For example, the hugely obvious sound bug in the Alabeo (Carenado under a different name) Tomahawk .... if they had even started the engine and went to full power once, (ie... took off!) they would have heard the massively obvious sound bug!

 

 

...or if they'd tried tuning the ADF. Twiddle the knob on the ADF radio, and the ADF compass card turns instead. The ADF compass card knob also turns the ADF compass card. For a moment I hoped it might actually tune the ADF radio, and the two bugs would at least partially cancel each other out, heh, heh.

 

This thread is interesting because I've been avoiding Carenado/Alabeo for quite some time, but the Mirage peaked my interest, as I had fond memories of it from TR's FLY! I weakened for the Alabeo Tomahawk...not a mistake I'll be making again. I'll be giving the Mirage a miss too, after all.

 

To all those who complain about being paying beta testers, these forums are full of such comments, but there's only one way to put a stop to it. Stop. Buying. Their. Products. Better still, e-mail them and let them know why too.

 

This thread is interesting because I've been avoiding Carenado/Alabeo for quite some time, but the Mirage peaked my interest, as I had fond memories of it from TR's FLY! I weakened for the Alabeo Tomahawk...not a mistake I'll be making again. I'll be giving the Mirage a miss too, after all.

 

 

Sums up exactly how I feel about Carenado/Alabeo at the moment. The funny thing is, the PA38 and the PA46 (piston) are in my Top 3 general aviation aircraft in the real world. But the Alabeo just feels soul-less; I can't even put my finger on what I don't like about it any more;  it just feels so Carenado .... Just nothing about it that captures the imagination (and that's not because it's a basic trainer - as A2A are about to prove, you can make an interesting add-on out of any aircraft).

 

I had to utilize all of my resiliance not to buy the PA46-350P as that really is one of my faves in the real world, but I just know that I will find it as equally lacklustre as the last 4 or 5 Carenado add-ons I've bought.     It just feels like a mass production conveyer belt of pretty but uninspiring aircraft add-ons.

 

 

To all those who complain about being paying beta testers, these forums are full of such comments, but there's only one way to put a stop to it. Stop. Buying. Their. Products. Better still, e-mail them and let them know why too.

 

In fact, I don't buy many Carenado planes particularly since they started doing so much glass as I don't think glass is even close to their core competency.  For that matter, I don't buy many planes at all and if anything I'd say I'm a bit too selective, as I know I miss out on the occasional gem.  But sure - buying carefully and selectively is always the best tool any consumer has for influencing what gets made.

 

That said, some (and this is not aimed at your comments Paul) get a bit over the top when it comes to the subject of Carenado in general.  I've seen Carenado planes that have very credible FDE's bashed by people who've never flown them, said comments based on planes they bought years ago.  I've seen people nit-pick issues that are also present in planes from better-regarded developers where they go un-commented.  And so on.

 

The whole "we're all beta testers" thing does get old sometimes when many of those complaining also thump developers who are slow to release.  Many of those complaining would actually love to be part of the beta process.  With Carenado, you know there will be a fairly quick SP or two.  If that's an issue for you, wait and see what the plane that finally gets finished looks like.  That's what I generally do.

 

Back to the new Malibu - I bought it with eyes wide open.  There are some things that could be better, and a few outright bugs that need to be fixed, but it's a fairly solid release and, having set my expectations appropriately (I don't expect it to be PMDG or A2A level) I'm enjoying it for what it is and am glad I bought it.  So far, it's providing me with good value for the money I spent, and taking reasonably good care of the Jones I've had for a piston Malibu.

 

So there. :-)

 

Scott

One can always wait awhile until a release has "matured in the field" if the irritation of launch glitches is too much to bear. Then decide whether the final product is worth the price asked.

 

Sums up exactly how I feel about Carenado/Alabeo at the moment. The funny thing is, the PA38 and the PA46 (piston) are in my Top 3 general aviation aircraft in the real world. But the Alabeo just feels soul-less; I can't even put my finger on what I don't like about it any more;  it just feels so Carenado .... Just nothing about it that captures the imagination (and that's not because it's a basic trainer - as A2A are about to prove, you can make an interesting add-on out of any aircraft).

 

I had to utilize all of my resiliance not to buy the PA46-350P as that really is one of my faves in the real world, but I just know that I will find it as equally lacklustre as the last 4 or 5 Carenado add-ons I've bought.     It just feels like a mass production conveyer belt of pretty but uninspiring aircraft add-ons.

How can you criticise a plane without buying the aircraft? I like Carenado/Alabeo planes even with the bugs. They are mostly corrected after a while and none of them are showstoppers as far as I'm concerned. I'd much rather buy planes of this quality than stuff from other developers which show much much less talent - and which for some reason are very rarely criticised (not allowed to name them I assume). If you don't like the developer then just stay away from them. Easy. 

"none of them are showstoppers "

 

Exactly I'm with you on this  :smile: and they address issues quickly works for me.

I had to utilize all of my resiliance not to buy the PA46-350P as that really is one of my faves in the real world, but I just know that I will find it as equally lacklustre as the last 4 or 5 Carenado add-ons I've bought.     It just feels like a mass production conveyer belt of pretty but uninspiring aircraft add-ons.

