Iris have released the Grob 115E military basic trainer:

https://store.irissimulations.com.au/product/iris-airforce-series-tutor-t-1-msfs/

I believe the target market for this is young simmers and air cadets hoping to eventually join the RAF/RAAF. However the price seems very reasonable ($US20), may be worth picking up.

From the RAF website:

• Powerplant: one 180hp Textron Lycoming  AE-360-B piston engine
• Length: 24ft 9in (7.54m)
• Height overall: 9ft 3in (2.82m)
• Wingspan: 32ft 9¾in (10m)
• Wing area: 131.40sqft (12.21m2)
• Maximum take-off weight: 2,182lb (990kg)
• Never exceed speed: 185kt (343km/h)
• Maximum rate of climb at sea level: 909ft/min (277m/min)
• Range at 75% power with 45-minute reserves at 4,000ft: 446nm (826km)
• Maximum altitude: 10,000ft

 

Edited August 21, 20214 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

My turn to take a punt on this one and first impressions are that it's fast and very responsive almost to the point of twitchiness, but seems to behave very smoothly.

Big problem however is I'm not getting any engine noise at all.
Correction there don't appear to be any aicraft noises at all jusr radio - better try a redownload and install.

(Also DEFINITELY odd flying from the right-hand seat)

Edited August 21, 20214 yr by Matchstick

21 minutes ago, Matchstick said:

Correction there don't appear to be any aicraft noises at all jusr radio - better try a redownload and install.

Hope that’s just a temporary problem. I’m interested in this but not if there are no sounds!

Definitely a problem at my end - did a reinstall direct into Community folder and there are sounds.

Need to do a quick test and see if problem was related to using Addons Linker originally rather than installing direct

All working fine now - no idea what problem first time around was about

Edited August 21, 20214 yr by Matchstick

Initial thoughts after a couple of circuits.

Model looks good inside and out. No pilot or student models visible in cockpit unless I messed a way to turn those on.

Sounds are good but engine noise doesn't seem to change when the canopy is opened (looks like you can fly with it open - yay)

Most off the equipment in the cockpit loss to be working but no circuit breakers are implemented and most off the GPS controls are INOP.

Speaking of the GPS if anyone is upset there's one included don't be. It is incredibly basic and functionality all it does is display limited data and drive the HSI CDI needle and one of the DME modes. You turn it off with a single click and never think of it again for the entire flight. If your do want to use it closest to the G100 option in the JF PA28s. No ability to enter or modify flight plan, no way to choose the way point you are flying to (so no way to avoid the ridiculous TIMECLI waypoints Asobo insist on adding to the flight planning), no OBS - just point to point flying.

It does have a page showing the nearest airfields but you have no way to select one so of you want to use that information you are doing it entirely manually.

Flight mechanics - I've no idea how the real thing flies but she seems to fly convincingly well. Feels right for smallish, lightish body with a relatively large engine up front. Responsive and light controls allow you to throw the thing around but she also drops speed nicely and seems tame in approach and landing.

She certainly stalls snappily, no mushing down, the nose drops and you are left in no doubt. Recovers quickly and easily. Haven't managed a spin yet. Seems to need a lot of rudder trim to keep straight. Haven't really noticed adverse yaw in turns.

Son overall I think there's some refinement to make but I'm definitely liking it.

Plus you get to fly from the other seat. If nothing else that makes this plane unique in MSFS to my knowledge.

Edited August 22, 20214 yr by Matchstick

2 hours ago, Matchstick said:

engine noise doesn't seem to change when the canopy is opened

That's the same with Iris's J160/J170.   Plus some missing switch sounds and no door opening sound.  I do love the J160/J170 but feel the sounds could definitely be improved.  Sounds like the same may be true for the Grob.

OK ... basic summary have not had time to fly it much.

This is a model of the military trainer variant so solo you fly from the instructors seat.

You do need to set the strobe to "white" as there seem to be issues with the flashing bleeding through when set to red. Have not had time to check for the SU5 electric and switch issues a lot of aircraft are having.  I think the main forums have picked up a few things need tweaking.

Sound is fine.

Fun to toss around, very responsive to the controls.

I tried bush bashing in it and, while you can get away with it, you may pick up the odd branch and lots of leaves if your not on an actual grass strip - see video 😄

 

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 20214 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

I'd hoped to see a little more feedback on this one (by this stage). Looks appealing, but I wasn't too impressed with the textures in the Jabiru; is it any better in the Tutor? How twitchy is it compared to say, the Cap? Any more video reviews? Anything really? 🙂

Something I noticed in Iris' FSX releases / P3D ports was that the control sensitivity was always at the extreme end of twitchy. Maybe their flight model guy needed a new joystick.

