Anybody fly this yet?Comments please!Barry

I posted some screenshots in the screenshots forum. With an aircraft like this it takes a while to learn it all. So I can only make casual observations at this point:~Purchase: It was my first experience with FSD using their system. I downloaded on a high speed connection, and installed and registered using my dial-up connection. Easy and painless.~Visual quality-very good. Interesting attention to detail, such as one can catch a glimpse of the canard from the VC/Cabin. Also, the parts of the wing visible to the pax/pilot are also modelled.-Flight model. I've never flown an Avanti, but in the sim every aircraft I've flown with Steve Small's name on the FDE has been a joy to fly. No difference here.-Panel. I'm still learning, but I am very impressed with one thing. 2-d panel fps are outstanding on my P3/800. I'm waaaaaaaay below the min specs FSD suggests, and I got waaaaaaay more than I expected in performance here.-FS2002 support. I praise FSD for still supporting FS2002. I still enjoy certain types of FS2002 flights.-Texturing. Nice--especially in the cabin. Can almost smell the "New Avanti" smell.-John

Any FMC or GPS other than the standard included with the Avanti?Barry

I like it alot but there are few issues that I think need attention. Here is a quick review of what I like and what I do not like.Pros:Model: VERY nice. Great model work. Interesting design. Nice animations. Nuff said!Textures: Only one txture is included but Janey and Zibom have created some outstandig repaints I sure I hope I get to fly soon! Also, knowing FSD, a paintkit should be along shortly.Sounds: Very well done. Not a King Air, not a learjet, not a...Oh I don't know. She just sounds different and it is very pleasing to the ears.VC: Nice textures and clarity.FDE: It's Steve Small so I'm sure it is good...but I do have some worries/troubles with it (this is part of the next section.Performance: VERY good. I would rate performance as VERY similar to that of the default aircraft.Cons:VC: While the clarity is decent the refresh rates are VERY slow on the gauges. I HOPE this is fixed in some way. As It stands now, it would be very difficult to shoot an approach in minimums. I have not tried out the RXP Avionics on this bird yet so they might perform differently.FDE: I'm not sure if it is highly accurate or if there is something wrong. I can cruise at 25,000ft but if I go about 30%-40% power I "overspeed". When I descend at a rate of 1500 fpm (or close to that), I have to pull the throttles back to idle or the speed will just keep rising. Like I said at the beginning, I'm not sure if this is correct or not, it just seems wierd. She almost seems to fast. I understand the Avanti is quicker then a liberal at an NRA meeting but she seems to have trouble slowing down. This of course has an effect on the aircrafts climb/descent profiles, so there is no need to go into that.2D Panel: Decent Clarity, but I think the textures could be improved a little (this is just my opinion though), the opinions of other's might be different. I have never seen a real Avanti cockpit sdo I am unable to comment on gauge placement accuracy and whatnot. I am currently working on retexturing, what I think is the 2D (could be the VC though...not really sure. It is the file named avantipanel2_t.bmp ) panel and have made a good bit of progress. Although I'm not sure if these will be uploadable or not. I am not finished so I have yet to ask the permission of FSD regarding the uploading of a mod such as this. FMC? None. It is the defualt GPS placed in a modified window. However, it is important to note here that for $25 you probably won't see an FMC the likes of PMDG or the Flight1/DF ATR which, of course, cost more. Lastly, the AP will climb but not descend. Not sure if this is correct or not, it would seem wierd for it to climb but not descend.If I had to rate an issue as #1 in priority list, it would be the VC refresh rates. Some may ask, "what about the FDE issue/s you raised?", well, Steve Small did the FDE, so I am inclined to have trust in him regarding this subject. If it is incorrect I'm sure it will get fixed anyways, so it is not a big deal.Hope this helps some!:)

