Flying Club Piper Seneca
By Nigel C. Martin (9 August 2005)
OVERVIEW
Prior to the eagerly awaited release of Just Flight's Flying
Club, they released the entire ‘fleet’ (four
general aviation aircraft) as paid for downloads, a brave move, prior
to release, as I understand there are no other aircraft on offer
within the Flying School program, when it was released.The aircraft are available via Just Flight's special website www.jfflyingclub.com and well worth a look.
I have the privilege of personal experience of three of the aircraft on offer while clocking up the hours towards my PPL, many years ago. One, the Piper PA34-200T Seneca, I enjoyed many hours on type, so I eagerly await this model to be installed, and take to the air.
While at university, I was working at weekends and holidays at the local airfield saving money to buy more ‘time in the air’, I used to chat to the proud owners of various aircraft while either checking their oil or refuelling. On many an occasion I would be offered a flight in the aircraft, not ‘looking a gift horse in the mouth’ I had some awesome flying in all sorts of aircraft, Tiger Moth, Harvard, Bell 47, Bell 212 Jet Ranger, to name but a few.
The owner of a Seneca had very successful business manufacturing
dentures! Someone has to do I guess, and his folly was the Seneca.
His wife it seems did not share the passion of flight. So, to cut a
long story short, he was very keen to have a flying partner, I was
it, and had many hours P2 on the wonderful aircraft.
I must make a foot note to fly form Fairoaks Airport (Surrey England) to the Isle of White a route covered on many an occasion.
Downloading the aircraft once purchased online (file size: 14.5 MB) is simplicity itself. You are provided with an unlock code and hew presto the program is installed to the root directory of Flight Simulator 2004.
PEDIGREE
The Seneca ‘family’ originates form good stock. Some of you will remember the Piper Aztec, a rounded ‘stockish’ looking aircraft which entered the market, and became a very popular twin. It did. however, lose its popularity because the ever increasing more sophisticated and demanding public, thus enter the Seneca. This was the panacea to the buying public. Interestingly, the Seneca was a hybrid of the Cherokee Six airframe, wham on another engine, and a ‘winner’ is born, or developed.
Surprisingly, many attributes remained but the emphasis was on making
this bird as ‘user friendly’ as possible. They introduced
contra-rotating props, simplified fuel system, access to enable easy
and rapid maintenance and of course modified avionics. The
client had a massive array of choice of upgrade, and additions,
dependant on use, and budget!
The Seneca entered the market and gained momentum to become a highly popular and successful platform to transport six adults in unrivalled comfort, unlike many other competitor twins on the market.
The Seneca had its share of development issues, access, handling and engine vibration, but Piper had a mission to develop this essentially wonderful aircraft and keep abreast of the demands of the buying public/companies.
A testament to this vision: just look at the number of type still flying, and later newer upgraded versions.
I am sure William T. Piper, who started the company back in 1920’s, would be proud of the Seneca. The original company went out of business in 1990 and with the assets of the old company, a new one emerged: The New Piper Aircraft Company formed in 1995.
INSTALLATION
Not a CD/DVD in sight, this offering is purchased online and downloaded. The process was self explanatory (as eluded to above) and easy to implement via clear and simple instructions.
You will find a PDF file housing data also downloaded in the
package. A must really to get the best from the extensive package.
Once you have been informed the installation has been successful, you can then select in your aircraft menu you will see JF FLYING CLUB; select the Seneca listed. (Each of the four available aircraft will appear if you have purchased them, under this reference.) Wait a couple of seconds and there we go, ready and waiting.
I found this process simplicity itself. It has to said, I prefer a disc and hard case and hard copy of instructions, but once you have made up your mind to buy, you could be flying that aircraft within a couple of minutes, no postage here! And the cost of the product reflects this option.
EXTERIOR DETAIL
My expectations were demanding so with eager anticipation, I hit the mouse, and waited to see my selection, in the flesh, so to speak.
A short wait after selection, found in the JF FLYING CLUB heading,
select the aircraft downloaded, then it appears, a real beauty, the
engines not running, so I was able to have a good look around the
aircraft in detail. (Please note the superb background in review
pictures, freeware scenery of Durham Tees Valley International
Airport by Stephen Legg, the file available is:
DTV2005.ZIP,
size 9,045,014 including docs, history and two charts--a lovely job Stephen.
