9 minutes ago, OSM said:

Autopilot NAV with VOR and GPS just PERFECT! To avoid Autopilot NAV 'zig-zag" flying you should have GPS DTK=CRS=HDG.

 

I am interested in your video, but, geez can't you come up with a better resolution than 360p. I didn't even know anyone could make a video with that low a resolution.  I think your phone would be about 8X that if you just recorded your screen.  My My.

Perhaps useful for those who love Mooney. This an old and the only vid I managed to make with my old Sony camera in J model. Vid features just two landings: power off 180 and short field.

 

2 hours ago, Prpn said:

Bought it. Flew it. Like it.

But I see all the historic Carenado hate is showing up again. Honestly, this plane seems pretty decent. Performance so far from what I can glean is relatively close to the book. Autopilot wiggles a bit in turns but no issues on regular straight legs. Looks fantastic. One of the few aircraft with a bit of an old school avionics layout, including the Bendix DME. Some nice details like the external power, opening doors and windows etc. I have not noticed any show stopping issues at all.

Pricing perhaps a bit steep but then I look on Simmarket for some SEP aircraft addons for previous sims... Aeroplane Heaven Tecnam for €34, Lionheart Bellanca Super Viking for €43 (does not even have custom sounds, uses default FSX/P3D GPS)...  It really ain't that bad guys. There are more examples, these just stood out. If/when A2A joins the game you will probably see some nice premium prices for some shakes and rattles. By that time I will have enjoyed plenty of hours of fun, solid flying in the Mooney.

There is nobody on this planet who wants to see Carenado prosper and have folks sing their praises more than I.  As vocal as I am about their products, I don't want to labeled a "hater" (I know you're not calling anyone that specifically, I just know I could easily be labeled one based on my historical posts 🤣).  

I would classify myself as a Carenado "Wisher", not "Hater", hehe.  I've said it many times...I sincerely want to LOVE their products, as all of us do...and I have several Carenado titles in previous sims...however, its not just the issues they don't fix that would necessarily keep me from purchasing the 2 offerings they now have in the MSFS Marketplace....its the freaking aloofness they seem to display in the community when we've repeatedly asked them to fix them.  THAT is the one thing that, if I was to be labeled a "Hater", ...I would proudly wear that title for!!! (I hate aloofness....even though its a fun word to say) 🙂  

As a tiny contributor to the hobby myself....I simply could not live with myself if I released paint after paint, with the same issues, that are fixable, and completely ignored the communities continuous comments "Steve, will you please fix this...its on every one of your paints and it really kills the immersion of flying your otherwise great paints!"  And if I was charging for those paints...it would be so reprehensible to me, that I'd either decide to change my attitude, listen to the community, fix the issue, and keep releasing paints...or I'd just quit.

Carenado has a rich history of hate and/or ridicule associated with is brand, but it is warranted, when compared to companies like A2A...which has a stellar reputation for the exact reasons that Carenado doesn't.

In the end...we know "pretty" sells...and Carenado definitely  knows that (not faulting them...they do good business, and that is what they're in the game for...making money).  All the folks new to simming, who previously never heard of Carenado..and especially never heard of A2A...will see the pretty 182, the Mooney, and push the buy button for the prettyness alone.  We are not those people.  We're the "hard core simmers" (I know.....hate that phrase too...just like "Study level") who are intimate with the community, literally have seen it all in the flightsim world, and want more than just pretty.  We happily pay the premium price for an A2A over a Carenado because we know there difference, and want the difference. 🙂

Carenado...fix your stuff...make us long-time simmers want to buy everything you put on the marketplace (PC-12, Cheyanne, Cardinal RG, P210...I'm in!) if you just go the extra mile (wait...its' not even a mile..you're so close...its just a few feet actually!)

 

Edited September 19, 20205 yr by Steve Dra

4 minutes ago, sd_flyer said:

Your complacency just  encourage developer like Carenado to release more products like that

But you are a hardcore customer who is window shopping in a "casuals" market, what do you expect to see? It's not their fault if they don't have the same stringent requirements as you and me...and carenado's intent is to fulfill that casual need. At least that's the way I look at them (Carenado).

