I know it may not seem like it at first but this really is a review of Bill Rambow, Roy Chaffin, and Jan Visser's superb new NATS R4D-6 aircraft and panel for FS2000. Like they say on the Forums the next few paragraphs may seem a little "off topic," but stick with me for a minute while we run through an intro scene here that will bring us on topic.
OK – here's the scenario: You've just been called by CBS Television and told your application to be a participant on the next version of their new hit TV series Survivor has been accepted. You and a bunch of other contestants will be marooned on a remote swamp, insect, and snake infested tropical island for 39 days with only the barest of survival gear to help you make it through – the 1 contestant who can hang in the whole 39 days gets $1,000,000. You get to choose 1 item you consider essential to survival to take with you.
Being the dedicated flight simmer you are you immediately pass up such mundane items as food, water, shelter, insect repellent and snake bite kits and opt for your PC with a copy of Flight Simulator 2000 - after all - we're talking survival here. The other contestants are not simmers - they don't get it. So while they look at you in amazement you secretly know that by plugging into FS you can effectively tune out the unpleasantness around you and go for days without food, sleep, or other such non sim related distractions. Let's face it - this will be just another sim session. The time will "fly" by before you know it and you won't notice a thing going on around you. You've done it on many prior occasions—if anybody doesn't believe you just have them talk to your spouse or significant other. This whole desert island deal will be no sweat and you'll walk with a cool $1,000,000.
But wait - as it turns out there is one more condition - and this one is "really really" hard. You can only take one 3rd party addon aircraft and panel!!! "Arrrrrrrgh, " you say, "I knew there was catch here." So here's the real survival question: Which one do you choose?
Prior to this panel and aircraft release making this decision might have been more agonizing than a poisonous snake bite—but not any more. In fact it's a piece of cake. The clear choice is the Bill Rambow, Roy Chaffin and Jan Visser NATS R4D-6 Version 4 Panel and Aircraft combo. Since its release I think it's pretty much rendered all prior FS2000 panels and aircraft obsolete.
"Pretty bold statement there Bill," you say. Yep—but read on and you'll see why I think so.
First some background stuff. Back in January I reviewed the previous version of this release (Version 3.0). As you may recall that version was awarded the AVSIM Gold Medal for Excellence in Flight Sim Design. The version we're talking about here - Version 4.0 - is "all new" but there are a lot of similarities with the previous version; the background information on the airplane is the same, and all of the comments I made then hold true and then some with this latest release. So rather than rehash all that I'd ask you to please take a quick look at that review here if you want to get the indepth background info. You can do so here. I'm going to assume you pretty much know that stuff. If you don't feel the need to do that here are the essential facts:
Installation and Documentation (Including the Dreaded "RT*M")
You can get this release in two versions — a downloadable freeware file and via "Donationware" CD ROM (the donation goes to MAAM). I had the opportunity to fly both.
The downloadable version consists of two separate files of approximately 11 MB each containing everything you need: panel, gauges, sounds, aircraft, & manuals. Be sure you download both files! I know that 22 MB is kind of a big download for those of us DSL deprived folks still plugging along on our 56K modems but – hey – what flight sim download isn't big these days? The difference in the CD version is that it also contains scanned versions of 3 different complete and real World War II era C-47 aircraft flight manuals, videos and stills of the real airplane in flight, and over 130 color photos of some of the finest remaining examples of classic airplanes and warbirds in the country. There's also been released 2 patches to fix a couple of minor bugs. The second patch includes the first so that's the one you'll want to get.
I guess this is as good a place as any to address the Read the ****ing Manual (RT*M) part of this. This is a very complex panel – probably one of the most complex – if not the most complex – panels ever released for FS2000. The authors make it very clear – and my personal experience bears this out – that if you don't read the Manual that comes with the package you are going to have problems from the git go - both installing and flying the package. The good news is that the authors have written the documentation in interesting and entertaining style so this is not the painful experience it sometimes can be.
So here's my advice – "RT*M" – I say again – "RT*M". Your installation will go smooth and you'll get a lot more enjoyment out of this product that way. The package comes with a very detailed User Manual in both profusely illustrated html browser format as well as plain text. Basically it covers every thing you ever wanted to know plus all the stuff you need to know - including known bugs and issues—things which I guarantee you'll leap on and will have you scratching your head if you haven't read the manual. So one more time – all together now – "RT*M!"
Now having said that there's one thing I need to mention in connection with the RT*M issue. I don't like having to bring this up and it's not pretty but this would not be a complete and honest review without mentioning it. The authors have on occasion adopted what many simmers have felt is a disrespectful and condescending tone toward questions about the panel and comments, advice, and discussion on this panel on various forums – including AVSIM's – to the point where some simmers have deleted the product in protest – and that's a real shame. This has been done under the guise of avoiding needless time spent in answering questions that are clearly spelled out in the extensive User Manuals. That's a legitimate concern and I understand it and I understand the frustration of having to answer such queries – but guys – it goes with the territory. I really don't understand the need for harsh language or demeaning other simmers. My point being that it seems totally out of character and unworthy of the great achievement represented by this work.
