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/images/notams/notams19/madf0125/madf0125.jpgChange Log v2.0The code was converted to SASL-3Added new rain effect (librain by Saso Kiselkov)Added the ability to install unbreakable gear (file changing)Fixed gear failure in some custom sceneriesFully remastered the aircraft dynamicsAdded stall and near stall conditionsRemastered parachutingAdded icingImproved engine temperaturesAdded real behavior of instrument arrowsA few minor bugs fixedAbout Mad Flight Studio - SP-30Let us introduce you the next generation of aircraft developmentfor X-Plane flight simulator - Spectr-Aero SP-30 by MadFlight Studio! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-1.jpgDuring two years of hard work and research by a small team ofdevelopers, real world pilots and engineers we made what we call anext generation aircraft! There are no fake switches orinstruments. Every gauge, indicator and situation contains fullyrecreated systems and processes from the real plane. It includes anextremely accurate 3D model, PBR textures, sounds, flight model, full3D sound and engine service! Plus two cockpit languages, two gaugesets, two manual languages (English and Russian), full VR experiencefrom start to end of flight without any plugins! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-2.jpgThis and tons of other amazing features waiting you in ourultralight aircraft Spectr-Aero SP-30! Purchase Mad Flight Studio - Spectr-Aero SP-30 /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-3.jpg

Spectr-Aero SP-30Publisher: Mad Flight StudioReview Author: Stuart McGregorSuggested Price: $39.95 (on sale $27.96)/images/fsc/wbicons/store-buy-now-button.png /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_35.jpgThe AircraftAs the old adage goes, never judge abook by its cover, and never a truer word was said about theSpectr-Aero SP-30. At first glance it really is not much to look atwith its boxy design and stubby looking wings. But...and it's a bigbut... what the Mad Flight Studio team have done with the SP-30 inbringing it to X-Plane 11, really is quite remarkable. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_1.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_2.jpgThe real-life aircraft is a single engine, 2-seater light sport andis manufactured in Russia. It comes with the Austrian built Rotax 912ULS piston engine (73,5 kW / 100 hp) fitted with a 3-blade propeller,and is typically used for a range of services, including flighttraining, crop dusting and generally just pottering about in the skyon a bank holiday Monday, weather permitting of course. Based on looksalone, I would imagine that the SP-30 would not be at the top of manypeople's shopping list, however there is much more to this little gemthan first meets the eye. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_3.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_4.jpgGetting StartedI purchased my copy over at Store.FlightSim.Com where it retails at$44.99, which by anyone's estimate is pretty pricey for anlight plane. However, there are hidden gems under the skin of thisSP-30, and I hope this review gives you some idea of what you will getfor your hard earned cash and whether the SP-30 should be the nextaddition to your virtual hangar. As with most sim store sites, there is a detailed description ofthe aircraft features, what is included in the package and also theminimum system requirements. It is a big old boy when it comes todownload size, because when zipped, it takes up a chunky 782.5 MB whichexpands to a hefty 1.36 GB unzipped. This should already give you anidea that this is no ordinary light plane. To get the best out of yourprospective purchase you will need a system with at least 2GB VRAM andideally 4GB, so it is important to be aware of this before you buy. Iam afraid your old Sinclair ZX Spectrum won't cut it any more... /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_5.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_7.jpgInstallation is straight forward, simply unzip the downloaded fileand drag and drop it into your Aircraft folder. First time you startthe SP-30, you will be required to enter a license key, however thisis provided with the download and only takes a couple of minutes toenter and activate. After restarting the sim, I had no issues and offI went. From what I could gather the FlightSim.Com Store offers anunlimited numbers of downloads, which is handy in the event things getcorrupted at some point along the way. In my experience, it can be areal pain when you have to ask for extra downloads from a developer,and I really don't know why some insist on doing this when you have alicensed copy. Anyway, a 26-page instruction manual both in English and Russian isprovided, and this includes a variety of procedures, referenceinformation, recommended switch command settings for X-Plane 11, aswell as links to help pages, etc. I really liked the aged look of themanual as well as the details provided, there is even a foreword by areal SP-30 pilot which is a nice touch. There are some nice images ofthe various aircraft features and I found the manual to be clear andeasy to follow. I would recommend that you do read it cover to cover,as there are an awful lot of detail provided with the SP-30 which atfirst glance may not be obvious, and you do really risk missing someof them if you just jump in and start clicking. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_31.