Twin Otter Extended Preview (FSX,P3D)

[IGrant 51]

Gents, really this discussion is not useful. When we do not get support from the 3rd (4rd?) party developers we will not implement it. So all further discussion on this makes no sense. Let's get back to the aircraft.

If I may clarify, my statement was in response to requests for no GPS at all. I was simply saying it is easier to ignore something that is there (any GPS in this situation) versus the problems faced by one who wants a GPS when one hasn't been provided. Most of the time when I am flying the current Twin Otter X I ignore the GPS but that doesn't mean it can't be there if I am not using it, correct?

Getting back to the aircraft, however, I am still awaiting any details that can be revealed about the depth of the engine simulation. I would love to hear more about that as that is what I am looking forward to the most. If the engine modeling is top notch I don't care if there is a GPS or not, much less if it is RXP or not!

[Finn 873]

Regarding the engines..

I think the engine(s) simulation will be on par with our Bronco, if not slightly better, though it´s two different kind of turboprop engines.

The default FSX turboprop does not indicate any increase of torque when the propeller RPM are reduced i.e propellerblades goes into courser setting - this has now been added to the Twin Otter engines.

The turbine interstage temperature does also not increase neither with reduced propeller RPM or when altitude increases - this has also been added to the Twin Otter.

Most Float equipped Twin Otters have startlatches mounted for the propellers, which prevents the propellers from feathering during shutdown. This requires the right procedure during shutdown and startup - also added to the float version of the Twin Otter.

All switches for Autofeather test, Propeller governor test, Beta disarm test and Power lever switch test are also fully functional as well as the Autofeather system.

As most of You know - FSX engines are made out of kryptonite and are indestructable. - On our Twin Otter the engines will fail if they are overtorqued, overtemped or when a hotstart occurs. Also flameout due to ice ingestion will be simulated.

For engine fires You will have a fully functional fireprotection system.

Engine failures though, are selectable for those who don´t want this feature, but simply want to buzz around without any bad surprices.

Structural icing will also be included i.e if You don´t turn on the de-icing boots and fly into icing conditions You might experience aircraft performance to reduce until the point where it becomes unflyable due to heavy icebuildup.

Engine de-ice systems must also be used to prevent ice ingestion to the engines.

The fuel system is also fully simulated, apart from the refuel option for wingtank equipped versions.

There might be other surprices beeing added, but I won´t reveal those yet

BUT DON`T TAKE THIS AS A FEATURELIST - EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT FOR CHANGES !!!

I need to emphasise this, cause if a certain "feature" is downrated by the beta testers, it will be removed, though I hardly can think they will do so for the above mentioned items.

It´s only an honest attempt to keep You updated on what You might get hands on.

Finn

[Emi 5161]

This sounds very nice Finn!

I am definatly looking forward to fly this beauty!

[Erikk 7]

Sounds very great, sounds realism, like that! And looks nicely!

Is there any news about prices?

[Aeromaestro 60]

Yeah Finn! Nothing beats FS realism of the quality you just described except the real thing. I think this just hopped into the no. 1 spot right there with the Majestic Q400 on my to get list. Can't wait to do my island hopping in the Caribbean and Tahiti. Carry on!

[jadi 0]

Regarding the engines..

I think the engine(s) simulation will be on par with our Bronco, if not slightly better, though it´s two different kind of turboprop engines.

The default FSX turboprop does not indicate any increase of torque when the propeller RPM are reduced i.e propellerblades goes into courser setting - this has now been added to the Twin Otter engines.

The turbine interstage temperature does also not increase neither with reduced propeller RPM or when altitude increases - this has also been added to the Twin Otter.

Most Float equipped Twin Otters have startlatches mounted for the propellers, which prevents the propellers from feathering during shutdown. This requires the right procedure during shutdown and startup - also added to the float version of the Twin Otter.

All switches for Autofeather test, Propeller governor test, Beta disarm test and Power lever switch test are also fully functional as well as the Autofeather system.

As most of You know - FSX engines are made out of kryptonite and are indestructable. - On our Twin Otter the engines will fail if they are overtorqued, overtemped or when a hotstart occurs. Also flameout due to ice ingestion will be simulated.

For engine fires You will have a fully functional fireprotection system.

Engine failures though, are selectable for those who don´t want this feature, but simply want to buzz around without any bad surprices.

Structural icing will also be included i.e if You don´t turn on the de-icing boots and fly into icing conditions You might experience aircraft performance to reduce until the point where it becomes unflyable due to heavy icebuildup.

Engine de-ice systems must also be used to prevent ice ingestion to the engines.

