Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler - DVA Fleet Addition: Piper PA-31 Navajo

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations | DVA Fleet Addition: Piper PA-31 Navajo

DVA2887
Senior Captain, A320
OLP, 737-ATP, VFRADV
E-MAIL

Joined on January 30 2006
50 State Club
Globetrotter
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US Coastal Club
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Online Eight Century

Charlotte, NC

1,286 legs, 1,796.2 hours
840 legs, 1,047.8 hours online
1,268 legs, 1,774.2 hours ACARS
31 legs, 49.6 hours event
3 legs dispatched, 2.5 hours

Posted onPost created on July 09 2016 10:27 ET by Andrew Vane

With the addition of Hughes Airwest to our historical airline lineup, one aircraft flown in scheduled service was the Piper PA-31 310 Navajo. This is the first type of aircraft added to our hangar that today is more commonly associated with a General Aviation Role. No, this doesn't represent a change in our direction as a virtual airline. The PA31 operated with an airline in scheduled service and even was used as a charter aircraft for KLM in the past. However, its addition may open up more related opportunities for the future, especially with regard to the Flight Academy and the VATSIM P3, P4, etc. ratings.

The PA-31 aircraft rating can be obtained by seeking secondary ratings in the E120 program via the Pilot Center. Keep in mind we are a virtual airline so the aircraft should be flown according to our schedule VFR or IFR as outlined in the Pilot's Manual.

There are several sources for obtaining a freeware or payware aircraft:

Freware
FS2004: https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/2850/fs2004-piper-pa31-navajo/
FSX: https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/19050/fsx-piper-pa-31-navajo/
Very poor virtual cockpit but a good 2D panel and appears to handle pretty well.

FS2004/FSX: www.simviation.com
An FS2002/2004 AI aircraft modified for flight.

Payware:
http://www.fsd-international.com/Hangar/Navajo/ ($20)
I bought this one. Nicely modeled, with 3D and 2D cockpit. A little quirky. Scott Clarke couldn't get it installed using Windows 10. Definitely a step up from the freeware versions but you may want to wait before spending your money on this until Scott has troubleshooted.
The embedded screenie is of this payware aircraft.

http://secure.simmarket.com/alabeo-pa31-chieftain-350-fsx-p3d.phtml (31.9 EU)
Appears to be a significant step up from the FSD version above. I haven't tried it. It came out only 2 months ago (May 2016). Good review video on simmarket.

http://secure.simmarket.com/carenado-pa31-navajo-hd-series-fsx-p3d.phtml (34EU)
This is the PMDGesque version of the aircraft. Great reviews and implementation.

The Piper PA31 350 version is an acceptable variant on this aircraft.

Andrew Vane (DVA2887)

DVA12216
Senior Captain, MD-88
OLP

Joined on July 25 2013
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Tin Dispatcher
White Knuckles Club
Online Triple Century Club
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Flying Colonel

"Speed is life, altitude is life insurance."
Alexandria, VA

1,798 legs, 4,339.1 hours
378 legs, 681.8 hours online
1,718 legs, 4,088.0 hours ACARS
14 legs, 36.8 hours event
311 legs dispatched, 224.4 hours

Posted onPost created on July 09 2016 10:34 ET by Matthew Murray

I can recommend the Carenado Navajo. Just flew it on AVL-GSP and it's nice as always with Carenado.

DVA5643
Senior Captain, DC-6

Joined on February 08 2008
Piston Prop Professional
50 State Club
US Coastal Club
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US Mountaineer Club
Flying Colonel
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Long Beach 500 Club

"I'd rather be lucky than good"
Hampton, GA USA

1,914 legs, 2,888.2 hours
5 legs, 3.8 hours online
1,907 legs, 2,878.2 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on July 09 2016 11:02 ET by Jim Daigneau

Very cool! Low and slow's the way to go!

Jim Daigneau (DVA5643)

Posted onPost created on July 09 2016 19:04 ET by Andrew Vane

Seriously considering the Albeo. This happened on final approach in the Flightsim Developers PA31: https://youtu.be/nRmDw_rDvpM

Lost the view in a storm out the window when the 2d cockpit showed fine. Some sort of graphics glitch. Makes the VC unflyable if this happens. The first flight was fine but the second encountered heavy fog and precipitation. Not sure if that was the cause or not.

Andrew Vane (DVA2887)

Posted onPost created on July 10 2016 08:36 ET by Jim Daigneau

Anyone know the pluses/minuses of Albeo vs Carenado? THis is a great addition to the fleet vis a vis the Air West/Hugh's Air West schedules. There are lots of little towns in great scenic locations that we can now put on the schedule. Pure fun!