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_8.jpgFor reference, my own system consists of an Intel i7 5820K 3.3 GHzCPU, a GTX1080Ti 11 GB GPU and 32 GB Kingston RAM. I also have a numberof Saitek panels and three 27" screens, and my test flights were allcarried out in and around WBSB International in Brunei, a far cry fromthe cold in northern Russia or Europe. All tests were carried outusing X-Plane 11.31. One point to note about my Saitek panels: although some of thelight indicators would register various lights such as nav, and if thelanding lights were on or off, the various switches did not work outof the box. However, I really did not find this to be too much of adistraction and was able to manipulate the various features with mymouse. A set of command functions are provided in the manual whichallows these commands to be bound to various joystick buttons or keyson your keyboard if you would prefer to go that way. I tried out afew and found them to work well. However, I did create asaitekpanels.ini script to allow me to use the various switches directfrom the panel, and this also worked well, and it is worth noting thatthe Mad Flight team were very helpful during my initial conversationson my switch issues. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_9.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_10.jpgInitial ImpressionsThe SP-30 turned out to be one of the most unexpected gems I havecome across in my five years of being an X-Plane flight simenthusiast. Starting from cold and dark, there is a fabulous array ofground features that can be accessed via various click spots aroundthe aircraft. This is where the fun really starts, and as I mentionedearlier, it is worth reading the manual to find out what is simulatedand where these features can be found. Features include tie downstraps, animated fuel drum and pump, animated engine heater (loved theparticle effects on the exhaust), removable wheel chocks, and the bitI loved the most, engine maintenance. This was superb. Once you openthe engine cowl you can unscrew the oil filter, remove the air filter,check the oil as well as add oil, and even replace the spark plugs (beaware you will get warnings from time to time when things need doing).I am sure this will appeal to the most ardent of motor-heads as wellas those who don't know a spark plug from a cowl flap. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_17.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_18.jpgThe manual gives clear instructions on how to execute all theseactivities to ensure you do them in the right order, as they willimpact engine performance if you don't. You will also find a coupleof interactive check lists as you manoeuvre around the exterior of theaircraft, one on the port (left) side of the engine cowl and thesecond under the starboard (right) wing, although I did find thelatter a little tricky to bring up depending on the view I was usingat the time. In saying that, I continued to find a wide array offeatures including removable pitot tube and prop covers, and theaforementioned animated engine heater and hand crank fuel pump. As the SP-30 has 2 in 1 functionality with crop dusting being itsother day job, you will find another animated hand crank pump pops up,this time for adding chemical to the storage tank which can be slungbelow the aircraft. The tank can be attached and detached with acouple of clicks while on your walk about, and clicking on the fillingcap brings up the drum and pump. The on/off switch for the spryer canbe found on the left of the instrument panel in the cabin. It was realgood fun to try a few flights flying low skimming across thelandscape; Dusty Crophopper eat yer heart out... /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_13.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_14.jpgBut back to the features, as we are not done yet. You can drainfuel from the fuel tank on the underside of the fuselage and visuallycheck the quality, which I just thought was one of the coolest thingsI have seen in my time with X-Plane. As you continue your walk about,you can test for play in the control surfaces by clicking and holdingeach for two seconds with the mouse, any defects during all of thisshowing up on the checklist for further attention prior to yourflight. I really liked the immersion being offered here, it takes thewhole sim experience to another level in my opinion, and the featuresthat come with the SP-30 are extremely well done and realistic. I didfind however, that it took a little while to get used to locating thevarious click spots, as at first, I just guessed, however I found thatthe sensible approach is to use the "Show Instrument Click Regions"from the main X-Plane View menu, a much more pragmatic way to findingwhere the active areas are. This is particularly handy when you are inthe guts of the engine compartment (watch those knuckles). /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_15.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_16.jpgMoving inside the cabin, from either the port or starboardunderwing doors, I really liked what I found. I loved the open feeland all-around visibility the design of the cabin brings to theaircraft, and there were some obvious nice features right from thestart, such as the rotating air vents on each side window. A greatexample of the developer's passion for attention to detail, and youcan start to now see why this release was two years in the making. Thecockpit textures were clean and crisp, and even with my ageingeyesight, I found the dials and instruments generally very easy toread. As it explains in the manual, everything on display has afunction, and the developers are true to their word, as far as I couldestablish. The only thing that I could find that couldn't be clicked,ticked, rotated, tweaked, twiddled, squeezed, pushed, pulled orprovided some kind of flight information were the various fuses on thefar right of the display panel. However, no big deal, the rest arefantastic. