s on into the mid 1980 s. One of Cessna s last developments in the 400 series was the 404 Titan and 441 Conquest. Both of these heavy twins (twin engine propeller aircraft over 6,000 lbs gross weight) had a stretched fuselage compared to the 402/414/421 versions. The 404 Titan was a non-pressurized workhorse available in three versions, executive, passenger and freight. The Titan used the geared engines from the 421 and with a 3,500 lb useful load was quite an impressive hauler. The 441 was aimed at the luxury corporate executive market. It was pressurized and utilized Garret turboprop engines and at its introduction, was considered one of the most efficient twin turboprops ever produced. The US production of 400 series Cessna twins died in the mid 1980 s due to a slow market, increasing concerns over liability and manufacturer s cost of liability insurance (the cost of which was killing new aircraft sales in the U.S. at the time). Reims Aviation in France has had a long history working with Cessna dating back to the early 1960 s making some really interesting versions of the Cessna lineup. The Reims Rocket is probably one of the better known variants being a Cessna 172 fitted with a 210 horsepower engine and constant speed prop some call it a poor man s 182 but with its lighter controls it s a whole lot more fun to fly than a 182. Reims Aviation had studied the market very carefully and saw a need for a turboprop twin passenger and freight aircraft and in the mid 1980 s mated the Titan s fuselage to the Conquest wing and installed less expensive and stone reliable Pratt & Whitney PT-6 turboprop engines and thus the Reims F406 aka Caravan II was born. You might ask why, when Cessna had already introduced the highly successful model 208 Caravan, a newer design with a single engine, lower operating costs and higher useful load, would there be a market for the F406? The answer is really quite easy, just look at the planet. It s covered with a lot of water and mountains. Freight and passenger operators along with pilots will all agree on this, they would feel much better having an extra engine when flying over either of them, especially at night when most freight operators fly. And so the Reims F406 continues production to this day and is the only new prop twin engine Cessna available on the market. It is available in passenger and freight versions and the most interesting variant is the Surpolmar which is a Maritime surveillance version. The Surpolmar is fitted with an underbelly pod housing a 360 degree radar and FLIR turret which can track up to 20 targets, a pollution detection version is also made which adds SLAR and IR/UV line scanner for detection and documentation of oil spills and pollution control. Roger-Alain aka JEDIKIAN has been futzing with Microsoft s Flight Simulator since back to the FS5 days. Probably his most famous prior add-on would be a highly detailed panel for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules which he published in In May of 2005 he introduced this highly detailed simulation of the Reims-Cessna F406, which at its introduction had a rather lofty price tag. Roger responded to criticism for this pricing rather quickly with a reduction in the pricing and even an offer for existing customers to share their purchase with one other user. A smart move on his part which quickly stopped any bashing which his product really did not deserve. Installation and Documentation file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (2 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

3 Installation of the Neuroflight Reims F406 is easy, but you do have to follow these steps: after downloading three zipped files you need to unzip all three of them into an empty folder residing on your hard drive. In that folder you will now find a file called INSTALLF406 and just open it. It will now run an autoexecuted installation just like most other payware aircraft are doing nowadays. The installation program will confirm you have a valid install of FS2004 and then proceed to end user authentication. It is important that you are online during this install because Neuroflight has to confirm your installation and you will need to enter your password, first and last name and date of purchase (make sure you keep a written copy of this for your records if you ever upgrade your computer or hard drive). You will then have a choice of installing this aircraft in English or French languages. At the end of the initial install you have to restart your computer. If you own RealityXP s excellent Jetline 2 EFIS displays and/or their WX500 weather radar, there is a panel configuration manager which will allow you to choose to use either or both of the gauge packages in each of nine repaints included with the original download. I noticed after running the installation program that neither the panel configuration manager nor the manual had any shortcuts on the desktop or in the start menu. So to find them again, I had to go into the FS2004 aircraft folder and find the Neuroflight F406-v3 folder. I simply made a shortcut to desktop for both but it would have been nice if the installation program had done this for me as I needed to go back and read the manual a few more times than the first time after initial installation. The manual itself is a PDF document and includes a copy of the performance and specifications page from the real manual, a detailed screenshot schematic of the instrument panel with all gauges numbered and identified, screenshots of all the subpanels and screenshots of all the VC clickspots including where to click. It is rich in photos and light on text but makes for a quick glance to familiarize yourself with the cockpit and features of this aircraft. If you have just purchased Microsoft Flight Simulator for the first time and this is your first add-on aircraft you might feel a little lost but anyone with the slightest of experience with any of the default aircraft will settle right in and be able to understand and fly this aircraft right away. The included French manual is almost identical, other than the initial photocopied page from the manual being the general characteristics page of the manual in French of course. The V speeds and operational limits round out the manual at the end and while basic, it covers the information you need to fly and enjoy this aircraft. Exterior Model The Neuroflight team has done a very nice job of capturing the look of the real Reims/Cessna F406. This is a very large general aviation twin and when viewed in spot view it does come across as being big (unless parked next to a commercial jet!). The transitions and seams between body parts have been smoothed nicely and there doesn t seem to be anything looking out of place or reflecting in an odd manner. The high dihedral of the horizontal stabilizer has been captured nicely, this is the most recognizable part of the 404/406/441 series of aircraft. The included repaints are all well done and give a great variety of usage for this aircraft. file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (3 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

