The Edgley EA-7 Optica is a British aircraft which looks like a combination of a helicopter and an ultralight.

 

Download link:

https://flightsim.to/file/12731/ea-7-edgley-optica

Random review I found:

 

I grabbed this a couple of days ago. Neat plane with an interesting history going back to the 70's. I found the option to put the dog on the floor amusing. 😉

 

I've never seen this aircrash (lol) before, so I had to check out the real world one.  Looks fun, but I wonder what the trim and cross wind characterics were/are like... very interesting.  Thanks so much for this!

 

Dave

The Optica created quite a buzz (no pun intended!) when first launched in the UK and really should have been more successful, particularly with police forces and survey companies. There are plans afoot to get production underway again, with modern avionics. I hope it succeeds. I think it was one of those inventions where the concept was better than the execution, but it that could be improved, who knows?

I downloaded the original version of the FSX port - fun but a bit basic with it's flight dynamics, so I'll need to try this update.

If someone would get the flight dynamics right, it could become one of my favourite VFR planes. Now it flies more like a C172 with great forward visibility and a dog.

The available info about the plane sais: it cruises with 40% power at 70 kn, stall speed with full flaps 48 kn. The MSFS mod cruises at 100 kn, and I didn't manage to fly slower than 70 kn with full flaps, which are huge, but have little effect, just produce too little lift.

20 hours ago, 109Sqn said:

and really should have been more successful, particularly with police forces

Yeah, it would have helped if one sold to a police station hadn't crashed and killed the pilot and his photographer.

I agree with @meerkat. The flight model is too fast. If you're looking for slow speed observations you'd be better off in one of the cubs or even the c150.

 

50 minutes ago, eslader said:

Yeah, it would have helped if one sold to a police station hadn't crashed and killed the pilot and his photographer.

Absolutely. Little doubt that had a major effect on its failure to get sales. It really would have made a great, and cheaper alternative to a helicopter, considering how much it costs forces to employ their use.

FYI....Looks like Orbx are working on an Edgley Optica.

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/orbx-2021-roadmap-with-aircraft-edgley-optica/387785

Heading Indicator needs some work.. Neat plane though.