VIRTUALCOL DASH-8 for FS9. Anyone tried it?

[kiwiflyer45 123]

I was wondering if anyone has purchased the new VIRTUALCOL Dash-8 and if so, what do they think of it? I have the JF Dash-8 but that is very dated. I also have the Majestic Dash-8 for FS9 - in some ways it is very good but graphics (especially VC) are not to current standards and also it isn't compatible with GoFlight modules. Any user evaluations would be appreciated

Cheers

Ian

[BMagann 11]

I posted this thinking you were looking at the FSX version. My bad! Hopefully some of my observations will still be useful.

 

It isn't anything like the Majestic version. It is a fun plane to jump into and fly, but it is only a little more complex than the stock 737.

 

The virtual cockpit graphics are a little on the cartoonish side, but that is to keep the framerates high. I think the externals are pretty good, and with 149 repaints and modelling of the 100, 200, 300 and 400 variants it certainly offers great variety. I have no way to really comment on the flight model.

 

I personally enjoy it, but I understand why others wouldn't. If you are looking for deep systems detail, you will probably be disappointed. 

[kiwiflyer45 123]

Thanks for the quick and helpful info... I imagine there won't be much difference between the FS9 and FSX versions so your comments are probably applicable to both..

[Appliance 51]

Ian I have the Fokker and Dornier (prop) from VirtualCol. Bill is correct inasmuch as this is a (lite) version(s) of the Dash 8 series.  The PSS and Majestic are far more systems deep, even considering their age, whereas the VirtualCol represents good value, variety but is not much above freeware.

[WingZ 547]

Hopefully some of my observations will still be useful.

Very nicely put, I thought, and applicable to the FS9 version certainly.

ANZ Link flies them so I have it, and sometimes will jump in and fly off to say, Paraparaumu for the day.

I always enjoy a bit of Real vs Sim!

 

[kiwiflyer45 123]

Did my CPL & Instrument rating at PP so much nostalgia when looking at the awesome screenies. Thanks!

Does it have functional FMC?

Ian

My Impression of previous VIRTUALCOL products has been very much in line with your "not much above freeware" observation but the Dash-8 product screen shots, especially the VC seemed to show a quantum leap in quality. Sounds like it's still not something that would justify replacing what I already have

Thanks mate

Ian

ps. Your previous post on FSX-Steam Edition got my attention and I got it on sale this weekend... Very pleased though I'm still trying to iron out problems with interfacing with GoFlight and other quirks... It will not take me away from FS9 as way too many of my favorite (and expensive) addons are not compatible. But I get silky smooth performance with all sliders maxed out and it was worth buying just for the Grumman Goose alone!

[tors 0]

How is Dash VIRTUALCOL external model compared to Dreamwings model? I use DW with Majestic panel and works great. 

[Luis Hernandez 569]

How is it compared to the PAD models? They all have VC too.

[WingZ 547]

 

Some cool shots there, WingZ. Nicely done

Thank you Jon, I will start a thread one day with all my Real vs Sim pics!

 

 

Does it have functional FMC?

There are buttons you can press, but I suspect for someone like you this would not create too much excitement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DW exterior model is beautiful - but no VC, and also no -300 for me.

VCol has a pretty VC, but some quite rough polys around the external cockpit area

PAD as ever is a solid freeware model. Exterior pretty good, VC not as refined as VCol

 

I have the VCol because it has the liveries I want, on the model I want, and a pretty enough VC to allow quite good immersion. It is as mentioned, not a "systems-heavy" model. 

[Appliance 51]

Sorry to stray somewhat off topic but yesterday I bought the VC Saab bundle for P3D, predominately because it featured the REX livery.  I use P3D for my A'Asia flying (ORBX sceneries/airports Aust/NZ) and mostly fly out of YBNA where the Saab 340 visits twice a day.

 

The point of all this is to simply confirm my observations above. The VC VC is only a cut above freeware and in no way compares with the FFS Saab for FS9 but is the only game in town for P3D (at the moment.)

 

(BTW YBNA hosts A320, 737-800, Metroliner, Saab 340B, Dash 8-400 airliners and Bell 47 helo, Cessna 152 and 172, Beechcraft Bonanza and twins-55 and 58, GA aircraft to which I've also added Victa Airtourer, the Captain Sim 777 and iFly 747-400.  My P3D hangar is now closed.)

[WingZ 547]

Which of those would be closest to book numbers for performance do you think?

 

Usually my simflights consist of <Ctrl>-E and let’s go, but I had a trip out of NZPP 10 days ago as a passenger, which I thought might be fun to replicate in the sim, with more attention than I usually give to the numbers. I flew the Vcol model.

 

For the Dash 8 -300:

Takeoff run at MTOW 43,000 lbs: 3,865 ft (1,178 m)

 

I suspect that on the day we were close to MTOW, there was not a spare seat and a lot of bits had been put in downstairs.

Rwy 16L/34R at NZPP is a nominal 1350m. The pilot taxied out, did a U-turn, and then proceeded with the Rivet Test: this involves running the engines up to the red line and standing on the brakes for what seems like an eternity. When it looked like no more rivets were going to fall out of the wing, she let the brakes go, and we took off with perhaps 200ft to spare.

 

This correlates well with the sim, loaded to 42,500lbs:

 

 

Unstick speed Flaps 5 approached 120kts. 

 

 

Climb out felt comfortable at the quoted 130 - 140kts.

 

 

Disconcertingly, they fly halfway to Wellington before making the RH 180 turn to Auckland, apparently to clear nearby Kapiti Island.

 

Fuel burn was supposed to be of the order of 1800 lbs, I didn’t check but my 2700 lbs got me safely there.

 

Landing and rollout went pretty much by the numbers.

 

I may actually have been unfair about the FMS, reading the manual it appears quite functional. For a straight-line flight like this, I just find the GPS and take a heading bead on it, job done.     

 

[kiwiflyer45 123]

I am off topic but hoping my FS9 buddies will see this in time. Huge download sale at Aerosoft April 5th (Easter Sunday)