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Opinions on the newer Carenado offerings?

F

Felixthreeone

Charter Member
I have done a lot of searches, and read a lot of reviews....seems as though Carenado has come under fire recently for poor FDE's and assorted other odds and ends. As a 'new' fsx user, who purchased 2/3rds of the FS9 offerings, and thought they were decent, what has changed? If the reviews and opinions I have read so far are correct, then I shouldn't waste my hard earned money. I value the unbiased and honest opinions of the SOH crowd, so would someone please enlighten me? Before I blow $200 on four or five carenado planes?
 
Some of them are better than others. Blow 30 or so bucks on the Caravan or Baron, then you can judge it for yourself! Both are very nice. :salute:


"What has changed?"

I think our overall expectations have changed. Carenado products aren't worse than they were before. Our expectations may have outgrown their business model. Releases like the A2A Cub, Orbx Lancair, and Realair Turbine Duke raised the bar so high...
 
Kiwikat said:
I think our overall expectations have changed. Carenado products aren't worse than they were before. Our expectations may have outgrown their business model. Releases like the A2A Cub, Orbx Lancair, and Realair Turbine Duke raised the bar so high...
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^^Totally this^^

The new breed of FSX planes is just insane... and it's more than just higher poly counts that sets them apart from FS9 stuff:
- there's a Katana to come out which you can polish after flight if you feel like it :icon_lol:
- I almost regret having flown the CH FW190 - after that every other VC looks just meh..
- don't get me started on Accusim - fidelity that is totally unheard of
- DodoSim B206...
etc. etc.

Carenado planes are great but they don't shine anymore.
 
Concur with Kiwikat here: Go to Flight1 and buy the Carenado planes you're interested in. Fly them for 30 days, and if you don't like them, ask for a refund. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
 
Yoda said:
Concur with Kiwikat here: Go to Flight1 and buy the Carenado planes you're interested in. Fly them for 30 days, and if you don't like them, ask for a refund. It doesn't get any simpler than that.
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You know I just couldn't do that...it would seem dishonourable and an abuse of a hobby payware vendor in a market where no one makes a fortune.
 
Felix, good thread!

I suppose that unless you know the real-world aircraft, you'll never be certain about Carenado's FDEs. I don't own a Carenado product as yet, though the screenshots of their recently released Baron make it difficult to resist.

Would I sense or recognise a shortcoming in the FDE ? Well, if I could take off with one engine and loop at the end of the runway, like I could with a certain FS9 C-119, then I would know that all was not well. However, if the problems were minor or more subtle, would I even be aware of them ? Probably not - I don't really scrutinize handling characteristics that much. It has to be a major flaw to detract from my enjoyment of an aircraft.

I look at the external model and the VC first. If they pleaseth my eye, I can happily pretend I'm flying the real thing even if it doesn't respond to control inputs in quite the right way. How would I know the difference anyway ?
 
Carenado planes are fine and they fill their niche nicely. They create a good variety of common GA aircraft. The instruments might not be as legible and FDE's might not be as crisp as the RealAirs or the A2As but if you can fly from A to B, if you can take off and land, if you can do all that and enjoy yourself that is all that matters. :) Personally I get the same amount of enjoyment flying Golden Age Sim's old Waco as I do flying A2A's Accusimmed Spitfire.
 
I may be in the minority among 'simmers (and I definitely seem to be, here), but I'm impressed with how Carenado is stepping up their operation to meet the inevitably raised expectations. Have a look at the aircraft they were releasing even a year ago, then look at what's on offer in their latest birds. They've upped their texture res, greatly refined their 3D models, and even added features that were clamored for, like 3D gauges. And now I hear they've hired a new staff member to further refine their FDEs - someone well known to our community.

None of that is to say there's not room for improvement, but I see them putting forth an extraordinary effort to better their products. The last few releases I've bought have been great fun to fly, and look way better than their older work. Yeah, there are still problems with flight dynamics. And yeah, the user base has stepped up and provided feedback that's later been incorporated into patches. But they are patching, they are responsive. From where I sit, this is a company that's trying hard to keep our business, and my hat's off to them. :salute:
 
I've been a Carenado fan for quite a while. Rumor has it, and it's only a rumor, that their original FDE modeler left the team a while ago. I have no idea if that's true or not but I've seen quite a few more FDE related complaints in recent releases than I've seen in the past. Paul K is right when he says unless you have RW experience in the airplane itself you'll never really know how good the FDE is. But some recent errors have been pretty obvious such as stall speeds, cruise speeds etc. Having said that, I believe Carenado has done a good job of listening to criticism's and addressing them with prompt patches. I love their subject matter and am really looking forward to the King Air C90 and Cessna 210.
 
