AVSIM Freeware Aircraft Package Review
Aero Commander 520 |
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| Product Guide
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Developer:
AC Design |
Description:
These AC Design guys are really going to embarrass the payware fellows with their freeware
package, it's that good! |
D/L Size:
16.5 Mb |
Format:
Zipped |
Simulators:
FS2002 |
| Reviewed by: Steve 'Bear' Cartwright, AVSIM Senior Staff Reviewer |
| Freeware Review Rating Policy: Freeware reviews are unrated, but may earn an Avsim special award. Please see details here. |
Beginning in the late 1950s the Aero Commander light twins were to become a landmark design, a design that would fill the needs of the private owner as well as the smaller corporate buyer. Of the many models, the 520 Aero Commander totaled only 150 aircraft built, but nearly all are still flying today.
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Reader Survey
This survey is intended for those that have used this product or add-on. If you have used it, please let your fellow simulation enthusiasts know how you rate it by taking this survey. Please, if you have not used this product, do not take this poll (you can view the poll from the "Results" link below).
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Rather you see a 500 series model or the 1000 series Commander (another twin turboprop), the basic overall similarity in their appearance is quite noticeable. There have been various designs used for a light twin, but the Aero Commanders are alone in having the high wing with that distinctive shape of its fuselage. The Aero Commanders were also able flyers and I personally have logged time in them and they remain one of favored aircraft (real-world). Many times I've seen World War II fighter ace, Bob Hoover, perform his aerobatic routine with a Shrike Commander (very similar in size and weight as the 520), including deadstick loops! Not bad for a 6-seat light twin! Using the same design, Aero Commander was able to accommodate the many needs of their buyers, by lengthening the fuselage and increasing the wing area (not to mention the many different engine combinations), so just about everyone's needs could be fulfilled.
The 520 model was able to cruise up near 192 knots, so I wouldn't exactly call these aircraft slow either. And any Aero Commander Twin today (in premier condition) will easily bring 2 to 3 times its original cost on the used aircraft market.
It has been since FS98 that there have been any available Aero Commanders for Flight Simulator and I know, because I've been flying a 500 designed by Nikki Schumann back in 1998. Nikki did have a fairly nice panel (designed by Michael Tscherdantzew Jr.) and he did include custom FS98 sounds (those original sounds do not work in FS2002, so I have since aliased the sound file out to the default Baron). Though I've been flying Nikki's Aero Commander quite regularly in FS2002, its been getting pretty long on the tooth as compared to many of the other FS designs have been released. My version of Nikki's 500 did not have moving parts originally, so I added them using Abacus' Aircraft Animator some 2 or 3 years ago and to date I have personally logged over 75 hours in Nikki's Rockwell Commander 500.
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Just uploaded into the AVSIM library is the latest release from the AC Design group (the same fellows responsible for the beautiful DASH 7 recently, which was also freeware), made up of Milton Shupe, Scott Thomas, and Andre Folkers and these fellows just may have what is one of, if not the best light twin FS aircraft ever, freeware or payware. Available as one of two possible downloads, one file with a VC (virtual cockpit) and another file choice without a VC. I personally wouldn't consider anything other than the VC version, but its very thoughtful of these guys to include both, so that those with a smaller system (PC) can enjoy the work these fellows have opted to share with us all!
Test
System |
Compaq 7110US with AMD 1.3GHz Athlon
Windows ME
256MB RAM
GeForce2 MMX video card
DVD, CDR-W
JBL speaker/sound system
Saitek 3D Cyborg Gold Flight Controller
Compaq 19" flatscreen Monitor
FS2002 Professional EditionFlying Time:
6 hours over 2 days |
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Documentation
The included documents are illustrated to make your easing into operating the 520 an enjoyable experience. As if it was a payware project, the AC Design team has included a fully illustrated operations manual for their freeware package and they have also included a performance chart, which also is available on your kneeboard. No checklist is provided, but the performance chart does provide all the information you need for flight operations.
Panels
From the main 2D panel, your panel mounted autopilot and radio stack (pop-up window) are very readable.
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The AC Design team has included 3 different panels (two versions of the 2D panel and of course a dynamic 3D virtual panel-cockpit, if you download the VC version aircraft).
The standard 2D panel affords you a pretty wide view of the panel and its gauges, plus by clicking on a icon (icon appears as small magnifying glass) a shortened (landing) panel appears. A really nice touch guys!
Available in pop-up windows are two items, the radio stack and the default GPS, with all the electrical switches, fuel selectors, throttle/prop controls, and autopilot are mounted directly on the main panel (no need to use a pop-up panel here). All of the included gauges are quite authentic to aircraft of this type and the AC Design team has thought to include everything, even a OAT (outside air temperature) gauge mounted just above the whiskey compass.