The Seneca’s attention to detail is self-evident. The anti-collision beacons were on, and the double flash of the strobes, within the wing tip light unit (white), and positioned on the tail (red) pointed to the path of detail.
From the sharp end, the nose and fuselage detail is very well appointed and defined. The front olio leg and wheel detail is excellent, the color of the tires was convincing and accurate, with that worn appearance. The tires had that weighted effect, while on the ground; a piece of detail often missed. The brake hoses, disc brake units, etc. were very accurate.
The entire undercarriage units including the wheel wells and undercarriage doors and connections echoed this attention to detail.
The engine nacelles and propeller detailing is very good indeed. From the front there is some detail of the engine, but while it is obvious what is there, the detail is not defined at close quarters.
The views into the cockpit look very good indeed, with defined detail
and clarity. Opening the cabin door (door handle unlocks once
selected) presents some great detail on the inside of the door and
within the cabin. The door movement is fluid.
Various appendages seen on top of the fuselage are evident, antennas, sensors, on the wings, aileron flap connectors, trim tabs are all there and presented in high detail. The trim tabs are fully functional and proportionate to the input, as are the moving surfaces, aileron, rudder and elevator and flaps. Oh yes and not a glimmer of light between the control surfaces, such is the detail.
The graphics are crisp and clear. Love it, or hate it you have some reference to www.theflyinghut.co.uk festooned, albeit subtly, on the fuselage sides. You will also see logo graphic on each side of the tail. The markings are, I have been reliably informed, exact facsimiles of the real aircraft.
You can alter the registration letters, fuel and payload, i.e. add/delete passenger’s luggage via the AUTOLOAD AND FUEL EDITOR (supplied by Just flight within the package). You will find three areas that you can alter, Aero Paint, (an external paint program i.e. MS Paint will be needed), Aero Face and Aero Load.
As you will note in the review, I added some passengers. These are
visible in the 2D/3D cockpit mode and from the external view. While
they are not of suberb detail they are convincing. I also increased
the fuel load to compensate.
Dusk, night detail--the lighting effects work very well, the landing lights work with purpose, and are useable, on the ground and at the final stages of landing. The strobe effects are excellent, and you will note a cabin ‘glow’ at the wing roots, with the strobes throwing light when activated. The navigation lighting is evident, and not too overpowering. On the fin there is a white light positioned at the top of the fin. While this works fairly well, there is a white ‘ball’ of light representing the bulb. In fairness, I have not seen a better offering.
The interior lighting works well. The shadows on top of the panel are still there, kind of strange as there is no Sun, especially at night, but could be a full Moon! Minor point I appreciate.
INTERIOR DETAIL
The detail in the 2D cockpit view is excellent with great attention to detail. All elements are shown in clear crisp detail. The instruments are easy to disseminate, no glass house technology, with exception to the default Garmin 500 GPS which is triggered by a mouse click over the GPS unit housed in the panel. The reason for this, perhaps obvious, you would not be able use it if the unit in the panel was functioning, in scale it is very small (even with a 17 inch
monitor). When you select the Garmin unit it appears and promptly
covers 40% of the screen. A quick adjustment to the visual size,
position it in a convenient location on the panel, and job done.You will see all the usual instrumentation represented, and all work very well. The Coms radio is a little small but still useable, without a magnifying class. There are the usual easy selection icons, for your MAP, ATC and kneeboard which are clear and easy to operate. To the right of these buttons, you will find oblong boxes with the following listed, flaps, ignition, yoke, throttle. If selected a great visual representation of the listed will appear, all being fully functional. The yoke button, if selected, will render the yoke invisible, useful for those demanding final moments before touch down. In fact I did not activate this at all. I found the yoke did not impede my view at all, quite the contrary, it added to the visual model.
The attention to the opulent interior clearly has been addressed. The red leather is obvious on the panel and cabin sides. Obviously, you will see black leather covering the panel. Storage pockets, seats, throttle quadrant are all there. A glance back will not disappoint, the interior is fully detailed. You will note some shadow effects as mentioned previously, on the top of the panel. These work well during the daylight hours, in fact a nice touch.
