Just back from an hour and half flight wringing out Golden Age Simulations' new (Sept. '18 release) Stearman. What an hoot!

It's been over ten years since I flew a real biplane, so I was really thrilled to be reunited with an old and willing love.

After a stall series, some lazy eights, and a couple loops I decided to see if the old girl could do a snap roll. And boy can she!

Slow to about 85, pull straight back on the stick and kick rudder, and--just like the real thing--around she went. And, just like the real thing, if you don't unload as you go inverted you will spin out of the maneuver, which I did. But the spin felt realistic, too, so I let her go three turns and then recovered. What fun!

Back at the grass strip I'd taken off from, Walter Sutton's private strip (WA79) beautifully recreated by ORBX, I found, also just like the real thing, that you tend to come down final much too fast (it's hard to believe you really should go that slow) so I floated well down the strip and should have gone around, but it worked out OK.  Short video here .

With 8000 hours behind Continental and Lycoming radial engines, I can tell you the sound is just right, and that makes a big difference to me in terms of immersion. In fact, the whole experience was exceptionally immersive, and I found I hadn't forgotten many old habits that were still useful.

If you haven't experienced the thrill of open cockpit flying in real life, but would like to give it a try in the sim, the Golden Age Stearman is a great way to do it. And no, this isn't an ad--the only relationship I have with the developers is I gave them $25 so I could download their product. And boy am I glad I did.

Edited January 20, 20197 yr by tailspin45

I am assuming that you are running FSX since you posted here.  The GAS Stearman crop duster is also available as freeware at the SOH site.

 

 

The aircraft works in FSX and P3D V2, 3, and 4.

Looked for the duster at SOH without success. I'll try again. [Found it searching on keyword 'duster'. Thanks!]

Edited January 19, 20197 yr by tailspin45

I'll have to have a go at one of those. It looks like a blast! If immersion is important to you you should try VR if you are not already doing so.

Edited January 20, 20197 yr by Guest

Crop duster version is my favorite so much so I paint a modern nostalgia version with bling!

 

Edited January 20, 20197 yr by TuFun