Saratoga TC

[Deleted]

OK, got it. Actually, I really like it! I'll get into some details, but keep in mind, this is still an Alanado product, so the avionics are pretty crippled. Nothing new there. That aside though, and keeping in mind also I've only done 2 30nm flights with it, it seems to have few problems beyond that. The flight dynamics are VERY good (I upped my stability settings to 2.0, 2.0, 1.5 for pitch, roll and yaw respectively before I even flew it - you may not have to do that). It's solid and very nice to fly. The graphics of course are typical Carenbeo - extremely good. The switches all seem to work as they should from what I tried and everything was easy to find (except I still haven't found the indicator for the elevator trim - it's probably there, I just haven't found it yet). There is a pitot heat switch there, and you get an Advisory Lamp if it's not on, but whether it actually works, I can't tell you. I was in clear conditions. On departure and approach, it's really nice to fly. You have to slow down a bit early as it's a slippery machine, but certainly easily managed in those configurations (I used 1 notch of flap on takeoff). The gauges are well done and easy to read. The night lighting could have a little better coverage as some of the LCD readouts are pretty hard to see at night. It does have steady and pulsing landing lights, which is really cool. Not seen that before in FSX. The white tail light though is MIA. That should be addressed. There is a rotating beacon atop the vert stab, but no white tail light. Sounds are decent (better than the 207, but I'm not totally sure they aren't the same sounds as the 207 uses - just the rpm changes are different so you get better sounds on initial power reduction - the 207 is pooched that way). They don't have any cockpit wind sounds that I can tell, which I will add myself. The only "ouch" I had was on my first landing. The ground roll sounds seemed very loud for what they should be, and the airplane stopped very, very quickly, which I thought a little odd. On the subsequent landing though, I actually put the gear down for that one, and that seemed much more realistic (crap ).

Overall, I really do like this airplane. It is a very satisfactory replacement for the T210, which I was looking for. If you like this category of machine, I recommend it, with the caveat that no doubt with more flights and more discerning eyes, issues will be found. But other than the tail light, nothing really obvious jumped out at me.

[Deleted]

Well, I didn't have to look very far to find something that royally pisses me off. Repainting. Yeah, I was expecting a mess and had no intentions of repainting this airplane. The plane I chose as my "own personal machine" which you see above, I figured would be an easy fix to change the registration. There is an all white model, so all I'd do is cut a section of the tail out where the N number is, and then paint in my own registration. Easy, right?  Here's a shot of the white airplane as a whole:



See how nice and white the tail is? Should be an easy cut and paste. Guess again.

Here's a shot of the panel the tail is on. The red arrows are mine.



Notice the coloured, irregular stripe that crosses several pieces of the airplane (arrows point to it), including where the N Number goes, and stripes on most (if not all) the rest of the airplane. That colouration does not show up in the final model for the white aircraft. However, if you cut that section to use on your painted version to cover over the registration, it DOES show up there. I can not in any way, shape or form fathom what function that colouration serves, other than to discourage repainting of any of these airplanes. It's plain to me he doesn't want the aircraft repainted. Period. Not even the registration changed. Furthermore on that panel, the separation between the rudder and the vert stab is not the same on both sides. That means you can't simply copy your registration across from one side to the other (both sides are on this panel). In addition, getting the angle right is a real pain as well.

I don't know if there is something going on with developers now that they are getting in trouble with the RW manufacturers, or if they are just getting obsessive compulsive about not having their work changed in any way, but this is getting ridiculous. Maybe a little communication from the developer would be nice, but there's a better chance of me getting to the moon alive than of hearing anything from Carabeo on something like this. Anyway, if you want your own registration on this aircraft, be prepared for some major work. If that's important to you but you don't have the patience/software/skills to do a major rework, I'd pass on this airplane. Unfortunately, I see things only getting more difficult in the future, not less so.

[olderndirt]

Other than the 'paintkit' remarks, which are forunately of no concern to me, this was a 'reach for the plastic' report - thanks Glenn.

[pivo11]

I've got the old Saratoga model from Carenado, which is really a poor plane, my view.  Would you say that this one is much better?  It certainly sounds so, but you did mention changing pitch, roll and yaw already.  I'd really like one but don't want another dog.  The paintkit is a bother.  That weird color is certainly strange.  It looks to me like a mistake, what with the blue and yellow on lamp housings and other bits and pieces as well as on only one side of the tail.  Might be worth it to drop them a line, on the off chance they'll have a look at it. 

The ground roll sounds seemed very loud for what they should be, and the airplane stopped very, very quickly, which I thought a little odd. On the subsequent landing though, I actually put the gear down for that one, and that seemed much more realistic

This doesn't concern me as I always use the wheels. 

[Deleted]

Hey Fritz, yeah, I remember the old one as well. I recall both of us trying to make it fly decently and don't think we ever succeeded. This one is light years ahead of that one. By far the better airplane (unless you want to paint it ).

FYI for others, turns out that striping in the texture file I mentioned is probably a corrupt file. I've been informed that this is not normal and I should re-download the file, which I'll do. Thanks to Fritz for the head's up. I still wouldn't want to paint the thing, but at least you won't have to battle spurious striping .

This doesn't concern me as I always use the wheels.

Hmmnn, maybe I'll try that . The second landing was definitely "smoother" <LOL>. Sheesh, haven't done that in a while .

[Bushpounder]

I'll bet those were beta textures.

BP;)

[Deleted]

Ahh, maybe. I'll re-download it tonight and see.

You getting this one Don? This one is a keeper for sure.

[Deleted]

Nov 11, 2014 21:13:20 GMT -5 olderndirt said:

Other than the 'paintkit' remarks, which are forunately of no concern to me, this was a 'reach for the plastic' report - thanks Glenn.

Most welcome Dave. Yeah, this one I really like.

I mentioned about changing the stability settings right off. I do that with all my aircraft as I think my controls are a bit too sensitive. It had nothing to do with the plane itself. In fact, I may even back off my adjustments a bit as this one handles extremely well out of the box.

[Bushpounder]

I may. My next is the 1900. Then we'll see about the Lance.

BP;)

[Bushpounder]

Oooops! I mean Saratoga. It has the newer wing. Sorry!

BP;)

[Deleted]

Yeah, the 1900 is halfways decent too. I didn't like it at first but don't mind it now for whatever reason.

[pivo11]

Nov 12, 2014 10:44:24 GMT -5 Bushpounder said:

Oooops! I mean Saratoga. It has the newer wing. Sorry!

BP;)

Yeah, and it's turbo charged, too!  Very modern.

[olderndirt]

Nov 12, 2014 12:00:55 GMT -5 pivo11 said:

Nov 12, 2014 10:44:24 GMT -5 Bushpounder said:

Oooops! I mean Saratoga. It has the newer wing. Sorry!

BP;)

Yeah, and it's turbo charged, too!  Very modern.

Hey I was turbocharged once then my waste gate started going bad.

[pivo11]