Select the 3D view and I guarantee you will have a virtual tour for
some considerable time. Why? It’s lovely there, simple as
that. And if you, like me, have opted to take a few friends for a
spin, you will see them sitting motionless next to you and in the
back. They probably know about my landings!
If you look to the left by your knee you will see a switch panel. These operate the key electronic switching. Mags, lighting, etc. They work well. Position your mouse curser over these and the description will appear. The switches once selected move very slowly, but not an issue; they work, that’s the main thing. (The ignition option as above can be used and provides crisp switch movements.)
In this view option the rudders and control column move once selected, with fluidity and accuracy commensurate with the input. NOT often achieved.
If you open the doors (shift + E) the door will open at a scale pace and not flick open as if on a spring! Ready for flight, better close the door, hatches secure, and belts on, fuel sufficient for next flight, let’s start the engines.
Oh yes...I love the sun visors. You have the option to select these, yup both sides if you desire. How? Place the curser over the visor and pull down. Simple ha? Lovely jubly.
Start the engines using which ever method you like. I switched the
main power, watched the gyros spool up, and then opted to select
Control E and ‘pop’ outside to see the puff of smoke as the
engines burst into life. Remember to have the parking brake
selected.
Visibility both in the 2D and 3D options are excellent, which is great to have in such an aircraft.
Sound...oh yes, now what can I say, I guess perfection comes some where close. I just love the whole sound package, externally and from the inside. It is truly how I remember the real version sounding. The sound has been sampled from real life engines, hence the accurate match.
At all stages, from start, idle, full power, cruise: no annoying cycling of sound, it sounds seamless. The sound will not disappoint, but you will only benefit form this superb element if you have the volume turned up, to get the true effect. Obviously, if you do not have a tip top sound card or the volume is low, you will still hear the great engines but not achieve the full experience.
FLYING
Taxiing holds no horrible surprises, ATC clearance via the use of the usual simple to use ‘hot buttons’, throttle up to get the Seneca, rolling and away you go. Gentle input of the rudder will steer
you to your chosen destination. Obviously, taxing at 100 knots, is
not recommended, and will result in some interesting effects! And
damage…!Selecting the brakes, I found a visual effect (exterior view) very effective and realistic, not too much ‘bucking’ as if there was 100% braking being applied. I felt with gentle brake input the visual effects reflected that.
If you taxi over a grass/soil surface the aircraft will hop a little, (great suspension effects), with dust being flicked up from the tires. This has been done well.
So, ATC has given permission to join the active, line up for take off, with 200 horsepower to play with and 93 gallons of fuel to burn. Durham Tees Valley Airport being an ex-RAF station has a massive runway. With 870 feet needed on its take off roll, and 1380 feet landing ground roll, we will not encounter any problems here.
Select full power, not to the gate or the Max Boost warning lights on the panel will illuminate, not that I have done that you understand!
Because of the contra-rotating props you will not have to input a massive amount of rudder to compensate for the torque. Only input to illuminate wind drift (if you encounter any).
The speed rapidly builds, with 1 stage of flaps selected, she wants
to leave terrafirma. At 85/90 knots, gently ease back and up you
go. You can quickly achieve 1340 feet per minute. At a potential
ceiling of 25,000 feet, and some 725 nautical mile range, you had
better plan your route.
As you settle into a positive rate of climb, gear up, a great whine of the retraction motors and thud as they lock away, retract the flaps, again nice engine whine, and you now have a ‘clean’ aircraft.
A great time to call up the GPS, and navigate to the intended destination. You should be navigating the traditional way, either VFR or IFR. But the Garmin 500 GPS is a great ‘cheating tool’. Actually I like to plan the route and use the Garmin as a back-up, being boring, the way it should be used. It is especially useful to establish onto an ILS cone. It has to be said that if you intend to use this while in 2D mode, furnish yourself with a magnifying class, it is near impossible to use. You will have to use the 3D option, with once you have pressed the + a couple of times it is simplicity to use. But watch it, you do not want to plough into the ground, or a mountain side while you are studiously inputting data into the autopilot...
