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I received an email from project team member Steve Small, informing me that the Piper J-3 Cub package (inclusive manuals and screenshots) was released and available for download. Hey, that means that it's about time to review too!
The Piper J-3 Cub package has been an international project on which a lot of people worked. Fred Banting made the gauges, Yannick Lavigne made the panel, Manuel Medel made the visual model, Steve Small made the flight dynamics, Aaron Swindle made the sounds, all together with the advisory participation of the Flightsim Developers Team.
The screenshots in this review are taken on Frazier Lake, California, ICAO code 1C9, home base of the Piper J-3 Cub in real life.
The panel has a photoreal touch, a Yannick Lavigne trademark, which makes the panel almost touchable, as do the sun reflection effects on some knobs. The superb looking gauges, made by Fred Banting, show cool cockpit reflection effects; nice work Fred!
Nice--the panel features a movable stick, however, the further outfit of the Piper J-3 Cub is basic. Don't expect navigation aids in the cockpit for example. The Piper J-3 Cub has none, so, this aircraft must have been made to fit (see screen shots as well) Bill Lyons excellent VFR scenery!
The visual model of the Piper J-3 Cub is stunning. I think it's one
of the most detailed aircraft for FS2K at this moment and after
installing the Piper J-3 Cub package I was a little bit surprised,
the aircraft looked even better than on Steve Small's screenshots.I especially like the top view of the wings (which textures are a bit weathered and worn out too), showing the ripple-marks of the wing frame inside. Other Easter egg details can be found around the engine area, around the tail section and in the cockpit, where a pilot figure takes the second seat.
Special attention has been paid to the wooden propeller. Take a real close look--the working of the propeller and the propeller itself are real eye candy!
One minor flaw, however, when switching to views other than the panel view, the sight is obstructed for some seconds by a grey fog.
I like the banking. The banking is swift and smooth for this type of light aircraft but not too swift and smooth. Steve made it just right...wow! The Piper J-3 Cub isn't difficult to handle and to correct, therefore, the aircraft is rather suitable as a trainer (which was indeed the main purpose of the real life aircraft during the thirties, and beyond).
The Piper J-3 Cub reacts accurately to the throttle and on the tarmac the aircraft shows impressive ground handling capabilities. For example, taxi around in spot plane view, press full rudder left or right, center suddenly and watch the aircraft waddle.
The excellent flight dynamics invited me to do some aerobatics with the Piper J-3 Cub. It's a pleasure to push the aircraft from the spot plane view to its limits, it's so incredibly forgiving in its behaviour.
Oops, I almost forget the STOL capabilities of the Piper J-3 Cub, well rendered!
In general, good flight dynamics are essential for a FS2K aircraft. My experience is that worse flight characteristics ruin the pleasure of a nice visual model completely.
I like the outside sounds more than the inside sounds; the inside sounds are a little bit too gritty to my opinion.
Speaking about the Piper J-3 Cub package, it was definitely worth the
long wait and despite the size of the Piper J-3 Cub package (it's a
nine megabyte download) this aircraft is an absolute must-have for
all light aircraft fans!
The people who worked on the Piper J-3 Cub package constructed an absolute masterpiece which beats all commercial aircraft add-ons with ease, for example, despite a few minor subjective flaws I like this sole Piper J-3 Cub package more than all the aircraft found in Abacus Private Pilot!
I suggest you to download this splendid Piper J-3 Cub package right now, invest some time to learn this easy to fly aircraft and drop the project team a line, they love to hear from you!
For previews of upcoming light aircraft projects you may wish to visit Steve Small's web site and, oh yes, don't forget to download Bill Lyons excellent VFR scenery too, you'll need it!
Test System
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Download FSD's Piper J-3 Cub
Download Bill Lyons' VFR scenery
Visit Steve Small's web site