4 Air St-Pierre Atlantic Express Cessna-Corp Flugdienst Fehlhaber DHL French Army Australian Customs French Custom Hellenic Coast Guard The external animations include all moving control surfaces, retractable gear, the enormous fowler flaps and all opening cabin doors. The main door opening actuates both the airstair to the passenger cabin and the pilot s entry, I would have preferred being able to operate both individually but it really is no big deal. The secondary door opening operates the cargo door next to the airstair allowing for loading larger goods. The only funny thing I spotted was the support cable for the airstair splits and moves out with the cargo door looking a little out of place but from a designer s point of view what else would you do with it? There are three interiors modeled, passenger, vigilante (surveillance), and cargo depending on which repaint you choose. A lot of extra work but each individual model type is well represented inside and out. file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (4 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

5 Vigilante Version Cargo Version The exterior textures do have a few periodic glitches though on my system. I first thought these might be system specific but they occurred on both of my computers. These may be due to using mipmapping on some of the exterior textures, I know this was problematic on the T-37 Tweet when we were beta testing it. The fuselage sides, propeller spinners and exhaust stacks and even the hinges for the storm window would occasionally display with a strange multicolored pattern, the latter displaying from the VC as well. These didn t happen all the time and would disappear as mysteriously as they appeared. I have let Roger-Alain know about these and I am sure they will be addressed in a future update. Interior Model Moving inside the aircraft you have a full cabin modeled for all three variants. I didn t spot any jagged edges, funny lines or holes looking out into space and the texturing is nicely done without being too complex as to bring your computer to a halt while rendering. The interior animations include movable sun visors, armrests and an opening storm window. You will notice when you open the storm window that there is no line for the opening in the window which will look a little funny but I imagine the reason for this is that it would clash with the storm window edge itself and look worse. As with all interior animations they have nothing to do with flying the plane but are nice for immersing yourself into the experience. The vigilante version is fun to go back and look at the computer terminals which are non functional bitmaps you didn t really expect them to be functional now did you? The cargo version is chock full of boxes held down with cargo nets, not exciting but if you re into simulating flying cargo it beats looking back at seats. I ll talk more about the VC in the panel section. Vigilante Computer Terminal Passenger Interior Cargo Loaded and Secured Panel Roger-Alain s specialty is aircraft panels and he has done a very nice job of capturing the panel layout and file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (5 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

6 Test System CPU: P4 (Intel) 3.2 GHz RAM: 1.0 GB Video: ATI X300SE (128 MB) Sound SB Audigy instruments you will most commonly see in the C406. He should know cause he worked on the real owner s manual for Riems Aviation. There s a lot of gauges and switches and for the most part they are all functional in both the 2d panel and in the VC (thank you). The panel graphics themselves look nice and are an improvement over MSFS default and though they are not as clear as those found in Dreamfleet or Flight1 payware aircraft, they are in keeping with other comparable FS2004 add-ons. Flying Time: 18 hours The night lighting has been nicely simulated in both 2d and VC panels, you might notice an abrupt change in the bitmaps when initially switching them on or off but this is a MSFS limitation and the tradeoff is a nicer looking panel when flying at night. In the VC you will notice in the right radio stack a nice big bitmap of the VHF radios and FMC which are common options in the C406. These are non-functional at present and only there for looks. VHF radios are not simulated in MSFS but commonly used in real life for over water operations because of their longer range. The FMC would be a welcome addition and if implemented in a future version could easily command the original pricing structure Neuroflight had hoped for. 2d panel at night VC panel at night VC night panel looking to right The VC panel is big and chock full of functional instruments and switches, even in the side panel. The Cessna 400 series twins have such a wide cabin and instrument panel they always feel more like a small jet than any other GA aircraft. All of this complexity does come at a price and that is a slower update rate on the instruments in the VC. Don t get me wrong, you can fly from the VC, and I ve done it plenty of times on my laptop, but don t expect the primary flight instruments to give you fluid movement. Nice pilot positioning in VC Expansive panel with shadowing file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (6 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