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_11.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_12.jpgControl of the various switches and controls was pretty mucheffortless, even when using my mouse, which was a pleasant surprisedue to the fact my Saitek panels were largely redundant. As Imentioned earlier, it is possible to write a saitekpanels.ini scriptto get some functionality in that department if you so choose, andsome kind enthusiast may just share his to helps others... In the rear of the cabin, you will find another checklist whichallows you to access a few more of the available features, namely, themeasurement units can be swapped between imperial or metric, planeshake can be added or removed, pilot visibility when outside theaircraft can be added and removed, and a choice of Russian or Englishlabels are available for the instrument panel. You will also find aseparate language pack in the main aircraft folder in X-Plane, andthis allows a choice between Russian and English .wav files forcertain features. They are very easy to install by just copying andpasting the files you wish to use and overwriting the existingones. There is a small text file that explains how. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_19.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_20.jpgIf you decide to add luggage during the flight set up, a holdallwill appear behind the pilot's seat, and from here you can also accessthe headset which changes the sounds you will hear from within thecabin if worn. You can tune the radio to get simulated Russian radioby default, which was just fabulous, however if your Russian is likemine, then the ability to replace the .wav file with one of your ownallows you the option to listen along to your favorite music. Themanual again explains all. And here is another amazing piece of detail, the windows fog up!This was just sheer brilliance in my opinion. During one of myflights, I set the weather to rain, and then just like that, the cabinwindows started to fog up, just like they would in real life. I alsoliked the fact that when I tried to start the engine, I had a niceRussian gentleman reminding me I had tasks to complete before I couldtake off. These features just blew my socks off! /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_21.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_22.jpgHandlingOn the ground, I found taxiing around the airfield pretty straightforward when using my CH pedals, and the same to be said whenmaintaining a straight line while heading down the runway. Iencountered no issues whilst getting airborne, and during this initialphase of the flight really loved the sound from the engine. There isa bit of a whine to it as you power up which was just that little bitdifferent to many others I have heard. Cruising around could not havebeen easier, very smooth in the turns, although at times the pitchcontrol was a little sensitive, and I found myself over compensating,but this could just be me and my settings rather than flaws in theflight model. Either way, it was no big deal and I thoroughly enjoyedmy couple of hours touring around the skies above the Borneo jungles.During one flight, the rain was battering the windscreen, and therealism of the raindrops was fabulous. With the fogged-up windows andthe raindrops streaming round the window vents, it felt oh so real!Just like being in the back of my dad's old Ford Cortina back in theday... /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_23.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_24.jpgAnd there's more....details such as an hour clock that actuallyracked up the hours, coupled with the various flap levers that helpedkeep the engine in check were really well done, in fact, the wholething is really quite exceptional as far as level of detail andauthenticity goes. The throttle was responsive, and the engine soundchanges were very much in keeping with what was going on around it. Ieven managed to stick a couple of half decent landings, although thelast few feet are always a bit hairy when I am in charge, but that isanother story and more down to my abilities as a pilot than theaircraft's capabilities. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_25.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_26.jpgNow, there initially was one slight glitch in all of this, and thatwas around the GNS430 provided. I was able to switch it on and startit up as instructed in the manual, but for the life of me wasn't ableto get it to run at first. Same goes for the transponder, and nomatter what I tried, no luck. I then dropped the development team aquick cry for help and although they were very helpful, we drew ablank. However, eventually I found the issue, in that, there seems tobe a conflict with the Saitek switch panel and the starterbutton. When I turned this to start, the GNS and transponder came tolife. Just something to be aware of if you use these panels. Final ThoughtsSo, what can I say to sum this all up... in a word amazing! Ireally have been blown away by the SP-30 and what your $44.99 getsyou, and from what I experienced, it is worth every single penny. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_27.