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26 November 2011

A2A Piper J3 Cub (with Accusim Expansion Installed) for FSX


Welcome to the world of super light aviation, that is the Piper J3 Cub. Before I start this review again I would like to say a big thank you to A2A who kindly provided me with the software for this review and allowing me to keep reviewing for you guys.

Introduction

When you ask someone, What is the first thing that pop's into your head when I say Piper Aircraft? - The answer is going to be 'The Yellow One - Cub is it? or something along those lines). This is most likely because the Piper J3 Cub is the most iconic small light aircraft that has even been built to date.

With over 20,038 built in the production of this aircraft the Piper J3 cub has earnt itself a place in aviation history. Since it's introduction in 1938 the Piper has been a Air Force Trainer for 5 different nations, a favorite in the aircraft owners guild and some even doing 'loopy larry' stunts landing on top of school buses! All these uses just go to show how versatile and easy this aircraft is to fly as well as being both compelling and challenging at the same time for all walks of pilot life.

When A2A released this software on to the market, most people probably like me thought what a bizarre release this is going to be what can you do with a Piper Cub that is going to match standards of modern day technology and design for Flight Simulation? Oh, how A2A have proved me wrong.

Installation and Documentation.

I received my links to the download of 4 different files direct from A2A HQ. These consisted of the main Piper Cub J3 Plane (weighing in at a 173,403KB size), the Accusim Expansion pack ( 101,513 KB) and 2 update files. 
I found that I could download all these files in less than 12 minutes with my bog standard internet connection and download speeds. 

(When running the installer in Vista or Windows 7 remember to 'run as administrator' to save problems in the future).

After un-zipping the 4 files from there root file I begin to download the first file - that of the J3 Cub.  I found the installer that A2A provide simple and easy to use with clear instructions and step by step installation screens. 
With the installer running 3 different photos of the J3 displayed in the background (I know this isn't major but it's just a nice added extra in my opinion). Another neat thing that I found is that after installing the update instead of just closing the installer down, a screen popped up telling me what had been 'fixed' within the model  (Another nice feature).
 As for documentation well, after reading the very hefty 128 page manual I don't think anybody is not going to have learned something about J3 and it's antics!

Livery's and Variant's

If you are looking for variation in a add-on you have got it right here with the A2A J3. They have managed to include not only the normal version of the plane. But 3 other variants including the Float, Ski and Tundra Tyre version all which I will go into more detail in further on in the review.

Normal Version



Yellow Normal Tyre
Blue/Yellow Normal Tyre












Float Version

Yellow with Metal Floats
Yellow with Yellow Float's









Blue with Banner (Float)


Ski
Yellow
Swiss Colour Scheme
















Tundra
RAF Trainer Tundra
Yellow Tundra














Virtual Cockpit


After being loaded up in the back seat of the tandem J3, you notice that there are only 4 Instruments and 1 compass in front of you! I don't think you are going to be able to get a IMC rating in this beauty. As you can see the cockpit is very simple it is typical of its era where avionics where just in there beginning's and things like horizontal indicators and turn indicator's where all done by the skill of the pilot/pilots that flew her. 
    Moving on from the simplicity of the cockpit you also notice that the aircraft seems to be vibrating allot ( if you have the engine on) this is the vibrations that are being caused by the engine running up ahead of you. This is the only the start of how A2A have proved me wrong about what a developer can do with a J3!




     Once she has started up - some things start to shake and vibrate and if you are ultra observant you see that the needles inside the instruments are bobbing up and down side to side with the vibrations of the engine ticking over on idle setting, at the moment this is looking to be the most simple but best planes I am ever going to fly! Talking about simply - did I mention that you can see the movements of wires and linkages as you move the control columns try it for yourself!
Hand Start View
On the other hand there is one thing that I think A2A maybe could of incorporated, is what about if you want to fly this plane from the front seat? There is no option for this to happen, but I think I might know why I'll explain later on in the review.

What A2A offers in this package

Before I go on about the flight characteristics of this plane I want to tell you more about what A2A have included in this add-on to make your Piper Cub flying a more realistic, enjoyable experience.
  (Note for this I am going to use key commands some of you may find other ways to open particular screens that I am about to show)

Shift + 3 = Controls Menu. 
     This menu is usually used in the pre-flight mode for the engine is started. This is because it allows the user to add such things as the tie-downs and chocks the exterior model ( I think me and you both know that adding chocks in mid-air is going to end in disaster). Although saying that there may be some options that you are likely to use in flight that being of the most of the different control levers available to the pilot in the cockpit. For example the Carb Heat knob is located just the right of the front seat in the cockpit if you wish to manually pull it - or on the other hand you can click the carb heat button and open it automatically saving time if you are planning on changing several positions of switches in the cockpit.
    The update meant that as-well as all of the above you can now as well move and tow your aircraft along the ground using the arrows in the right hand side of this box allowing the user to make every empty hanger in FSX to a hanger for their J3.