OOOOOOKAAAAY then – back to more agreeable topics – having read the Manual your installation will proceed quite smoothly for the download version. The CD has a self extracting installation routine. Straightforward and no sweat either way.
A Whole New Level
In a nutshell here's what makes this panel and aircraft combination stand tall over everything else in the FS world—something we used to call in the Navy "attention to detail." A simple but critically important concept. There is quite literally no detail of the real aircraft that has been overlooked on this product.
When you're sitting in front of this panel or viewing the exterior of the aircraft you are for all practical purposes sitting in the cockpit seats of the real aircraft or standing on the ramp at MAAM or flying formation on the airborne real bird—the line between reality and simulation is beginning to get a little blurred!
Which is why I say this panel and aircraft combination have brought a whole new level of realism to the FS flight sim experience. The fact that the whole thing is freeware and was done by non professional non commercial flight sim developers makes it all the more impressive. Just imagine what these guys could have done with the resources of a Microsoft behind them!
Panel Features
But enough superlatives – let's talk panel features. As I said in the earlier review of Version 3 there are so many features to talk about in this panel it's hard to know where to begin.
Trying to describe everything would duplicate the manual(s) and deprive you of the fun of "RT*Ming" but here's some key stuff that sets this panel apart.
Just like in the prior Version 3.0 the #1 feature has to be the total authenticity of the panel layout. All of the gauges and controls look and work exactly like the ones on the real airplane.
Not approximately – exactly! The reason for this, of course, is that Bill Rambow painstakingly took
all new digital photos of every single thing on the panel to get the appearance right and Roy Chaffin did a lot of unique programming magic to get them to function exactly like the real things. As an example take a look at the throttle quadrant screenshot – almost looks like you can reach out and touch the levers – and everything works the way it should - simply magnificent! This goes to prove that it's possible to produce detailed and totally realistic panels in FS2000 – so there's now definitely some healthy competition for FLY!. And now that the FS 2000 panel SDK is on the street it can only get better.
The #2 super cool feature is the ability to select either the Captain's or First Officer's panel "on the fly." That means without first having to exit and reselect the aircraft. A hot button click will do it. When you first start up the panel you get a screen that let's you make your choice for startup (see the opening screenshot in this review) After that it's easy to switch back and forth in the air—something you'll need to do since some functions are only on one side or the other of the panel. Like I said in the earlier Version 3.0 review "...although a switching capability has begun to creep into some FS panel releases to the best of my knowledge Bill and Roy were the first to perfect this technique and they deserve credit for a major advance in FS panel capability. As far as I know the "hot button" capability remains unique to this panel." It still is!
One of the biggest improvements over the previous panel version is the new night instrument lighting - totally realistic. After seeing it I'd bet big money you'll be very reluctant to do any more daytime flying - it's that good! Check the screenshot below and just think about how far we've come since the original FS "orange all over" night lighting!
The full set of engine gauges include authentic ignition and magneto switches, working feather buttons, working cowl flaps, carb heat, mixture and fuel tank selector gauges that enable you (make that require you) to manage your powerplants exactly like the real thing. Watch that MAP and those cylinder head temps! Finally, on the Captain's side, there is a removable photo real yoke that you can toggle on and off that includes the autopilot master switch – just like on the real airplane. What I've highlighted here are only a few of the standout gauge features in this panel – the creme de le creme if you will – but I hope they give you a flavor for the realism and accuracy of this panel. The Aircraft A great panel's not that great unless it has a standout aircraft to go with it. In this case the perfect companion aircraft is Jan Visser's model of U.S. Navy R4D-6 Bureau Number 50819. With a 100% visual improvement on his Version 3 model Jan has produced the perfect visual reproduction of this pristine aircraft in the MAAM collection. As with Version 3 the aircraft is rendered in the U.S. Navy World War II bare metal scheme with authentic NATS markings including a detailed NATS emblem on the side and a Rear Admiral's two star flag plate next to the cockpit window indicating its status as a VIP transport. Improvements include completely round engines and fuselage, 3d props and gear and intricate paint details. Simply superb! The attention to visual detail on this aircraft is stunning. It includes full moving parts, a transparent navigator's astrodome, authentic radio and nav antennas including a steerable RDF ring antenna, and working passenger door with steps. Looking through the transparent cockpit windows you can see the instrument panel, padded rear cockpit bulkhead and even shoulder harness straps on the pilots. That's detail! One thing missing from this version, however, are the chocks and red "Remove Before Flight" streamers on the