My Cutlass updated for P3Dv4 at last

[toprob]

I had trouble getting my Alabeo serial numbers to work for a few days, but all sorted now with the help of their support.

Took a flight from Mount Cook yesterday, but the weather was atrocious, and I ended up above the clouds with nowhere to go. I was determined to finish the flight, so with a bit of cheating -- the equivalent of getting on the radio and asking for help -- I learnt that Queenstown was still open, so headed there. Very hairy flight, but a beautiful landing... no screenshots, though, as I was too stressed.

Anyway, today the weather was a lot better, this flight was to show my grandsons how an aircraft took off, (they are three and four) so we flew again from Mount Cook, this time to Tekapo. Beautiful day, I learnt that you can't expect the boys to share well, so some fights over whose turn it was, but we got their safely in the end.

[Splitpin]

Holy cow All great , but the cockpit shots are stunners
And nice to involve the family ... well done indeed

[toprob]

Thanks. Most of those shots are into the sun, which is vastly improved over v3. I still haven't got the perfect look in direct sunlight, so in the meantime I'll shoot into the sun only:)
Here's the Cutlass at Dunners, again with the light behind...

Hopefully testing Dunedin in v4 this week, for a release next week? Normally I only notice the faults and problems while flying in my own scenery, but I love to see NZDN in v4.

[cowpatz]

That is one cool shot. Love that hangar. It's so real.
I spent many hours with my arse parked in a Cutlass. It was decked out fully IFR and was mainly used for IF training.
I was never really inspired by the engine tone. It was quite raspy and coarse and always seemed just a few RPM away from coughing and quitting. Never did but just sounded like it was going to. Not a comfortable feeling when in IMC, or worse at night, but I got used to it's tone in the end.
I wonder how much head scratching was done trying to work out the undercarriage geometry needed for retraction?
It was not a well received aircraft because for 20 HP more, retractable gear and a significant increase in purchase price over and above the standard 172 (as well as increased operating costs), it only goes a little under 20 kts faster.
However it was useful for training as it had the added complexity of a variable pitch prop and retractable gear.