Hey everyone, I was just browsing for a new add-on aircraft and decided to go checkout fsd Internationals site and apparently they have a little sale going. I was wondering if any one has tried there navajo, it on sale for 15$ right now so wondering if it is a decent aircraft.originaly i was going to get the digital aviation cheyenne but this sale at fsd just threw a wrench in my purchase.Thanks.

I stopped supporting them since they dropped FS9...

I just bought something from them about five minutes ago and have not been sent a code to install the thing. LOLSrcatch that, the email was laggy - it has now arrived, but it did go into the spam folder, unlike the paypal receipt email, which came through okay. I'll have a quick flip around in the thing and let you know what I think, it is their Piper Saratoga II TC (FSX and FS9)Al

There's a fair bit of default stuff gone into making up that Saratoga, but it's not a bad shot at it for all that, and it is one of the few Piper aircraft I have actually had a go in for real (once, a long time ago), so I am at least a tiny bit familiar with it. The FSD version comes with a glass cockpit as well as one with the original steam gauges, so that's not bad for some variety. It's FS9 and FSX, but that is not a dedicated FSX model, which you can see from the prop blades disappearing against the cloouds in the shot below. For 15 bucks I'd say it was worth it, but if I'd paid twice that for it, I'd be a bit miffed with the prop doing that in FSX, still, if you fly in FS9 it's not going to be a problem.Of course this is not the craft you were looking at buying, but it might give you a general idea about where things are pitched in terms of quality and the approach to making stuff.Al

Thanks for the replies.Al, Is that the original GPS that comes with the purchase or did you add that yourself???Althought the saratoga looks nice I am not a big fan of default gauges, Im not sure why It just doesnt do it for me, but im on the fs9 platform so things may be diffrent on your end when it comes to default gauges.looks like a nice aircraft nonetheless, and as you say for 15$ it is not much a gamble.i may have to go ahead and pick the navajo up, I very much like the navajo in the real world.Edit: upon looking more thouroughly at the navajo, looks like some default gauges in use also. What to do, 15$ isnt much. (It is pretty ridiculous second guessing over 15$ :( )

Nah, that's the aircraft as it comes. I do sometimes switch gauges in cockpits, but I couldn't do it that quickly LOLAl

Nah, that's the aircraft as it comes. I do sometimes switch gauges in cockpits, but I couldn't do it that quickly LOLAl

Ok thanks for the quick replies. Much appreciated.