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_28.jpgAs far as I can tell there are not many products out there in thelight sport category that offer so much when it comes to level ofdetail and features as the SP-30, so I personally would put the SP-30in a class of its own. The amazing thing is, at first glance it reallyis not much to look at when you compare the smooth and sleek lines ofmodern-day light aircraft, but boy does this wee guy pack a punch. AsI said at the start, this has taught me to never judge a book by itscover, as this is one ugly duckling that definitely turned out to moreof a majestic swan! I honestly believe that the team over at MadFlight Studios have done a remarkable job with their version of theSpectr-Aero SP-30, and I can see why it took two years to complete. So,if you are looking for a light aircraft to add to your fleet, Isuggest you seriously consider it. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_29.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_30.jpgIt is a bit like the TARDIS from the UK sci-fi TV series Dr Who;not much to look at on the outside, but boy, step through the door andyou will be taken to a whole new world of adventure! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/madf0125.jpgStuart McGregor Purchase Mad Flight Studio - Spectr-Aero SP-30

/images/notams/notams19/madf0125/madf0125.jpgChange Log v1.3Fixed twitching while flight models per frame sets to 2 (now you can leave 2)Fixed brake handle stuck bug while FPS is too highImproved sounds in headsetFixed excess gear sounds while parking on rough pavementsFixed mixture handle operating failureFixed some textures mappingOverrided default parking brakesA few minor bugs fixedAbout Mad Flight Studio - SP-30Let us introduce you the next generation of aircraft developmentfor X-Plane flight simulator - Spectr-Aero SP-30 by MadFlight Studio! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-1.jpgDuring two years of hard work and research by a small team ofdevelopers, real world pilots and engineers we made what we call anext generation aircraft! There are no fake switches orinstruments. Every gauge, indicator and situation contains fullyrecreated systems and processes from the real plane. It includes anextremely accurate 3D model, PBR textures, sounds, flight model, full3D sound and engine service! Plus two cockpit languages, two gaugesets, two manual languages (English and Russian), full VR experiencefrom start to end of flight without any plugins! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-2.jpgThis and tons of other amazing features waiting you in ourultralight aircraft Spectr-Aero SP-30! Purchase Mad Flight Studio - Spectr-Aero SP-30 /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-3.jpg

/images/notams/notams19/madf0125/madf0125.jpgChange Log v1.2Improved interior texturesImproved paintkitAdded co-pilot interaction sounds (use intercom + headset)Added fuel quantity saveFixed ATIS frequency bugFixed some textures mappingFixed ground gripping bugFixed right vent animation bugA few minor bugs fixedAbout Mad Flight Studio - SP-30Let us introduce you the next generation of aircraft developmentfor X-Plane flight simulator - Spectr-Aero SP-30 by MadFlight Studio! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-1.jpgDuring two years of hard work and research by a small team ofdevelopers, real world pilots and engineers we made what we call anext generation aircraft! There are no fake switches orinstruments. Every gauge, indicator and situation contains fullyrecreated systems and processes from the real plane. It includes anextremely accurate 3D model, PBR textures, sounds, flight model, full3D sound and engine service! Plus two cockpit languages, two gaugesets, two manual languages (English and Russian), full VR experiencefrom start to end of flight without any plugins! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-2.jpgThis and tons of other amazing features waiting you in ourultralight aircraft Spectr-Aero SP-30! Purchase Mad Flight Studio - Spectr-Aero SP-30 /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-3.jpg

Spectr-Aero SP-30Publisher: Mad Flight StudioReview Author: Stuart McGregorSuggested Price: $44.99/images/fsc/wbicons/store-buy-now-button.png /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_35.jpgThe AircraftAs the old adage goes, never judge abook by its cover, and never a truer word was said about theSpectr-Aero SP-30. At first glance it really is not much to look atwith its boxy design and stubby looking wings. But...and it's a bigbut... what the Mad Flight Studio team have done with the SP-30 inbringing it to X-Plane 11, really is quite remarkable. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_1.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_2.jpgThe real-life aircraft is a single engine, 2-seater light sport andis manufactured in Russia. It comes with the Austrian built Rotax 912ULS piston engine (73,5 kW / 100 hp) fitted with a 3-blade propeller,and is typically used for a range of services, including flighttraining, crop dusting and generally just pottering about in the skyon a bank holiday Monday, weather permitting of course. Based on looksalone, I would imagine that the SP-30 would not be at the top of manypeople's shopping list, however there is much more to this little gemthan first meets the eye. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_3.