Jim Daigneau (DVA5643)

DVA11591
Senior Captain, B757-200
OLP

Joined on July 02 2013
50 State Club
Globetrotter
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Online Twenty Century
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Events Double Century Club
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Tin Dispatcher
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary

"Left foot dead foot, verified! Feather Left!"
Daytona Beach, FL

3,271 legs, 11,709.7 hours
2,885 legs, 10,250.1 hours online
3,142 legs, 11,149.0 hours ACARS
326 legs, 874.1 hours event
274 legs dispatched, 316.5 hours

Posted onPost created on July 10 2016 14:09 ET by Soonho Lee

Minus for those two products are the lack of the performance data and general manuals.

Major differences are whether you want to keep flying at 6 packs vs Garmin avionics. Carenado uses the 6 packs on both left and right side, while the Albeo uses the Garmin G600 on the left and uses the 6 packs on the right. I own Carenado and I am happy with it, I am planning to add Albeo later on and see how it flys compared to the Carenado, but as I've said before the documentation on both aircraft lacks greatly.

Soonho Lee (DVA11591)

DVA2370
Senior Captain, B737-800
OLP, COMM, VFRADV

Joined on May 26 2005
Online Triple Century Club
Commuter Conquest
Six Century Club
Stage 1 Prop Triple Century Club
50 State Club
US Coastal Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary

Flagler Beach, FL USA

675 legs, 726.8 hours
319 legs, 311.4 hours online
179 legs, 146.1 hours ACARS
1 legs, 1.6 hours event
0 legs dispatched, 4.0 hours

Posted onPost created on July 10 2016 15:49 ET by Scott Clarke

Still having install issues but appears to be a Windows 10 Virtual Studio on my computer.....another airline to add was SkyWest in their early beginning.....appears Carenado has X Plane model and FSX/P3D is licensed by Alabeo ?!

Scott Clarke (DVA2370)

Posted onPost created on July 10 2016 18:33 ET by Jim Daigneau

Soonho & Scott, thanks for the update. I've always had a hankering for Navajo's as the FBO I worked at in college had one they used for charters.

Jim Daigneau (DVA5643)

Posted onPost created on July 10 2016 19:01 ET by Soonho Lee

Scott Clarke wrote:

Still having install issues but appears to be a Windows 10 Virtual Studio on my computer.....another airline to add was SkyWest in their early beginning.....appears Carenado has X Plane model and FSX/P3D is licensed by Alabeo ?!

They both have different aircraft. Chieftain is only about 2 feet longer than the Navajoe, BUT the Alabeo or the Carenado is copying off of its other in terms of the interface...

Soonho Lee (DVA11591)

Posted onPost created on July 10 2016 21:13 ET by Andrew Vane

I forgot to post about Skywest Scott despite you calling me to remind me. rolleyes

The Alabeo came out just this past May I believe. The Carenado is older and not sure if it works with FSX SE.

Andrew Vane (DVA2887)

Posted onPost created on July 10 2016 21:25 ET by Soonho Lee

Soonho Lee wrote:

Scott Clarke wrote:

Still having install issues but appears to be a Windows 10 Virtual Studio on my computer.....another airline to add was SkyWest in their early beginning.....appears Carenado has X-Plane model and FSX/P3D is licensed by Alabeo ?!

They both have different aircraft. Chieftain is only about 2 feet longer than the Navajo, BUT the Alabeo or the Carenado is copying off of its other in terms of the interface...

Found one fault with the Carenado PA31.. the HSI heading error similar to that of the 6 pack heading indicator over time. And I found the cause of this error. The left side HSI is directly connected to the "old"er heading indicator in this plane. So expect the friction errors and needs readjust every 15~20 min.

Soonho Lee (DVA11591)

Posted onPost created on July 12 2016 15:35 ET by Jim Daigneau

I went with the Alabeo Chieftain and I'm pretty happy. There are some nice texture tweaks that seem to work well with my middling graphics card. The flight model and panel is very nice I have no found any major quirks yet. At $34US, it seems a fair price for the product. Low and slow. Can't wait until winter time in the PAC NW!

Jim Daigneau (DVA5643)

Posted onPost created on July 17 2016 15:06 ET by Jim Daigneau

Repeating this link just to be sure anyone who wants to can get the PA-31 POM: http://cwywasp.wix.com/bfswasp#!pa-31-350-poh/c1xtz
It comes in 9 PDFs, but there is a free PDF Tools program that will merge them all into one: http://www.pdfill.com/

Jim Daigneau (DVA5643)

DVA9505
Captain, B757-200
OLP

Joined on February 19 2011
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Everett 500 Club
US Coastal Club
Online Century Club
Commuter Conquest
Flying Colonel
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Million Mile Club
Cascadia Club

Virginia Beach, VA USA

1,807 legs, 3,271.3 hours
102 legs, 201.1 hours online
1,805 legs, 3,266.0 hours ACARS
2 legs, 3.3 hours event

Posted onPost created on July 18 2016 00:54 ET by Sean Costello

Very Cool! Thank you Andrew.

Sean Costello

Captain, B757-200

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