I've always thought Carenado is hugely overrated. Oh, sure, they're pretty, but they're really no better than the default aircraft in terms of systems and flight modeling.

 

I think that's true--but I am a huge Carenado fan for the reason that they are "very pretty" and I'd say that's true of many of their devoted fans. Their detail is top notch, and having done VFR IRL GA flying, I care less than some do about systems and flight modeling being perfect. I like looking around as I sit in the pilot's seat and having a sense that I'm in a real aircraft. Carenado's high def aircraft (visually) give me that impression. Also lately I feel Carenado's been doing a better job on flight modeling, but they haven't done any of the aircraft I've flown IRL (or recently flown, since I did some brief flying of a C172 back in the mid 80's, I've been involved in just Light Sport fixed wing and weight shift in recent years). Right now I think the only designers that get it right on all counts (visual detail, flight modeling and systems) would be RealAir--but they deserve a thread of their own...

 

John

A2A does even better than RealAIr imo. A2A has the only totally convincing stall/spin characteristics I've ever seen in FSX (RealAir is close, but the power-on stalls feel a bit "canned"), and A2A is also the only one that models propwash over the tail - in the A2A cup you can lift the tail at a dead stop, with only partial throttle and just a bit of down elevator - just like the real thing.

A2A does even better than RealAIr imo. A2A has the only totally convincing stall/spin characteristics I've ever seen in FSX (RealAir is close, but the power-on stalls feel a bit "canned"), and A2A is also the only one that models propwash over the tail - in the A2A cup you can lift the tail at a dead stop, with only partial throttle and just a bit of down elevator - just like the real thing.

 

I'm not a Cub flyer but I checked out their video of the Cub--very nice! Also great detail. My wife might get jealous of Heidi though!

 

John

i'm not getting any FPS drop, but every few minutes, it will suddenly stutter for a few seconds inexplicably.

 

 

as for the clarity of the cockpit, i'm not having any issues there. compared to the "old" carenado models (compared to any FS9 add-on really), the clarity is superb; that's been the case with all their latest FS9 releases. The VC is really good, i think.

 

 

i've only spent a half hour or so in it; i think it has a few issues, but i don't want to say for sure until i've had more time to check it out.

I never saw a performance hit in any Carenado product until my recent purchase of their King Air (for FSX). That product knocked a good five or six fps off of my target of 30 fps. It makes me wonder whether they have a rogue gauge that is causing some of these performance hits. The Malibu, to a lesser extent, also seems to tax my system more (I can tell because my Tileproxy textures tend to blur when I fly it). But none of Carenado's piston aircraft have ever hit my performance, whether I use them in FS9 or FSX.

 

John

I've always thought Carenado is hugely overrated. Oh, sure, they're pretty, but they're really no better than the default aircraft in terms of systems and flight modeling.

 

 

 

 

I couldn't agree more! I bought my first and last Carenado plane during the Christmas sale. Extremely disappointed not only with the plane but the lack of response from Carenado. Absolutely the worst customer service I've experienced buying anything online. I won't spend another cent on any of their overrated junk.

I own both the Carenado and Dream Fleet Barons for FS9. Visually, the Carenado model is superior. I too had a frame rate issue initially . I believe this is caused by all the textures being 32 bit with most around 4mb. I converted all the textures to dx3 and frame rates improved. I have since returned the exterior textures to 32bit 4mb with minimal impact on frames.

 

You can merge the Dream Fleet 2d panel into the Carenado Baron. Peter McLelland's turbo conversion also works in the Carenado Baron. I really like the recent Carenado FS9 releases.

 

Greg

I couldn't agree more! I bought my first and last Carenado plane during the Christmas sale. Extremely disappointed not only with the plane but the lack of response from Carenado. Absolutely the worst customer service I've experienced buying anything online. I won't spend another cent on any of their overrated junk.

 

Which aircraft did you purchase for (FS9/FSX?) from Carenado?

How much did it cost .. on sale?

 

When anybody has a bad Customer Service Experience .... well, it is just generally bad news all the way around.

 

Last year I purchased a $45 Just Flight 737 Professional ADV for FSX and they never did a Service Pack to fix user reported problems ... And their customer service IMO netted the same results you mention here .. no more purchases. That plane was finally removed from my hard drive.

So, I know how you feel ...........

The clarity of the Dreamfleet's VC is significantly better than that of the Carenado - and the Dreamfleet was released several years ago.

 

 

David, I already own the Dreamfleet Baron 58, and have been quite happy with it. I had avoided Carenado products until recently, since some people in the forums have talked them down. Then a couple of moths ago I bought Carenado's Archer II, and at first I had the same impression as you about the clarity of the VC. Then I increased my screen resolution to the max and this solved the problem for me. As far as the lack of a 2D cockpit, I personally don't use them anymore anyway. I have since bought Carenado's Bonanza F33 and Piper Seneca II and must say I am qute happy with them both. The only negative I have with Carenado, is that their aircraft and sim model documentation is on the light side, certainly not as complete as Dreamfleet or FSD Intrernational. But Dreamfleet and FSD seem to have discontinued developing FS9 products. I will probably buy the CArenado Baron 58 within a week or so, even though I already have the Dreamfleet model.

 

Mike

I am also a huge fan of Carenado's models precisely because they "look pretty". As someone who has spent my entire working career in RL aircraft maintenance I really appreciate their efforts to make their aircraft look realistic. I love the way they replicate weathering and staining and go to great lengths to add in small details like screws and other fasteners that are in the right places. As a "kick the tires and light the fire" type simmer that flies mostly VFR I don't spend a lot of time flipping switches or twisting knobs so the lack of in-depth systems is actually a plus for me.

Bought the Carenado B58/FS2004 a few days ago. It's pretty good I think, but hard to decide if it's better than the Dreamfleet B58. Textures a bit nicer on the Carenado, but the interior/VC Panel of the Dreamfleet is nearly as good, I think. One thing that I have noticed is that the Carenado does not have the Radar Altimeter/Decision Height instrument that Dreamfleet does. And I have noticed the frame rate problems with the Carenado that others have mentioned. All in all though, I like them both and will continue to fly them both.

 

Mike

I fly many Carenado planes in FS9 including their 'new' creations e.g. C208B and the CT210M. I've not had any problems with stuttering or low frame rates. I am running XP and usually ASE with GEPro and REX textures. My PC is 3 years old so it's not state of the art by any means.

 

Re Carenado support. I've found it excellent. For example, I bought their original Piper Archer boxed version way, way back. I realised recently that just after I bought it Carenado brought out a v.2. I wrote explaining this and they sorted me out free of charge.

 

Also, unlike many other developers, if you maintain an account with them, they keep a record of all your purchases (if you bought direct) with a list of all upgrades and patches.

 

My only quibble is with the 'new' Skymaster which uses the mouse wheel to change radio frequencies etc. This means I cannot use 'F1 View' to look around the v.c. and cabin. Now that is annoying, Carenado!

 

And, I wish they still did 2D panels. Abandoning those was a mistake IMO :mellow: :mellow: :mellow: