A compound flight from Ranger Creek 21W to Orcas Island KORS in the Pacific Northwest of the USA.  Flying the SWS Kodiak 100.

I dodged IMC leaving 21W and picked up an IFR with Seattle Center as soon as I was clear of terrain and high enough for radio reception.

Routing: 21W SEA V23 HUH KORS / RNAV(GPS) 34 via CVV (originally planned RNAV 16 via HUH, for winds)

This aircraft definitely captures the hearts of users who seek realism - especially in the flight handling arena.  I've found the ground handling to be the best I've seen in any sim.  Inertia feels spot on and the way the plane reacts to control inputs also feels quite believable.  I think it's the best addon for MSFS so far.  I enjoy the soundset as well - the beta when the prop changes pitch angle is spot on.  The little clicks of the switches are subtle but perfect.  They recently released a small update to address the initially excessive torque on takeoff as well.  Aside from superior flight dynamics the look, IE textures, and modeling is exquisite.  It seems to be one of the first addons to look like the Asobo default aircraft.  Isn't that weird to say?  We know that Asobo used handheld high-end 3d scanners and wow you can tell the difference compared to earlier sim versions.  Anyway the texturing in the Kodiak is sublime - I feel as though I could just hop into the actual cockpit and feel right at home after using the sim for an hour or so.  The avionics are complete, especially in the navigation realm, when choosing the WT G1000 Nxi - free from the Marketplace.  They modeled ESI500, the backup instrument on the far left of the cockpit, as well.  Environmental controls are on the lower right (in case your toes get too cold haha).  It's just a complete package - you'll want to invest in it for sure!  I found cruise speed to be around 140-150 ktas down low and 170-180 at 12000 ft.  And your stall speed (47 KIAS) with full flaps, can allow for very short fields on unimproved terrain.

Thank you for viewing!

The murk is real - hard to believe I got out VFR!

Untitled-1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-2 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Picking up our clearance and choosing 12000 as a final

Untitled-3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-5 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

The 'Summit' interior - for executives who need the utility of a Kodiak!

Untitled-6 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Impressive textures and modeling

Untitled-7 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

A third party paint - a real demo Kodiak and an elegant livery

Untitled-9 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

I was in and out of IMC for most of the flight.  A small clearing here reveals a lot of rain and snow

Untitled-10 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-11 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Sucker holes reveal Seattle neighborhoods

Untitled-14 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-15 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Left of frame near the horizon, the Olympic mountains are shrouded by low clouds

Untitled-16 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

The largest clearing I've seen yet - on descent to Penn Cove VOR, CVV (also the IAF for the rnav 34)

Untitled-17 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

That virga is actually snowshowers, btw.  It looks spot on to me!

Untitled-18 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

More ground contact

Untitled-20 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Nxi really helps out for situation awareness.  We're flying this to LP mins (Garmins designates thsose as LP+V)

Untitled-21 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Not much to see in the harbor - weather is just above minimums

Untitled-22 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-24 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Crosswind picked up out of nowhere on short final.  The large surface of the rudder allowed for a quick correction to a decent landing.

Untitled-25 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Where to next?

Untitled-26 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

Don't know what it is but you work magic with those screenshots of yours!

Awesome shots Ryan and thanks for the review , I just DL last night .

Thanks.  I wish I had more time to enjoy the plane.  Maybe in a few months hehe.

3 hours ago, tamsini said:

Don't know what it is but you work magic with those screenshots of yours!

And the review and the narratives under each image also add so much!  Great post, Ryan! And you captured the character of the day!

Edited December 26, 20214 yr by fppilot

1 hour ago, fppilot said:

And the review and the narratives under each image also add so much!  Great post, Ryan! And you captured the character of the day!

 I taught him everything he knows.

5 hours ago, fppilot said:

And the review and the narratives under each image also add so much!  Great post, Ryan! And you captured the character of the day!

Thanks Frank!

Thanks for the valuable info, Ryan. I bought the plane yesterday, but have yet to fly it. Your screenies are as usual superb!

2 minutes ago, bernd1151 said:

Thanks for the valuable info, Ryan. I bought the plane yesterday, but have yet to fly it. Your screenies are as usual superb!

Thank you!  I always love seeing your insights and pics as well.  Today I was watching some Kodiak videos at their channel on YouTube.  Learned a few things there too.  Like 20 degrees of flaps for TO and 35 for landing. I was only using 10 for TO.  (Probably all in the friendly manual which I've not read yet haha)

 

Just now, ryanbatcund said:

(Probably all in the friendly manual which I've not read yet haha)

Do we ever 😂😂

I usually don't hehe.  I seem to get by okay without most flightsim manuals but occasionally I miss something important.

Incredible shots of the Kodiak, Ryan...!

Very nice review too...and yes, it's Murky Wx...for sure...🙂....!

Great pictorial Ryan...great model but I never enjoyed flying the Kodiak in FSX/early P3d so I'll skip this one.

Darryl