Kodiak vs Caravan?

[LTCSZ]

Is there a lot of difference (minus the glass instruments) between the Quest Kodiak and the default Caravan? They seem like very similar planes...With the Kodiak being on sale, I am considering purchasing it, but was wondering if I will gain a lot, as I fly the Caravan often and enjoy it...Thanks...

Steve in Kansas

 

[peter12213]

the kodiak feels lighter to fly and its cockpit is much better!

 

[CG_1976]

They both have there points, but the Caravan looses, no float varient. Kodiak hands down wins.

 

[ryanbatc]

Not only that the Kodiak has an amphib version which in FSX we don't have on the C208

 

[Henry]

the default caravan i have never flown
the Kodiak is one of my few Main rides
if you fly the caravan often
i guarantee you will fly the Kodiak more
my personal opinion
H

 

[Lionheart]

I'll stand in as a Quest factory representative speaking on the actual plane, not the flight simulator version.

The primary difference with the Kodiak is that its STOL, short take-off and landing classification. This can take off in a super short dirt strip (rough terrain) and take off with a fairly good load, and with half throttle. The main difference is that one aspect.

The Caravan is longer, wider, and probably can carry more. But the Kodiak, being shorter, narrower, is built like a tank, with overkill on the airframe so that it will never fail under a brutal daily lifestyle of rough runways, severe weather, etc.

One of the cool things with the Caravan is that you can order them with basic gauges (I think you still can). The Caravan is not bad looking at all. The Kodiak is purely purposely built as a work horse. Its a flying tank. Its meant to be a bush plane and to go where no one else can go.

Thats the main difference between the two.

I hope that helps.


Heres a shot of the wing's dual airfoil design. Basically the outer wing area's are made to stall at lower speeds so that at STOL zones, you still have aileron control. (Another reason why the ailerons are gigantic on the Kodiak is that you have full roll control when coming in at slow speeds, no loss of control there). The inner wing zones are design to stall early, probably to aid in vertical control (dropping in over tall trees).



Bill

 

[cheezyflier]

the kodiak sits higher off the ground, better clearance for the prop in tall grass, and when landing on the floats too.

i used to love the 208. now she gathers dust in my virtual hangar, because the kodiak is my new true love. get it, you can't go wrong with this model.
and there are some really cool paints available for it as well. stuff you'll never see on the 208

 

[EgoR64]

:ernae: I enjoy the Caravan as well, One of my Favs,

Bill's Quest is a Must have for your hangar, the pickup is tremendous, VC is Breathtaking, it handles like a charm, it is so smooth that in an all out thunderstorm not a drop of brew be lost from me mugs !! -

Cheers !!

 

[Scratch]

the default caravan i have never flown
the Kodiak is one of my few Main rides
if you fly the caravan often
i guarantee you will fly the Kodiak more
my personal opinion
H

Agreed 100%

 

[jmig]

Since buying Bill's Kodiak I don't fly the Caravan anymore.

 

[LTCSZ]

Thanks for all the good info...Going to purchase the Kodiak now...

Steve

 

[txnetcop]

Ditto Kodiak rules-best high powered bush flyer I own. By the way, Bill thanks for the update. You have extraordinary customer service!
Ted

 

[ryanbatc]

It would be sweet to get the mustang g1000 in the kodiak

The kodiak is one of my favorites but I do get a lot of stuttering when using it.

 

[Meshman]

Disclaimer: I'm not a plane person. But I was looking for something that went a little faster than the other machines I used. The Kodiak fits that bill nicely. As I'm looking at scenery when I fly, the setback of the wing gives me a better field of view. Finding the Shift-9 combo gave me an autopilot I know how to use...

Getting it on sale was icing on the cake!

 

[bkeske]

Hey Bill, I splurged and purchased the FS2X Garmin 1000 to use in the Kodiak:

Obviously there are a couple issues as the FS2X set-up is for the Caravan, and not the Kodiak.

I am no xml guru in the slightest...but...perhaps you could point me in the direction to customize for the Kodiak?? The speed gauge 'warning colors' (geen, yellow, red, etc) are also 'off'.

I've asked Don at FS2X for assistance as well, but have net received a response yet.

The FS2X G1000 units are really pretty well done, and really enjoyed flying the Kodak yesterday with 'them' installed. Everything works great except for the obvious spec/performance issues that show themselves in the Kodiak vs. the 208.

 

[LTCSZ]

bkeske: Could you share that panel.cfg with us? I like the look of the G1000 also! Thanks,

Steve in Kansas

 

[bkeske]

Sure I could, I only use the VC, so don't have it set-up for the 2D panel. In addition as I had the blank-out the STEC Lionheart AP .bmp file, I would not share that without Bill's consent (an easy fix with photo shop), and you must modify that file to get the FS2X AP to work in the same space.

I must tell you, Don did a great job with his G1000 units, and my screen shots do not do justice to the realism of how they work. They have many features including the ability to show traffic, and even a working WAAS system, among many other realistic functions.

