I have found the Flight1 BN2 Islander to be my favorite Orbx PNW plane. ... it is outfitted with a very well simulated Garmin avionics set (430, I think it was)

Hmmm, how come mine came with a Bendix King KLN unit?

I was desappointed with the Kodiac because of a weird aeredynamic effect on the ailerons. In a turn aileron pressure has to be held to maintain bank, which is wrong. It makes it difficult to hand fly because in real life ailerons are returned to neutral to maintain bank, ie neutral stability.I agree though that it is a nice model, I just which someone couled fix what I consider a bug but a lot of simmers don't mind.Dan

I was desappointed with the Kodiac because of a weird aeredynamic effect on the ailerons. In a turn aileron pressure has to be held to maintain bank, which is wrong. It makes it difficult to hand fly because in real life ailerons are returned to neutral to maintain bank, ie neutral stability.I agree though that it is a nice model, I just which someone couled fix what I consider a bug but a lot of simmers don't mind.Dan

Just to refresh my recollection, I just tried that with my Kodiak and it does not exhibit that to me. I establish a 45 degree left bank, return ailerons to neutral and it retains the bank requiring only a tap occasionally to counter the normal tendency for the wings to level but I did not have to maintain pressure.This was with the land model not amphib.Vic

Interesting Vic. Last time I used it was when it was upgraded to 2.6. I discussed the issue on their forum but the designers only said they may look at ** later. By the way they have great support and very friendly, none of that "rudeness" I have seen with too many designers... and costumers I agree.My Kodiak is not installed but I may give it another try later, I am now curious why you don't have the same problem I had.Dan

Just to refresh my recollection, I just tried that with my Kodiak and it does not exhibit that to me. I establish a 45 degree left bank, return ailerons to neutral and it retains the bank requiring only a tap occasionally to counter the normal tendency for the wings to level but I did not have to maintain pressure.This was with the land model not amphib.Vic

--------------------------------------------This has been my experience as well. I found that it handles much like the Lancair IV. Very smooth, but FAST responses if you need them. I would imagine that this is the way it was designed as it is a STOL-capable aircraft, and you'd need great slow-handle and approach response to get into and out of restricted areas for most other aircraft. I also love the fact that this plane can lolly-gag around at 80-100 knots for sight seeing with proper flaps, BUT...move on out at 175 knots cruise to cover distance. This is why I love it for ORBX PNW, not to mention that it has all the configurations for airframe, and passenger/cargo for role-play that you could ask for!This has indeed become my default plane for most PNW work, if not truly for everywhere else. Great passenger seating capacity, Fabulous cargo capability...and handles like a dream. Geez...I think I just wrote a commercial, LOLOLOLOL! Whatever, it is a fabulous buy! If I won the lottery tomorrow and could afford the 1.6 million dollar price tag...this would be my personal ride, with Amphibian/Landing Gear upon delivery. No doubt....., absolutely no doubt!

Hmmm, how come mine came with a Bendix King KLN unit?

Erm, I might have thought of another plane when I wrote that... You are right of course. The BN2 Islander has the Bendix King. Doesn't make it less good, of course

Interesting Vic. Last time I used it was when it was upgraded to 2.6. I discussed the issue on their forum but the designers only said they may look at ** later. By the way they have great support and very friendly, none of that "rudeness" I have seen with too many designers... and costumers I agree.My Kodiak is not installed but I may give it another try later, I am now curious why you don't have the same problem I had.Dan

I tried it with and without wind, Dan and it was essentially the same altho adjusting for wind direction required more deflection.Vic

The Quest Kodiak is 50% off at PC Aviator until 31 January 2011:http://www.pcaviator.com/store/product.php?productid=18374Marty

I have a number of add-on planes and I have to say that of all the plane I bought, (DHC-2, DHC-6, Mustang Citation, and Quest Kodiak), and a number of freeware planes. The Quest Kodiak is a Solid 6Star, (out of 5 stars), in my book! Not only does it fly great, have lots of updated gauges and controls, and you even can see the 4 blade prop change its pitch when you move you lever, but what just blew me away was that I bought the plane, downloaded it, started the FSX Sim and then There it was! I didn't have to ask for program directions. I didn't have to search on line or register in a forum to find out how to get it to work, NO, none of that!!I was so blown away by that fact alone that I was ecstatic when I got to experience it in flight. I wrote an email to the man who programed it, (his name escapes me at this moment), and told him how great it was to actually have to do nothing special after loading a bought and paid for plane.Of course I'm not saying anything new to all of you who have this plane, (I bought it about 3 weeks ago), but for those of you who are sick and tired of having to "Tweak" and adjust, and move files around after you paid for an add-on plane, you all need to get this one! You won't believe it until you try it!

The Quest Kodiak is 50% off at PC Aviator until 31 January 2011:http://www.pcaviator.com/store/product.php?productid=18374Marty

And here is a "must have" free repaint:http://forum.avsim.net/topic/324234-first-rate-kodiak-repaint/

Thanks Bert!

