Black Square Beech Starship Now Available!!!

Thanks Tom. I'll repost my earlier comment, for those that are interested in initial opinions:

I bought it and have flown about two hours so far. As expected from Black Square, it's superb. I noticed a few very minor issues...which might also be issues with my (mis)understanding of some systems...but no show-stoppers. It flies even better than it looks. Very stable and forgiving, although not overly responsive to control inputs. This seems to track with real pilot reports.

To be honest, if you've got any experience with 'complex' FS aircraft the systems shouldn't be too difficult to wrap your head around, at least for the purposes of getting it airborne and flying a route. The one difference to really be aware of: avionics temps. JF's excellent short video should help clarify.


If you want to do it by the book, it'll definitely take some practice. The excellent manual will always be your friend. Definitely some differences in workload-level compared to more modern machines, but that's to be expected. Worst-case scenario, that's why the FS gods gave us a 'pause' button. It does amaze me that the Starship is single-pilot certified IRL, because I felt about 10 miles behind the plane with all my flights so far. Information overload...and you can't harness all that info as intuitively if you're used to more modern aircraft.
 
My experience with the Cold & Dark Cockpit is not so great. Even with turning on the blowers, the flight deck overheats very quickly and I guess it simulates you passing out from the heat because I suddenly hear the sound (general sound) stop and then have zero control over the systems and controls. I will try to sort it out.

(Update), the Cabin Temp issue is NOT related, I found that the Bug occurred when I used the Keyboard Function of the FMS to type in the waypoints. Sometimes the sound and cockpit functions stopped on entry of data and sometimes it doesn't. That and sometimes the GNS 430 GPS won't allow you hitting the OKAY button to begin using it. I just hit the hide button on the EFB and just used the FMS. From there I was able to do a full Cold and Dark Startup and Data Entry to the FMS/NAV System and make my flight which was very smooth. Just going to use it in the manner I did to get good use out of it until the first bug patches are done. Sigh of relief!
 
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StormILM said:
My experience with the Cold & Dark Cockpit is not so great. Even with turning on the blowers, the flight deck overheats very quickly and I guess it simulates you passing out from the heat because I suddenly hear the sound (general sound) stop and then have zero control over the systems and controls. I will try to sort it out.

(Update), the Cabin Temp issue is NOT related, I found that the Bug occurred when I used the Keyboard Function of the FMS to type in the waypoints. Sometimes the sound and cockpit functions stopped on entry of data and sometimes it doesn't. That and sometimes the GNS 430 GPS won't allow you hitting the OKAY button to begin using it. I just hit the hide button on the EFB and just used the FMS. From there I was able to do a full Cold and Dark Startup and Data Entry to the FMS/NAV System and make my flight which was very smooth. Just going to use it in the manner I did to get good use out of it until the first bug patches are done. Sigh of relief!
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StormILM said:
My experience with the Cold & Dark Cockpit is not so great. Even with turning on the blowers, the flight deck overheats very quickly and I guess it simulates you passing out from the heat because I suddenly hear the sound (general sound) stop and then have zero control over the systems and controls. I will try to sort it out.

(Update), the Cabin Temp issue is NOT related, I found that the Bug occurred when I used the Keyboard Function of the FMS to type in the waypoints. Sometimes the sound and cockpit functions stopped on entry of data and sometimes it doesn't. That and sometimes the GNS 430 GPS won't allow you hitting the OKAY button to begin using it. I just hit the hide button on the EFB and just used the FMS. From there I was able to do a full Cold and Dark Startup and Data Entry to the FMS/NAV System and make my flight which was very smooth. Just going to use it in the manner I did to get good use out of it until the first bug patches are done. Sigh of relief!
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Is there a ready to fly selection vs. cold and dark? I'd like to jump in and get it flying before digging into all the cold and dark proceedure.
 
Whew! I'm about halfway through the manual, and I think my head is going to explode. Before I get home from my trip and actually install and fly this thing, I think I may have to go re-watch all the preview videos Black Square put out and make some notes.

I'm excited to master the complexities, but at first, it's a little overwhelming.
 
dvj said:
Is there a ready to fly selection vs. cold and dark? I'd like to jump in and get it flying before digging into all the cold and dark proceedure.
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Not as far as I could tell but you can start running on the runway. Even then you need to let all the systems get booted up. I hope Nick goes back and adds Aircraft State Buttons in the EFB and better autoloading-flight plan options. I agree with others, it is very complex and overwhelming. Since I used to fly right seat in some King Air types in the past, I kind of had a good working flow of how to get the engines and such up and running. I will say, once you get the feel of the systems, a Cold and Dark startup and trip are pretty intuitive.
 
Confirmed, I can just open on any runnway and be off. Not to exciting that way, but I wanted a quick experience. Systems and failures is what this sim seems to be about.
 
Thats amazing

It is like the Duke but better if you like a little bit more complexity due to avionics.

Very unique, flies well, Performance in VR is much better than the Dirty D30 (alphaaaaa).
 
Well, I got home, installed, gave her a quick WIP paintjob in my custom colors, started her up, and took a short flight from my local airport down to Bryce Canyon.

I have to say that she easily lives up to the hype for me. She's everything I hoped she would be. Beautiful model, unparalleled systems (which were no problem and quick to manage after reading the manual), and shockingly excellent performance on my machine. It's hard to believe the sim ran so smooth with such a complex aircraft.

Thanks, Black Square, she is worth every penny.



 
StormILM said:
Killbilly, I definitely want that paint when ready!
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Thanks, but you probably wouldn't, actually. Here's the finished product, and you'll notice that I go a little overboard with my fictional company branding. Lots of logos.








She sure is a pretty bird, though. This is my local airport, KPVU, by the way.

 
It's so funny to me that they chose one of the 3 GPUs I was trained to use for the aircraft.
And just like any Beech that takes jet fuel, it seems, it looks like it's a bear to service, the only bonus is that you're safe from getting injured working with the GPU with the engines running, quite the upside.
 
Made a nice easter egg discovery today. In the luggage compartment, you can find a diskette. Plug it in, and you can play a classic 80s text-based adventure game.
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There's another disk in the copilot's storage compartment labelled "anomalous frequencies," but I haven't tried it yet. Very cool.
 
BTW, those of you who have been wanting the Starship but have been holding out for a sale because it’s really expensive for an MSFS aircraft, it’s $45 US/37.46 Euros on Simmarket. Finally picked it up; that’s still pricey, but a little less nuts than Just Flight’s P3D-level retail price for it, and obviously Black Square put a ton of effort into this one.

starship.jpg
 
It's worth it's full price -- let alone the sale. It's been my favorite aircraft ever since it came out. I used to ask myself, "What should I fly today?" Now I ask myself, "Should I fly the Starship or something else for a change?"
 
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