spotlope said:
I may be in the minority among 'simmers (and I definitely seem to be, here), but I'm impressed with how Carenado is stepping up their operation to meet the inevitably raised expectations. Have a look at the aircraft they were releasing even a year ago, then look at what's on offer in their latest birds. They've upped their texture res, greatly refined their 3D models, and even added features that were clamored for, like 3D gauges. And now I hear they've hired a new staff member to further refine their FDEs - someone well known to our community.

None of that is to say there's not room for improvement, but I see them putting forth an extraordinary effort to better their products. The last few releases I've bought have been great fun to fly, and look way better than their older work. Yeah, there are still problems with flight dynamics. And yeah, the user base has stepped up and provided feedback that's later been incorporated into patches. But they are patching, they are responsive. From where I sit, this is a company that's trying hard to keep our business, and my hat's off to them. :salute:
Click to expand...

+1

It is nice to see the improvements they've made since the latter part of last year. If they had an experienced beta team, they would be a force to be reckoned with. That is by far their biggest weak spot right now.
 
From the looks of their latest planes I do agree with Bill, they improve from product to product.
It looks like they did the jump into FSX waters a little late. Companies that have endorsed the new FSX way of development from the beginning have an advantage now. Kinda foreseeable.
 
I agree that some developer's aircraft have raised the expectancy level but frankly some of the criticism of Carenado planes that I read is just hogwash. They make nice planes for a reasonable price. They are not without flaws but they are all very flyable. Carenado have been very responsive to their customers and have patched where needed. Again, you will find some people not satisfied with the patches They should probably stop torturing themselves by buying Carenado aircraft. They will never be satisfied.
Me? Maybe I'm easy to please but I buy mine instantly on release direct from Carenado. I have never ever been disappointed in the first place and then updates and patches (official and unofficial) improve things.
Best part of Carenado's marketing plan? They make aircraft I want for the sim. I have not seen anyone else making a Bonanza or a Cessna 185 etc.
If they make an aircraft you want, buy one. Try it and see how YOU like it.
 
And that is why I ask the question here, and not on another forum somewhere....because I know I will get a range of good, well thought-out responses to the issue. My main consideration in moving to FSX in the first place was what i was told regarding the apparently 'superior' flight dynamics engine in FSX.
Now, as a real-world pilot signed off in 5 types (not a lot, I know) I tend to be a bit leary of an addon that has come under fire for the 'inaccuracy' of its flight dynamics. I was always at least relatively happy with the Carenado offerings for FS9, and am currently most interested in the F33, C185, and C340.
So, if the Flight 1-wrapped products trial period is the thing to do, then fine; But i would really rather purchase, and be done with it...not sure I like the idea of returning a product...
 
Overshoe said:
I agree that some developer's aircraft have raised the expectancy level but frankly some of the criticism of Carenado planes that I read is just hogwash. They make nice planes for a reasonable price. They are not without flaws but they are all very flyable. Carenado have been very responsive to their customers and have patched where needed. Again, you will find some people not satisfied with the patches They should probably stop torturing themselves by buying Carenado aircraft. They will never be satisfied.
Me? Maybe I'm easy to please but I buy mine instantly on release direct from Carenado. I have never ever been disappointed in the first place and then updates and patches (official and unofficial) improve things.
Best part of Carenado's marketing plan? They make aircraft I want for the sim. I have not seen anyone else making a Bonanza or a Cessna 185 etc.
If they make an aircraft you want, buy one. Try it and see how YOU like it.
Click to expand...

FSD also have a FSX Bonanza..but I agree totally with what you say...I have the C-185 and F-33...the FDE was a bit out of whack for the 185 at the start but since the patch its more than reasonable and its now one of more favourite GA/bush offerings along with Sibwings Birddog (which also had really out of whack FDEs when released but now much improved).

The F-33 is also nice (once again it was subject to ptaches but its a fine aircraft now) but for whatever reason I dont fly it much..maybe because my flights of recent times have been short hops which dont justfy dragging the Bonanza out.
 