DId some more fly and I noticed a few issues (in my eyes anyways). Here are a few model issues:1. The cockpit glass is flat on the side which creates an unrealistic shine. The real Avanti of course has a rounded frontal section almost devoid (as far as I can see) of any edges, not so with this model. 2. The pilots are seated about 1ft. too far forward (I think). This is a toss up.3. Behind the cockpit (easy to see if you look behind the cockpit windows) there are two dents/dimples on the fuselage. Not that noticable but that might be why the windows are flat? I'm not an expert with gmax so I'm not sure if any of this stuff is an FS limitation or not. Like I stated above, the model is still VERY good, but these are things I noticed (of course, I also tend to notice some things other could give a flying *insert colorful metaphor here* about :-lol).Keep in mind, some of these are nitpicks. I am VERY anal retentive in a lot of cases, so don't think that because of a few of these issues that the Avanti is not worth it. Use your own best judgement to decide . :)---------------------Cockpit/Panel Issues:1. The cockpit appears to be a blueish color, yet the pics I see at Aitliners.net shows a darker grey color. There are probably different cockpit colors though so I'm not sure this is even an issue. ;)There might be other things but I have not tested enough. I would have edited my original post but there is a 1 hour timer on edits. Sorry.----------------------*NOTE*The climbing but not descending issue was my own fault, I forgot to adjust VC bug back down. DOH! OOPS! :-lol:)P.S. Sorry for the long windedness!

If any one else can chime in that would be great!No FMC.. I wonder if the real model comes with one?I'll have to look at airliners.net...Thanks!Barry

I would imagine an FMC would be an option at best. I have no idea about this plane, as I think there are only a select few operating in the US. I can't wait to try this bird, now that my CH throttle quadrant just arrived in the mail (late thanks to bad weather!).

"1. The cockpit glass is flat on the side which creates an unrealistic shine. The real Avanti of course has a rounded frontal section almost devoid (as far as I can see) of any edges, not so with this model."The only visual issue that's really caught my eye is around the exit, pilot's side windows, and gear doors. The Avanti is known for its clean, virtually seamless fuse and lines. It looks like the cut for the door was rushed, and the polys around it are distorted as a result. If one looks at the starboard side of the aircraft, it better follows the clean lines of the Avanti. But the port side doesn't seem up to par visually with other payware in terms of the cuts for the exit and even the gear doors. It actually looks more like examples I've seen with FSDS2, since FSDS2 doesn't support boolean cuts. It's one of the reasons I gave up my Avanti (a rework of Massimo's model), since I was having a devil of a time getting the clean lines I speak of.I don't use FMC's, so the presence of one or lack thereof didn't factor into my decision to buy the aircraft. Overall I am pleased and perhaps FSD can tinker with the visual issues I mention.-John

Hello,I'm just a sim pilot but a real add-on "junkie" so here goes:I got it running and have a few small problems:1. Config Mgr seems to not update my engine hrs correctly2. Engine startup is really tough - following the startup checklist but if I don't set the Config Mgr below "REALISTIC" the engines won't start.3. The Autopilot is a little tricky for me - I use a GOFLIGHT setup and like many add-ons - the FMS does not "like" my GOFLIGHT 100%Some of the above are probably my doing but at this point I really like this airplane a lot. It is a real smooth flier for me. I don't really care about the FMS alot because I use all of the Reality XP equipment - the Conf Mgr lets you select them all. I program all of my flights on the Garmin 530 GPS and - so far- they have been perfect. My longest was a 200 mile flight from KCHS to KCLT, using the new FSLIVE traffic and the complete flight, including the ATC assigned ILS landing on RW 36R went fine. I cut the autopilot at 200 feet and flew it down the ILS to a perfect landing. So-far-so-good.Lastly, I fly this with the new TrackIR 3 with Vector software. Works great with the VC - pretty smooth but NOWHERE LIKE THE NEW Realair Spitfire.Happy flying,Ron SagelNear KCHS

Yes it is an option from Piaggio.Ours does include a Flight Computer that incorporates basic LNAV and VNAV functions, working from FS flight plans (for LNAV). It is all integrated in one module with the FS9 map/GPS unit. You can access it using the FC button on the panel. It's operation is described in the Checklists/Procedures.http://www.fsd-international.com/team/TD_forum_sig.gif

WOW, so your major gripes are a slightly too flat windscreen and a default view position that has the seat a bit further forward than you are comfortable with (which of course the pilots can adjust in the real aircraft...)?Quite likely making the windscreen more rounded would have killed performance because of the massive increase in polygons this would have required.Had that happened your gripe would have been the low framerates...Not saying it's perfect (I can't, not having flown it) but these are very weak arguments at best.

JW... one of these days, I am going to send you a dose of "diplomacy" for Christmas. It will come with five or six lumps of coal!!! :-) Hysterical.

I have it...and I like it a lot :(

Nm....

Ron:I can't get the engines to start -and to stay on- either, perhaps it's a bug.ricardo