7 effects Wide view of VC panel Functional switches on side panel I have both the RealityXP Jetline 2 and WX500 weather radar installed on my computer, so I placed these instruments into the panel of some of the repaints with the included configuration manager. It was a nice touch to include this feature so you don t have to go looking for panel rewrites and the extra work of installing them and hoping they work! These gauges work nicely and integrate well into the panel and are a believable representation of what you will find in real life. Sounds One of the first things I noticed upon startup of this aircraft, was the nicely recorded soundset. Engine startup, turbine whine and propeller wash are all nicely relayed even on my laptop. This is a much improved sound set over the default King Air, and in fact, is one of the better turboprop sound sets I have come across. One of the features I really liked is the sound of the propellers being brought out of cruise setting (1,600 to 1,800 rpm) to high pitch, which you will do during final. Gear and flap sounds are pure hydroelectric pump sounds which is the norm in MSFS right now. I still wish someone would include the thuds and clunks heard during gear retraction. I have never flown in this aircraft so I really don t know what the real gear retraction sounds like but I do imagine it would not be so far removed from the sounds I heard in a 414. Airfile This is a real nice hand flyer, stable and quite enjoyable folks. No bad habits, no surprises, just a very smooth and believable response to your control inputs. Remember this is a heavy twin so don t expect twitchy, acrobatic type responses. A little pre-planning is required flying a standard VFR approach cause you re not going to turn as tightly as that Cessna 172 on short final ahead of you and your speeds are certainly going to be higher. This aircraft has a large wing, huge fowler type flaps and reverse thrust so you can put it into some rather short fields. Takeoff decision speed, rotation speed and intentional one engine inoperative speed are all 98 knots so that is easy to remember, 90 knots is the minimum controllable airspeed on one engine. With two engines running you can climb out at 1800 fpm at 109 indicated at gross weight, but lose an engine and you ve got your hands full. The flight dynamics for single engine operation on this twin are something to talk about. With just 500 shaft horsepower per side on this large of an aircraft and a max takeoff weight of 9360 lbs don t expect startling engine out performance. I pulled power on the right engine just 200 AGL departing Portland Hillsboro at 102 indicated, something you would NEVER do purposely in real life, it was basically just after pulling the gear handle up. There was an instantaneous yaw to the right and it required a quick and authoritative push on the left pedal and immediate push forward on the yoke just to maintain speed and keep from stalling. I held a little left bank to help with the yaw and we s-l-o-w-l-y started to climb again at a little over 300 fpm. This was no time to go sightseeing and the one remaining engine clawed at the air as we made our way to 1,200 feet. I initiated a right teardrop turn to take us back for a landing in the reverse direction we just took off. file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (7 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