 

I guess lustre or the lack of it is in the eye of the beholder. :smile:  I'd forgive an aircraft being uninspiring because ultimately I'm not sure what the developer can do about that, but glaring bugs are another matter entirely.

You folks might be happier if you wait a week or two until the Carenado/Alabeo's reach the F1 wrapper for a couple of good reasons.  Usually in a week or two, Carenado has issued some fixes, and with the F1 30 day return you can send it back if the shoe doesn't fit you.  After one too many 'ooooh pretty!' moments with Carenado offerings only to realize the FDE wasn't so hot or too many bugs...I never buy one until it is on the F1 system. B)  LOL just think of the time between Carenado release and when F1 picks up the release as the 'beta testing' period.

 

 

How can you criticise a plane without buying the aircraft?

 

Well in fairness I think you can to some extent, when based on known features or the lack therof.  I've certainly done it pertaining to Carenado's glass planes, but based on specifics.  That's one of the reasons I put my money where my mouth has been and bought the Malibu in part because of its analog panel (and, of course, RXP integration).

 

I'd also offer that some of the criticism leveled is based on frustration from people who are, or almost are, Carenado fans.  Carenado planes are excellent in many ways, and often come this close to being truly all-around excellent but often end up falling one or two features or small bugs this side of it.  And then there are those little frustrations that soldier on, plane after plane, like the NDB tuning...  Even for those that enjoy their Carenados, that can get a bit frustrating.

 

Scott

That said, some (and this is not aimed at your comments Paul) get a bit over the top when it comes to the subject of Carenado in general.  I've seen Carenado planes that have very credible FDE's bashed by people who've never flown them, said comments based on planes they bought years ago.  I've seen people nit-pick issues that are also present in planes from better-regarded developers where they go un-commented.  And so on.

 

No problem my comments weren't aimed at you either. :smile:  I'm not anti-Carenado, but I do have an issue with their develop/"test"/release model, and I spend my money accordingly. On the other hand, I do have plenty of Carenado aircraft in my virtual hangar, just not many of the more recent ones - and I have to confess that a lot of that is due to all the glass paneled aircraft they've been doing. I think my last purchase was the Caravan, and that was on special offer. I nearly weakened on the B200, in fact...but I held firm.

 

I'm happy to give Carenado credit for what they do well; plenty of good-looking aircraft that give pretty good frame rates; no small achievement in itself. But the effective use of buyers as beta testers is a bit too customer-contemptuous for my tastes, no matter how many are willing to put up with it.

 

I'm not telling people what to do with their money, just saying to people who are fed up with being paying beta-testers that there's only one thing they can do about it. 

You folks might be happier if you wait a week or two until the Carenado/Alabeo's reach the F1 wrapper for a couple of good reasons.  Usually in a week or two, Carenado has issued some fixes, and with the F1 30 day return you can send it back if the shoe doesn't fit you.  After one to many 'ooooh pretty!' moments with Carenado offerings only to realize the FDE wasn't so hot or too many bugs...I never buy one until it is on the F1 system. B)  LOL just think of the time between Carenado release and when F1 picks up the release as the 'beta testing' period.

 

A very wise policy. :smile:

just think of the time between Carenado release and when F1 picks up the release as the 'beta testing' period.

Very true, I think. As evil as it may sound, this might even be the cheapest and most efficient way to do it. Not saying this because I applaud to it but because that's the only explanation for the rather constant bug-loaded state of every fresh release. :-D

 

To be fair, Carenado themselves offer refunds. So even the folks without F1 installers can receive one. I've tried. :-[

 

In my eyes, it makes sense to stick with the actual dev (Carenado shop) as the other outlets may eat a bit from the money. Just trying to maintain the most direct path to the actual developers.

 

/ sent from a mobile thingy /

 

 

Sorry for joining in on the somewhat old thread, but as a faithful (if not frustrated) buyer of many Car/Ala A/C I have been reading many of the reviews of the Mirage and stepped out and bought it today but am somewhat appalled to find that somewhere a year down the track and with all the issues mentioned in this thread, there still is no update for this plane on Carenado's site.

 

So whether or not customers carry out Beta testing, I wonder how much is actually fixed. because of with so many Aircraft across three platforms there is just a small list of updates available (if at all in the Mirage's case).

 

I would be interested in any one else's thoughts on this.

 

Cheers Anton YBDG

Well, I would agree that their patch didn't address much...didn't even fix what they said it did.  Still, the issues are (to me) more minor than they are on their other planes.  I wish the ground radio worked and wish you could at least test the annunciator without turning the avionics on.  Apart from those few prestart items I don't see much that bothers me.  The LINDA module helps a bit too.  I developed a mod so that you'd get the audible altitude alerts. 

How does one load the aircraft in cold and dark mode? Carenado website says it comes with cold and dark and ready to taxi options available. I could not figure out how to enable the cold and dark option.

 

 

How does one load the aircraft in cold and dark mode? Carenado website says it comes with cold and dark and ready to taxi options available. I could not figure out how to enable the cold and dark option.

 

Not sure but the LINDA module has a Cold and Dark you can assign to a button of your choosing.