I recently bought Wilco's A400M from Just Flight - who sell it for slightly less than the makers, at £19.99
This is one of those "FS2004 and FSX" releases which always start alarms ringing in my mind - often such 'works in both' are, of course, FS9 models with a couple of tweaks to the graphics files and a thumbnail added.
Despite this, some of these 'conversions' have been pretty good - and I think this one is probably among them. The only slight disappointment is that to me it really looks like an FS9, or even FS8 model. That could be easily sorted with a more detailed skin, though, so hopefully at some stage some repaints will appear. However, from some angles, it does look quite convincing. It's a large turbopropped cargo plane - like a C-17 with props. It's touted to be a replacement for the Hercules, but I'm not convinced it could take over all the rolls that the Herc fulfills.
It was a bit of a risk in another way - as I am a virtual pilot who loves his analogue dials and meters - but this aircraft, being essentially a propped Airbus for the military, has an almost completely digital dash. It has, thankfully, turned out to be very interesting, though - with mulit-display MFDs in addition to the standard navigation, engine or attitude displays. The little MFDs in the lower panel are quite fun to play around with, showing a variety of useful information - such as the comm and nav radio frequencies, flightplans, beacons - even information on the 'software' used to run the MFD itself.
There is also a HUD that can be displayed on the windscreen canopy.
It will also provide you with checklists for whichever stage of flight you are in - with different colour text denoting whether a list condition has been met or not.
There is a small booklet in the box that includes all the details on the digital VC and also goes step-by-step through procedures such as start-up from cold and dark and shut down. It's a very interesting package.
As the largest aircraft I've ever flown is a Chippie, I'm not in a good position to say whether the flight dynamics are realistic or not, but they certainly do feel like they are right. You definitely get the sense of steering a mighty leviathan through the sky. The 8 bladed props certainly sound convincing to me - though I saw a video of the real aircrafts' engine testing and it was almost silent. Perhaps this is the case when the engine is tested independently from the aircraft?
Anyway - time for some pics.
This is the RAF grey scheme:
There is also a green one:
Here is the 2D panel - with those amazing little mini-PC MFDs in the lower panel and the HUD:
This is the VC (I don't like the virtual co-pilot, though):
Another of the panel, with the radio screen up on the MFD:
Although the aircraft is a STOL type, I had some difficulty getting it off the ground in the space available at Cardiff - mind you, it was my first take-off with it:
Really not convinced by those undercarriage doors.
So there it is. Despite my initial doubts, I'm pleased I bought it and I'm sure it'll give me hours of enjoyment.