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_4.jpgGetting StartedI purchased my copy over at Store.FlightSim.Com where it retails at$44.99, which by anyone's estimate is pretty pricey for anlight plane. However, there are hidden gems under the skin of thisSP-30, and I hope this review gives you some idea of what you will getfor your hard earned cash and whether the SP-30 should be the nextaddition to your virtual hangar. As with most sim store sites, there is a detailed description ofthe aircraft features, what is included in the package and also theminimum system requirements. It is a big old boy when it comes todownload size, because when zipped, it takes up a chunky 782.5 MB whichexpands to a hefty 1.36 GB unzipped. This should already give you anidea that this is no ordinary light plane. To get the best out of yourprospective purchase you will need a system with at least 2GB VRAM andideally 4GB, so it is important to be aware of this before you buy. Iam afraid your old Sinclair ZX Spectrum won't cut it any more... /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_5.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_7.jpgInstallation is straight forward, simply unzip the downloaded fileand drag and drop it into your Aircraft folder. First time you startthe SP-30, you will be required to enter a license key, however thisis provided with the download and only takes a couple of minutes toenter and activate. After restarting the sim, I had no issues and offI went. From what I could gather the FlightSim.Com Store offers anunlimited numbers of downloads, which is handy in the event things getcorrupted at some point along the way. In my experience, it can be areal pain when you have to ask for extra downloads from a developer,and I really don't know why some insist on doing this when you have alicensed copy. Anyway, a 26-page instruction manual both in English and Russian isprovided, and this includes a variety of procedures, referenceinformation, recommended switch command settings for X-Plane 11, aswell as links to help pages, etc. I really liked the aged look of themanual as well as the details provided, there is even a foreword by areal SP-30 pilot which is a nice touch. There are some nice images ofthe various aircraft features and I found the manual to be clear andeasy to follow. I would recommend that you do read it cover to cover,as there are an awful lot of detail provided with the SP-30 which atfirst glance may not be obvious, and you do really risk missing someof them if you just jump in and start clicking. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_31.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_8.jpgFor reference, my own system consists of an Intel i7 5820K 3.3 GHzCPU, a GTX1080Ti 11 GB GPU and 32 GB Kingston RAM. I also have a numberof Saitek panels and three 27" screens, and my test flights were allcarried out in and around WBSB International in Brunei, a far cry fromthe cold in northern Russia or Europe. All tests were carried outusing X-Plane 11.31. One point to note about my Saitek panels: although some of thelight indicators would register various lights such as nav, and if thelanding lights were on or off, the various switches did not work outof the box. However, I really did not find this to be too much of adistraction and was able to manipulate the various features with mymouse. A set of command functions are provided in the manual whichallows these commands to be bound to various joystick buttons or keyson your keyboard if you would prefer to go that way. I tried out afew and found them to work well. However, I did create asaitekpanels.ini script to allow me to use the various switches directfrom the panel, and this also worked well, and it is worth noting thatthe Mad Flight team were very helpful during my initial conversationson my switch issues. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_9.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_10.jpgInitial ImpressionsThe SP-30 turned out to be one of the most unexpected gems I havecome across in my five years of being an X-Plane flight simenthusiast. Starting from cold and dark, there is a fabulous array ofground features that can be accessed via various click spots aroundthe aircraft. This is where the fun really starts, and as I mentionedearlier, it is worth reading the manual to find out what is simulatedand where these features can be found. Features include tie downstraps, animated fuel drum and pump, animated engine heater (loved theparticle effects on the exhaust), removable wheel chocks, and the bitI loved the most, engine maintenance. This was superb. Once you openthe engine cowl you can unscrew the oil filter, remove the air filter,check the oil as well as add oil, and even replace the spark plugs (beaware you will get warnings from time to time when things need doing).I am sure this will appeal to the most ardent of motor-heads as wellas those who don't know a spark plug from a cowl flap. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_17.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_18.jpgThe manual gives clear instructions on how to execute all theseactivities to ensure you do them in the right order, as they willimpact engine performance if you don't. You will also find a coupleof interactive check lists as you manoeuvre around the exterior of theaircraft, one on the port (left) side of the engine cowl and thesecond under the starboard (right) wing, although I did find thelatter a little tricky to bring up depending on the view I was usingat the time. In saying that, I continued to find a wide array offeatures including removable pitot tube and prop covers, and theaforementioned animated engine heater and hand crank fuel pump. As the SP-30 has 2 in 1 functionality with crop dusting being itsother day job, you will find another animated hand crank pump pops up,this time for adding chemical to the storage tank which can be slungbelow the aircraft. The tank can be attached and detached with acouple of clicks while on your walk about, and clicking on the fillingcap brings up the drum and pump. The on/off switch for the spryer canbe found on the left of the instrument panel in the cabin. It was realgood fun to try a few flights flying low skimming across thelandscape; Dusty Crophopper eat yer heart out... /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_13.