control surface locks and pitot tube covers which showed up when the engines were shut down in the earlier Version 3. I'm not sure why this happened and the omission certainly doesn't detract from my assessment of this aircraft but let me take this opportunity to request it's reinstatement in any future update. How about it guys? Oh by the way – while we're speaking of astrodomes – has anybody out there actually used an astrodome? Let me see a show of hands now. Well (ahem) your humble reviewer has. It was one exactly like Jan's brilliant representation but this one was installed on a TC-117 (the Navy training version of the R4D) while I was in Navy training squadron VT-29 in Corpus Christi Texas in 1966 – so I can personally attest to the absolute realistic appearance of this feature on the aircraft. And one unique thing I learning from flying this FS aircraft which I had no idea of despite many years in real naval aviation is that the landing gear retraction and extension on the R4D-6 is "unsynchronized." In other words the right and left main gear retract and extend independently – not necessarily at the same time. This is faithfully reproduced in the visual model and is amazing to watch if you're used to the nice simultaneous gear action of modern airplanes. And while you're at it check out the exquisite detail on the landing gear struts and the detailed paint and metal work in the wheel wells. It doesn't get any better than this. Right in there with the visual model the flight model is no less accurate. The airplane can be flown to the "book numbers" using accurate engine power settings. I found the airplane to be extremely stable to fly with a real aircraft "feel" to it. The "feel" was especially noticeable to me on final approaching the runway threshold - just the way it looks and feels in a real airplane. One thing to keep in mind is if you're used to moving at jet speeds be prepared to adjust to a slower pace in the R4D-6. Rotation is at 85 KIAS and climb speed is 105 KIAS – low and slow! A chance to come down out of the high altitude structure and check out those VICTOR airways for a change. No "climb and maintain FL390" here. Overall "Stately" is the word that comes to mind – as befits a VIP transport and grand old lady of the air! Helping out with your airspeed and power settings are reproductions of the actual placards on the real aircraft that provide a convenient on the panel reference. Clicking on either brings up an enlarged version as shown in the screenshot at the right. Extensive and authentic checklists complete your realistic flight references. A final aircraft note to keep in mind—the panel is designed to work with the flight model in Jan's aircraft. If you use this panel with another DC3 you will need to edit certain aspects of the .air file to reproduce the same results. Complete instructions for doing this are contained in the manuals. Conclusions I would rate this combo as one of a small handful of elite panels and aircraft available for MSFS – pay or free. You simply cannot go wrong from any standpoint in using this panel and aircraft and certainly once you've flown it I predict you won't use any other DC-3 panel! Bill, Roy and Jan have reached new heights of accuracy and realism in the MSFS environment in this latest version of their prior award winning release. So what to do next? Well – if you're one of the few who haven't yet gotten this panel and aircraft don't wait another minute! Proceed immediately to download it. Remember there are two files and you need both. You can get them directly from the AVSIM Library at Part One and Part Two, or from AVSIM Partner Roy Chaffin's Page. While you're there don't forget to get the patch as well. Even if you do download the freeware version why not go the extra mile? If you'd like to know more about the real NATS airplane and support the efforts of the Mid Atlantic Air Museum in keeping this flying legend in the air visit the Mid Atlantic Air Museum. You can order the "donationware" CDROM version from their online store and help out a great cause at the same time. Right now the R4D is down and in need of a new engine. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will go directly to this effort so your purchase will help return 50819 to the air where she belongs and you'll get a whole bunch of extra goodies like the three real and 100% complete WWII era C-47 Flight Manuals, stills and video pictures of the real airplane, and 130 other pictures of magnificent restored classic aircraft and warbirds. What could be better? So without further ado – "Right this way, Admiral, your aircraft is waiting." Credits In addition to the principal authors of this package many people's efforts are credited by Bill, Roy, and Jan with playing a role in the development of this outstanding product. I'm going to list them as published in the documentation and I'm sure you'll recognize many famous names in the FS world. If I have left anyone who should be credited out please understand that it is an entirely inadvertent and unintended omission: Alan Landsburgh - Sound package Jereon Plettenberg & the Dutch Dakota Association - Original DC-3 sound recordings Arne Bartels - Sperry Autopilot Keith Maton - Chief Beta Tester Eric Mitchell - Unsynchronized landing gear Erik Ellis - Ground handling and taxiing modeling Gary Wachtel - "In the Mood" 1940's era theme music Tom Corson, Chuck Dome, Tony D'Ambrosio & Arne Bartels - Special thanks from Roy Chaffin for their "brilliant tuition in gauge programming" Vicki Rambow - Not explicitly mentioned but undoubtedly this is true - FS widow and steadfast project supporter
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