Intro

The Comanche 250 is a single engine,low wing, four-seated aircraft built by Piper Aircraft since 1958 andis an all-metal, light-weight aircraft with a tricycle retractablelanding gear. The 250 is a member of the larger series of Comancheaircraft and features a 250 hp (186 kW) Lycoming O-540 engine.

Over the years the aircraft had several upgrades such as themanually operated flaps in the early models were upgraded to beelectrically actuated flaps in the later models and which becamestandard in 1962. Also the majority of 250's were fitted with acarbureted engine but a few were also manufactured with fuel-injectedversions of the same engine.

One of the characteristics of the Comanche 250 is the wingtip fueltanks which became available in 1961. The internal fuel load can hold60 US gallons of fuel where the wingtip tanks can hold additional 30 USgallons in total.

General Information And Aircraft Specs

Purchase, Download And Installation

I purchased this add-on through Store.FlightSim.Com and thepurchase was easy - very similar to purchase made on FSPilotShop. Theserver features a good a solid connection providing the download witha good performance speed and I had no interruptions or similar. Theentire download of the 191 MB zip file was completed within 2 minutesor so.

The file is named ATS-540-Comanche_P3Dv4_Professional and isactually not a huge file even though this aircraft is a complex andhigh quality aircraft. Performing the installation of the aircraft waseasy and very user friendly, simply just activate the installationwizard and the rest is almost automatic - you can of course selectdirectory for installation but the wizard features an 'auto-find'meaning that it automatically finds the path to your P3Dv4installation folder. You can install the aircraft in your main folderas normally done in e.g. FSX, or you can select a directory outsidethe sim-folder which actually is recommended by LM.

After the installation had completed I saw there were an update tothe aircraft - this was a 34.55 MB update which I of course quicklydownloaded and installed. This update changed the original version tobe the v18.12.31.0 instead and which also is the version tested forthis review.

I checked my virtual hangar after the installation was completedand found one model with four liveries nicely placed under A2ASimulations.

Together with this aircraft you also get a Comanche Pilot's Manualfor P3Dv4 which is a 102 page PDF file. In the manual you findfeatures, various specifics about the engine, the systems and theperformance including charts, etc. You also find procedures,limitations, handling and developers notes. The entire manual is quitethorough and complex and does require much time to read and understand- however you can of course just focus on what you find important butmy recommendation would be to read most of it - it is a good read andit does provide you with a better understanding of this aircraft.

Additionally there are also two small programs included in thisaircraft; one is the Comanche Aircraft Configurator and the other isthe Comanche Input Configurator. Both programs can be accessed fromyour Windows start menu or you can find them on C:/Users/'YourName'/Documents/Prepar3Dv4 Add-Ons/A2A.

The Input Configurator is an assignment tool that can be used toassign axis, buttons or levers on your flight control setup - pleasedo remember that if you use this tool, then don't use other assignmenttools since that could cause double assigning of functions to abutton, a lever or an axis. The assignment tool is easy to use but islimited to only this aircraft and a set of specific selections - thatof course is a nice idea if you have several A2A Simulations aircraftwhere you can make a specific profile for each, but if you fly avariety of aircraft I would probably recommend to use the built-intool in P3Dv4.

The Aircraft Configurator enables you to select a specific GPSsystem to use and implement into the cockpit, however this requiresthat you have purchased a third-party GPS system from either RealityXPor Flight1. These systems are not included and the GPS selection is asstandard set to default.

External

Taking a look at the model itself was a really nice experience. Ido expect a high level of quality much above normal standards when theaircraft are developed by A2A Simulations - this Comanche modelabsolutely met my expectations perfectly. The model is beautifullycreated with a great focus on detailing and authenticity where themodel is created with all the distinctive features like the wide wingroots, the streamlined fuselage, the additional and selective wingtanks as well as the extra elevator tip pieces and the pointyspinner.

The textures used are high quality multi-layer textures showing amodel that is true to real life by e.g. showing age with variousdegrees of wear and tear. This is really awesome since that makes theappearance of the aircraft to be more authentic and thereby providinga more realistic environment for the flight simmer. The textures alsofeature the various metal plates that covers the wings and thefuselage also including all the small rivets, small scratches, dentsand various markings. Everything adds to the superb experience ofthis old bird.