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_14.jpgBut back to the features, as we are not done yet. You can drainfuel from the fuel tank on the underside of the fuselage and visuallycheck the quality, which I just thought was one of the coolest thingsI have seen in my time with X-Plane. As you continue your walk about,you can test for play in the control surfaces by clicking and holdingeach for two seconds with the mouse, any defects during all of thisshowing up on the checklist for further attention prior to yourflight. I really liked the immersion being offered here, it takes thewhole sim experience to another level in my opinion, and the featuresthat come with the SP-30 are extremely well done and realistic. I didfind however, that it took a little while to get used to locating thevarious click spots, as at first, I just guessed, however I found thatthe sensible approach is to use the "Show Instrument Click Regions"from the main X-Plane View menu, a much more pragmatic way to findingwhere the active areas are. This is particularly handy when you are inthe guts of the engine compartment (watch those knuckles). /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_15.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_16.jpgMoving inside the cabin, from either the port or starboardunderwing doors, I really liked what I found. I loved the open feeland all-around visibility the design of the cabin brings to theaircraft, and there were some obvious nice features right from thestart, such as the rotating air vents on each side window. A greatexample of the developer's passion for attention to detail, and youcan start to now see why this release was two years in the making. Thecockpit textures were clean and crisp, and even with my ageingeyesight, I found the dials and instruments generally very easy toread. As it explains in the manual, everything on display has afunction, and the developers are true to their word, as far as I couldestablish. The only thing that I could find that couldn't be clicked,ticked, rotated, tweaked, twiddled, squeezed, pushed, pulled orprovided some kind of flight information were the various fuses on thefar right of the display panel. However, no big deal, the rest arefantastic. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_11.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_12.jpgControl of the various switches and controls was pretty mucheffortless, even when using my mouse, which was a pleasant surprisedue to the fact my Saitek panels were largely redundant. As Imentioned earlier, it is possible to write a saitekpanels.ini scriptto get some functionality in that department if you so choose, andsome kind enthusiast may just share his to helps others... In the rear of the cabin, you will find another checklist whichallows you to access a few more of the available features, namely, themeasurement units can be swapped between imperial or metric, planeshake can be added or removed, pilot visibility when outside theaircraft can be added and removed, and a choice of Russian or Englishlabels are available for the instrument panel. You will also find aseparate language pack in the main aircraft folder in X-Plane, andthis allows a choice between Russian and English .wav files forcertain features. They are very easy to install by just copying andpasting the files you wish to use and overwriting the existingones. There is a small text file that explains how. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_19.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_20.jpgIf you decide to add luggage during the flight set up, a holdallwill appear behind the pilot's seat, and from here you can also accessthe headset which changes the sounds you will hear from within thecabin if worn. You can tune the radio to get simulated Russian radioby default, which was just fabulous, however if your Russian is likemine, then the ability to replace the .wav file with one of your ownallows you the option to listen along to your favorite music. Themanual again explains all. And here is another amazing piece of detail, the windows fog up!This was just sheer brilliance in my opinion. During one of myflights, I set the weather to rain, and then just like that, the cabinwindows started to fog up, just like they would in real life. I alsoliked the fact that when I tried to start the engine, I had a niceRussian gentleman reminding me I had tasks to complete before I couldtake off. These features just blew my socks off! /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_21.