The fuel system is also fully simulated, apart from the refuel option for wingtank equipped versions.

There might be other surprices beeing added, but I won´t reveal those yet

BUT DON`T TAKE THIS AS A FEATURELIST - EVERYTHING IS SUBJECT FOR CHANGES !!!

I need to emphasise this, cause if a certain "feature" is downrated by the beta testers, it will be removed, though I hardly can think they will do so for the above mentioned items.

It´s only an honest attempt to keep You updated on what You might get hands on.

Finn

Very nice!!! I'll just wait what will be the outcome of this project.....i'm sure this be the plane that will depart from my virtual hangar everyday...

[IGrant 51]

With all of those features including hot starts I can only assume there will be a fairly accurate start up procedure. It all sounds really great- Thanks for the info, Finn!

[DocBird 12]

Finn: This sounds great!

But: Please make sure that the product is accompanied by a reasonable manual that is written for beginners as well as for more experienced simmers.

To say it clearly: This was not the case for the old manual (and the German version was poorly translated)!

You should divide the manual in several sections for those who “just want to fly” and for those who “take it serious”. But maybe you even include a chapter for those who want to take the step from the one side to the other. That would however need a certain amount of explanations of certain concepts, e.g. why a hot start is critical, what is the concept of the engines and props or what it means to “feather”. If that is too complicated for a manual (which could well be the case) a link to certain sources of information would be very helpful. Or it would clearly be appreciated if there would be some kind of video tutorial of these concepts (which would also work as teasers for the product itself).

As you may have noticed:

I am a fan of the concept that a product needs to be accompanied by a manual and explained in a way that it can be used without spending hours to surf certain forums to gather information.

As for Beta-testing: If you need an experienced simmer with some technical knowhow who is not an expert: let me know!

[Panxua 3]

Woow !!

That's really impressing!

Which makes even more necessary a substantially detailed performance chart to be aware of, according to the flight level, the better combination torque / propeller speed to reach the farthest destination.

Really longing to sea it!

[BeaverDriver 37]

Finn, that's fantastic!! Realizing that not everything may make it in (better to have everything working than to include things that just don't or can't be reasonably simulated in FSX), this will finally give us a model in FSX worthy of this airplane. There are few developers out there who are willing or able to put this kind effort into an aircraft, and it's very much appreciated. The wait for it (however long) will be well worth it. Thanks and continued good luck with the project.

Glenn

[Finn 873]

Finn: This sounds great!

But: Please make sure that the product is accompanied by a reasonable manual that is written for beginners as well as for more experienced simmers.

To say it clearly: This was not the case for the old manual (and the German version was poorly translated)!

You should divide the manual in several sections for those who “just want to fly” and for those who “take it serious”. But maybe you even include a chapter for those who want to take the step from the one side to the other. That would however need a certain amount of explanations of certain concepts, e.g. why a hot start is critical, what is the concept of the engines and props or what it means to “feather”. If that is too complicated for a manual (which could well be the case) a link to certain sources of information would be very helpful. Or it would clearly be appreciated if there would be some kind of video tutorial of these concepts (which would also work as teasers for the product itself).

As you may have noticed:

I am a fan of the concept that a product needs to be accompanied by a manual and explained in a way that it can be used without spending hours to surf certain forums to gather information.

As for Beta-testing: If you need an experienced simmer with some technical knowhow who is not an expert: let me know!

I agree thate we need more thoroughly explanations of the systems, though in essense they are simpler than they sound.

Later I will tell about the autopilot which also is quite powerfull with a few specialities.

Finn

[DocBird 12]

I agree thate we need more thoroughly explanations of the systems, though in essense they are simpler than they sound.

Later I will tell about the autopilot which also is quite powerfull with a few specialities.

Finn

Great to hear that you see my point and have it on the list! Makes me even more anxious ...

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51561]

Sounds very great, sounds realism, like that! And looks nicely!

Is there any news about prices?

Euro 25.20 (plus VAT when applicable).

[Aerosoft Team [Inactive Account] 51561]

With all of those features including hot starts I can only assume there will be a fairly accurate start up procedure. It all sounds really great- Thanks for the info, Finn!

Oh yeah, you'll be able to hotwire one on your local airport and take it for a spin.

Funny story.... last weekend my daughter (15, not interested in sims) and I were at a local airport (let's not say the name) and were shown around a A320 because of the Airbus X Extended project. I told he she could start the aircraft using the step by step guide we written. She laughed and started to tweet something horrible about me on facebook (can you tweet on facebook, if not you should be able to!), but I insisted she could. We opened one of the AXE boxes we had as a gift for the crew and put her in the left seat. 15 Minutes later she had the APU running, aligned the IRS's and was about to start the main engines. The crew then told her that was not a great idea.