8 I have felt the engine out dynamics have always been a touchy point in Flight Simulator cause there are so many variables and the loss of directional control is not linear as you near minimum controllable airspeed on one engine. This plane will simulate an engine out quite well but like all other current simulator twins available that I have flown, you still have rudder authority with only one engine running well below Vmc. In real life, one of the most terrifying things that can happen to a pilot is to venture into the other side of the speed envelope in a twin operating on one engine and realize that the you don t have enough rudder authority to control the airplane! You have got big, BIG trouble and you better act real quick and get that nose down and build some speed back up. In real life multi-engine training might take you close to this but because of the inherent danger, you don t doddle around when slow and on one engine. Some older pilots, including my father, have some hair raising stories about multi-engine training before the FAA rule changes in the 1970 s, some even included engine out spins that would truly have been hairy. How About a Fantasy Flight? I normally use flight simulator to practice flights that I actually do here in the Pacific Northwest. I do occasionally take off for round the world adventures which I rarely complete due to some pretty boring areas encountered on such a flight. This particular aircraft though is not one you would commonly see around these parts so I thought, "where would I fly such a bird?" My internet searches for information on the Reims-Cessna 406 had actually brought up a very interesting site for a charter service based in Iceland called Eagle Air. The flight I picked from their list is highlighted on this webpage: and takes you from Reykjavík to the island of Heimaey in the Westmann Islands. Now this is something I would really enjoy doing in real life, so let s go fly it in virtual reality. The scenery file I found for Iceland is freeware and is called Iceland 2005 by Björn Brimar Hákonarson and Kjartan Helgason. I found it to really bring Iceland to life compared to default scenery and have flown most of Eagle Air s routes using it. We depart BIRK at 8:00 AM for an early morning flight to the BIVM in the Westmann Islands, the weather is clear with good visibility and our flight plan has us flying direct using the GPS. My initial ground photos at Reykjavík show a rather pinkish ground texture which is no doubt from the satellite imagery used in making the scenery. Off in the distance you can see the stately Hallgríms Church. We takeoff from runway 19 and quickly climb to 5,500 feet. Once at altitude I set the autopilot to maintain 5,500 and follow my GPS routing and adjust my power settings for a comfortable cruise. On the ground at Reykjavík Initial climb Gentle turn on climbout file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (8 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

9 Leaving Reykjavík Hugging the coastline Our direct route initially hugs the coastline and as the mainland slips further off of our left wing the Westmann Islands comes into view off of our nose. We descend to 1,400 for approach and are cleared for landing on runway 22 which takes us around the more interesting side of the island. Our base leg takes us past some pretty imposing rocky peaks you wouldn t want to encounter on a cloudy or even windy day. Turning final we pass between two jutting rocks and slow the plane to 110 indicated with full flaps. A gentle touchdown and some reverse thrust slow us down smartly and we taxi to the small terminal. The scenery offers some unique local advertisements on the sides of buildings and you can see some of the ice removing vehicles parked in a nearby facility. A fun short flight with plenty to look at out the windows. First sight of the Westmann Islands Imposing rock cliffs on the North side on base leg Turning Final See the ice removal equipment? Ready for some ground sightseeing? file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (9 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

10 Now where did I put my passport? Conclusion The Neuroflight Reims-Cessna 406 is a very well done package which includes three different visual models, nine repaints representing flying models from six different countries. It is a perfect choice for someone wanting to simulate some government flying routines, cargo hauling or even some of the small commuter airline services. I found it to be a very pleasing hand flyer and loads of fun. I am looking forward to seeing some more repaints pop up on the popular sim sites, including one for Eagle Air. This package does not really push the envelope for state of the art aircraft simulations but that is not what it set out to do. During my testing of this aircraft for this review Roger-Alain has released two service updates and continues to improve the product. His commitment to continually improving the product is impressive and he has been very receptive to buyer input. What I Like About the Neuroflight Reims-Cessna F406 Nicely modeled exterior Option of belly mounted pod for radar and FLIR camera Nicely done hand flyable flight dynamics Good depiction of engine out flight dynamics given MSFS limitations Accurate depiction of instrument panel with proper radios and autopilot VC panel fully clickable Nice night lighting effect in 2d and VC panel What I Don't Like About the Neuroflight Reims-Cessna F406 Panel instruments could be clearer Exit key opens both main and captain s door at same time, I would prefer separate actuation Storm window graphic incomplete, when open you don t see the opening left behind Some exterior texture glitches occasionally on my two systems Printing If you wish to print this review or read it offline at your leisure, right click on the link below, and select "save as" Cessna F406 (adobe acrobat required) Click below to add your comments! file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (10 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM

11 Standard Disclaimer The review above is a subjective assessment of the product by the author. There is no connection between the producer and the reviewer, and we feel this review is unbiased and truly reflects the performance of the product in the simming environment. This disclaimer is posted here in order provide you with background information on the reviewer and connections that may exist between him/her and the contributing party. Tell A Friend About this Review! AVSIM Online All Rights Reserved file:///c /AVSIM/Reviews/Reims/Reims.htm (11 of 11)21/10/2005 8:52:39 AM