The Carenado/Alabeo fleet are a better value at 50% off. Couple that with Bert's mods and you will be a happier customer.

16 minutes ago, raymar said:

I am interested in your video, but, geez can't you come up with a better resolution than 360p. I didn't even know anyone could make a video with that low a resolution.  I think your phone would be about 8X that if you just recorded your screen.  My My.

This is Youtube ))) Just in one hour it will be in 4K!

3 hours ago, DJJose said:

I had the Alabeo M20 for XPl11 with the RXP GTN 750 and I loved it while I had it on my SSD.

It's hard for me to even think about buying this for the asking price when Carenado couldn't even take the time to upgrade the default GNS 530. After reading some of the issues, it saddens me that I will not be able to enjoy this in MSFS. 

I thank all of you for the initial reviews and for reminding me of why I always have to pause before I make a Carenado purchase.

Update: The pause might be short lived. 😀

The flight dynamics and fuel flows are not that good, but, it looks and feels like a Mooney and it has round gauges and a full panel of dead avionics today. The pitch is much to light so we just have to treat it like a feather for now.  I do like the engine sounds for sure and it has that outstanding Carenado look.  I was a little disappointed it only comes with 4 liveries, but at least we can  paint our own IDs. 

I managed to get to 2,000 ft and level off before the avionics all went blank.  I climbed to 8,000 then 10,000 ft to check the speeds and FF.  Speeds are slow vs book (just like a Mooney) but then one needs to be about 10 - 15 kts faster at that altitudes.  I snapped a screenshot so those that haven't purchased can see what the numbers look like. 

My take is everything that is not right, can be made right.  We probably need to get a couple of hot shots to get interested in our Mooney set up a mod team at Github and and slowly make it right.  I have no idea what is going on with the Avionics bug, but it is a true PITA and the zigzag GPS course will eventually be fixed, I hope.  Bert will stay on them until someone makes the LPV approaches possible so it is just a matter of time.

I think we can enjoy is as a slick, low wing, round gauge retractable, with good avionics (when they work) until something better gets our attention.  There are other similar planes from other devs in work so I guess we need to be patient.

@raymar How's the slideslips in heavy xwind? also, does the f/d function with a/p off?

Just now, hangar said:

@raymar How's the slideslips in heavy xwind? also, does the f/d function with a/p off?

Beats me. That short climb to altitude to see the speeds and fuel flow is all that I captured.  I make 3 or 4 trips around the pattern on another flight to see how it feels and other than the elevator feels way light to me, I like it.  The sounds are good, the interior looks like the real thing, and I really like have to 6 small round gauges up high and in my face.  I am also glad to see the digital stuff to fine tune the fuel and power once Asobo makes it possible to do so. 

When the AP is off, all the goodies are dead. It flies like a plane without an AP.

k, thanks

4 minutes ago, hangar said:

But you are a hardcore customer who is window shopping in a "casuals" market, what do you expect to see? It's not their fault if they don't have the same stringent requirements as you and me...and carenado's intent is to fulfill that casual need. At least that's the way I look at them (Carenado).

Great point!

However...a good analogy I feel would be...you're shopping at Walmart for a business suit for a job interview....you find a nice one, looks pretty and all, but when look closely, the lapel is sewed on crooked, the pocket is upside down, and the label is on the outside of the suit.

We'd be happy if we went to the interview and we got the job, but the interviewer would most likely notice the upside down pocket or crooked lapel if they were looking closely. 

If we knew we wanted to nail this interview, we'd go to a store that specializes in suits, get one that's right, and pay a little more.

The philosophical question comes when you ask yourself is why did you pay for a suit at all from Walmart with those obvious flaws....lining the manufacturer's suit pocket with your money (hehe....that phrase just worked out).   Wouldn't you at least expect they'd create a suit that was maybe not of the best fabric, or had the high-price buttons and such...but was at least manufactured correctly?