If Bill gives the 'go ahead; to share my bmp file, I would be more than happy to share the panel.cfg, and could probably set-up the 2D panel pretty quickly as well.

 

[Lionheart]

Hey BKeske,

Congrats on the Garmin purchase! He makes a very exotic system. I highly recommend them.

His name is actually Nick. Nick is an old school gauge genius who was pioneering gauge code long ago. I have peared into the XML code that makes this system and it is intense and incredible. Mine do not even come close to his.

He also created the sub menu's, actual working sub menu buttons with verbage above the buttons changing per menu's being accessed, as like the real / actual Garmins do.


As for performances, you need to get with Nick on those. I no longer have a set of his gauges, at least his new ones. The one set I have access to are ancient (several years old now). I am sure he has tons of new udpates and innovations by now.


As for the config file, simply change the name of the gauge, and the gauge location on each string required, (2 PFD's and one MFD). There will be 3 locatiosn for each; 2D panel, VC panel, and popups.

Nicks Garmin system have the optional built-in Auto Pilot. A lot of the people ordering the Garmins in their new planes leave this out and purcahse a seperate AP system which can save them tons of money. Quest Kodiak do this, and Epic Aircraft do this, so those Garmins will not show an AP console on the face panels.

On the Bitmap, could you email it to me so I know which one you are talking about? email; william 'at' lionheartcreations 'dot' com


If Nick doesnt get back to you soon, we should be able to adjust that code for you. You can actually open it (if its XML) and do a search in the code for specific departments. Control-F to search, then type in something like airspeed, etc, and hit Enter and see what all turns up. When you find the section (Element) that runs that setting, simply change the setting to is needed, such as top speed (187 knots on the Kodiak), fuel, etc.



Bill

 

[bkeske]

Hey BKeske,

Congrats on the Garmin purchase! He makes a very exotic system. I highly recommend them.

His name is actually Nick. Nick is an old school gauge genius who was pioneering gauge code long ago. I have peared into the XML code that makes this system and it is intense and incredible. Mine do not even come close to his.

He also created the sub menu's, actual working sub menu buttons with verbage above the buttons changing per menu's being accessed, as like the real / actual Garmins do.


As for performances, you need to get with Nick on those. I no longer have a set of his gauges, at least his new ones. The one set I have access to are ancient (several years old now). I am sure he has tons of new udpates and innovations by now.


As for the config file, simply change the name of the gauge, and the gauge location on each string required, (2 PFD's and one MFD). There will be 3 locatiosn for each; 2D panel, VC panel, and popups.

Nicks Garmin system have the optional built-in Auto Pilot. A lot of the people ordering the Garmins in their new planes leave this out and purcahse a seperate AP system which can save them tons of money. Quest Kodiak do this, and Epic Aircraft do this, so those Garmins will not show an AP console on the face panels.

On the Bitmap, could you email it to me so I know which one you are talking about? email; william 'at' lionheartcreations 'dot' com


If Nick doesnt get back to you soon, we should be able to adjust that code for you. You can actually open it (if its XML) and do a search in the code for specific departments. Control-F to search, then type in something like airspeed, etc, and hit Enter and see what all turns up. When you find the section (Element) that runs that setting, simply change the setting to is needed, such as top speed (187 knots on the Kodiak), fuel, etc.



Bill

Nick? Interesting, who is Don Kuhn that pops-up on their forum, and has his name all over the read-me files??

The bmp file I needed to 'mask-over' was Pan01.bmp as for, whatever reason, the FS2X AP does not come with a solid bezel bmp, only the knobs and buttions show up, but were floating over the STEC bmp image in Pan01.bmp. So, I simply had to make it solid.

I also had to make a solid rectangular bmp file (called it 'backgound.bmp') to work as a background on a pop-up window for the AP, as again, it would pop-up with only dials and buttons, and was pretty tough to use with all the visual clutter in the background.

Yea, I wish I could have maintained the STEC AP, but unfortunately, the FS2X AP also has the heading/Bearing knobs on the AP unit, and not the panel itself. So, I was kinds stuck. I was actually surprised it fit into the STEC space so easily.

And finally, yes, I have an xml editor, just need hints for what to look for, and what replacements values would make it custom for the Kodiak. I'll do some more searching, but that dern file is large with many many entries :mixedsmi:

email sent.

 

[Lionheart]

Nick? Interesting, who is Don Kuhn that pops-up on their forum, and has his name all over the read-me files??

Ahh... Must be a helper at the sight and perhaps is working with Nick on his work. The first one was by Nick himself.

That should have proper background images. You might tell them this and show them screenshots. Tell them you had to create the background BMPs for it.


Yep, you can post that Panel1 screenshot. Its just panel art.


Actual Garmins have heading adjusted on the main face panels. Bottom left is Altitude, and middle left is Heading.


On Hex editors... With XML, you only need Windows Notepad. I never use hex editors. Notepad does awesome. Just run searches with 'Find' and you should bump into the Element sections needed for tuning.

Yep, a TON of code, lol....


If this is a GAU gauge, you cannot edit it. Its encrypted..



Bill