Here are the two 2D panels available, first there is your full width panel (Top) and by clicking on the correct icon (located just to the left and below the throttles) you are presented with the zoomed panel (Bottom). By clicking once again on the magnifying glass icon (far lower left of the panel) you wil return back to the full width panel.
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Here are a couple of views of the dynamic 3D virtual panel and note that you can see the aircraft's nose cowling out beyond the windscreen (Top).
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In the virtual cockpit you have a soft pink glow effect making your panel readable at night or low light conditions (Top). In addition, the AC Design team has fully rendered the cabin area in what is a surprisingly detailed 3D virtual cockpit (Bottom).
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The virtual panel is very well done, with the gauges being both clear and sharp in their appearance. Of course you'll still have return to the 2D panel mode to click on any panel function (excepting of course for the radio stack which is available as a pop-up window), but I found that the gauges move smoothly and by setting the zoom to 0.59 and moving your seat forward, this is the perferred way to fly this aircraft. Unlike many VC cockpits, when you slide forward you can see the top of the nose cowling just over the panel, rather than a lot of nothingness as with the default VCs.
Aircraft
From every angle, the attention to detail amazes me—age corrosion around rivets, fuel stains on top of the wings, every thing is very finely detailed (Top). In the soft original green, this texture set is part of the package and as you can see the overall shape of this FS aircraft is right on the money (Bottom).
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With each of these downloads, you're given 5 different texture paint schemes; factory blue, original soft green with a red stripe, Mobil Oil Pegausus, Lone Star Texas-chrome, and a slightly more modern light tan with gray striping. I personally prefer the more modern light tan with gray striping version, though I do like the original soft green with red stripe as well.
The overall shape, exterior detailing, and exterior texturing on these aircraft are about as good it gets with FS2002! The fine detailing the AC Design team applied is nothing short of astonishing, even down to the detailing of the landing gear, as you can clearly see the shape of the casting of the cantilever arms for the main gear struts, the mounting bolts for the brakeline holddown brackets, and even the brakeline itself. There are fuel stains around the fuel caps and a slight hint of corrosion at many of the fuselage panel rivets. I suppose that as much as I enjoy flying in FS, I equally enjoy seeing the truly outstanding work of individuals that take FS aircraft design so seriously.
The blue livery texture set.
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Showing the Mobil Oil Pegausus paint, you can also note the reflective textures as well as the opening passenger entry-exit door (Top).
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Here's the Lone Star Texas paint (the least favorite of mine), but note the detail in the landing gear struts (Top)!
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Airfile
Nothing unusual noticed with this aircraft's airfile, even considering the short time I've had to fly these birds, but comparing my quick and short flights (including about 5 or 6 landings under no wind conditions) with my memory of flying the real thing, I would say that the AC Design team has pretty much captured the feeling of flying the Aero Commander. The real Twin Commanders have a very strong sense of stability, most probably due to their very low center of gravity as compared to their wing cord center and also because of their fairly high amount of wing dihedral. The real Twin Commanders, because of their low setting fuselage, give a real sense of speed when taking off or landing. This is because your butt is only a few inches above the runway surface, so it's a bit like flying a very fast, fully enclosed go-kart! I got that same feeling when flying this FS version of the Twin Commander.
From all angles this FS aircraft is very realistic in its appearance, shown here in my favorite paint, light tan and gray.
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All parts are fully and correctly animated, plus the lights are up to FS2002 standards.
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Off to somewhere in FS world, we now have one of the best designed FS light twins ever, available as freeware! Happy flying!
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Summary
The one thing I haven't mentioned are that the sounds for this release of the Aero Commander use the default Baron sounds, which are adequate for now.
Now despite the fact that this FS aircraft is freeware, I've conducted my testing and I have even, to a certain degree, presented my review as if it were payware. The quality of this package is certainly on par with most of the payware aircraft I've used and I've had no problem with thinking this way, but the fact that the AC Design team members have gone to all this work (some 2,000 hours according to the Readme file) and then have made it available to all as freeware says something about how much these guys love this hobby!
Do yourself a favor, download this aircraft, try it out, and then try to tell me that quality FS freeware aircraft design is dead! This is a good as it gets everyone!
To download the Aero Commander 520 without VC click on ac520v1.zip.
For the Aero Commander 520 with VC: ac520vc.zip. Also visit the team's The Aero Commander Project website for current details, FAQs, known problems, repaint information, and more.
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