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Cessna 150 CommuterPublisher: vFlyteAir SimulationsReview Author: FlightSim.Com StaffSuggested Price: $28.95/images/fsc/wbicons/store-buy-now-button.pngHello and welcome aboard. Today we're going for a flight inVflyteAir's highly detailed and very fun Cessna 150 Commuter! /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-01.jpgThe Cessna 150 is one of the most popular training and touringaircraft in the world. A common sight at flight schools, grass strips,and even tied down at large airports, the 150 gets around, but not inany particular hurry. Cruising at a modest but sufficient 95-100 mph,the Commuter is just fast enough to beat driving in most cases, andwhen equipped with a nice stack of navigational equipment, it makes afun cross country ride for two. Known for its forgiving but honest handling characteristics, theCessna 150 is a very popular trainer, giving thousands of pilots theirwings over the past 60 years. The original prototype Cessna 150 firstflew in 1957, and production began in 1958 in Wichita, Kansas. TheCessna 150 is powered by a 100 hp Conintental O-200-A engine, andmodels from 1958 through 1968 have useful loads in the range of about500 to 600 lbs depending on the model. Over 22,000 of these aircraft were built in the United States,including over 700 "aerobat" versions which were engineered foraerobatic flight. Reims, a manufacturer in France, built over 1700Cessna 150s, over 300 being aerobats. In 1977, the Cessna 152 (poweredby a more economical Lycoming O-235 engine which had a longerrecommended time between overhauls) replaced the Cessna 150. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-02.jpgIconic in the world of light GA flying, thousands of Cessna 150s(and 152s) are still flying all over the world (and the simulatorworld), and now is your chance to take the controls of one of theseclassic birds. So, let's take a look at how vFlyteAir's version,modeled after a real 1972 Cessna 150L model, holds up to the realthing. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-03.jpg /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-04.jpgThe vFlyteAir Cessna 150 Commuter is beautifully modeled, and thefirst thing I noticed when loading the aircraft and hopping into thecockpit was the attention to detail and realism in the textures. Theinterior textures represented a Cessna 150 that's been flown but notabused--the yoke and some of the knobs and switches are worn from use,but the seats and general interior are in decent shape. I feel likethis 150 probably spent half its life in private hands and the otherhalf in a flight school, but whoever had it before kept up onmaintenance and treated it well enough. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-05.jpg /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-06.jpgOn the first load, I was greeted by a friendly screen asking me ifI'd be interested in turning on the custom engine start feature--a neatoption that makes it so you have to start this Cessna 150 exactly asyou would in the real thing, following the procedures in thePOH. Being a real pilot, naturally, I said yes--I love when thesimulation experience is as close to the real thing as possible. To find those starting procedures, there's an interactive pop-outkneeboard/checklist (where you can also find the option to turn thecustom engine start procedure off if you'd rather just "get in andgo"). I pulled out my checklist which was located in the door pocketto the left of the pilot seat, followed the start procedures, and shefired right up with a realistic shake. If you manage to flood theengine, the necessary procedure is just like that in the real aircraftas well, and you can find it in the checklist. Note, the checklist also provides pre-flight procedures so you canwalk around the aircraft and check stuff before going flying (ifyou're a real pilot/student, this is an excellent practice for thereal thing). There's even some remove-before-flight stuff (can beremoved by clicking from pilot view, or in the kneeboard options menu)on the plane, so you better do your pre-flight! /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-07.jpg /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-08.jpgAlso available on the kneeboard options menu is the ability tochange from a trainer panel to a commuter panel. The commuter paneladds navigational equipment including DME, ADF, and a true-to-lifeCessna 300A autopilot. Another option that I found super nifty was theability to remove the wheel pants or add them. Speaking of cooloptions, you can change the gender of your pilot. From this menu youcan also add/remove a co-pilot. When your selected pilot gender ismale, you get a female copilot, and when your selected pilot gender isfemale, you get a male copilot. The copilots are beautifully modeledand move naturally, seeming to look around and take in the sights andsounds of flight. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-09.jpgChecklist in hand, I performed a thorough engine run-up/mag check,latched my doors and windows, and took to the skies. As I pushed thethrottle forward, the engine roared to life and the little Cessnastarted down the runway--the FMOD sounds done by Mike Maarse ofSimAcoustics are fantastic, they are fully dynamic and immersive,mimicking the sound experience of flying the real Cessna 150perfectly. I rotated per checklist at 55 MPH, climbed out at around 75, andglanced at the VSI. If there was one thing that didn't quite matchwith the real thing in this aircraft, it was that the rate of climbseemed a little high for a 150 loaded with the default weight. I sawabout 800 FPM at one point, which isn't that big of a deal, but I'venever seen a real 150 climb quite so enthusiastically on acool-to-warm day with two people aboard. Other than that, the climbwas smooth and the view over the nose/pitch attitude was correct andrealistic. Holding between 75-80 MPH, I turned left and got ready forcruise. Note that clicking on the airspeed indicator gives you theoption to change between MPH over knots to knots over MPH. Similarly,clicking on the Kollsman window in your altimeter toggles between hgto hPa. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-10.jpg /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-11.jpgAfter leveling off at about 1500' for some sightseeing around thenearby lakes, I trimmed it out, then proceeded to do some turns andgentle maneuvering. The handling is accurate, crisp, and forgiving, ajoy to fly. I have time in Cessna 150s and 152s in real life and Ifeel that the flight model is a very accurate representation of thereal thing. It's all very well done. I don't have a shiny high speedsupercomputer, but I still got excellent frame rates with thisaircraft. Although the lighting and PBR effects are stunning andultra-realistic, the model is highly detailed and functional, and thetextures are ultra high res, it didn't chew into my computer's powertoo bad at all. