P3D v4 Citation Excel Mini Review

[ryanbatc 12,857]

I purchased this aircraft knowing mostly what would work (and what wouldn't).  The price is okay for a addon of this category (I'd say a light-medium).  It says for P3D v4.4 and up....though I'm not certain why... I don't see any PBR textures unless I'm missing something obvious.  If you are considering it I suggest waiting for the first SP.  Reason being, at the moment, neither the Flight1 or RXP GTN integration works very well.  The autopilot will not follow the GTN's track.  NAV mode cannot even be engaged with the GTN present in the cockpit.  Also the clickspots weren't working by default for the RXP but that's an easy fix by setting the RXP GTN to "use simulator gps commands."  That aside, I was happy they decided to place the GTN on the main panel, and not where the FMS usually goes.  Note that I am NOT using the FMS, but they say it's Navigraph compatible etc etc.

I did some brief hand flying low and up and altitude and it's not bad.  It's what I would expect from one of their addons.  The FADEC system does appear to be at least basically modeled.  Essentially, you put the throttles in certain detents, depending on your phase of flight and the FADEC adjusts power for that detent/phase of flight.  (That's my basic answer hah).  I have yet to do a cold n dark startup.  I did read some users were having issues starting the APU.  Apparently it should just start with the switch but in this sim version you need to turn on the right boost pump first.

There are plenty of interior switch sounds/ambient noises associated with this addon, which is nice.  The gauges are mostly legible, the center MFD is a bit hard to read (but it appears to be a re-skinned version of the default GNS).  There are some quirky bugs I filed with Carenado like the wind direction on the EHSI is backwards (the arrow points to the direction the wind is coming from - should be 180 degrees off that).  Sometimes when changing ASEL, it is not possible to scroll through 1000's (have to select altitude in 100's which takes a while - the tooltip says a right click will activate 1000's but INOP for me).  Aside from the GTN NAV autopilot issues above, the AP does work just fine.  For once FLC mode seems to work properly.  I initially climbed out at 250 kias, then I used around mach .70 for a cruise climb.  I think a value of .60 would be more appropriate as MMO is .75 (this yields around 420 ktas in optimal conditions - I did about 400 ktas at FL410).  I guess that's why they call it a Slowtation.

Visually, it's Carenado, but again no PBR that I can see.  I was a little disappointed by that.  Their models are very (overly) shiny...and this one is no different.  Though in my shots I'm using ENVTEX/SHADE which can sometimes make highlights brighter.

Once they iron out the NAV issue, I'll be happier.  It does appear that the GTN is interfacing with the FMS HSI correctly....so you can still hand fly it, and even RNAV (GPS) approaches with LPV minimums show the glide slope on the PFD.

If you're on the fence about a bizjet, the Flysimware Lear 35 is a better purchase.  (Maybe 5 bucks more)

Pics are me descending out of FL410

Untitled-6 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-4 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-7 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-8 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-10 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-9 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-11 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-12 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-13 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Approach is RNAV (GPS) RY 28L KFCM

Untitled-14 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-16 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-17 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-18 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

(forgot the landing lights!)

Untitled-19 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

[DavidP 1,412]

I saw it.

Thought "Looks great",

then I thought "I'd love a nice Citation",

then I thought "It's Carenado"

then I said "I'll pass".

[rmeier 473]

Thanks for the review Ryan!

It does look nice! Unfortunately, I have a hangar full of Carenado aircraft that I no longer fly. If I recall, you also have the S550 (with GTN)...how would you compare the two?

This one looks too much like the CJ2...likely identical systems...doesn't seem worth the "investment".

Rob

[Bert Pieke 7,585]

Shame the systems are not correctly simulated.. it is a disappointment every time..

However, they sure know how to make a good looking model, inside and out!

 

[aerostar 42]

Thanks for taking the time to review this one Ryan,

 

Anyone got any info on how good the the Eaglesoft Citation XL+ is (32bit)      ?  and any idea when the 64bit version will release   ?

What do you think the Pro's and con's  are between them and this .....   ?

  

Edited January 13, 2020 by aerostar

[FDEdev 955]

10 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

I initially climbed out at 250 kias, then I used around mach .70 for a cruise climb.  I think a value of .60 would be more appropriate as MMO is .75 (this yields around 420 ktas in optimal conditions - I did about 400 ktas at FL410).  I guess that's why they call it a Slowtation.

Correct climb speed is 250/.65

400ktas isn't exactly slow and the term Slowtation dates back to the old Citation I which couldn't came even close to 400ktas.   

Btw. Most jets are fastest at around FL300 and the 560, even at high weight, cruises at 440ktas this altitude.  

[ryanbatc 12,857]

Yeah I know that about speed.  I think most just go to fl410 for efficiency.

To us ATC, 400 is pretty slow hehe.

Good to know on climb speed thanks!

Overall there are better options out there for your money....I just liked the look of this plane.

[Phantom88 3,287]

Thx 4 Review.......It is a Wonderful looking Model though.

[ryanbatc 12,857]

They updated this plane to 1.1 today.  Some good fixes, the RXP GTN now works with AP (except the APR mode for RNAV (GPS) approaches with LPV minimums aka a glide path is not working).  They also added PBR to the exterior which I think looks far better than before.  Adding some pics (because it's more appropriate than starting a new post imo!)

edit:  Bert has fixed the AP not following glide path during approach with lpv mins hurray!  So with the patch and Bert's fixes it's probably worth the price.  One downside of the GTN is that there is no longer a COMM2/NAV2 - maybe a small edit for that too so I can use dual radios on PilotEdge.

Untitled-1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-4 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-5 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Edited January 18, 2020 by ryanbatcund

[Ricardo41 5,949]

Are the virtual cockpit shots edited, or just straight out of the sim?

[ryanbatc 12,857]

Out of the sim.  I do use shader mod ENVTEX/SHADE though.

[Gazzareth 808]

Does look good, such a shame...

 

.... held off for so long getting the FSW Lear, you're right - probably my favourite bizjet now - although the Falcon is great as well, speedwise unless I'm doing distance it paces the CX....

 

G

[ryanbatc 12,857]

20 hours ago, Gazzareth said:

Does look good, such a shame...

 

.... held off for so long getting the FSW Lear, you're right - probably my favourite bizjet now - although the Falcon is great as well, speedwise unless I'm doing distance it paces the CX....

 

G

With Bert's mods (avaiable with a PM or email) the Citation isn't bad for the price.  You're not going to get PMDG level avionics for Carenado prices.

[Gazzareth 808]

 

 

38 minutes ago, ryanbatcund said:

With Bert's mods (avaiable with a PM or email) the Citation isn't bad for the price.  You're not going to get PMDG level avionics for Carenado prices.

As good a job as Bert does I wouldn't buy from Carenado again. Would rather spend my $ on developers that make stuff that doesn't require community mods to make worth having.

G

[ryanbatc 12,857]

Agreed!  Unfortunately we don't have a lot of options for bizjets.