3 Years Later...

[pivo11]

Yeah, I think I'll just wait a bit longer.  Sounds like they're getting everything in a row, though.   

[Deleted]

I now have version 1.2 installed. The updates were graphics. Among others, updated the blank panels in the cockpit and added a copilot. The copilot is removable to help with frame rates if that becomes an issue. Some complaints frame rates have suffered with the new version, I have noticed no difference.

To back up a bit here, now that I've actually read a bit of the manual, I see that I was not using proper takeoff power. The manual says set 90% rpm and off you go. Now Alenia says the Spartan will do a "tactical takeoff" at gross weight in just under 2000'. If you take off at gross weight with this one at 90% rpm you can count on somewhere in the neighborhood of 4000' to 5000'. I did some searching around and can't find any RW power settings for this plane. It's not unusual for something described as a "tactical takeoff" that you might be running the engines a tad bit harder. You can run the throttle all the way forward with no engine indications turning red. You will be above the amber band in torque but just below the red line at full throttle. At this setting you will get airborne in darn near 2000' plus or minus a bit. Not unusual to have something in the neighborhood of a 5 minute time limit on engines when operating as such but I'll be darned if I can find any information on the real bird in this regard.

Now, with the old model if you attempted a full throttle take off your engine indications would be in the red and your engines would catch on fire quickly. FADEC should protect you from that (all but EGT exceedances). You don't run into that problem with the new version but how they operate RW I don't know. So I'm taking a bit of artistic license while operating it. If I want short field performance on take off I'm going full throttle with a 5 minute limit. More runway available I'll stick with 90% rpm.

ILS tracking is still dodgy. Some ILS's it seems to want to track and some it doesn't. Heck if I can find a glideslope indicator anywhere. In theory you'd be following the flight director but I've never seen a plane without raw data backup.

Bottom line is that this model is nowhere near as sophisticated as a PMDG model or Majestic's Dash 8. It isn't priced like their models either. But I have noticed that since my last post on this thing that they've upped the price $5. Perhaps the forum traffic is spurring some sales. Worth it? Only if you've had a craving for a Spartan.

The copilot? Well, you could have worse company.

[pivo11]

Thanks much, Bob.  I dunno, now.  Maybe I'm a cheapskate, but five more smackers is making me think again.  It ain't like I don't have any airplanes. 

[Deleted]

I agree Fritz. I'm not even sure it was worth 30.

[pivo11]

I see they're up to v2.1 now. 

[Deleted]

Oct 14, 2014 1:22:45 GMT -5 pivo11 said:

I see they're up to v2.1 now. 

Well if by V2.1 you mean V1.2, well, yes. No problem though, doctors say 10 out of 9 people have some degree of dyslexia. Not that I'm immune from that myself. I did say they raised the price 5 bucks. Lack of attention to detail on my part. That's for the FSX/P3D installer. It's still 30 smackers for the FSX version. Overpriced nevertheless. Not to say I'm not enjoying it though.

[pivo11]

Oct 16, 2014 3:42:28 GMT -5 @crash said:

Oct 14, 2014 1:22:45 GMT -5 pivo11 said:

I see they're up to v2.1 now. 

Well if by V2.1 you mean V1.2, well, yes. No problem though, doctors say 10 out of 9 people have some degree of dyslexia ...

Oh, yeah?  Read this from Iris site:  www.irissimulations.com.au/hangar/flight-simulator-planes/fsx-iss-c-27j-spartan

Current Version & Hotfixes

Current Version available via sales partners – Version 1.20

Version 1.20 to 2.1 Hotfix (21.3Mb) – Download

[Deleted]

This is where you need to be very careful. It started out as the C-27J Spartan. Then morphed to the Tactical Airlifter. Then became the Battlefield Airlifter. If you're looking at any model (such as your link) other than the Battlefield Airlifter, you're looking at an old model, regardless of the version. The current model is the Battlefield Airlifter V1.2.

And really, you probably don't have to be all that careful because I don't think any other version is even available for sale any longer. But just in case, check the name and version.

And it's still not worth 30 bucks.

[pivo11]

I stand corrected, I was sure it was the same airplane.  It's all very confusing or I'm very confused.  

[Deleted]

You think you're confused? Every time the "new" version was announced I had no idea if it was the same model or if they changed the name just enough to charge an "upgrade" fee or what. They kept threatening to upgrade it (and I do mean threatening if it was going to be anything like the first version). Thus my original post title...3 Years Later. And it was almost to the day I bought it that the Battlefield Airlifter came out. Never thought it would really happen. More like 3 months of work crammed into 3 years but heck, I was happy to get some value out of my dollar after giving it up for dead.

Still a really neat bird RW. I'll get more fun out of her before the dreaded FS boredom sets in and I go searching for the next fix.

[Deleted]

     Me thinks I'll pass on this beasty. I must admit I'm sure tempted.  But on the other hand I have enough trouble keeping my current fleet serviceable and on the line. 
              Carm.

[olderndirt]

Oct 16, 2014 6:43:46 GMT -5 @crash said:

You think you're confused? Every time the "new" version was announced I had no idea if it was the same model or if they changed the name just enough to charge an "upgrade" fee or what. They kept threatening to upgrade it (and I do mean threatening if it was going to be anything like the first version). Thus my original post title...3 Years Later. And it was almost to the day I bought it that the Battlefield Airlifter came out. Never thought it would really happen. More like 3 months of work crammed into 3 years but heck, I was happy to get some value out of my dollar after giving it up for dead.

Still a really neat bird RW. I'll get more fun out of her before the dreaded FS boredom sets in and I go searching for the next fix.

There's also your first officer's upgrade training to Captain - your input could be a real assist.

[Deleted]