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-12.jpgCruise is easy and fun in this aircraft, the trim wheel is easy touse and works well with the mouse. Setting the gyros to the magneticcompass is accomplished with one click of the heading indicator adjustknob, and operation of the radios is easy and convenient. I'm alsoloving the shake effects, not only on engine start/shutdown, but alsowhen you practice stalls it shakes and "buffets" like the realthing. Very cool. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-13.jpg I took us back toward the airport and ran a before landingchecklist, and on downwind I began dropping the flaps (below 100MPH). They operate just like a real Cessna 150's flaps, you have tohold the lever and watch the flap indicator (to your left, just infront of the door), and the flap motor sound (as with the rest of thesounds) is highly accurate. The aircraft's response to the added flapswas accurate and I continued down the pattern at about 70 MPH. Carbheat hot, more flaps, base, more flaps...final...and a greaser! I hadto use a fair amount of back pressure for the flare just like in areal 150, which I liked because some planes in X-Plane tend to flare alittle too "light" on the controls. This one felt just right. I taxiedback to the T-hangars and, once again, checklist in hand, followed theshut down procedures and hopped out to admire the exterior modelingand textures. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-14.jpg /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-15.jpgMuch like the interior, the exterior is good enough to pass for aphotograph of a real 150. The included 14 liveries are all excellent.There's one for just about everyone's taste in airplane paint (mypersonal favorites are the all-red one and the aluminum one, butthat's just my style!). The paint schemes are all schemes that you'dreally find on real Cessna 150s, and if you want to make your own,there is a paint kit available. Since I was done with this flight, it was a good time to explorethe save-states feature. I quit X-Plane, came back, reloaded thesimulator and aircraft for the next flight, and my settings in theoptions menu were restored. A very nice feature indeed. I also noticedthat you can even adjust the seat positions of the pilot seat and evenfold the co-pilot seat forward by clicking on the seat back. Good forloading in any bags you may have for the rear cargo area. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-16.jpgLater on, I decided to pull the 150 back out of the hangar for anight flight to explore how vFlyteAir managed to light the cockpit andinstruments. There is a nice cabin light that you can turn on duringyour pre-flight that isn't too bright but lights everything up wellenough so you can see your way around the cockpit. In flight, theinstrument lights are more than sufficient but not overly bright. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-17.jpgOther features (this aircraft is loaded with them!) include but arenot limited to highly realistic windshield rain effects, a tow barfeature so you can pull the plane out of the hangar with a tow bar,circuit breakers that actually work, compatibility with X-Plane'sExperimental Flight Model, automatic updating, integrated support forthe AviTab plugin, and more. All around, the vFlyteAir Cessna 150Commuter is a great flight experience, especially for real-worldpilots who want the most realistic experience possible with thisairplane. It is also an excellent training tool for student pilots,especially for those learning in Cessna 150s. It is easy on the framerate despite being highly detailed, and the optionsinterface/kneeboard is user friendly and easy to navigate. /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-18.jpgPriced at a very reasonable $28.95 USD, you're getting a lot of funand functionality for your money, and it's well worth it. ThevFlyteAir Cessna 150 is a highly immersive experience and I highlyenjoy every minute spent flying this model. Bottom line, the vFlyteAir Cessna 150 Commuter meets and exceeds myexpectations as a real-world pilot and flight sim addict, and it's agreat buy if you're looking for an easy, user-friendly, and realisticgeneral aviation experience. So, hop on in and give it a flight aroundthe patch yourself! /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-19.jpg /images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-cessna-150-20.jpg/images/reviews/vflyc150/vflyteair-c150.jpgPurchase vFlyteAir - Cessna 150 Commuter for X-Plane See other vFlyteAir Aircraft
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/images/notams/notams19/vfly1206/vfly1206.jpgComplete Feature ListTwo different panel configurations included - basic "Trainer" and more advanced "Commuter" panel, switchable on the flyThe Basic "Trainer" panel version is modeled from a 1972 C150L located in Texas, USA, tail number N17043Switch airspeed and altimeter gauge units (knots and mph; hPa and inhg) on the fly, by simply clicking the gaugesProfessional FMOD original sound recordings and engineering by Mike Maarse, SimAcoustics – all sounds are from tail number D-EIVM, a Cessna 150M modelAccurate flight characteristics in accordance with performance charts in the C150L POH (fully loaded configuration)Integrated support for AviTab plugin with a yoke-mounted e-tablet that can be hidden during flightBeta-tested by several real-world Cessna 150/152 pilots, including a Flight InstructorPop-out kneeboard with Options menu, interactive Weight and Balance calculator, and Normal Procedures check lists; VR-friendly!Interactive pre-flight walk-around – transport yourself outside the airplane to inspect (7) stations. Visually check fuel levels and oil level, and inspect flight control surfaces for freedom of movementTow bar feature allows you to push or pull the airplane on the ground; use the tow bar to pull the C150 out of the hangar for your first flight of the day /images/notams/notams19/vfly1206/c150-1.jpgOptional wheel pants (wheel fairings) provide slightly less overall dragRemovable static elements, like cowl plugs, pitot tube cover and wheel chocksBy request, the pilot can be male or female. Use the kneeboard Options page to select pilot genderThe "Commuter" Panel option features a simulated Cessna Navomatic 300A single axis autopilotSTMA Autoupdate plugin included to keep your copy up to date with new features and bug fixesHighly detailed and fully animated 3D modelOptimized for VRVery hi-res PBR textures (up to 4K resolution) are used throughout the model14 different high-definition liveries included – paint kit availableComes with 30-page user manual and an example POH (not for real flight) /images/notams/notams19/vfly1206/c150-2.jpgPurchase vFlyteAir Simulations - Cessna 150 Commuter