Firstly, congratulations on the review. I thought it was really well written and gave a good account of the product. Just a few points on the flight model...- The FSX ailerons are 'interesting', there is an alarming lag in aileron response. Flying straight and level at 100kts and moving full left aileron, 1 second, full right aileron, 1 second etc etc produces almost no roll. View from the outside spot view for best effect as you'll see the control surfaces flapping from one extreme to the other with almost no effect. This, in my experience, is not at all correct. The roll in response to aileron input is very good (almost instantaneous) such that if you did this in real life you'd expect a significant roll to either side. Also I found the ailerons to be particularly ineffective at low speeds such that HUGE inputs are required in the flare (I over-control all the time). This is not right, Pitts' ailerons remain fairly effective at low airspeeds such that you only need minute and subtle inputs in the flare. - The FSX model does not want to lose energy when flying anything approaching a typical approach profile. In fact an aggressive slip with power OFF is barely enough to stop the aeroplane accelarating during an approach at 80-85KIAS. The Pitts has an extremely draggy airframe such that when you close the throttle you're going to go down - quick! For context, I used to fly the approach in my S-1S at 90mph with power ticking at about 1600-1700rpm and a fairly aggressive slip and descent rate of around 1000fpm. If I closed the throttle (even without slip), forget about it.- Brakes need to be more powerful. Touching down at about 70kts in the 3-point attitude and applying brakes for the first time, I thought they'd failed! I went sailing past the exit I was aiming for. The brakes on the real aeroplane are very powerful and you can use them liberally without fear of nosing over as the Pitts is particularly tail heavy.Only my opinion, but it is based on real-world experience having owned an S-1S for a couple of years.Regards,

Interesting stuff, it is always nice to hear opinions from owners of the real deal, so thanks for taking the time to respond (be sure to take Addictive up on their offer to do a freebie repaint of your aircraft).I do know Pitts pilots argue a bit over roll rates for various models, especially between the S and T models, and indeed between the Aviat factory ones and the home-builts from Steen. Propellers and engine choice can have a bearing on that too of course, since quite a few Pitts have a three-blader stuck on the front as opposed to the twin blade prop on that AS one which was modeled after the real red white and blue one that is in the UK. Different props can effect the power-off drag in different ways too of course (which is not something FS does well).As I'm sure you know, you can fly two identical aircraft types and prefer one over the other a lot of times. I even preferred one SZD-50 over another of two that I flew regularly at Husbands Bosworth simply because one had a slightly bent spoiler lever shaft which stuck in the sleeve a bit and made the spoiler lever have slightly more resistance, which I liked even though it was technically a fault!Ultimately, I think we have to bear in mind that there are limitations on what FS can emulate, and I was careful in the review to say that I thought it was the best MSFS flight model I'd come across rather than 'oh my gosh this is identical to a real aeroplane', which sadly is something that will always be the case for FS aircraft, and something far more likely to be noticeable on a proper 'stick and rudder' aircraft as opposed to an airliner in FS. Personally, I think that the gliding sims, Silent Wings and Condor do light aircraft low speed stuff better than FS, especially adverse yaw, spins and stalls, but that's another story.Al

Firstly, congratulations on the review. I thought it was really well written and gave a good account of the product. Just a few points on the flight model...- The FSX ailerons are 'interesting', there is an alarming lag in aileron response. Flying straight and level at 100kts and moving full left aileron, 1 second, full right aileron, 1 second etc etc produces almost no roll. View from the outside spot view for best effect as you'll see the control surfaces flapping from one extreme to the other with almost no effect. This, in my experience, is not at all correct. The roll in response to aileron input is very good (almost instantaneous) such that if you did this in real life you'd expect a significant roll to either side. Also I found the ailerons to be particularly ineffective at low speeds such that HUGE inputs are required in the flare (I over-control all the time). This is not right, Pitts' ailerons remain fairly effective at low airspeeds such that you only need minute and subtle inputs in the flare. - The FSX model does not want to lose energy when flying anything approaching a typical approach profile. In fact an aggressive slip with power OFF is barely enough to stop the aeroplane accelarating during an approach at 80-85KIAS. The Pitts has an extremely draggy airframe such that when you close the throttle you're going to go down - quick! For context, I used to fly the approach in my S-1S at 90mph with power ticking at about 1600-1700rpm and a fairly aggressive slip and descent rate of around 1000fpm. If I closed the throttle (even without slip), forget about it.- Brakes need to be more powerful. Touching down at about 70kts in the 3-point attitude and applying brakes for the first time, I thought they'd failed! I went sailing past the exit I was aiming for. The brakes on the real aeroplane are very powerful and you can use them liberally without fear of nosing over as the Pitts is particularly tail heavy.Only my opinion, but it is based on real-world experience having owned an S-1S for a couple of years.Regards,