HelloLooking at the Saratoga panel.cfg in the VC section the only default gauge I can see referenced is the default gps.Everything else is contained in a FSDSaratoga gauge file.The Navajho is also custom gauges as far as I can tell.gauge00=FSDSaratoga!VSI, 388,164,135,126gauge01=FSDSaratoga!VOR2, 100,-3,130,127gauge02=FSDSaratoga!VAC_CHT, 270,704,98,98gauge03=FSDSaratoga!Turn_coordinator, 508,-4,124,128gauge04=FSDSaratoga!Transponder, 3,795,243,68gauge05=FSDSaratoga!TIT_Fuel_Flow, 268,594,100,100gauge06=FSDSaratoga!Stall_warning, 1,91,33,35gauge07=FSDSaratoga!RPM, 381,484,100,100gauge08=FSDSaratoga!PFD_HSI, 676,376,144,139gauge09=FSDSaratoga!PFD_Horizon, 672,235,154,145gauge10=FSDSaratoga!Oxygen_supply, 252,295,130,131gauge11=FSDSaratoga!Oil, 386,597,98,98gauge12=FSDSaratoga!NAV1_radio, 0,187,249,182gauge13=FSDSaratoga!NAV2_radio, 2,370,246,104gauge14=FSDSaratoga!MP, 262, 484 ,104,104gauge15=FSDSaratoga!Master_switches, 561,938,89,75gauge16=FSDSaratoga!Light_switches, 75,935,205,78gauge17=FSDSaratoga!Gear_lites, 533,164,73,61gauge18=FSDSaratoga!Fuel_qty, 385,703,98,98gauge19=FSDSaratoga!Alt_sel, 653,69,137,66gauge20=FSDSaratoga!Altimeter, 254,166,132,120gauge21=FSDSaratoga!AP_trim_switch, 62,79,35,49gauge22=FSDSaratoga!ASI, 238,2,121,114gauge23=FSDSaratoga!Audio_panel, 2,131,245,54gauge24=FSDSaratoga!Autopilot, 9,480,237,67gauge25=FSDSaratoga!Chronometer, 6,5,82,82gauge26=FSDSaratoga!Deice_switches, 862,854,154,54gauge27=FSDSaratoga!Avionics_switches, 613,858,203,51gauge28=FSDSaratoga!Deice_meter, 479,843,73,63gauge29=FSDSaratoga!ECS, 612,537,346,117gauge30=FSDSaratoga!Engine_monitor, 616,137,183,76gauge31=FSDSaratoga!Flaps_indicator, 597,223,58,58gauge32=FSDSaratoga!HSI_annun, 662,2,118,56gauge33=FSDSaratoga!ADF, 369,-6,132,129gauge34=FSDSaratoga!ADF_radio, 2,741,245,56gauge35=FSDSaratoga!Left_start_vc, 280,936,262,77gauge36=FSDSaratoga!Gyro, 384,302,120,120gauge37=FSDSaratoga!Stby_horizon, 510,292,157,150gauge38=FSDSaratoga!vcvars, 0,0,4,4gauge39=FSDSaratoga!Annunciator, 365,134,246,31gauge40=FSDSaratoga!GPWS, 290,863,98,39gauge41=FSDSaratoga!Bus_panel, 599,661,378,171gauge42=FSDSaratoga!Radalt, 868,361,135gauge43=FSDSaratoga!Main_Spd_Brake_ind, 935,4,84,85gauge44=FSDSaratoga!Spd_Brake_indicators, 932,91,88,130gauge45=fs9gps!gps_500, 10,549,235,192

That's true, but I was referring to the fact that the GPS and related gauges cover about half the panel, which is 'a fair bit' of it. Incidentally, one of the custom gauges is now failing to initialise. I'm going to try reinstalling it. I do like it though, and it is worth the money. Worth noting too is that it has a very good configuration utility.Al

Thanks for all the replies, still have yet to make decision :)

I wanted to chime in and say that as a result of this post, I bought the FSD Piper Seneca V ver2 and I have to say that I'm quite pleased. It really is a nice aircraft that features great sounds, nice 2d and VC panels, good visual model, and ...a really good flight model! The (VC)panel layout is the same as in the screen shot that Al has posted above in this thread, except that there is another row of engine instruments for the extra engine present on the Seneca. There is also a fair amount of documentation that comes with the package that helps to make it complete. For $15 USD, it's a great deal. As a result of this experience, I'll probably go ahead and pick up the other two FSD Pipers: the Saratoga and the Navajo. -Robert

I think the Navajo is a good choice. It's very fun to fly, the configuration utility is also very good and the visuals are satisfying. If you like it low and slow, that's an aircraft for you

Thanks for all the replies, still have yet to make decision :)

Although the FSD versions are good value, if you really want a quality Seneca or Saratoga, then go with the Carenado versions - I had the FSD versions of both of these before they were produced by Carenado and there really is no competition here - the Carenado offerings are superb! And, unlike FSD, Carenado still produce aircraft for fs9, so they deserve our support!Bill

Fair enough point if you are an ardent FS9er, but I will say that for ten quid, that FSD Saratoga was a bargain and I'm pretty happy with it.Al

Although the FSD versions are good value, if you really want a quality Seneca or Saratoga, then go with the Carenado versions - I had the FSD versions of both of these before they were produced by Carenado and there really is no competition here - the Carenado offerings are superb! And, unlike FSD, Carenado still produce aircraft for fs9, so they deserve our support!Bill

HelloWhile the Carenado offerings are very nice models there is no comparison as far as the flight models are concerned, Steve Small is a master when it comes to FDE's, The FSD seneca and Saratoga are also modeling completly different generations of aircraft, they also include wear and tear of the engines and running totals of costs ect.