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Screen shots by Frat Bros Design |
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Red Checkers is the aerobatic team of the Central Flying School of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). All the team's pilots are instructors from Flight Training School at Ohakea Airbase (NZOH), where it it based. Their aircraft were originally painted red and gray. Now their standard colors are yellow and black.
Their aircraft of choice is the Pacific Aerospace Corporation CT/4E Airtrainer. This is a side-by-side two-seat aerobatic aircraft manufactured by PAC in Hamilton, New Zealand. As the current production model, it is powered by a 300 horsepower Lycoming engine with a three-blade propeller. Nations operating this aircraft and/or its various versions include Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand.
These specifications are taken from Pacific Aerospace
Frat Bros Design describes itself thus: Officially created in 2007, Frat Bros Design comprises of two fraternal twin brothers (hence the name) in New Zealand. Owen and Nigel Booth are "two enterprising guys who dabble in their own interests mainly for the enjoyment of it," they explain. Owen enjoys creating graphics and signage through his website and laser engraver. Nigel has been modelling for around 10 years starting initially with basic models for FS98 then turning his attention to modeling more than 100 freeware projects for train-sim add-ons. He later renewed his interest in aircraft and returned to flight-sim add-ons.
The CT4E was chosen because "it's been a prominent part of New Zealand skies for quite some time and an important part of New Zealand's aviation heritage," explains Nigel.
These are among many features listed by Frat Bros Designs:
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THE FIVE VARIANTS |
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CT4E Red Checkers 1
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CT4E Red Checkers 2
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CT4E Red Checkers 3
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CT4E Red Checkers 4
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CT4E Red Checkers 5
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| Screen shots by Bill Stack | ||||
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PURCHASE FEATURES |
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Instant download from the Pilot Shop |
YES | |
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Installation program |
YES | |
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License key required |
NO | |
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Copyright acknowledgment required |
YES | |
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Manual included |
NO | |
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Checklists & reference included |
YES | |
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Uninstall program included |
NO | |
Visually, this aircraft is a good as any flight simmer could want. It is very true to the real-world aircraft compared to real-world photographs I found on the Internet.
The 2-D instrument panel is superb. All instruments and almost all text are clear, crisp, and readable. The only blurry text appears cosmetic and inconsequential. The 3-D virtual panel is not as clear but useable nonetheless.
The product description promises five models, but all five look the same at first glance. On closer inspection, I discovered that each of the five models has a different registration number and a different number on the tail fin. They are all identical in every other respect. These yellow versions are the current models flown by Red Checkers.
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CT4E IN FLIGHT |
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Over NZOH
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Underside
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Over NZOH
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Landing at NZOH
Screen shots by Bill Stack
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The archive file is small enough to download quickly, and the installation program installs all needed files into the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 folder in less than a minute.
This model is only for FS2004.
The aircraft is installed into a dedicated folder. The aircraft can be found in the Aircraft Selection menu in the name of PACL in the Aircraft Manufacture pull-down menu. One model, CT4E is available, and five versions are available: Checkers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Other than different registration and tail numbers, they are all identical.
Sounds are taken from the Cessna 182, which is not absolutely realistic but probably close enough for most flight simmers.
Detailed and comprehensive checklists and reference sheets are clearly laid out and presented for easy of use.
Flying the aircraft correctly is a bit of a chore because the throttle and flaps controls are not readily visible. For example, the checklist says to set flaps at "half" for taking off, but you can't tell what half is without seeing a flaps meter or lever. There are no popup windows for such, and the virtual cockpit view must be repositioned so these controls are visible.
| COCKPIT AND PANELS | |||
2D Panel
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3D Panel
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Virtual Cockpit
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Virtual Cockpit
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| Screen shots by Bill Stack | |||
For realistic test flights, I went to Red Checkers' home base of Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Base Ohakea (NZOH) in New Zealand. Its coordinates are S40° 12.40' by E175° 23.22', and its elevation is 164 feet (50 meters) above mean sea level (MSL).
Having never flown a real CT4E, I have no clue of how it should fly. Its flight characteristics are consistent with specifications I found on the The Pacific Aerospace website, however.