I promise the same will work on the Twotter.

[Finn 873]

Cannot wait for a brand new Twotter in HD!!

This is probably just nitpicking and won't bother anyone but a few anal retentive detail freaks like myself... Regarding the Wheel/Ski version (if included, of course), please sort out the ski animation and make it work properly like the default Maule: animated suspension and wheel contact points (class 1) when skis are up; animated suspension and ski contact points (class 16) when skis are down.

The current model just doesn't work. It's either animated class 1 contact points with skis up or rigid ones with no suspension animation with skis down. This is hard coded into the model. Fixing the CFG file won't do any good.

Another animation issue that is not limited to just one model is the nose wheel. It keeps turning with the rudders mid-air. I'm pretty sure that shouldn't happen.

I think it´s safe to say that it won´t happen on this Twin Otter.

Finn

[LMAA 28]

Oh yeah, you'll be able to hotwire one on your local airport and take it for a spin.

Funny story.... last weekend my daughter (15, not interested in sims) and I were at a local airport (let's not say the name) and were shown around a A320 because of the Airbus X Extended project. I told he she could start the aircraft using the step by step guide we written. She laughed and started to tweet something horrible about me on facebook (can you tweet on facebook, if not you should be able to!), but I insisted she could. We opened one of the AXE boxes we had as a gift for the crew and put her in the left seat. 15 Minutes later she had the APU running, aligned the IRS's and was about to start the main engines. The crew then told her that was not a great idea.

I promise the same will work on the Twotter.

it´s realy funny story, Mr Kok

[IGrant 51]

Oh yeah, you'll be able to hotwire one on your local airport and take it for a spin.

Funny story.... last weekend my daughter (15, not interested in sims) and I were at a local airport (let's not say the name) and were shown around a A320 because of the Airbus X Extended project. I told he she could start the aircraft using the step by step guide we written. She laughed and started to tweet something horrible about me on facebook (can you tweet on facebook, if not you should be able to!), but I insisted she could. We opened one of the AXE boxes we had as a gift for the crew and put her in the left seat. 15 Minutes later she had the APU running, aligned the IRS's and was about to start the main engines. The crew then told her that was not a great idea.

I promise the same will work on the Twotter.

Great stuff, Mathijs! Can't wait to start them up for the first time.

As far as I'm concerned, Aerosoft can make all the commuter turboprops they want. I'd buy each and every one of them!

[Aeromaestro 60]

Great stuff, Mathijs! Can't wait to start them up for the first time.

As far as I'm concerned, Aerosoft can make all the commuter turboprops they want. I'd buy each and every one of them!

Yes! Commuter turboprops!!! MORE!! We need more. Everybody forget the jets for a while. ATRs, Saab 340s/2000s, Dornier 228s(NG version too)/328s, the Britten Norman Turbine Islander( yes TURBINE, with Rolls Royce Allison 250-B17Cs), the Rockwell Twin Commander 1000 and the rest of the Turbo Commander series, the Evektor EV-55 Outback, Piper Cheyenne 400LS! I even recently saw what would be a cool project for Asian developers. Xian MA60. Basically a totally new Antonov AN24/26 with PW127s on it, albeit Chinese. Cool bird for some Philippine/Indonesia flying! Shoot...why not throw in a Shorts SD360 for good measure.

Point is, IMHO FSX is getting quite boring with developer after developer churning out jets. The same jets over and over, with different levels of realism and quality but the same jets. Why not break away from the norm and if you have access to some cool turboprops and the budget to develop them, by all means (as we say in the caribbean), "Send dem come!" It's time for a return to turboprops, no? Aerosoft is well on the way there with this ultra professional Twotter, Razbam is coming with their Metro III, Milviz with their King Air 350i and MU-2 and of course there's McPhat Studios with their Fokker 50 and Majestic Software with what has to be one of the most anticipated turboprops right alongside the Twotter, the Q400. If PMDG ever gets around to churning out that Q100-300 series they advertised a couple years ago, I shall believe in miracles.

Seems like there has begun a little 180 back to the turboprops. Why not keep it going? I am perfectly happy to max my credit card out for some quality props. The Twotter and the above mentioned are already a firm buy for me. With sceneries like Orbx Alaska and FTX Global coming....dios mio. FSX is about to get a sweet makeover. We already got some quality jets. Time for the turboprops now, methinks. Anyway, just my 2 cents worth. This could possibly be the very last payware quality Twin Otter ever produced for FSX. It's good to know that it's getting some Aerosoft style T.L.C, which means it's gonna be a force to be reckoned with. So I wait......not too patiently.....but patiently enough..... God bless Viking for wanting to keep the legend alive just a lil longer.