Roger said:
You know I just couldn't do that...it would seem dishonourable and an abuse of a hobby payware vendor in a market where no one makes a fortune.
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I'm not one to suggest that as a habit...but, I've known Flight1 folks to suggest it, themselves, and I know for a fact that they're careful to make sure people don't abuse the privilege. I also feel pretty confident with Carenado's latest offerings that once you get 'em and give 'em a week or two to settle in, you're note going to be much inclined to avail yourself of Flight1's refund offer.

As Bill Womack says here, Carenado is making terrific strides in meeting the raised expectations of the hobbyist, and their products are continually improving.
 
I think they meet current expectations rather well. I only have a couple of their planes but I genuinely still enjoy them. Even with a couple A2A planes in my hangar the Carenado 185 Bush is the plane I fly the most. Not just on FSX but all sims combined.
 
I have a few of the more distinctive Carenado offerings like the Bonanza V35 and the Mentor. . .beyond that I see a long parking ramp of high wing Cessna's and low wing Piper's. . .boring. Yes I get that each one of those high wings/low wings is distinctive in it's own right, FDE's are different, speeds, instruments, all different in a sense particular to the aircraft itself, but it's still a "cookie cutter" fleet as far as I'm concerned and nothing that would draw me to their website. . . .even though I still go there from time to time hoping that something exciting will appear. . .that hasn't happened in a long time.

I may be alone in this, and don't really care actually if I am, or maybe there are others who feel the same. . .and I suspect there are, but Carenado has become a "yawner" for me with no sign that it might decide to break out and actually get creative any time soon. 'course that is just my opinion.:salute:
 
Felixthreeone said:
And that is why I ask the question here, and not on another forum somewhere....because I know I will get a range of good, well thought-out responses to the issue. My main consideration in moving to FSX in the first place was what i was told regarding the apparently 'superior' flight dynamics engine in FSX.
Now, as a real-world pilot signed off in 5 types (not a lot, I know) I tend to be a bit leary of an addon that has come under fire for the 'inaccuracy' of its flight dynamics. I was always at least relatively happy with the Carenado offerings for FS9, and am currently most interested in the F33, C185, and C340.
So, if the Flight 1-wrapped products trial period is the thing to do, then fine; But i would really rather purchase, and be done with it...not sure I like the idea of returning a product...
Click to expand...

As folks have said the later Carenado offerings are getting better as far as flight dynamics. Since we don't have full motion simulators and full force feedback controls it is difficult to ultimately compare the 'feel' of any airplane to it's realworld counterpart. We can never 'feel' the vibrations from the engine, the weight of the control surfaces against the slipstream..etc.

As far as good flight dynamics tho, Realair's SF-260 has great flight dynamics for a GA Single even tho it is a bit dated. It is fairly close in performance to a Piper Comanche which I have about 20 hrs in. I could fly it with the Comanche performance settings and and the RealAir SF-260 worked great.
 
pilottj said:
As folks have said the later Carenado offerings are getting better as far as flight dynamics. Since we don't have full motion simulators and full force feedback controls it is difficult to ultimately compare the 'feel' of any airplane to it's realworld counterpart. We can never 'feel' the vibrations from the engine, the weight of the control surfaces against the slipstream..etc.

As far as good flight dynamics tho, Realair's SF-260 has great flight dynamics for a GA Single even tho it is a bit dated. It is fairly close in performance to a Piper Comanche which I have about 20 hrs in. I could fly it with the Comanche performance settings and and the RealAir SF-260 worked great.
Click to expand...

..And I agree that the visceral aspect is removed from the equation...but it is still nice to be able to (sorta kinda) 'feel' the aircraft throught its range of operation....more so if it can slip/stall/crab/ and fly close to the numbers...

I don't have (i don't think) unrealistic expectations for any addon I purchase....they are, in the end, 'simulations' of the aircraft they represent. So, the reason that my question was posted, was essentially to see if in fact the negative things I was reading were accurate (and I always take forum speak with a grain of salt)...but I also know that here, more than any other site or forum I have EVER seen, the opinions and feedback are the best there are on any website anywhere. And, usually, if someone on SOH has a negative opinion, they tend to back it up with some data or actual experience. And thus the reason for asking before I part with my hard earned $$$ :ernae:
 
This is what I like about this forum, all kinds of comments .... some good and some not so good.

For what its worth ,I feel Carenado offers a flight sim experience that isn't to hardcore or beginner like in nature, but one that meets somewhere in the middle able to cater to us non RW pilots at a competitive price.

Having enjoyed Carenado since FS9 ,its obvious they continue fill that void of well put together GA aircraft.


Just my two cents worth :)



Aircanuck :salute:
 
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