The model is a complete model also featuring several differentanimations such as the control surfaces like the elevator, theailerons and the rudder and also other animations like the gearup/down, wheels rotating, nose wheel steering, gear suspension, flapsat various settings, canopy door and the propeller. All animationsare very realistic and created with a smooth motion.

There are also various effects included in the model - for examplethe propeller turning and changing slightly according to RPM. Alsothe engine start-up smoke, even though very sparse, is created andaccompanied with a realistic shake which makes the engine start-upvery realistic. Of course you also have the very well made lighteffect providing a soft but yet still bright shine from the variouslights (strobe and wing). The landing lights are fair and illuminatethe ground nicely with a dimmed shine.

As I have seen on other aircraft from A2A, this aircraft packconsists of the complete experience package featuring the payload andfuel manager, the virtual hangar for customizing the aircraft andperforming maintenance as well as the very detailed pre-flightinspection. All these features as well as several other features arefound using the Shift+number keys.

For the simmers that are not familiar with these features, then thevirtual hangar is a feature where you can customize the aircraft withvarious selectable changes - this can be the tire type, the batterytype, enable or disable wing tanks, close gaps between the wing rootand fuselage and add or disable several other specific parts like theelevator tips or the specific propeller. You can also here performmaintenance on the aircraft by changing the oil or other fluids orparts or even performing an entire overhaul - you have to do this tomaintain the aircraft since the wear and tear and usage will have animpact on the aircraft over time potentially resulting in errorsduring flight. To enter the virtual hangar you do need to be on theground and with the engine off.

The pre-flight inspection makes it possible for the simmer toperform a walk-around the aircraft to check the current state of theaircraft and to potentially find errors that needs to becorrected. Each inspection point is nicely shown on the path aroundthe aircraft and by clicking on the point a window pops up withdetailed information about that specific point also featuringillustrations and images. You can actually also jack up the aircraftand thereby examine the landing gear properly by raising and loweringthe gear - this is within one of the other shift+number key windowsnamed 'Controls'.

In the payload and fuel manager you can add fuel for both the leftand right wing and of course also for the wingtip tanks if they aremounted on the aircraft (can be enabled/disabled in the virtualhangar). Here you can also select how many people to be on the flightand how much baggage etc. and the best part of this is that by addingpeople or fuel to the aircraft, the aircraft immediately respond toit. E.g. adding weight results in a new aircraft profile where theaircraft is heavier and thereby the suspension is pushed and theaircraft sits closer to the ground surface and vice versa by removingweight.

Internal

The Comanche also features a beautiful and authentic virtualcockpit that is perfectly modeled featuring an abundance of highquality details. The environment is very realistic and creates aperfect atmosphere when flying this old bird.

Looking around the cockpit I saw an old cockpit with oldinstruments but absolutely not an old worn-out cockpit, more anold and perfectly cared for and maintained cockpit showing some degreeof wear and tear various places. E.g. the fabric on the seat islighter at the front end/edge then in the center providing a used andrealistic look for an aircraft of age. Also the carpets on the floorin front of the front seats are stained which looks like oil or greasestains or it could also be dirt or mud. I also found several scratchesaround the cockpit as well as worn-off paint on some of the few metalplates especially around the screw hole in the corner of these metalplates. All textures used are multi-layer, high quality textures thatabsolutely provides the simmer with a very realistic environment andan authentic cockpit experience.

The 3D performance is exceptional and you truly feel like you areinside a real Comanche cockpit. The finish is also super and it isquite obvious that A2A Simulations once again has kept a focus ondetails, realism, authenticity and of course also eye candy and actuallyan abundance of it.

There are multiple animations added to this cockpit like the yokes,the rudder pedals, the various levers, buttons, switches, the door andmany more. All animations are created with a smooth and realisticmotion and fits the environment perfectly.

There are also various effects included such as when starting upthe engine, the cockpit panel will shake until the engine is atidle. Increasing the RPM I also noticed that the cockpit panel wouldchange 'shake profile' so that the shake appears very realisticallyaccording to a specific RPM setting. I did not notice any needle shakein the various gauges which I would have expected from e.g. the VSIwhen taxiing over a rough surface. Neither any needle shake if Itouched down hard however, here I got a very good panel shakeinstead.

