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Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.
A2A Cessna 182T Skylane available
- Thread starter lownslo
- Start date
Well I told myself I was going to wait for awhile, since I have enough other stuff on the go. But, er, it just didn't happen. My wallet snuck out of my back pocket, and let my credit card have access to the keyboard while I wasn't looking.
Spent a couple of hours in it on and off over the course of the day and I'm really, really pleased. It feels absolutely wonderful in the air, everything works perfectly, it sounds gorgeous... very, very well done. The immersion that the soundset lends to the simulation can not be overstated. From all the switches sounding just so, to the sound of the starter when it's cranking over, to even the fuel pump sound responding to a decreasing battery level when you're having trouble trying to start it.
While I'm the wrong person to speak for it's authenticity, it handles quite convincingly in the air. Landing is a bit to get used to, pretty easy to land a bit harder than you want. My first landing had a few jarring bounces. Did okay on my next few, made more interesting by a ten knot crosswind where I was flying.
One thing that I was pumped about was the GTN integration, which works rather nicely. However, the GTN has a bit of a washed out look - not the fault of A2A. Hopefully Flight1 can put in the ability to adjust the brightness now that people are going to be starting to use the gauge in VC's.
And the hand towing thing, while not everyone's cup of tea perhaps, works really, really slick. I'm the type of guy that likes to do a full startup and shutdown with GA planes, right down to removing the pilot when able and panning around the plane at the end of the flight. I can see me getting lots of use of the tow feature, since it'll let me back into an open hanger or park backed up to the edge of an apron rather nicely.
The only thing that is perhaps a bit sad is that unless you really have a soft spot for 172s, it's unlikely you'll ever pull that one out of the hangar. This 182 is, in my opinion, quite a bit more polished than the 172, and flies with quite a bit more character. Combine that with more options for GPS units, and I might as well uninstall the 172.
Edit: Oh and it would indeed seem that the reports of an FPS hit with this are really a user specific thing. I noticed no hit at all over and above the Cherokee or the 172.
Spent a couple of hours in it on and off over the course of the day and I'm really, really pleased. It feels absolutely wonderful in the air, everything works perfectly, it sounds gorgeous... very, very well done. The immersion that the soundset lends to the simulation can not be overstated. From all the switches sounding just so, to the sound of the starter when it's cranking over, to even the fuel pump sound responding to a decreasing battery level when you're having trouble trying to start it.
While I'm the wrong person to speak for it's authenticity, it handles quite convincingly in the air. Landing is a bit to get used to, pretty easy to land a bit harder than you want. My first landing had a few jarring bounces. Did okay on my next few, made more interesting by a ten knot crosswind where I was flying.
One thing that I was pumped about was the GTN integration, which works rather nicely. However, the GTN has a bit of a washed out look - not the fault of A2A. Hopefully Flight1 can put in the ability to adjust the brightness now that people are going to be starting to use the gauge in VC's.
And the hand towing thing, while not everyone's cup of tea perhaps, works really, really slick. I'm the type of guy that likes to do a full startup and shutdown with GA planes, right down to removing the pilot when able and panning around the plane at the end of the flight. I can see me getting lots of use of the tow feature, since it'll let me back into an open hanger or park backed up to the edge of an apron rather nicely.
The only thing that is perhaps a bit sad is that unless you really have a soft spot for 172s, it's unlikely you'll ever pull that one out of the hangar. This 182 is, in my opinion, quite a bit more polished than the 172, and flies with quite a bit more character. Combine that with more options for GPS units, and I might as well uninstall the 172.
Edit: Oh and it would indeed seem that the reports of an FPS hit with this are really a user specific thing. I noticed no hit at all over and above the Cherokee or the 172.
I just made my first cross country after taking delivery at KIDP. I usually don't like flying GA into large airports but decided to test for frame rates on this flight. I don't have any large airport add-ons, but suffered no noticeable frame rate loss at KDEN... maybe 2-3 frames is all. KDEN wasn't quite as smooth as most smaller airports but certainly not ugly. I use FS Genesis mesh and Orbx Regions. I must be one of the lucky ones who isn't having a problem with frame rates and the 182.