Shift + 4 = Payload and Fuel Manager

     This incorporated software menu allows the user to change the fuel levels, oils levels, baggage weight and even pilot weight to represent a real life flight with your weight on board!
    The best thing about this menu has got to be the ability to summon the virtual passenger. This virtual passenger is available by clicking the outline of the women outline to summon her into the cockpit. The virtual passenger brings a whole new level to flight simulation who actually comments on your flying skills, weather, aircraft in the sky and your landings however good or bad they may be. You can also change her mood between Silent, Fun, Nervous and Calm. For example in the nervous mode spinning or stalling the J3 will cause her to scream "Oh my gosh, we are going to crash", whereas the same situation in Fun mode she will scream "Wooooo! This is so fun". You can play around for hours in the sky trying to impress your virtual passenger or scare the living daylights out of her!

Shift + 5 = Map

     This brings up a very basic map for means of navigation, its a 360 degree rose compass with a directional line this menu can also be brought up from clicking the map in the seat pocket in front of you inside the virtual cockpit.

Shift + 6 = Radio

     As you can probably guess the radio is not going to be Airbus or Boeing standard. In fact it is just a transmitter and receiver 1 channel radio that allows you to listen and transmit on one channel only, what did you expect its 1938!

Shift + 7 = The maintenance hanger

     Finally, this menu allows you to see how many air frame hours that the air frame has accumulated over your flying career with that particular livery and variant ( n.b It saves the data for that particular aircraft not the total aircraft hours).
As well as showing you the air frame hours, it allows the user to see the condition of the engine ranging from Excellent to in need of overhaul this deteriorates over time  and flying badly will make the engine age faster! Aswell as this you can see how many hours the engine has done since it's last overhaul ( the overhaul button on the right of the menu allows the users to completely fix the plane to a flyable condition).

Exterior Model


The first thing that you notice on the outside of the air frame is the amazing textures, they are crisp and precise compared to photos that I have seen of similar J3 Cubs. Cycling through all the different variants of this plane shows how much time and effort that has gone it to make this little simply J3 a real contender to be one of the best GA aircraft on the market in FSX. The only bad thing that I found is that I on the ski variant when touching down the ski's make a landing gear touchdown sound ( that of rubber touching earth) maybe a future update will eliminate this.
      All the animations on the outside of the aircraft are sound and seem to be working fine with no bugs in them just smooth transition's between full right to full left and likewise with front to back. Moving forward now on this plane we get to the engine and propeller. The propeller made out of wood, is well modeled and in flight the propeller spinning animation replicates the current RPM on the tacho. The engine itself you will notice actually shakes when it's running subsequently causing the whole air frame to shake and causing the virtual cockpit to shake also! The sounds that A2A have incorporated into this package is outstanding the - after searching across YouTube for some good J3 videos with decent quality sound I can see that the sounds are almost like for like with the real thing you really get a true experience of the J3 when flying her.

Flight Characteristics


So what does she fly like, (please note, the following speeds that I am going to state are rough estimates only and should not be used for real like practice). Sitting on the end of the runway at Coventry I put full power and add a little bit of back pressure onto the stick. Surprisingly, quickly she manages to get off the ground at about 30mph and she will climb out at around 40 mph give or take a little on the discrepancies of the instruments. You will find using the ailerons do not give you amazing turn rates and should only really be used in the proper way that is with rudder input as well. Using the rudder in flight will give a nicer turn radius and allow you to get them final approach turns in allot quicker. Another thing that I noticed is you can tell you only have 45hp upfront, the climb ratio isn't the best for its era but once your up in the sky she is a real pleasure to fly. Patience does pay off after all! Overall A2A have done an amazing job on the flight characteristics on this model for such an old plane they have managed to accumulate some good data and replicate this in the J3, as you will find out as you fly through the sky with no bugs that are going to annoy you. This J3 is a real pleasure to fly.
    Along with the above characteristics A2A have added physics like no other on this add-on, the J3 float version bob's up and down with the swell of the water, the ski variant glides across the uneven terrain causing slight rocking the list is endless of what A2A have done to this aircraft to make it so realistic!
    Ever had one of those overshoot panic moments where you just slam the brakes on? Doing so harshly in the J3 will cause a propeller strike with the floor - resulting in your propeller being broken and in need of repair (or for you to click the overhaul button).


Overall I am going to rate the A2A J3 Cub with Accusim a 9.8/10
 
 This is because the air frame and all the added extra's stated above are amazing they truly are. However there are some small minor things that may need to be fixed in future updates.

  If you are thinking of purchasing the J3, you have to buy the Accusim expansion pack, it real does make this J3 into one of the best GA aircraft ever to take to the virtual skies!

Buy your copy here!
A2A - Piper J-3 Cub