I like the idea of a Tutor for MSFS but I have a feeling this might be a port rather than a full MSFS build. Holding off buying until there's more info from reviews.

5 hours ago, lupedelupe said:

I'd hoped to see a little more feedback on this one (by this stage). Looks appealing, but I wasn't too impressed with the textures in the Jabiru; is it any better in the Tutor? How twitchy is it compared to say, the Cap? Any more video reviews? Anything really? 🙂

I do not do reviews as they are sooo subjective.  Also only have an hour or two in the aircraft so could easily be missing stuff.

Textures are fine to me, but I had no issues with the JF PA28 textures and a lot of people hated them so I am the wrong person to ask.  My (relatively minor)  issues here are the compass can be too dark to read easily and if you set the strobe to "red" rather than "white" the flashing bleeds through.

Internal textures are sort of that Jabiru /Just Flight level.   If you want Carenado/Asobo  squeaky clean this is the wrong aircraft for you.

Some people have reported electrical oddities but have not had any myself.

I tend to not comment too much on flight characteristics as my setup seems to be different to most. I tend to accelerate the sensitivity for more responsiveness. 

Impressions on my setup are it flies well in the air, responsive rather than twitchy.   There are claims people cannot spin it but it definitely spins if you push it too hard.

Ground response is OK for me but on other setups it could easily verge on "twitchy" hard to tell.  On the ground with crosswinds over 10 knots it can definitely be challenging. On a different setup than mine, especially with just a twist stick. it could get rather interesting.   Basically I personally have no issues but your experience may differ.

Once your on the ground without throttle, you do not have enough rudder authority in a 12 to 15 knot crosswind to roll straight you need differential breaking to stay on the runway,  but most MSFS aircraft are like that, I  am pretty sure it is generic sim fault.

For what its worth - a short cockpit video.  As i said these textures are fine by me but if you found the JF aircraft and the original jabiru not up to scratch then this is probably not the plane for you.

 

 

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

Thanks very much for all the trouble you've gone to @Glenn Fitzpatrick. Looks okay to me, and it's the type of aircraft I quite enjoy. I think I will buy it when it becomes available on the Orbx store (ease of updates). 

4 hours ago, lupedelupe said:

Thanks very much for all the trouble you've gone to @Glenn Fitzpatrick. Looks okay to me, and it's the type of aircraft I quite enjoy. I think I will buy it when it becomes available on the Orbx store (ease of updates). 

No worries.

On a "twitchiness" scale where the Bleriot and the Carenado WACO get a 1 or 2 and super stable stuff like the Cessna 140 get up around 9 or 10 or so -  I would rate this thing as around the 4 to 6 mark.  Bearing in mind nose down trim makes anything twitchy in this sim at present.

 

EDIT:  It is worth noting the rudder animation does move a lot with quite small rudder movements 🙂

That aside - landings with a 10 to 15 knot crosswind are quite possible ...  live weather

 

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

For what it is worth until some actual reviews appear.  One more video - a circuit in the rain at Murchison.  Live weather again.

 

 

 

Edited August 23, 20214 yr by Glenn Fitzpatrick

The 2nd patch is now available for download with a batch of fixes:

 

Quote

Version 2.1.0

Released: 24 August 2021

• All aircraft – Corrected LODs for improved multiplayer performance and future XBox compatibility.
• All aircraft – Radio and Transponder knobs animate correctly.
• All aircraft – Refined canopy animation based on user feedback.
• All aircraft – Refined PBR materials in cockpit.
• All aircraft – Added base soundpack for inclusion of sounds relating to interactive items.
• All aircraft – Corrected version number in simulation.
• All aircraft – Added ORBX livery to coincide with launch on Orbx Direct.
• All aircraft – Added exterior prop pitch animation.
• All aircraft – Corrected issue with instrument panel seams.
• All aircraft – Adjusted nosewheel compression/steering animation.
• All aircraft – Added correct indications on Manifold Pressure and Fuel Flow needles.
• All aircraft – Corrected landing light visibility.
• All aircraft – Corrected belly beacon light in Virtual Cockpit.
• All aircraft – Adjusted pilot/student visibility to payload station weight.
• All aircraft – Fixed flashing windshield in rain conditions.
• All aircraft – Added high detail exterior cockpit.
• All aircraft – Fixed missing interior glass in external view.
• Various Quality of Life fixes.

 

Thanks for the update @Glenn Fitzpatrick. You've convinced me to try it. 😀😅