That is the point I think we all struggle with...we're all aware the Carenado will never beat A2A in flight fidelity, but they should at least have correct basic stuff...rudder trim, AP that doesn't zigzag, fuel flows that are not backwards base on altitude...etc.  Give me that at the price they are asking, and I'm all in.

29 minutes ago, raymar said:

The flight dynamics and fuel flows are not that good, but, it looks and feels like a Mooney and it has round gauges and a full panel of dead avionics today. The pitch is much to light so we just have to treat it like a feather for now.  I do like the engine sounds for sure and it has that outstanding Carenado look.  I was a little disappointed it only comes with 4 liveries, but at least we can  paint our own IDs. 

I managed to get to 2,000 ft and level off before the avionics all went blank.  I climbed to 8,000 then 10,000 ft to check the speeds and FF.  Speeds are slow vs book (just like a Mooney) but then one needs to be about 10 - 15 kts faster at that altitudes.  I snapped a screenshot so those that haven't purchased can see what the numbers look like. 

My take is everything that is not right, can be made right.  We probably need to get a couple of hot shots to get interested in our Mooney set up a mod team at Github and and slowly make it right.  I have no idea what is going on with the Avionics bug, but it is a true PITA and the zigzag GPS course will eventually be fixed, I hope.  Bert will stay on them until someone makes the LPV approaches possible so it is just a matter of time.

I think we can enjoy is as a slick, low wing, round gauge retractable, with good avionics (when they work) until something better gets our attention.  There are other similar planes from other devs in work so I guess we need to be patient.

 

They did a nice job with the XP version. The visuals are stunning!

Jose

 

1 hour ago, sd_flyer said:

Which "books" are you using? Did you notice abnormal mixture behavior? Howe about increase fuel burn when you lean properly? Is that alternate universe? LOL No! This is basic  functionality that doesn't even touch a study level, and it's bugged. Your complacency just  encourage developer like Carenado to release more products like that: bugged and untested.

POH... and leaning properly to 50F below peak EGT gives me the fuel flow pretty close the Section 5 (Performance) of the POH. Slightly more since it was warmer than ISA but otherwise quite accurate. 

Perhaps not be so hasty to judge others “LOL”. Man, this forum gets worse every time I check it. 

13 minutes ago, Prpn said:

POH... and leaning properly to 50F below peak EGT gives me the fuel flow pretty close the Section 5 (Performance) of the POH. Slightly more since it was warmer than ISA but otherwise quite accurate. 

Perhaps not be so hasty to judge others “LOL”. Man, this forum gets worse every time I check it. 

Confirm! Leaning and FF close to the POH at least at the 10k feet.

Edited September 19, 20205 yr by OSM

34 minutes ago, Steve Dra said:

Great point!

However...a good analogy I feel would be...you're shopping at Walmart for a business suit for a job interview....you find a nice one, looks pretty and all, but when look closely, the lapel is sewed on crooked, the pocket is upside down, and the label is on the outside of the suit.

We'd be happy if we went to the interview and we got the job, but the interviewer would most likely notice the upside down pocket or crooked lapel if they were looking closely. 

If we knew we wanted to nail this interview, we'd go to a store that specializes in suits, get one that's right, and pay a little more.

The philosophical question comes when you ask yourself is why did you pay for a suit at all from Walmart with those obvious flaws....lining the manufacturer's suit pocket with your money (hehe....that phrase just worked out).   Wouldn't you at least expect they'd create a suit that was maybe not of the best fabric, or had the high-price buttons and such...but was at least manufactured correctly?

That is the point I think we all struggle with...we're all aware the Carenado will never beat A2A in flight fidelity, but they should at least have correct basic stuff...rudder trim, AP that doesn't zigzag, fuel flows that are not backwards base on altitude...etc.  Give me that at the price they are asking, and I'm all in.

I would add to your analogy the part that has me about to buy this plane:

All the suit stores are closed and may not be open for months. Walmart is literally the only place you can buy a suit today. Do you buy the Walmart suit or go to the job interview in an Iron Maiden t-shirt (all your “default” closet has in it?)

We have two choices today. Fly the default or buy the Carenado, knowing its flaws. I’m prolly about to drop $30 🙂