New acquisition: Twin Otter X

Today I received an email with good news. A flight simulation webshop was offering 25% discount on all Aerosoft products! I have my eye on several of their products but shipping the boxed version is way to expensive. Luckily one of the products I have had my eyes on for quite a while was available in download form (and exclusive tax as well!).

So my friends, as you all know I have finally migrated from good ole’ Flight Simulator 2004 to super Flight Simulator X (FSX). Because of that I have been expanding my fleet. Unfortunately in the FSX world there are very few freeware aircraft with a good virtual cockpit (yeah, I don’t like 2D cockpits anymore).

So the news is, following the acquisition earlier this year of the PMDG Jetstream 4100 turboprop, I have now bought (downloading the 121MB as I write) this beautiful a/c, the De Havilland Twin Otter made specifically for FSX (no legacy crap).

This beauty has more in-depth simulation of all system than my current freeware DHC6-400 version from Premier Aircraft Design. In fact, this virtual cockpit will be much more easier to read and less strain on my eyes.

Pity I won’t have the box but I will save on that. Will have to print the manual myself but it will be more readable as well. This is one of my favourite turboprop aircraft and I have been using this for the past few months for many local flights. This payware version will give me more knowledge of the actual systems as they are simulated.

Additionally this DHC6 for FSX comes with three landing gear variants: wheels, floats and skys! That pretty much covers every landable surface. It also comes with several interiors: Passenger, Cargo and Skydiving. I don’t really care about the interior other than the actual virtual cockpit, that is where the meat is. And well, the exterior is also very important.

One thing though… They only offer the DHC6-300 variant so no glass cockpit :( just the plain traditional instruments. It does however comes with advanced avionics set such as a Bendix GPS if I remember correctly. No moving map but what better than the truly be forced to sharpen your navigation skills without moving map?

Many people love this Short Take Off and Landing aircraft, especially this payware version and I am pretty sure I will too! Will be less complicated than the J41 I have not managed to tame yet.

But I love this aircraft and soon I hope to find some extra time to take it through its paces once I read the manual. I hope one can hide the yoke in the virtual cockpit because it tends to get on the way of watching your instruments. So keep tuned for my coming short haul adventures in the Aerosoft Twin Otter X!.