1 hour ago, bobcat999 said:

I would absolutely love a Viscount along with the F-27 and HS748 - all Dart engines.

In case you're not aware, there's a freeware F-27:

https://flightsim.to/file/84997/fokker-f27-mk500

One of the best freeware planes out there IMO. Not quite payware quality in the graphics department, but the all-important character is captured very well. The sounds are good -- super important on a turboprop -- and the "Dart scream" that you mention is better represented than on the YS-11 I think. Here's a video that should give a good impression:

The addon isn't officially compatible with MSFS 2024, but it seems to work without any issues, with just a few small graphics glitches as I recall.

I'd be interested to hear how others think the YS-11 compares to the freeware F-27. I'm tempted to get the YS-11 too because, like you, I've got a soft spot for Darts. Used to love flying the HS.748 in FS9.

For others reading along, wanted to note that the Dart is different from most modern turboprop engines in that it doesn't have a free power turbine. The prop is driven directly by the main turbine (what you'd call the gas generator on a modern turboprop), and so by necessity, propeller rpm varies with engine power. No constant-speed prop here, which makes operation quite a bit different. As I recall, there's a pretty intricate mechanism on the F-27 that controls prop pitch based on throttle position -- I forget the details though. Definitely a fun engine to fly, and the sound -- wow!

Edit: I see that this previous post also discusses the Dart engines. The F-27 manual mentions that the developer had to resort to some trickery to achieve a credible representation of the engine behavior in MSFS. I'd be interested to hear how the YS-11 compares. Some of the posts here mention that there seems to be a reverse range modeled (not shown in the virtual cockpit but accessible through control assignments), which seems a bit eyebrow-raising. Would be good to know how realistic the engine modelling is as long as you don't use reverse.

Edited September 26, 2025Sep 26 by martinboehme

Oh how I wish "local legend" would make a TU-154 or TU-134!!! THAT would be AWSOME!!!

2 hours ago, bobcat999 said:

I am used to hearing hundreds of Viscount start-ups with the Darts, and I seem to remember the high pitched scream was more prominent. 
Not a bad attempt though.  I will just buy it straight out at the weekend as it seems really interesting and different.

I would absolutely love a Viscount along with the F-27 and HS748 - all Dart engines. 
As I mentioned earlier, I think JustFlight would be the best candidate to produce these.  I think they have done them all in the past for the older sims.

There were also a few older British aircraft like the Herald and Argosy (a freighter) that used Darts.  Massive nostalgia for me.

Sorry for the obsession, but the Dart is one of my favourite engines due to the sound - it's stuck in my head from my youth.  Flames out the back during start-ups was not uncommon as well!  

Agree, saw many Piedmont YS-11's and FH-227's come and go, the one thing you remember is the loud high pitched screaming of the RR Darts, this birds engines need the louder high pitched scream....and a paint kit,

Edited September 26, 2025Sep 26 by jymp

I'm just giving the YS-11 my free 24 hour trial and from something " I'd never buy"  to something that's "different perhaps I'll buy".

 

First thoughts

The EFB is very dim on my system even with the slider control maxed out and I'm not too sure of that I've got the hang of descending by using the auto pilot.

Not tested instrument approaches but hand flying is smooth and satisfying and the sound is good. 

It reminds me of the fabulous Freeware F27.

I first flew on a HAL Avro as a kid- and loved the HS-748… this will be a must try… thanks!

@jon b

C

3 hours ago, buspelle said:

Oh how I wish "local legend" would make a TU-154 or TU-134!!! THAT would be AWSOME!!!

Ablomis, a creator on Patreon, was doing the Tu-154m and recently he made a deal with a sim-publisher to make it a full-fidelity addon in the months to come. But yeah, more eastern block planes (that work) for the sim would be indeed awesome!

For what it's worth, I asked on the inibuild forums to see if they'd revisit the sound in favor of a more shrill, shrieking representation just like the real thing. They absolutely toned it down on this model, but maybe it's for liability so people don't go deaf. I also encouraged the team to look at the sound pack that was included in the freeware AFG YS-11 for FS2002-2004 which used recordings from the real aircraft. I'm not expecting a meaningful response but we'll see. 

In that regard, I may look later to see if it's possible to incorporate the soundpack from the old AFG model into this one without losing the cockpit click sounds, environmental noise, etc, etc. I'd be surprised but it would go a long way to boosting realism. 

Finally, I hope we see a blue cockpit option later, and asked for that on their forums as well (though not sure it posted due to sudden connection issues). I'm using this in 2020 so perhaps I'm missing something that 2024 users have, but it seems like we only have the dark grey interior. 

 

3 hours ago, cavaricooper said:

I first flew on a HAL Avro as a kid- and loved the HS-748… this will be a must try… thanks!

@jon b

C

I was in Delhi last week is it looks like the old HAL 748s they had parked up have gone, probably scrapped I guess.

I always remember your story you told me whenever I go to Delhi and look out for the 748s , but sadly no more.

8 hours ago, bobcat999 said:

would absolutely love a Viscount along with the F-27 and HS748 - all Dart engines. 
As I mentioned earlier, I think JustFlight would be the best candidate to produce these.  I think they have done them all in the past for the older sims

The 748 JF published was done by Aeroplane heaven and didn’t fly that accurately as I recall, nice for a bit of nostalgia though.

I agree a 748 with ATP expansion package would be an ideal thing for just flight to build.

There’s a 748 cockpit section at the Avro museum Woodford they could use for reference. As a claim to fame I actually flew that actual aircraft when I was a lad. 
Back then of course it still had wings and I still had hair !

25 minutes ago, jon b said:

The 748 JF published was done by Aeroplane heaven and didn’t fly that accurately as I recall, nice for a bit of nostalgia though.

I agree a 748 with ATP expansion package would be an ideal thing for just flight to build.

There’s a 748 cockpit section at the Avro museum Woodford they could use for reference. As a claim to fame I actually flew that actual aircraft when I was a lad. 
Back then of course it still had wings and I still had hair !

  Funny.  Same for me though. 

One of my greatest regrets was not looking into going the pilot route in early life. 
But as a lad I helped produce the flightdeck windscreens for both the 748 and YS-11 (with Triplex, Pilkington, and finally GKN). 
Both of them were gold film for the heating element if I recall correctly (difficult to produce). That was as close as I got unfortunately.  

Great days though.  Nice we have MSFS with stuff like this to help bring it back to like and relive it!

7 hours ago, buspelle said:

Oh how I wish "local legend" would make a TU-154 or TU-134!!! THAT would be AWSOME!!!

Given the current political climate, that seems very unlikely. 

Microsoft officially licences all their designs, which would mean making a deal with Tupolev...

Though I wonder if they had to make any licence deals with anyone for the YS-11 since it stopped production in '74 and NAMC hasn't existed since the '83

Edited September 26, 2025Sep 26 by Tuskin38

Apparently there are now free liveries for the FS2024 edition within the inibuilds manager app, but it doesn't sound like they are available for 2020 as well. Hopefully will be released for both soon. Looks like American Eagle, Piedmont, Mid Pacific, Japan Air System, and All Nippon. 

Do windshield wipers wipe rain?

2 hours ago, STK said:

Apparently there are now free liveries for the FS2024 edition within the inibuilds manager app, but it doesn't sound like they are available for 2020 as well. Hopefully will be released for both soon. Looks like American Eagle, Piedmont, Mid Pacific, Japan Air System, and All Nippon. 

In Canada Transair operated them.