Hmmm not quite sure what you mean about low speed aileron response and the sideslip seems pretty accurate to me too, Addictive have got it about right in my opinion. I disagree on your comment regarding brakes too.My Pitts was always running away with me on the ground. I always had to taxi on the brakes .. themselves being pretty lousey.I would go further actually. The flight model is amazingly accurate. Just my opinion of course!I concede that my experiance on the Pitts was no more than 100-120 hrs total as it was not my main plane (I only had a part share in it) ... and that was short lived as the main shareholder wrote himself off with it strapped on his back ... but this simulation brings it back to life and for it to be able to do that it must be pretty brilliant.Errr not all my memories were comfortable either, the first 5-10 or so hours were 'interesting' to say the least ... a bit like the simulation! :( Could it be that the simulation varies from computer to computer depending what graphic card or joystick you are using perhaps? It would also be quite true to say that no two Pitts were ever the same of course!

Hmmm not quite sure what you mean about low speed aileron response and the sideslip seems pretty accurate to me too, Addictive have got it about right in my opinion. I disagree on your comment regarding brakes too.My Pitts was always running away with me on the ground. I always had to taxi on the brakes .. themselves being pretty lousey.I would go further actually. The flight model is amazingly accurate. Just my opinion of course!I concede that my experiance on the Pitts was no more than 100-120 hrs total as it was not my main plane (I only had a part share in it) ... and that was short lived as the main shareholder wrote himself off with it strapped on his back ... but this simulation brings it back to life and for it to be able to do that it must be pretty brilliant.Errr not all my memories were comfortable either, the first 5-10 or so hours were 'interesting' to say the least ... a bit like the simulation! :( Could it be that the simulation varies from computer to computer depending what graphic card or joystick you are using perhaps? It would also be quite true to say that no two Pitts were ever the same of course!

Hi there,I think we have different brakes :( which, lets face it, is not surprising. All I can say is that the brakes on my S-1 were nothing short of epic. I've yet to fly anything with better brakes. I used to operate out of a 550m strip with a single storey barn at one end (meaning you probably had about 500m usable) and I never used more than half on landing. The only other Pitts I've flown (other than mine) is an S-2B and I last flew that a couple of years ago so I can't really remember how the brakes compared. I'm flying it on Thursday for an SEP biannual so I'll make a note.I definately think that this is a really nice addon, but I'm finding the ailerons difficult to live with.Ditto on the first few hours - my first 10 hours were pretty terrifying actually, I don't mind admitting it. My first solo I had so much adrenalin that I couldn't stop my right foot from tapping the rudder pedals throughout the flight.Cheers,

Ditto on the first few hours - my first 10 hours were pretty terrifying actually, I don't mind admitting it. My first solo I had so much adrenalin that I couldn't stop my right foot from tapping the rudder pedals throughout the flight.Cheers,

LOL, been there, done that on a few single seaters. Lots of people telling you 'ooh, don't forget this, and make sure you remember that' as you strap in, which ends up making matters worse!I once strapped myself in so tight on a first flight on an aircraft type, that when I leaned forward to adjust something on the panel after take off, I found I couldn't actually reach the panel and could barely move. I ended up wobbling along most embarrassingly as I climbed out of the airfield whilst trying to undo the straps and fly the aeroplane at the same time.It was a proper one of those 'oh crap' moments. You live and learn eh?Al