Introduction The B1900C is the second member of the PMDG Express family, and I am particularly pleased to have the opportunity to review this airplane, since its earlier sibling, the B1900D was the first aircraft I ever reviewed for Avsim. As I wrote then: “PMDG had taken great pains to explain prior to release that this simulation would be a break from their tradition of supplying complete systems simulations (757, 737NG) and instead providing an aircraft that could be flown without first studying for an ATP exam, and at a reduced price”. I liked the B1900D and found very few things that could be improved upon… so how does the B1900C compare? Well, first of all, for existing B1900D owners: the King Air gauges are gone and replaced by very good quality custom gauges, the 2d interior views are much improved, and the VC is now smooth as silk, very impressive! If you have not flown the B1900D, let me re-iterate that the PMDG Express series is designed to a very high standard: beautiful exterior models, great looking and very practical cockpits, and very pleasing handling characteristics, both on the ground and in the air and all this at a very reasonable price! Installation and Documentation This package can be ordered on the PMDG website as an e-commerce purchase. Shortly after ordering, you receive a personalized download link via e-mail. Hopefully, you have a good Internet connection, as the B1900 arrives as a 34 MB zipped download. Inside the zip file, you’ll find a read-me file and an executable installer program. You then select your FS2004 directory and all files, including a 16-page Reference manual are installed on your computer. This worked without a hitch on my system.
The External Model I would not call the Beech B1900 a good-looking airplane. The design is based on the elegant King Air 200, but by the time the passenger capacity was increased and the tail section of the airplane was redesigned with several sets of horizontal and vertical stabilizers to offset the effect of the longer cabin, the overall look is most kindly described as “functional”. PMDG provides us with three different versions of this versatile commuter aircraft: passenger, freight, and a cargo version. So how do the PMDG versions look? Well, as the attached pictures attest, the PMDG B1900C looks amazingly realistic from any angle. Somehow they got the look just right. Not only are all details executed beautifully, but the overall shape of the fuselage and wings is very convincing. In addition, the animation sequences are first rate. The stairs are lowered, equipped with a handrail that is slack at first, but gradually tightens up as the stairs reach their full extension. Also, the cargo hatch is nicely animated and reveals a realistic set of contents. All very nicely done!
The default package includes three “factory” PMDG models. If you would like to equip your aircraft with a favorite paint scheme, there is a good chance that you can find it in the PMDG downloads section under B1900C Liveries. A look at the downloads section at the PMDG website shows a list of 14 available liveries that can be downloaded at no additional charge. The liveries come professionally packaged with a preview picture, an installer, and a user rating which helps you select only those liveries that you would like to audition for your personal fleet. The liveries that I ended up selecting were all highly rated and looked lovely. Just the right amount of oil traces on the wings makes the overall appearance so realistic that you end up looking at the screenshots and wondering if this is the model or the real thing.
Flying The B1900C As I mentioned in my B1900D review, I mainly fly light aircraft, so I wondered how much trouble I might have adjusting to this commuter airliner with its twin 1100 shaft horsepower turboprop engines. The cockpit layout is uncluttered with key instruments, including the radios in easy view. The engines give off a satisfying sound as you spool them up and the plane handles nicely on the ground and allows you to taxi to the runway without any embarrassing trips across the grass. After moving the throttles to takeoff thrust and letting go of the brakes, you immediately notice the strong acceleration. At about 105 knots you gently rotate and pull the airplane into the air and as soon as the VSI shows positive rate of climb, retract the landing gear. It does not take long to get comfortable with the airplane; it responds well to control inputs and handles well in the air. As I spent more time with this airplane, I appreciated the overall package more and more. The instruments are all close at hand and very legible. The radios are easy to adjust and the autopilot is very capable.
Of particular note is the way the 2d cockpit has been designed. First of all, the standard layout provides most of the instruments in easy view, and a simple click on the nicely designed “panel manager” that has the same look as the cockpit, provides several useful alternatives, each of which blends nicely into the panel, as can be seen from the attached pictures. This, in my opinion, is a lot better than the panel windows that are used in other add-on aircraft that appear in awkward places and obscure some of the critical instruments. I really like the enlarged instrument view, which looks totally natural and provides more detail in the critical landing phase. Just a quick hint: if you are having trouble in the VC, accessing the autopilot controls which are on the floor between the seats, it helps clicking on the pilot’s armrest which will move up and out of the way.
Instrument Options As in the B1900D, there is an option to upgrade to Reality XP’s JetLine2 gauges, which are modeled on real world Collins glass gauges, and in addition, the Reality XP Garmin 530 GNS is a great replacement for the standard FS2004 GPS. The upgrade instructions can be found at www.reality-xp.com on the Community / User Files page. Unlike the B1900D, however, the standard gauges that are provided by PMDG are of very high quality and if you do not own the Reality XP gauges, you can definitely still enjoy this airplane! Pictures of both sets are included below.
System Performance I noticed no impact on frame rates on my system. Both the 2d and virtual cockpits performed well, and the VC sets a new standard in smooth gauge motion. Maybe not quite as fluid as the record setting RealAir Spitfire, but very good nevertheless. In spite of the considerable detail on the exterior model, this plane behaves beautifully in spot view as well and given the nicely detailed design, you’ll find yourself hitting the shift-S key from time to time to admire the outside views. Summary PMDG has found a new balance with their Express line… No compromise to exterior and handling, but with simplified systems and instrumentation; great to look at, and easy to fly. This is a very pleasing mixture indeed. No need to think a lot before deciding on the flight... just pick an airport, decide on the version you want to fly today, program the avionics, and take off. This is an airplane that will give you confidence and does not need a 10,000 foot runway for a safe landing. Great for city-to-city IFR training! As the PMDG user forum at Avsim attests, most users are pleased with the B1900 series. If you already own the B1900D, this model is a worthwhile addition to your hangar and if you have not yet tried this series, but would like to fly a slightly bigger turboprop than the FS Beech King Air, this is the aircraft to get!
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