HCG Spartan Executive

[falcon409]

Does anyone have this airplane? I purchased the iniBuilds version only to discover it has no visible pilot in the exterior view and so I've never actually flown it beyond an initial shirt flight. The HCG version appears to have the pilot but I'm wondering also about the over details of the airplane.

 

[Daube]

Sorry I cannot really help, as I've made the same mistake as you in buying the terrible Inibuilds version of the Spartan. No visible pilot in external view, no visible copilot in internal view, and the engine stops running when you switch the fuel pump off...
So I'm also interested in getting feedbacks about the "other" Spartan now.

 

[falcon409]

Here are some screenshots from my first flight:

Screenshot 2026-03-02 100756 by Ed Wells, on Flickr

Screenshot 2026-03-02 100826 by Ed Wells, on Flickr

Screenshot 2026-03-02 100849 by Ed Wells, on Flickr

Screenshot 2026-03-02 100923 by Ed Wells, on Flickr

This model has been out for several years now and initially had some serious ground handling issues among other things. They released an update at one point which improved ground handling and some other minor problems.

During my flight I had some "write-ups", like interior engine sound was non-existent, gauge labels were hard to read, NAV button on the AP didn't work, Cruise speed (I had it firewalled) at 5,000 was 175kts not the expected 187kts (Max Speed specs claim 223kts but no indication what alt that was registered at).

Cruise speed when adjusted correctly would probably be around 150kts at 5000ft. I would have to read some more concerning the altitudes those speeds were tested at.

 

[apollon01]

I have both Spartans (and would buy a third one if released ) and I prefer the ini version, actually (flight model, instrumentation, 3d model, texturing).

You got me confused with the lack of pilot in the ini Spartan. Indeed, the pilot is missing in the MSFS 2020 version... but is present in the MSFS 2024 version, which is the one that I actually fly. Note that the purchase gives you both versions - MSFS 2020 & 2024.

How do you like the HCG vs ini Spartans?

 

[falcon409]

Admittedly I am not moved necessarily by aircraft that are system intensive. If it gets airborne and flies as expected, if the speeds for take off, cruise and landing are somewhere close to what's expected. . .I'm good. The remainder for me is the enjoyment of flying the airplane. I don't use engine damage settings, crash detection or anything in that realm. Having said all that the main thing that turned me off to the ini version was the lack of a pilot in the exterior. That went out with the start of FSX so to have any airplane released in MSFS without a pilot showing in the exterior view is unimaginable. I liked the interior of the ini version, I liked flying it, I liked the sounds but I won't fly it because of the "Pilot Thing".

 

[Tom Clayton]

I had the ini version for a short time. I like the sounds and panel, and I could even forgive the party bus interior lighting. But what made me remove it was the fact that it played games with my default pilot voice in ATC interactions. Even with male avatars selected for both front seats, the sim would assign me a female voice, even when flying other planes. I never could figure it out until I asked myself what was the last change made, and it was the Spartan. I yanked it, and my ATC voice went back to normal.

The same voice issue also happened when I installed the "Otto" avatar inspired by one of the funniest movies ever made. I loved having it next to me, but I won't put up with a misrepresented voice...