Here's a mini review and screenshots (Part 1) of a rather lengthy flight (well, for me!) of about 570 miles and 2 hours of flying time.  This plane is the Black Square Velocity XL - about 28 USD.

I thought at first this was just another GA piston single, but I'm actually quite enjoying it - it's a canard design (and appears to be modeled well - and importantly with this design, it is said that it makes the airframe stall resistant), with a very powerful TSIO-550 twin turbocharged engine.  This engine is the 400 hp EXP version - which some people might gripe at however it's going into an experimental airframe - so I say the more power the better!  The gear is retractable allowing for great cross country speed at altitude (I was easily doing 240 ktas at FL250 - but it will do more with aggressive power settings - a small tailwind can easily bring you into the 280-300 knot range).  Also of interest - the aircraft has no flaps.  If you really fly it with the turbochargers in mind, you cannot just "chop and drop" into an airport... you'd shock cool the engine and ruin your investment in a hurry.  I'm not exactly sure of the glide ratio either haha!  There are about 1000 Velocity aircraft around today.  Range at econ cruise should be around 1600 miles.  This flight was mostly on autopilot but earlier in the week I had flown it by hand and shot a few radar approaches with pattern work.  At first it was tricky to get slowed down but it feels a lot better after a couple of hours of flight.

The avionics are the G3X and GTN 750.  I've fitted my Velocity with the WT G3X and the TDS GTN 750Xi - this is not an official mod but I hope the developer will integrate the TDS shortly.  I shot an RNAV(GPS) approach with vertical guidance and it worked great!  (I did end up circling to land).  The freeware PMS is also available.  I understand the G3X isn't the greatest of avionics but with the GTN it is a lot better.  I would have liked to see some oxygen status or O2 ability - since the aircraft can go to FL250.  In the US at least you'd need onboard O2 above 12,500 ft (after 30 min).  The autopilot can be controlled via the G3X touchscreen w/WT mod or by use of the physical GFC500 controls under the GTN.  IAS mode works well.  As I said I fitted mine with the TDS mod that I've made on my own - I may be able to share it but I'm hoping Black Square will officially make an integration since TDS has provided a lovely 3d bezel and SDK.  At any rate, the circuit breakers are functional however I didn't observe a failures module of any sort (nor an EFB).  That doesn't bother me because I'm not really interested in that at the moment.  There is also cabin/cockpit dimmers and the night lighting is decent.  I do like how they've placarded V speeds on the far left for reference as you fly.

I don't have a lot of experience with this engine type - it sounds a Lancair IVP - which I've been around and are typically equipped with the TSIO-550 as well.  Sounds could be better imho but it's not an incredibly expensive addon either.  I'd give the sounds a 7/10.  I'd say as addons go the PMDG 737 is 10/10 and the FSWC414 and MV C310 are about 9/10 for reference points.

Overall it's a good product for a reasonable price.  I'm glad they kept it under 30 USD.  It's about on par with Carenado, with slightly less texture quality but more systems functionality.

I took it on a flight from Eugene, OR to San Luis Obispo in CA.  Route:   KEUG OED J126 RBL J65 SAC J126 SNS T261 MQO (RNAV 11 CTL 29) KSBP  at FL250.  It was murky and rainy leaving Eugene but the skies cleared up and allowed for some nice scenery watching about half way through my trip.

Here are Part 1 of my shots, departure, climb and cruise phase.  Part 2 later with descent (VNAV guidance from the GTN), and loading and flying the RNAV approach into KSBP.

Unique design for sure...

Untitled-1 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Got the Garmin SafeTaxi going to preview my route

Untitled-2 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-3 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-4 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-5 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Moderate rain in the climb...

Untitled-6 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Turned into trace-light rime until I climbed out of the tops

Untitled-7 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Quickly melted off though

Untitled-9 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Hint of a rainbow

Untitled-10 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-11 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Massive crosswind but good performance!

Untitled-12 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Showing off some of the interior details

Untitled-13 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

The logo isn't blurry it's actually very nicely modeled stitching

Untitled-14 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-15 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Aircraft is very clean - not much weathering I can see

Untitled-16 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Clouds breaking up as I unfortunately run into more of a headwind off the Pacific

Untitled-17 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Might be Mt Shasta in the background

Untitled-18 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Untitled-19 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Airport beneath is Redding, CA KRDD

Untitled-20 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

Part 2 awaits...

Untitled-21 by Ryan Butterworth, on Flickr

 

 

Edited June 13, 20223 yr by ryanbatc

Thanks for the great review Ryan! Should the G3X ever get a major update from the WT team I'll certainly consider buying this airplane. 

Excellent review and shots Ryan .

Well it seems the latest update released this afternoon has the GTN integration, thanks for the review, it's what made me decide to get it.

BTW What should be used for Simbrief to get close please?

Great review

Nice and succinct review, Ryan. A curious a/c... indeed... though I recall it well from the past...

(Looks like you're getting good at fitting TDS GTN 750 to any a/c...🙂...always an asset...)

Great review and shots there Ryan !