To take off, I throttled up until the tachometer was at the red line, which appears to be 2,400 RPM. That produced only enough power to taxi down the runway at 40 kts. Then I experimented with propeller pitch and throttle and found that the aircraft took off normally with the pitch lever pulled back about one-fourth. The aircraft then gained sufficient speed for taking off while the tachometer remained in the green safe zone. The aircraft lifted off around 70 kts and climbed nicely at 110 kts and 1,000 feet per minute. When I pitched up to reduce airspeed, the vertical speed rose to 1,500 FPM. The checklist says to use "half" flaps on take off, but this aircraft took off around 70 kts without them.
While aloft, I experimented with the throttle and propeller controls and found that this aircraft will happily maintain straight and level flight at 140 kts with the tachometer and manifold pressure inside the green safe zones. Its design cruising speed is 150 kts according to the Pacific Aerospace website.
The Pacific Aerospace website also says the range is 520 nautical miles and its fuel capacity is 150 kilograms. At a design cruising speed of 150 kts, its endurance is 3.46 hours. That means its average fuel-flow rate is 43.35 kilograms per hour. While cruising straight and level at 140 kts, the fuel-flow gauge was close to that rate.
Even with the propeller-pitch lever about half-way down, this aircraft will climb at 1,000 feet per minute, 8 degrees pitch, 120 kts, and tachometer and manifold pressure in the safe zones. Then I tried climbing as steeply as possible. The aircraft climbed at 2,000 feet per minute and a steady 90 kts without wincing a bit. Its official climb rate is 1,830 FPM according to the Pacific Aerospace web site.
Regarding the propeller-pitch situation I experienced, the developer said the following: "I have tested the prop lever in a number of instances and can't recreate the problem this end. I managed sufficient kias in either condition to rotate and attain very good speeds. I also haven't had any problems emailed from the customers other than an issue with the flaps not working when in the air." He later said made a small patch file and uploaded it to www.flightsim.com.
A very nimble aircraft, it banks immediately and quickly with the slightest pressure on the yoke. It will easily bank at 60 degrees while holding its altitude. Consequently, the G-force meter is a very useful gauge in this aircraft. Overbanking is a risk. The patience required for larger aircraft is a hindrance in this aircraft.
No ceiling is specified by Frat Bros or Pacific Aerospace. The aircraft topped out at 8,270 FT (2,522 M).
Once I was used to the aircraft's nimbleness, flying the airport circuit before landing was effortless.
Landing the aircraft with full flaps and 100 kts airspeed as shown in the checklist resulted in a bit of a bounce on touchdown. With full flaps, it landed gracefully at 80 kts.
Without a popup window for the throttle quadrant, the only way to see the levers for throttle, propeller pitch, and fuel mixture is to zoom out the virtual cockpit and change the viewpoint.
Without a flaps indicator, the only way to know the flaps positions is to zoom out the virtual cockpit.
The checklist and reference files are outstanding. They're comprehensive, well organized, and presented with appropriately labeled headings and colors. As a result, finding information is very easy and quick.
Unfortunately, they don't display in the kneeboard. After considerable trial and error with the HTML files and the aircraft.cfg file, I found that needed lines of codes must be added to the aircraft.cfg file for all five aircraft in order for the checklists and reference sheets to appear in any of their kneeboards. "If anyone should require an update/fix," the developer said, "they can contact me."
| CHECKLISTS AND REFERENCE DATA | |
Checklist |
Reference Sheet |
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Screen shots by Bill Stack |
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The canopy (also called "pilot visor") opens and closes with keyboard commands.
The aircraft can be parked with a flag on the pitot tube and chocks around the left main wheel when the engine isn't running and the parking brake is applied.
Canopy |
Canopy |
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Pitot flag, chocks |
Parked |
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| Screen shot by Bill Stack | ||
Information about the real Red Checkers can be found at these websites, among others:
Frat Bros Design's Red Checkers models of the Pacific Aerospace CT4E is a visually accurate reproduction of those unique aircraft. The flight modeling is a little quirky, but it's easy to fly after a little practice. Simulating this aircraft at its home base in New Zealand was a pleasant experience, too. In response to my findings, the developer uploaded a patch to the FlightSim.Com website to correct the checklist and reference flaws. His quick response to my inquiries bodes well for buyers who need technical support. All in all, the enjoyment of this uncommon aircraft is well worth the low price.
Bill Stack
Learn More About Frat Bros Design's Red Checkers
Bill Stack is author of several books about flight simulation, a regular author in flight-sim magazines, and a contributor to Flight Sim Com. His website is www.topskills.com