I am sensing that folks are happy with the PA46T. I own the majority of Carenado's FSX AC. Was holding off for the KingAir, but, really getting the itch on this one.So, if anyone would be kind enough - a few questions:

• Anyone really unhappy, and care to comment why?
• The MFD always shows terrain on the Carenado screen shots - can it be displayed w/o topo?
• Is the quality of the topo ok? Rest of the G500?
• I like to run a Carenado 530 and a Reality XP 430 (for WAAS approaches) - anybody done this?
• I see some tweaks and such - anyone provide a list of the "must haves"?

Thanks in advance for any help.Joe

Edited February 21, 201214 yr by Joe L

Joe, if you like to fly this kind of aircraft - Flying high, and Fast at altitude,this Malibu has much going for it.I've got the RXP530 and RXP430 installed, and with my latest G500 modsthat is a very functional combo! Will fly WAAS approaches with LPV guidance etc.Driven by the 530!Not entirely sure how you would put the RXP430 in charge of steering the autopilot though..If you get it, send me a PM with your email address and I'll send you the mods..The MFD can be set to no-topo, but the topo looks pretty good, so I do not botherto ever turn it off.

Edited February 21, 201214 yr by Bert Pieke

Joe,I truly can say I am not really unhappy with the PA46T package as a whole. There are somethings that I would prefer be changed, though. The biggest one for me is the lack of cockpit sounds, like switch clicks. There are other missing sounds, such as with the cabin door. It makes a sounds as it closes, but not when it opens.The TOPO can be turned off on the MFD by using the TOPO softkey on the bottom of the TOPO display. The TOPO display when I first got the aircraft seemed washed out until I learned you can turn down the brightness of the display. This brings out a lot of detail. The map is more detailed than the one on my Flight1 Mustang's G1000. Why the G1000 display is not more detailed is beyond me.I don't run RXP so I can't advise you about that, but there are others here that do. Search the posts for help.One of the definite must haves is bliksimpies G500 upgrade. Again, read all of the posts here for excellent changes that really make this a great aircraft to have.Bill

Edited February 21, 201214 yr by Lifeguard911

With the tweaks and mods from the friendly folks around, she's an absolute winner for me. That's because the atmosphere sort of sucks me in.Without tweaking and out of the box, you may pull your hair out on some items and still find enough others to really like. I double Bill's comment on the missing click sounds, those would be great.Must have? Well, the G500 mods of any kind. I have Bert's and they are great. RXP units or the tweaked default GPS ones to get some extra on the avionics. Clickspot fixes, that's only with the RXP ones since you loose the VC G500 popup spot for whatever reason.The fuel pump sound is really loud, so maybe leave it at off (unrealistic) or tone it down. And Bernt Stolle has put out an optional patch for the FDE. It's on the Carenado site and free of course. See? That's a lot of things, so you can catch the spirit I think.

Bert,Thanks for the reply - I will PM you. I can get the 430 to capture the autopilot by using the right click spot for switching nav devices - seems to work fine on the A36, for instance (at least for me). Allows me to use EFB or others for flight plan entry to the 530, with the 430 as an "approach device" I do not have cross fill on the RXP anyways, so this is a "lazy way" of an easy FP entry with RXP WAAS.Bill,Thank you for your input - I appreciate your comments though I am weakening and I hear the wallet starting to open . . .JoeEdit to thank CoolP as well - posts crossed.

Edited February 21, 201214 yr by Joe L

Joe,Before you lighten your wallet, one other thing I forgot to mention was that the default radar is useless. Sometimes there is an image, but it always looks like the same image. I don't know if no radar is a deal-breaker for you (It wasn't for me), but it's one more thing to consider. I would like to see if I could import the radar gauge from my Piper Cheyenne. It is a little better than Carenado's is.Bill

Bliksimpie offers a tweaked CS WR gauge. The thread should be somewhere around here. You have to own the CS of course. I'm also running the CS radar because Bill is spot on. I did the same exchange on the C208. Must admit that I've also changed over to the RXP transponder, even with the strange optics it brings.Did I already mention that one has to tweak the bird? :(

With the tweaks and mods from the friendly folks around, she's an absolute winner for me. That's because the atmosphere sort of sucks me in.

And that pretty much sums it up for me. I resisted this one for quite a while, as I wasn't too sure about the glass cockpit and in particular how it would behave with my RealityXP GNS's, and while I enjoy several of my Carenado planes, I was also a bit nervous as to how well the turbine would be implemented AND documented.A posting in this forum caught my eye a while back, I started going through some of the older threads, and I realized that some in the group had really stepped up with some interesting mods, suggestions and flying information, and the turbine implementation was getting some pretty solid reviews. So, I bought the plane, requested some of the mods, put 'em in, and did some tweaking. I'm happy. Oh, there are still some issues and minor annoyances, and I'm still coming to grips with how to manage my virtual cockpit. My pre-takeoff time (I'm a cold'n'dark, checklist using simmer, mostly IFR in planes like this) is still about double what it is in, say, the 337, but I'm getting better.But on balance, I like the plane and I'm glad I bought it and happy that others found enough value in it that they were willing to invest their time in making some nice changes. When I sit in the VC of the 337, I can almost smell the 100LL. When I sit in the cockpit of the JetProp, I swear I can almost smell a bit of Jet A exhaust as the turbine spools up and the prop starts to turn. And those are good things.Scott

Edited February 21, 201214 yr by tttocs

Its a fun bird to fly; and that's the whole point of simming, right?!! One of the best add-ons I have bought to date plus some of the most stunning texture work and 3d modeling both inside and out to be enjoyed in the add-on ac market for FSX!!

Edited February 21, 201214 yr by simon747

Last two posts. So true in my eyes. :(

Well - I've bitten. Just have to find the time to fly !To everyone that replied - thanks so much for your input.To Bert, Bliksimpie and Bernt - thank you for sharing your efforts.Joe

Well - I've bitten. Just have to find the time to fly !

True dat! So little time, so many airplanes, so many places to fly!Hope you enjoy the new plane,Scott

I am enjoying my Malibu so much that my relatively new Beech A36 Bonanza is gathering dust as it sits unused in the corner of my virtual hangar.

I am enjoying my Malibu so much that my relatively new Beech A36 Bonanza is gathering dust as it sits unused in the corner of my virtual hangar.

Same here, though that's a nice one too. Speaking of her, I think I'll fly her again soon. :(