Not so lucky with the systems though. Everything worked fine except the AP. HDG, NAV, APR, Alt Hold... all of it was nonop. I could dial in the target altitude and that's it. All the other avionics work without problems. Had to hand fly almost 450 miles but with the 182's flight dynamics that wasn't too bad. Also, aren't the circuit breakers suppose to work on this bird? Not on mine. Can someone confirm that the 182 has functioning CB's?
Greg
Not so lucky with the systems though. Everything worked fine except the AP. HDG, NAV, APR, Alt Hold... all of it was nonop. I could dial in the target altitude and that's it. All the other avionics work without problems. Had to hand fly almost 450 miles but with the 182's flight dynamics that wasn't too bad. Also, aren't the circuit breakers suppose to work on this bird? Not on mine. Can someone confirm that the 182 has functioning CB's?
Greg
It might be worth posting on the A2A boards about your issue; when I was reading the boards there yesterday, I didn't see any major issues being reported such as that. During my flights yesterday I had engaged the AP into ROL and V/S mode, but that's it.
Bomber_12th
SOH-CM-2025
Tim-HH, you should get royalties for posting screenshots like that! : )
No joy, TJ.
I think you're right, Jimmy. Collecting data on the failure now. I've reinstalled the latest core update but still no AP. I notice there is a thread in their forums now about this issue, so hopefully we'll get it sorted soon. Will report back here then.
Thanks all,
Greg
One of the devs suggested that I reinstall the 182 over the original install, and that solved the problem. AP is working just as it should now. My Windows and FSX install have been very stable for more than 18 months, and I've had very few issues with the sim or add-ons. This one was head scratcher, though. Computers... go figure. 
Greg
Greg
Glad you got it figured out 
lol no one can figure out why computers do what they do sometimes. I had a very smooth install, ran the installer, core update, Steve's DX10 fixer, then first flight was a nice night flight from Independence KS to Grand Prairie TX which it flew like a charm.
Cheers
TJ
lol no one can figure out why computers do what they do sometimes. I had a very smooth install, ran the installer, core update, Steve's DX10 fixer, then first flight was a nice night flight from Independence KS to Grand Prairie TX which it flew like a charm. Cheers
TJ
arrowmaker
SOH-CM-2024
Like many new Skylane owners I decided to take delivery of my new airplane at the factory at KIDP and then fly home. My journey was almost 20 hours and 2400 miles over five legs, and took me as far north as KGTF and as far west as KHQM (Orbx NA regions). I used ASN's historical weather for last September primarily because I wanted to just enjoy my new 182T.
Once I got my install issues resolved the airplane has performed flawlessly. Great model, coupled with a simply outstanding FDE, wonderful sounds (even the prop disc sounds react to wind gusts), and of course that Accusim depth we're all getting use to over the years. The airplane is a joy to fly and interface with, and the level of immersion is far and above most other offerings.
While A2A GA aircraft are more $ than the competition, the level of quality, immersion, and attention to detail the team brings to their airplanes is truly worth the extra few bucks. A2A airplanes offer us true value!
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to fly!
Greg
Once I got my install issues resolved the airplane has performed flawlessly. Great model, coupled with a simply outstanding FDE, wonderful sounds (even the prop disc sounds react to wind gusts), and of course that Accusim depth we're all getting use to over the years. The airplane is a joy to fly and interface with, and the level of immersion is far and above most other offerings.
While A2A GA aircraft are more $ than the competition, the level of quality, immersion, and attention to detail the team brings to their airplanes is truly worth the extra few bucks. A2A airplanes offer us true value!
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to fly!
Greg
FYI make sure you get the latest core update 11/20/14
http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=41279
Cheers
TJ
http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=41279
Cheers
TJ