Carenado and FS2004 ... Together Again? YES!!!

[HardCub]

i only have 2 of there airplanes but i like them.

Since the Elite 2000 Series waaaay back in 2000, I have purchased every single GA airplane model Carenado ever built... right up until they went exclusively to FSX... and then I stopped completely. I always called myself their biggest fan in years past, but I did not wish to be "herded" into a simulator in which I wasn't 100% happy with yet, just because they were moving forward with the "general" direction of things. I have FSX; it's beautiful and wonderful and the Orbx stuff is outstanding in every aspect... but I can't use it with online weather and AI traffic in metro areas without major stutters. FS9 however, is stunning using today's incredible addons and is liquid smooth.

I will always state firmly that Carenado produces the very best looking GA aircraft available for FS, and at a great price point! I was sad to see them leave FS9. I am so glad they are testing the waters again. There is hope yet.


For those that might might remember... the Elite 2000 Series from Carenado for FS2000 and FS2002.

Please forgive the poor quality of these pictures ~ I didn't know how to take screenshots back then, and I used a digital camera to snap a picture of the monitor screen.
Cessna 172 Skyhawk II

Piper Tomahawk II

Cessna 172R Skyhawk II (my favorite model)

Piper Warrior I

Piper Warrior II

Beech Bonanza F33A

These models were far advanced back in their day. We've certainly come a long way.

[CessnaFlyer]

you forgot about there cessna152 II. i have the 152II and the 172

[HardCub]

You mean this one?

Cessna 152

Cessna 152 II

Remember, these were probably prior to the models you have... this was circa 2002.

[CessnaFlyer]

yep. thats the one. but youre right them are prior to what i have. i can't remember off hand when i got mine. nor the 172

[cool7]

I've always thought their 172 looked better then anything else on the market, period. It just looks 'right' when you look at it.

[scottb613]

Morn'n Folks,

Call me cautiously optimistic... We had some real issues with Carenado and FS9 in the past... While visually - Carenado models are unsurpassed - we've had serious FDE and bug issues with FS9.. I will certainly welcome them back - I just hope they give bug lists and FDE's the attention they deserve...

Regards,
Scott

[Wing_Z]

Their Seneca bounced a little but was patched quite quickly.
I haven't found anything too wrong with the Mooney, C152, 185 or 206.
What other issues were there, and are they fixed?

[CessnaFlyer]

i don't really know about them planes. but i know the 152 and 172 is nice. but for some reason they don't get out much with me. i have more time on the default 172 then i do all the other aircraft in this sim.

[HardCub]

Hello friends,
Never having been at the controls of a real-world airplane(embarrassed), I cannot say from actual experience like so many of you guys can, whether or not the "flight handling characteristics" of the Carenado aircraft models are correct or not. For me personally, I think the planes are excellent, especially as Scott said earlier.... Carenado is truly unsurpassed in terms of visual quality & attention to exact scale details.

I will admit, some of the most recent FS9 planes were a little finicky @ times, but with the right aircraft.cfg file (easily obtained from the company website), the problems always disappeared immediately. The "bouncing/hopping" issue first happened with the beautiful Piper Arrow IV, and I myself was so shocked and disappointed the first time I experienced it in FS9. This was followed next by the same issue with the Piper Seneca II, and also later on the "new" Piper Archer PA-28-181 as well. The Cessna Skylane 182Q (on my systems) is the only other Carenado aircraft I've ever noticed an issue with; it's always been a "real bear" to land once flaps are applied, because the airplane refuses to lose any altitude @ all. (even full down elevator has little effect) However, I soon discovered the secret; once flaps are selected, the model requires LOTS of down elevator trim to get things working properly... after that, everything is smooth as silk on the landings with the Skylane 182Q. But those things are the only airplane issues I have ever experienced with any of the Carenado models, and I own all of them and fly them all one a regular basis. My favorites have always been the Cessna 172N, Cessna 182Q, (original) Piper Archer II and the old Piper Tomahawk. My current favorite is the Piper Dakota II; this airplane is strong and lot's of fun!

On a different note> For years I always jumped in my virtual FS2002 and FS2004 airplanes and just took off... never thinking about "why" some airplanes seemed to behave a little weird, or seemed extremely hard to fly around. Then one day I discovered the "Fuel & Payload" tabs (among some others) in the Flight menu windows, and everything in MSFS changed! You want to experience something new? ~move all the realism sliders full right, and see what happens (after properly loading fuel/baggage weights, etc.) It's a whole different animal!!!

Now, I never fly without taking time to "preflight/setup/load" my airplanes with proper fuel/people-baggage weights,etc., and preset elevator trims, etc., as well as get the flight environment itself completely setup with real-time weather, select a time-of-day, flights, etc. All of these little things (for me) make everything in MSFS work together so much better, thereby producing the best flight experience.

Just my thoughts.
Glenn

PS: Oh, and guys... also explore the many addon soundsets available on the market (both freeware/payware). They can make a HUGE difference in the realism of the Carenado models (or any FS model). I have purchased most of the GA soundsets @ sights like www.simmarket, www.fspilotshop, www.pcaviator.com, www.flightsimstore.com, etc.

I highly recommend the HQ offerings of ArezOne-Aviation, TurbineSoundStudios and AudioworX among others. The Arrow, Mooney, PiperCub, C206, C172, C152, PA180, Kingair200, etc. are all EXCELLENT!!! They have to be heard to fully appreciate how awesome they are. Seriously!

[CessnaFlyer]

lol i know what ya mean. i had some airplanes like that. that where impossible to taxi cause they would hop and skip like a rabbit. and no matter what i tried to do to them they would not fly right. but with carenado's planes i have not had one lick of trouble with them. i love the two planes i have. having gone up once in a real world 152. i can say that the carenado plane handles real colsely to the real thing. sadly though my first real world flight was only once around the pattern and 6 years ago. i have not been up since