Another effect that is awesome is the raindrop effect on thewindshield. Sitting in the cockpit and looking out the windshield Isee the raindrop scattered around my view with realistic bubbles, butit gets better because when the engine is at idle the raindrops justhit the windshield, however when you apply power and increase theRPM the raindrops will be blown upwards with a dynamic speed that isin accordance to the RPM meaning that the more power you apply, thefaster the raindrops move upwards.

The aircraft also features a simplified autopilot which iscontrolled using the knob connected to the 'Turn Coordinator'gauge. The heading is selected using your navigation gauge and on theyoke you will find an 'auto-pilot disengage button'. I did not find a2D cockpit for this add-on.

Sound

The sounds created for this add-on are absolutely superb andfeature both a sound set for the entire RPM settings on the enginealso including startup and shutdown, and also a variety of additionaland various environmental sounds covering everything from switchesbeing clicked, flaps moving, wheels rotating, brakes squeezing andmany more. All sounds are created with a focus on realism and supportthe flight simulation experience superbly by creating a very realisticand authentic sound-atmosphere.

The engine sound is a deep rumble that just increases in volumewhen increasing the power setting - an awesome experience that reallygive me chills on my back because I can really hear the immense powerbeing provided by the engine.

Flying at cruise and enjoying the scenery still provides a greatand realistic sound experience - and if you throttle down to idle youwill now hear the wind outside which will increase in volume if youincrease your IAS by making a more rapid descent.

I have tested the sound sets in both ordinary stereo using a stereoheadset, but also in a 2.1 environment using two front speakers and anactive sub and finally also within a 7.1 surround soundenvironment. The sound performance was perfect in all tests and thesound is clean, clear and absolutely very authentic.

Flight Dynamics And Characteristics

Ground handling is easy with this aircraft - it reacts quickly whenchanging the throttle setting and when you apply the wheel brakes youget an instant decrease of taxi speed. The nose wheel steering is veryeasy and the aircraft can turn within a very small diameter.

The forward view is excellent as well as the view to both sidesproviding a great overview when taxiing the aircraft. When the engineis at idle you do not need to use the wheel brakes for the aircraft tobe at a standstill.

Performing the engine tests prior to takeoff with the wheel brakesapplied, I noticed that the nose of the aircraft would go downwardaccording to the throttle setting meaning the more throttle I gave themore the nose went downward and pushing the nose gear suspension toits limit - this is of course also very well in accordance to reallife.

Another thing that I noticed was the IAS gauge - when you in thevirtual hangar select the elevator tips to be mounted, it is statedthat the Vne speed will increase due to better stability - this wassurprisingly also added to the gauge itself, so when I applied theelevator tips the gauge changed to now show an increased Vnespeed. That is a great detail!

The IAS gauge also nicely displays the Vno, Vs, Vso, Vfe and Vlospeeds perfectly and in accordance to the specs of theaircraft. Increasing the RPM when performing the takeoff I wouldexpect some yaw due to the rotation of the propeller. I did detect ayaw but it was easy to counteract also when the wheels lifted off theground - definitely nothing like taking off in the Bonanza V-tail.

Flying the Comanche is much like other GA aircraft - it's a lowwing structure but with a nice V-shaped profile which provides a goodstability. You can easily trim the aircraft so that you minimize yourworkload and on top of that the aircraft also features the simplifiedautopilot to also ease the work and potential stress in thecockpit.

I started out with a climb to see if I could reach the serviceceiling of 20,000'. At first the Comanche climbed fast and steady butcrossing the 15,000' mark the climb is radically reduced. I reached atotal of 24,700' but it really took a long time to reach that altitudeand after passing the 20,000' mark it was a climb with about 250 feet/minindicated on the VSI. I think the flight dynamics regarding theservice ceiling is fairly realistic because what is stated is notnecessarily the absolute maximum altitude. Also I couldn't havereached this altitude without constantly checking and changing themixture setting.

Testing the impact of lowering the flaps was performed as the nextseries of tests. Flying at a constant RPM and suddenly lowering theflaps resulted in the nose going downward which it also should. Alsoif I counteracted this motion and kept the nose angle the same as wellas keeping the RPM the exact same, I saw that the IAS would decreasewhich I would also expect due to more drag. Additionally I also didthis test by lowering the gear instead of the flaps and the result wasthat the nose angle stayed the same and the IAS began to decreaseagain due to more drag as per real life.

