Just saw that they have published this aircraft for MSFS. Who's the first one to try it? The price is very attractive, and there's no need for folks to talk about their poor quality. For the price, we need to be realistic.

 

 

lol ... this is Avsim we want it all, and we want it for free, we want 24/7 support, and we want it right now 😄

 

Seeming as most of the real life ones still in operation are used for air freight, the fact they have a cargo variant is what makes this interesting.

Just a heads up for anyone unaware of it. Virtualcol's Beechcraft 99 for MSFS is now on sale. It's fairly typical Virtualcol fare, not flashy but it does the job and like most Virtualcol add-ons, comes with a lot (20) of liveries and types (three variants - the 99A, the 99B and the 99F). It is certainly nice to have a Beech twin with steam gauges, although be aware that it's not the prettiest modeling and texturing job, which is fairly typical for Virtualcol. If you've got other Virtualcol birds, you'll know what to expect graphically as well as in terms of functionality, although in fairness, the rain effect on the side windows is pretty cool.

Unlike the Carenado payware birds, this one works in Air Hauler 2, since it has a unencrypted Aircraft Config File, and it is a useful alternative to the default Beech in the sim with Air Hauler, because it can carry 5,531lbs cargo as opposed to the default Beech 350i's capacity of 5,193.

There's a fairly basic PDF manual (17 pages) with it, and this does mention that some things are not as functional as they would like owing to the SDK delays (for example the wiper animation is missing). It also mentions they'll update it when they can to include better functionality. Visually it is nice externally, not stunning but certainly okay. Internally it's pretty basic and not really on par with default Asobo offerings, but it all works and I've seen worse, so I can live with it, especially for the price - $16.49, or with a fairly considerable discount for owners of the preceding FSX/P3D Beech upon which it is based, although it is not a straight port over of that, instead having been done specifically for MSFS, but using a few bits and bobs from the FSX/P3D one.

It flies pretty well, although it is a bit more sensitive to overstressing than the default Beech twin and it is a bit more nose heavy as well, so it's a little bit harder to trim, but certainly not unpleasant. Sounds are pretty good. No flashy animations with it, but the paint jobs are good. Note that the registration appears to be on the paint jobs.

Some pics of it:

Edited January 6, 20215 yr by Chock

Looks like fun.

Best

bs

35 minutes ago, flyforever said:

Who's the first one to try it?

See my sort of 'mini review' on this same forum.

VirtualCol has slowly been upping their game.  The cockpit looks decent. Maybe we will get some Embraers and ATRs of useable quality.  The A220 wasn't bad.

@Chock

I merged your post to the existing topic on the release of this plane.

I'm using the aircraft now and find that the aileron animation is reversed, the vertical speed indication is reversed, and doesn't even work, and most importantly, the aircraft barely climbs when close to the ground. I've had previous VirtualCol aircraft for P3D, including their Beech 99, but unless I'm missing something, the future updates are definitely needed.

VSI seems okay to me on the gauge, but yes, the aileron animation is indeed reversed.

Is there not enough room for the GPS to fit in the panel?

8 minutes ago, Phantoms said:

Is there not enough room for the GPS to fit in the panel?

At least it has one lol

11 minutes ago, Phantoms said:

Is there not enough room for the GPS to fit in the panel?

To quote the manual:

GPS REFERENCE NOTE: This instrument is only a REFERENCE, only can be changed frequencies (using as radio) but NOT for set navigation. If you wish set navigation, please prepare your flight from Flight Simulator main menu and active the flight plane created using DME PANEL and changing to GPS navigation mode.'

In other words, you can follow a magenta line, but the GPS thing on the top of the cockpit coaming is not a fancy one, it just displays what the Bendix is picking up, but that's okay, it seems to be flying my nav plan well enough:

Edited January 6, 20215 yr by Chock

22 minutes ago, Chock said:

VSI seems okay to me on the gauge, but yes, the aileron animation is indeed reversed.

I'm talking about the VS mode on the autopilot panel not working. The VSI works fine. Also, have you experienced quite low engine performance on takeoff?

Aah right, not using that button, I'm engaging VS with a Saitek/Logitek hardware autopilot. Hard to say with the engine power, I took off from FMMI (Ivato Int'l) with a full load of cargo and fuel, actually a couple of lbs overweight prior to taxi. FMMI is 4,200 feet above sea level and it was a tropical rain, so I'd expect it to struggle a bit to take off. It's not as sprightly as the default Beech 350i, but I think you just have to trim it properly and then it will climb okay. I'm cruising up at 25,000 feet and it got up there no problem:

Somebody needs to stop cleaning the windows with a scouring pad: