Wandering a little O/T, is a C337 considered a twin for rating purposes and logbook? If one engine fails, there is no asymmetric thrust as both engines are on the centreline. Same thing applies to the E/E Lightning.

 

Back on topic, the Milviz B55 would be my pick, for lack of a Duchess (the Just Flight one probably doesn't count). Diamond DA-42 Twin Star? Not my idea of a plane to fly as I'm not a GA glass cockpit convert yet. But the last two places I flew at had training organisations using them for MECIRs.

Umm, a Twin Comanche may serve http://www.eaglesoftdg.com/Piper_TC.htm or even a Twin Star.

Milviz B55 for sure. But if you want to do higher cruise altitudes or longer flights (more time to read charts and prepare for descent/approach), then you might want the Turbine Duke. Sure it's kind of fast, but you don't have to make it that fast.. you have control.

 

Although I think if you're training on IFR and ATC then the main thing is to pick a plane that you are comfortable with. Something you know extremely well. You don't want to be flying the Turbine Duke and burn an engine out during a session online.. If you already own those planes maybe just pick which one you like the best and are most comfortable with.

 

I don't know why the B55 isn't more popular, it's VC (where we spend almost all of our time) is the most real looking of the GA planes I know of.. it's great really. I wish someone would make some more liveries... sorry I'm getting off topic

when you say Seneca are you all reffering to Carenado's Seneca II?

 

I had that plane eons ago for fs9 and liked it.. I'll have to take a look at that.

I don't know why the B55 isn't more popular, it's VC (where we spend almost all of our time) is the most real looking of the GA planes I know of.. it's great really. I wish someone would make some more liveries... sorry I'm getting off topic

 

I completely agree Dan. It's a great and immersive airplane that I highly recommend and it confuses me why it doesn't get more buzz. I never even considered the Carenado B58, but jumped on the Milviz plane the day it was released and have flown the heck out if it ever since. I've been fortunate enough to have spent considerable time in a B55, and Milviz just nailed this one.

 

In terms of what the OP was asking for, however, I think the 337 makes the better IFR trainer. Better visibility, more visible instruments and more appropriate avionics for learning and executing the basics.

 

Wandering a little O/T, is a C337 considered a twin for rating purposes and logbook?

 

Yes. Sort of. :-) There is essentially an asterisk involved due to the centerline thrust - a logbook notation of that fact should always be made. A multi-engine rating is required to fly it, but if you did your multi in a 337, you'd be required to go through some of the work again before you could fly a conventional multi. If your rating was in a standard twin, you'd be good for either. The rear engine on the 337 presents its own set of challenges and different procedures, BTW.

 

Scott

'Sort of' & 'it depends'... Very useful answers. ;-). Thanks. I suspected it wouldn't be quite yes or no, but haven't dug into the details.

'Sort of' & 'it depends'... Very useful answers. ;-)

 

This has been stated before... the multi-engine rating is all about learning to fly a twin on one engine.

 

AFAIK you can get a multi-engine rating with a e.g. C337... but you will see something like this on the ticket "Airplane Single and Multiengine Land, AMEL Limited to Center Thrust". To get the "AMEL Limited to Center Thrust" limitation removed, you will need an aircraft with a published Vmc.

 

Great thing about FSX is you can have both the C337 and hopefully decide on a model (one of the aforementioned) where you can practice engine out procedures (Vmc demonstration). I would not expect FSX to prepare me for actual single-engine out flight except to practice proper procedures.

 

RW... unless I was going to purchase, or knew for a fact I was going to purchase, a C337... I'd do my multi-engine in something like a Duchess, Seminole etc. (insert your local FBO's multi training aircraft here).

 

-Rob

 

Edit: Sry OP... just saw (again) "multi for IFR"... and Scott's (ttocs) recommendation for the C337 sounds excellent. I am not certain about RW instrument in a 337... I think it is doable as I do not believe there is a Vmc demo requirement for the instrument ticket (I'd have to dig out the PTS). Good readable instruments and the "right" kinds (plus a stable platform) is why I like his recommendation.

+1 for RealAir Duke. Stable when trimmed correctly and accurate flight dynamics. Great VC.

Realair Dukey..!

The Beechcraft Duke B60 is the only twin piston engine plane that I will ever need. It is perfect in just about every respect.

I don't know what your specs are, but as pretty as it looks, the Milviz B55 virtual cockpit is a huge FPS eater, at least in my experience.

Someone has posted a possible solution on the official forums, perhaps it'll help in your case.

Piston duke.

The Miliviz twins are great! And if you want to explore the multi-engine training aspect of it all, they come with a mission pack that is essentially multi-engine training. Its very well done and fun to do. The missions do a great job of showing you how well these aircraft are simulated.

 

The only thing I'm finding with the B55 is that the ground handling is not so great. It feels very slippery on takeoff and landing roll. In the air, I love it!

Seneca (Carenado).. The Seneca IS a ME trainer, and Carenado's rendering is very nice.

 

Turbo-charged, pressurized airplanes are a bit busy and complex for training purposes..