Cheers, guys.

[iFlySimX 148]

Oh yeah, you'll be able to hotwire one on your local airport and take it for a spin.

Funny story.... last weekend my daughter (15, not interested in sims) and I were at a local airport (let's not say the name) and were shown around a A320 because of the Airbus X Extended project. I told he she could start the aircraft using the step by step guide we written. She laughed and started to tweet something horrible about me on facebook (can you tweet on facebook, if not you should be able to!), but I insisted she could. We opened one of the AXE boxes we had as a gift for the crew and put her in the left seat. 15 Minutes later she had the APU running, aligned the IRS's and was about to start the main engines. The crew then told her that was not a great idea.

I promise the same will work on the Twotter.

Trop fort!!!!

[IGrant 51]

Yes! Commuter turboprops!!! MORE!! We need more. Everybody forget the jets for a while. ATRs, Saab 340s/2000s, Dornier 228s(NG version too)/328s, the Britten Norman Turbine Islander( yes TURBINE, with Rolls Royce Allison 250-B17Cs), the Rockwell Twin Commander 1000 and the rest of the Turbo Commander series, the Evektor EV-55 Outback, Piper Cheyenne 400LS! I even recently saw what would be a cool project for Asian developers. Xian MA60. Basically a totally new Antonov AN24/26 with PW127s on it, albeit Chinese. Cool bird for some Philippine/Indonesia flying! Shoot...why not throw in a Shorts SD360 for good measure.

A Beech 1900 would be great too with all the systems. Not overly complex but something more than the aged PMDG model would a welcome addition. Aerosoft is already making some PT6 engines for the Twotter, maybe we can bolt them onto a nice shiny new 1900. Eitherway, this Twin Otter is going to be such a breath of fresh air as it has been a long time since a good top notch commuter turbo prop has come out.

[Aeromaestro 60]

A Beech 1900 would be great too with all the systems. Not overly complex but something more than the aged PMDG model would a welcome addition. Aerosoft is already making some PT6 engines for the Twotter, maybe we can bolt them onto a nice shiny new 1900. Eitherway, this Twin Otter is going to be such a breath of fresh air as it has been a long time since a good top notch commuter turbo prop has come out.

You do know the Beech 1900's not got PT6A-27s or 34s for that matter, right? I should imagine one would have a whale of a time time trying to get a 1900 with standard load out (much less full capacity) off terra firma with 750 shp engines flat rated to 620. Yep, that would be reeeally interesting. I'd like to give it a shot though.

+1 for the 1900 C & D with Aerosoft style engines though.

(Back on topic....)

Yaaaaaay Twin Otter!

[IGrant 51]

You do know the Beech 1900's not got PT6A-27s or 34s for that matter, right? I should imagine one would have a whale of a time time trying to get a 1900 with standard load out (much less full capacity) off terra firma with 750 shp engines flat rated to 620. Yep, that would be reeeally interesting. I'd like to give it a shot though.

+1 for the 1900 C & D with Aerosoft style engines though.

(Back on topic....)

Yaaaaaay Twin Otter!

Oh yes, different PT-6 variant for sure but I'd like to think that the different details could be adjusted using their current PT-6 model as a platform.

I think use turboprop fans are going to have a good year between this and the two other high quality turboprop simulations coming from other devs. I hope they keep coming.

[Aeromaestro 60]

Oh yes, different PT-6 variant for sure but I'd like to think that the different details could be adjusted using their current PT-6 model as a platform.

I think use turboprop fans are going to have a good year between this and the two other high quality turboprop simulations coming from other devs. I hope they keep coming.

Amen bro! I fancy myself the turboprop ambassador....of a sort. This is awesome! I just went out and got myself a Samsung Series 7 Gamer. Serious gaming power and mobility all in one. Oh this is gonna be grand! We need more turboprop lovers to speak up.

(Again...)

Yaaaaaay Twin Otter!

[Hueyman 10]

I'm myself creating a serious PT6A-27 model for X-Plane, and really look forward what you'll produce here for FSX with that Twin Otter as well as other ACFTS in development.

[Chad Hittenberger 5]

viking needs to do a new twin otter with the pt6a140 867hp engines just like cessna has done with the grand caravan they could de rate them to 835hp for economic reasons but the 750hp does not provide enough extra power for float ops. and the speed is still slow the croise speed with the new engines would be close to 185knots rather then 147knots like the corrent -400.chad hittenberger