And here is a "must have" free repaint:http://forum.avsim.n...kodiak-repaint/

I tend to agree, I am from the old school and don't like glass panels in GA aircrafts (especially for bush flying in the wild Rockies!).I purchased the Kodiak after reading so many positive comments and uninstalled it few days after because the VC textures are not crisp, the external model definition is poor and the flight dynamics too close to the default FSX ones apart from the STOL capability.I would have loved to fly a Dreamfleet a/c in FSX or a re-worked FSD Pilatus Porter with Hi Definition quality textures...Until now, the one and only bird I fly in the Rockies is the Carenado Caravan.Not perfect though but close enough to reality for me and very nicely designed.I am not a Carenado fan but this one will stay in my hangar for a while!

Funny. I used to think the same thing. But now I have sat in a Kodiak PIC seat during a tour of the factory at the Wings over Sandpoint fly in. The interior is that smooth and that clean literrally. It looks identical to the FSX model in every way. Every way.

C.

I normally use the Lancair - though it's not exactly a short field plane... with a 10 kt headwind you can get it down pretty well with a 3000 footer :)Otherwise I'll use Ant's Tecnam Sierra.

I'm also a fan of Ant's Sierra for FTX regions. It has awesome cockpit visibility.

I was desappointed with the Kodiac because of a weird aeredynamic effect on the ailerons. In a turn aileron pressure has to be held to maintain bank, which is wrong. It makes it difficult to hand fly because in real life ailerons are returned to neutral to maintain bank, ie neutral stability.I agree though that it is a nice model, I just which someone couled fix what I consider a bug but a lot of simmers don't mind.Dan

Dan I am a fan of the Kodiak but wondered alot about how close Quest got this plane. You decide for yourself. Prior to flying there for the Wings over Sandpoint Flyin with a friend of mine to see Kodiaks being built, I had some opportunity to talk to a Kodiak staff member in Sandpoint at the factory by email. This is what they had to say...My email to them...I recently read the AOPA article about the Kodiak and the work being done in a recent issue of AOPA. Wonderful stuff. What an amazing piece of engineering. I appologise in advance if this is the wrong place to be asking this and I understand if I do not get an answer. While not yet a licensed pilot (Studying and saving for it), I fly with friends and use my home built simulator for learning purposes. I recently aquired the simulator version of this aircraft from Lionheart creations and I have a question about one of the flight characteristics exhibited in the sim. I find when I bank the aircraft into a turn, simply relaxing the controls the aircraft has a tendancy to want to slowy roll back into a wings level flight requiring positive pressure to maintain the turn. Rather different than some of the small Cessnas I have been in. I was wondering if this is accurate. Again. Sorry if this is an inapropriate place to be asking this question.That article - HIGHLY RECOMNEDED READING! - This is a test flight and first hand commentary from someone (AOPA) flying the Kodiak. http://www.questairc...lot_feature.pdfTheir response to me..."Charles,Let’s see if I can respond to your question.An airplane with dihedral in the wings and in a shallow (less than 45 degree) should want to roll level. In a turn (the airplane is in coordination and not slipping or skidding) back pressure (up elevator) is necessary) because the wing doesn’t produce as much vertical lift as when straight and level. The wing is producing lift toward the turn and needs pitch upward to maintain altitude. So, I guess what I’m saying is that it sounds like the sim for the KODIAK is more accurate than I thought. The 172 type airplanes have rather ineffective controls compared to larger, heavier and more powerful aircraft. If you have a chance to fly something like a 206 or Bonanza you’ll find you’ll have to have more control input as well.That help?"Dan and others wondering about flaps performance on this plane. The pilot I spoke to at Sandpoint said that going to neutral and 1 degree of flaps felt like someone pulled a dragster parachute and it you were not wearing a harness you would slide right out of your seat into the panel. This plane can slow down in a big hurry. It was designed to. Especially with nuetral as the prop goes full fine and becomes a dish out front.http://www.questairc...lot_feature.pdfAgain read this article. This plane takes off like a rocket and slows like a parachute. I like the quote. You can land a Kodiak Short or Soft but not Soft and Short. :)The panel pictured on page four of the article looks an aweful lot like the one in the model in the sim. :)My biggest beef with the Kodiak is simply that I cannot find a way to upgrade the G1000 to something payware so that the current approaches are there. That is sad for me. I use the RXP GNS530 and you can upgade it to latest navdata and use newer ILS and RNAV approaches. I just cant find a good way to do it with this plane. :(Until such time, it is really only good for VFR if you are using latest charts and plates.C.

I was desappointed with the Kodiac because of a weird aeredynamic effect on the ailerons. In a turn aileron pressure has to be held to maintain bank, which is wrong. It makes it difficult to hand fly because in real life ailerons are returned to neutral to maintain bank, ie neutral stability.I agree though that it is a nice model, I just which someone couled fix what I consider a bug but a lot of simmers don't mind.Dan

Here's a prime example of erroneous judgement and expectations meeting reality. The Quest Kodiak in actual flight exhibits this precise behavior you're citing as a "bug..."