Why not treat the autopilot the same way as the panel GPS? I.e.,
place curser over the panel, select with a left click of the mouse,
and there it is, a easy to read, and use panel.
Other instruments work well, and are easy to use, no annoying issues found in the few hours I have now clocked up.
Once airborne and ‘clean’ use the trim to balance the aircraft, (very effective). Once the trim has been sorted, the Seneca is very steady indeed.
Use of the autopilot holds no great surprises or difficulty. In the cruise I am sure you will select an exterior view. You can truly appreciate why this aircraft has become so popular, and it looks smooth and purposeful in the air. I must mention the prop effect: at all throttle settings this effect works well.
As you input rudder the pilot’s head will turn. This is OK, but I think more attention could have given to this aspect. (Worthy of note, Rick Piper's Chipmunk, the crew model is perfect.)
The flight dynamics feel very good indeed, from what I can remember
of the real plane. I love the rudder effect, meaningful and
proportionate. I tried this out with some strong side wind, so
sideslip was called upon. The Seneca performed in a predictable way.
I performed circuits and bumps for some time, and I was impressed
with the overall feel of the aircraft, in all aspects of the various
legs.
On final, gear down, flaps deployed, I was able to adjust my height by throttle input. I did not have to yank back, or push on the control column to gain or loose height. The flight dynamics felt spot on.
Over threshold, throttle back to idle, just before touch down a kick to the rudder down. If you are viewing from the external view you will note puffs of smoke from the main undercarriage, and as the front wheel touches the same. With all this detail in the air you may expect the frame rates to be blasted out of the water, but no, I did not see any adverse effects at all. A real surprise.
MOANS AND GROANS
Guess what, very few. In cockpit, the autopilot size is very disappointing; it is a shame that this has to be selected in 3D mode to stand any chance of seeing what you are doing.Once taken off, I realised the shadow effect on top of the dash had not moved, and at night this shadow was still there! Heavens could you imagine the shadow shifting in flight...Now that would have been accuracy!
On close inspection, you can see some flat edges on the tires, but
this does not detract.
Additional passengers in the aircraft if selected via the Autoload Editor are a little basic. It would have good to see them presented to a slightly higher standard.
As mentioned above I do feel the main pilot figure could have been a little more realistic with more independent animation. I guess this for me would have made the package outstanding.
CONCLUSION
As I mentioned at the outset, offering these aircraft as separate downloads was a interesting move, as these I understand, are also the default fleet in the full Flying Club. I am sure there are no other aircraft to be added, however on the DVD version are supplied in a different livery with an American registration, so you will end up with four aircraft types and eight flyable models in total.The detail, I know I have covered this, but I have to say again, and make no excuses repeating, fantastic, exterior interior and the sound was in my humble view the icing on the cake. Beautiful...
You may argue the selling price of £9.75 or $18.14, may be a ‘tad’ heavy especially as there some awesome freeware currently on offer, (please carry on producing the freeware examples, guys, we really do appreciate your hard work) but I would have to say, once you have experienced the full breath of the download, its simplicity of install, its overall quality both visual and flight dynamics, you would have to agree it is money well spent. If you do not buy the eagerly awaited full Flying Club program from Just flight, you will have some great aircraft to add to your ‘hangar’.
If you do buy it, you will have ‘clocked’ up some serious hours on type and I am sure will derive great benefit from getting the ‘feel’ of the aircraft.
This aircraft type means I am sure you will use time and time again, where you want a fast twin to eat up the miles, with near STOL performance, the Seneca is it.
To keep in touch with all the latest info and additional downloads that may be on offer Just Flight have created a dedicated website for the Flying Club stable. This is www.jfflyingclub.com. I have had a look, and it looks good. There are some additional files for new color schemes for the Tomahawk and Cessna but none at present for the Seneca or Warrior. These aircraft collections are presented in one color scheme, so the possible downloads will provide you additional schemes if you so desire.
This general aviation Seneca with all its detail and accuracy will, I guarantee, stay in your virtual hangar almost permanently. It will mine, that’s for sure.
Nigel C. Martin
nigel.martin10@btinternet.com