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_22.jpgHandlingOn the ground, I found taxiing around the airfield pretty straightforward when using my CH pedals, and the same to be said whenmaintaining a straight line while heading down the runway. Iencountered no issues whilst getting airborne, and during this initialphase of the flight really loved the sound from the engine. There isa bit of a whine to it as you power up which was just that little bitdifferent to many others I have heard. Cruising around could not havebeen easier, very smooth in the turns, although at times the pitchcontrol was a little sensitive, and I found myself over compensating,but this could just be me and my settings rather than flaws in theflight model. Either way, it was no big deal and I thoroughly enjoyedmy couple of hours touring around the skies above the Borneo jungles.During one flight, the rain was battering the windscreen, and therealism of the raindrops was fabulous. With the fogged-up windows andthe raindrops streaming round the window vents, it felt oh so real!Just like being in the back of my dad's old Ford Cortina back in theday... /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_23.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_24.jpgAnd there's more....details such as an hour clock that actuallyracked up the hours, coupled with the various flap levers that helpedkeep the engine in check were really well done, in fact, the wholething is really quite exceptional as far as level of detail andauthenticity goes. The throttle was responsive, and the engine soundchanges were very much in keeping with what was going on around it. Ieven managed to stick a couple of half decent landings, although thelast few feet are always a bit hairy when I am in charge, but that isanother story and more down to my abilities as a pilot than theaircraft's capabilities. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_25.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_26.jpgNow, there initially was one slight glitch in all of this, and thatwas around the GNS430 provided. I was able to switch it on and startit up as instructed in the manual, but for the life of me wasn't ableto get it to run at first. Same goes for the transponder, and nomatter what I tried, no luck. I then dropped the development team aquick cry for help and although they were very helpful, we drew ablank. However, eventually I found the issue, in that, there seems tobe a conflict with the Saitek switch panel and the starterbutton. When I turned this to start, the GNS and transponder came tolife. Just something to be aware of if you use these panels. Final ThoughtsSo, what can I say to sum this all up... in a word amazing! Ireally have been blown away by the SP-30 and what your $44.99 getsyou, and from what I experienced, it is worth every single penny. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_27.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_28.jpgAs far as I can tell there are not many products out there in thelight sport category that offer so much when it comes to level ofdetail and features as the SP-30, so I personally would put the SP-30in a class of its own. The amazing thing is, at first glance it reallyis not much to look at when you compare the smooth and sleek lines ofmodern-day light aircraft, but boy does this wee guy pack a punch. AsI said at the start, this has taught me to never judge a book by itscover, as this is one ugly duckling that definitely turned out to moreof a majestic swan! I honestly believe that the team over at MadFlight Studios have done a remarkable job with their version of theSpectr-Aero SP-30, and I can see why it took two years to complete. So,if you are looking for a light aircraft to add to your fleet, Isuggest you seriously consider it. /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_29.jpg /images/reviews/maddsp30/t/SP-30_30.jpgIt is a bit like the TARDIS from the UK sci-fi TV series Dr Who;not much to look at on the outside, but boy, step through the door andyou will be taken to a whole new world of adventure! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/madf0125.jpgStuart McGregor Purchase Mad Flight Studio - Spectr-Aero SP-30

/images/notams/notams19/madf0125/madf0125.jpgDear virtual pilots, Let us introduce you the next generation of aircraft developmentfor X-Plane flight simulator - Spectr-Aero SP-30 by MadFlight Studio! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-1.jpgDuring two years of hard work and research by a small team ofdevelopers, real world pilots and engineers we made what we call anext generation aircraft! There are no fake switches orinstruments. Every gauge, indicator and situation contains fullyrecreated systems and processes from the real plane. It includes anextremely accurate 3D model, PBR textures, sounds, flight model, full3D sound and engine service! Plus two cockpit languages, two gaugesets, two manual languages (English and Russian), full VR experiencefrom start to end of flight without any plugins! /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-2.jpgThis and tons of other amazing features waiting you in ourultralight aircraft Spectr-Aero SP-30! Purchase Mad Flight Studio - Spectr-Aero SP-30 /images/notams/notams19/madf0125/sp30-3.jpg

/images/notams/notams19/madf0123.jpgAfter two years of development, a lot of test and search for the bestsolutions we ready to show you the new word in flight simulators -Spectr-Aero SP-30 for X-Plane. This ultralight aircraft will bring new flight experience foreveryone. Beautiful exterior and truly flight model tested by realpilots, custom avionics and great sounds you will find in ourmodel. But that's not all! We include many features in our add-on forengine service and plane systems maintenance. Fly VFR or IFR with Russian or English gauges and GNS430. We create our model with all new features of X-Plane 11, like PBR,particles system and VR. Manual in Russian and English languages included. Purchase Mad Flight Studio - SP-30