Hi guys,After reading a post here about Realair Decathlon and as I am a big fan right now flying the Airheads Decathlon, I would like to know if I am really getting out the most realism with it or should I move on to RealAir Decathlon to get the most realism out? Which one is more realistic?

First Airhead's is really nice, don't take my comments as criticizing it. Realair's stalls much better, and personally I like the VC look and smoothness from Realairs better. Realair's seams to me to taxi more realistically as well. Long Island Classics also makes a Decathlon wich is also very nice. I like how it stalls better than the Airhead.I'm not a real world pilot, so I can't compare in that sence. keep in mind though that all three are very nice and comparing any one to any other is like splitting hairs. I do strongly support Realair, the support I have recieved from Realair is unsurpased. On more than one ocasion they have gone above and beyond to help take care of some serious mistakes of my own that I made.

Hi,I authored the original thread about comparing the Realair model to that of the default FS2004 Piper Cub (which has exaggarated instability on the ground).I personally tried the Airhead Decathalon and I will say that for a freeware model it is visually incredible; the creator of that package should be lauded over and over. Without my seeming to be being too self-righteous and arrogant (at least I sincerely hope), I don't think the Airhead model taxis realistically on the ground at all. The Airhead has no taildragger instability modeled, it essentially taxis like a tricycle cessna with a droopy tail. I realize it's easy for dorks like me to criticize such things and I apologize. Honestly I've never come across ANY 3rd party FS2004 aircraft that has modeled taildragger ground instability. I believe at this time that the Realair models are the ONLY addons, payware or freeware that have accomplished this. In this sense Realair is truly unique among developers in my opinion - I'm certainly hearing some good things about them!

Thx for information. But are you sure that Decathlon is so unstable in real on ground? I know that it has steerable pneumatically turned tailwheel so it shouldnt be too hard.

Again, I ment no critisism of the Airhead package. It is a great piece of freeware for FS.I do think Realair does make some of the best most realistic FDE's in the busness. If nothing else your paying for something that feels "as real as it gets"

I'm not going to compare directly with any other developer here, but I'm going to give you straight facts:The RealAir Decathlon can spin...properly. It is also the only available aircraft in this class which will side slip properly.It exactly matches the dimensions, layout and exterior structure of the Real Super Decathlon. Regarding ground handling, it is the only aircraft again in this class which emulates groundlooping, but in fact that does not mean it is unstable on the ground at all. It merely reflects a taildragger's reaction to overzealous steering or not-so-good landings/take offs in a cross wind.I recommend you see the reviews on our Decathlon both at Avsim and Flightsim com.Thanks very much!Rob Young - RealAir Simulations

Hey all! Get yerself a REAL taildragger ... get the MAAM-SIM DC-3! With airfile by ...... ooer. Rob Young.LOL. Love 'em all. Keep up the good work, Rob. Looking forward to the Spitfire. I suppose I'll have to live with the XIV rather than a IX, but I'll cope!Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumonthttp://www.swiremariners.com/newlogo.jpg

Hehe, well I have the MAAM R4D but thats not for such purpose I use Decathlon :)

>The RealAir Decathlon can spin...properly. It is also the only>available aircraft in this class which will side slip>properly.>And the "slip" is RealAir's "real" advantage, since the Decathlon has no flaps. It's the BIG difference I immediately noted between the two.You can precisionly aim "your head" towards the runway with excellent cross control from both aileron & rudder..................and it even "feels" right, including the yaw effect during a quick descent!But----------- to have a great slipping effect in forward or side slips, rudder pedals are a MUST. I have the sim on two systems, one with pedals & one (laptop) with a twist grip. It's all the difference in the world, when it comes to realism or even the perception of feel & control.L.Adamson

Hi Rob,Thanks, I like your attitude and your explanations. I do believe you've make a new customer out of me.

Wow the RealAir Decathlon is really good! The only thing I like more about Airheads is that it has the FS2004 effects like raining on the window, "touchable" buttons and switch sounds, but flight dynamics are wonderful with RealAir. As I have couple of hours with real Piper, I immidiately figured out that the handling and sensitivity of Airheads is a bit too good. It was acting like an Extra or something like that. But as the Decathlon is a upper wing aircraft and not so advanced aerobatic like Extra, it should not have so sensitive controls and so good steerability. The Realair Decathlon like flies itself very well when trimmed - thats the advantage of upper wing aircrafts, just like Cessnas. And the dirty windows look cool! There are only a few missing things I liked a lot with Airheads. For example the asterisk below the left wing to get proper pitch of descend or climb when doing aerobatics.No offence against Airheads. They have done wonderful job and would like to have something so good freeware again. Basically its the FDE that pushed me to RealAir :).Now I am extremely curious about the Scout. As we can read here:http://www.amerchampionaircraft.com/newac/newmain.htmThe Scout is a work horse. I would love to have a same good workhorse as well in my hangar, just in case I need it :D. How do you rate that one? Is it fully FS2004 VC compatible, meaning the effects of rain and modelled buttons, draggable handles? How is the handling compared to Realair Decathlon?

Hi Georg,I can confirm that the RealAir Scout, which was developed after the FS9 SDK was known, does have fully controllable switches, gauges and flying controls in the Virtual Cockpit, and it also has windscreen rain effects.Kind Regards,Rob Young

Cool, thanks for this information. By the way, Rob, I sent you an e-mail too regarding to Scout. We would like to make a review of it to FSCentre.com. :)

Sorry Georg, I'm a bit behind with my review request posts. I'll get on to it today!Rob

Hi guys,Despite the fact that Airheads Decathlon is freeware and considering that is unfair to criticize a product of such quality, that's why anyone who interprets this post as a criticism will mistake my thoughts, I would like to mention that flight dynamics modeled by Realair are exceptional.Regardless of the RealAir aircraft's ability to spin or slip, I have noticed that you can accurately master the flare by pushing the throttle just a little with airspeed nearing stall one in order to realize great landings as you can do in real life whereas Airheads one seems floating above the runway before reaching stall speed.In other words, you can easily manage your landings on short runway with Realair a/c and you have to deploy all your skills to master it. I currently own all available Realair aircrafts and I appreciate each one.If you're planning to purchase one of them, you won't regret your decision. Without counting that Realair support is incontestably one of the best.Kind regards.