I've been a L39 fan since the Lotus version back in FSX.  It was a ground-breaking addon, with some awesome lighting effects that no developer had ever done.  The model was gorgeous along with the sounds and systems operation.  It even included RXP GNS430W support.  It was definitely one of my most-flown addons.  So with the release of the Reno Races aircraft I decided to spend the 10 USD on just one of them.  The L39 and P51's interested me the most so for now I've settled on Red Thunder livery from the L39 pack.  I was torn between this, Tumbling Goose, and Pipsqueak (I see all the record holders in the sim use that one lol).  Knowing that Working Title will be giving the G3X (already using their current mod) a new flight plan manager and subsystems (think g1000 nxi treatment), I decided on this cockpit/livery - and also because it has a nice GFC autopilot.  I think the L39 is more fun to fly HOTAS but sometimes I've got a baby on my lap haha!  That, and an AP is good for longer trips.

There are a lot of inop switches in the cockpit - so as long as you're not expecting a Lotus-like experience, I'd say right off the bat that the cost is well worth it.  I had troubles starting the thing.  From memory the L39 is started first with the Saphir starter, basically an APU of sorts.  Then the actual turbine is started after that.  I initially could not get the engine to light off...  so maybe I'll take to the Tubes of You to refresh my memory.  The sounds were very nice though.  And the engine start/spool is a nice long sequence which I think is accurate.  I could not locate any beacon or strobe lighting.  I did find the landing lights (forward of the lower left panel), and the cockpit lighting for night flights is about mid way on the right side of the cockpit on the frame - there's a rheostat - which doesn't appear to do anything...but I assume it would be a dimmer in real life.  Visibility is very good from the cockpit (you may have to increase your seat height a little).  There is a fairly strong reflection from the G3X at night in the cockpit - semi annoying...but it could be related to my use of Track IR (which is somewhat broken still - but I try to use it when it works).

For departure I liftoff around 120 KIAS (oh, the far left standby ASI doesn't appear to work.  Or only one needle works - perhaps the "hundreds" is missing) - but we've got the backup EADI and of course your main G3X so it's not a real issue.  Climb rates below 10k are very good.  For most of my flying and screenshots seen here I was at or below 17,500 ft (VFR top in the USA for cruise at least).  There is an O2 knob which was turned on but the left rear panel O2 switches are inop.  Cruise speeds around 240 KIAS or about 340 KTAS depending on altitude.  I guess MMO is .80 which seems high but probably doable - I did not attempt it.  I did quite a bit of hand flying and the roll rate is excellent - not overly done like they are sometimes in the sim.  At least with my nearly two-decade old FFB2 stick, I felt like I had good control over the aircraft during all phases of flight.  I cannot remember if inverted flight has a time limit (it could be 30 seconds) - but I did a little of that too hehe.  I also tried a power on stall at 11,500 ft - the nose did drop quickly but again I can't recall actual stall behavior in the L39.  For recover I simply added power and unloaded the elevators and climbed out.  I decided to get a class B clearance and land in Minneapolis on RY 35 for a stiff crosswind.  The rudder had decent authority when I kicked the nose over on short final for a decent landing.  Final approach speed around 120 kias - over the numbers around 105 is what I did and it felt right hehe.

I did pickup some icing with the new "lovely" haze layer haha...and I did find some anti icing switches but they appeared inop (mid way right hand lower panel).  Maybe I'll just bind a key for windshield defrost for now!  If anyone knows how to get that working (or the nav/beacon/strobes) let me know!

Overall, yes, I'm happy with the purchase for the money.

Thank you for reading here are the screens!  (Note: they make look a little bright on non HDR monitors....I would never go back to one though!)

Untitled-5 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

G3X Touch is a decent little unit but you must use the WT mod - it makes it a lot better

Untitled-1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

I did not get a digital readout on what I assume is the N1/N2 gauge - but the needles work

Untitled-2 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Throttle looks real sharp and honestly the cockpit is nicely modeled and textured (less the inop switches)

Untitled-3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

(No VFR bandits out there)

Untitled-4 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Minor modeling error here....the landing lights posts seem to be stuck down and visible with gear up.  I turned off the LLs but you can still see the floating balls below the wings and under the nose

Untitled-7 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-6 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-8 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-10 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

Untitled-16 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-15 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-17 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Speed brakes work!

Untitled-18 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-19 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Edited November 21, 20214 yr by ryanbatcund

Thanks a lot for the review, Ryan! The Lotus L-39 is one of my all-time favorites as well and I had hoped someone would do a comparison. What you say sounds quite good. Of course I don't expect it to be on the same level as the Lotus L-39 but it is good to know that all the important things work. From what I've read Asobo did not simulate the slow spool up time of the engine in the L-39. That's sad because that's what made flying the Lotus L-39 so challenging. But maybe I should get the $30 Reno package as I'm also very interested in the T-6.

Initial startup - yes the engine start takes a little while.  But unfortunately you are correct...engine reactivity to power settings it's almost like a prop aircraft hehe.

Addendum to this is that I believe repaints WILL NOT work.  I downloaded one, changed the requisite cfg entries but I don't have a base L39 texture folder.

21 hours ago, ryanbatcund said:

Addendum to this is that I believe repaints WILL NOT work.  I downloaded one, changed the requisite cfg entries but I don't have a base L39 texture folder.

That's too bad, because it means this will hold true for the other planes in this package too. But at least you can fly them anywhere you want.  

Yeah I think you buy the entire L39 pack a repaint would work.  It needs a base texture folder which isn't included.

 

wow nice stuff