Next test was the stall and spin tests and here I tried out stallswith criteria as straight-out with level wings and 25 degree nose upand secondly with a bank angle of 45 degrees and 25 degrees nose up toboth the left and right side. I did these tests both with full powerand with idle power and also with flaps and gear down versus flaps andgear up. All tests were performed at an altitude of about 2,500'.

The result was not the same for each setup. In general I would saythat stalls that appeared with the engine at idle were very gentle andnormally just resulted in the nose dropping both when flying straightout with level wings and when making a turn. A few times it did resultin a short spin which was easily recovered.

The stall that happened with full throttle were a lot moreaggressive and mostly resulted in loss of lift on the left wingforcing the wing downward as well as the nose. If I didn't counteractthis it resulted in a spin which, however was easily recovered bychanging the throttle to idle, pushing the nose down and counteractingthe rotation with the rudder, then level the wings and softly pull outof the dive.

Just before entering the state of stall the aircraft became verymuch alive and wobbly, and when the stall kicked in you heard arumbling sound, the wind and also a sound of metal being dented - thesound set for the stall is absolutely awesome.

Flying the final and landing the Comanche was easy - the aircraftis very steady and quick on the response of my control inputs, so eventhough flying the final in gusty weather was not really thatdifficult. I also tried coming in extremely high on the final to seeif the aircraft was able to perform a side-slip and of course itwas. I tried out both a left and a right side-slip and I could see thealtimeter spinning down rapidly while the IAS was still within normalstate - that is a superb characteristic built into this add-on.

Flaring the Comanche also works nicely and when the wheels touchdown on the runway, you get a nice cockpit panel shake effect. Theharder you touch down the more severe the effect will be.

Since this aircraft is an old GA aircraft you don't have that manychimes or sounds at all - you do have a beeping sound when youdisengage the autopilot and you also get a highly annoying sound whenyou lower the flaps and set the throttle to idle without lowering thelanding gear. No warning when stalling the aircraft other than thewind and the rumble. Over-speeding the aircraft also does not activatea warning but of course the sound of the wind gets very loud.

Conclusion

Overall this is a superb and excellent rendition of the Comanche250 that seems true to real life - I am of course not qualified tostate that it truly is like the real Comanche since I have never flownthat aircraft in real life, but it does fly like I expected it toaccording to the various specs and my personal real aviationexperience.

I find the Comanche to be very authentic and I love the focus andthe detailing that A2A Simulations has given this aircraft both inregards to the model, the cockpit, the flight dynamics and the soundas well as to the experience package. This aircraft can be used bysimmers that just want to get flying in a realistic environment tosimmers that want all the aspects of flight including maintenance andthe pre-flight inspection - this is absolutely awesome!

The Comanche is certainly a high quality aircraft in all regards -pricewise well... yes it is quite expensive compared to other add-onaircraft but the complexity, the quality and the experience you getflying this bird is just so much better. Personally I find the pricefair and I certainly am looking forward for spending many more hoursflying this aircraft.

I have tested several A2A Simulation aircraft and this Comanche isthe same high level of quality that you also find in their Bonanza,the PA28-180 and their P-51 - truly an awesome flight simulationexperience that I can only recommend, especially if you enjoy theexperience of flying GA aircraft and even more if you like old classicGA aircraft.

The Comanche scored a beautiful 4.88 out of 5 - Thanks to A2ASimulations for creating yet another high quality aircraft. Keep upthe great work!

Ray Andersen

Rays Aviation

Purchase A2A Simulations - Comanche 250

See other A2A Simulations aircraft

Review Computer Specifications

• Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Windows 7 (32-bit) (secondary system)
• Intel Core™ i7-4790K 4x4.00 GHz (Turbo 4x4.40 GHz)
• Asus Maximus VII Ranger (ROG-series)
• Antec Kuhler H20 650 Water Cooler
• Kingston HyperX Beast-series 32 GB DDR3-2133 RAM
• 500Gb Samsung 850 EVO SSD
• 3TB Seagate Barracura (7200 RPM, 6 GB/s)
• Asus GeForce GTX 980 Strix OC 4 GB
• 150/150 Mbit Fiber Internet Connection
• Lockheed Martin Prepar3D v4+
• REX SkyForce3D