Recommend me a GA/Turboprop Payware aircraft

[ZK-Brock]

What payware aircraft would you say is the BEST out there (excluding any jets)?

I'm looking to buy an aircraft soon in the GA/Turboprop Category. My criteria are as follows:

• VC
• Appealing Visual Model
• ACCURATE flight dynamics
• Downloadable
• Manual
• NZ Repaints available

So, what can you guys recommend? So far I'm looking at the Carenado C206 and Cherokee 180F as well as the CaptainSim Herc.

[Charl]

Aeroworx B200.
It's a lifetime commitment, I've had mine for over a year and I'm still learning.

[ZK-Brock]

Ok Charl cheers... however it seems expensive and I was looking for more "kiwi" aircraft... sorry I didn't point that out.

Basically its too expensive for my budget.

[ardypilot]

I have both the Carenado Cessna 206 and Carenado Cherokee 180F- I love them both equally.

I don't know about any 'real' NZ repaints for them, but I have knocked up a few fictional ZK-'s liverys that don't look too bad.

They both have exceptional VC's and are awesome to fly. The C206 is a go anyware and everywhere sort of plane, where as the 180 is a plane you use less occasionaly, but enjoy more.

Here are some of my best screenies with the Cherokee:







I reckon that whatever aircraft you choose, as long as it is made by Carenado, then you will be satisfied

[Charl]

Actually...
I've been thinking about getting one of their planes.
Which one is best? Cessna 182?

[ZK-Brock]

Cheers Trolly. I also remember you having a PMDG Beech 1900D. I've also had a look at it and I'm just wondering if 1900C repaints will work on a 1900D.

[AlisterC]

Nope, 1900C is longer than the 1900D, so though I've never tried it, I can be pretty sure when I say they won't match up. I love the Carendo 206. Nice plane those Carenados!

[ZK-Brock]

Ok cheers guys, on my shopping list now are:
Red Baron NZ Topo: Approx $40
Carenado C206: Approx $30

[Muppet]

Yup big thumbs up for the 206, plent of options if you get the floats and cargo mods too

[Blackmagic]

Nope, 1900C is longer than the 1900D, so though I've never tried it, I can be pretty sure when I say they won't match up. I love the Carendo 206. Nice plane those Carenados!

Actually the 1900C has more headroom! The 1900D is a modification of the 1900C.

No the textures will not work due to the differance in the two aircraft! The PMDG 1900C is the better of the 1900 series and there is a repaint of it in Vincent Aviation livery around!

Also have my own special repaint as well

[ZK-Brock]

Yes cheers BlackMagic. I'm deciding between he 1900C and 1900D. C has that lovely Vincent Aviation livery but D has Eagle Air. Why do you say 1900C is better?

[AlisterC]

Sorry I was wrong, they are the same length, but it's the 1900D with more headroom

From airliners.net:

Beech announced the improved 1900D at the US Regional Airlines Association meeting in 1989, with the prototype, a converted 1900C, first flying on March 1 1990. Production switched to the improved model in 1991, with first deliveries (to Mesa Air) that November. The main change introduced on the 1900D was the substantially deeper fuselage with standup headroom. In addition it also introduced larger passenger and freight doors and windows, twin ventral strakes and auxiliary horizontal fixed tails, while more powerful engines and winglets improve hot and high performance.

Get the 1900C, it has a nicer panel

[Blackmagic]

PMDG put more effort in creating the panel for the 1900C and sounds as well as a better Aero Package!

The 1900D comes with bog standard King Air Gauges and sound! Many a simmer have alaised the 1900C panel and sounds to the D.

[Muppet]

It still depends if you want a steam or glass cockpit though. Put the Reality XP gauges in the 1900D and it's not bad

[towerguy]

I have the dreamfleet baron which is now released on cd version as well as download and its a great aircraft.

it gives the speed and complexity of a twin but is not a huge step up from the singles - handles well for the vfr trips around NZ down low and has the reality xp gauges for the IFR flight as well - I find it a good all round compromise -

so much so that I have started a home cockpit build around it using the hagstrom encoder card - will put a few pics up when able

[ardypilot]

May I also suggest the Eaglesoft's Cirrus SR20 and SR22.

I don't have the aircraft installed, as they cruise too fast for my liking and would proberly make the ground textures below blurry, but as I have heard from many other satisfied customers, it is the ultimate luxury GA prop for fs2004!

Check it out here: http://eaglesoftdg.com/General_Aviation.htm

In real life, there is ZK-VET which is a NZ SR20, and could proberly be repainted

[Naki]

I have Carenado's 206 and there are at least two NZ repaints including a Wanaka Sight Seeing scheme and Sounds Air (pictures on this forum). Both are great repaints and I can highly recommend the 206 as a package. Both repaints are on Avsim. Good price too although you need the full package for the Sounds Air scheme as it needs the cargo model.

Carenado's 182 would also be the way to go as it comes with an NZ scheme (ZK-SAR - Coastguard) based at Ardmore.

Cheers

Naki