Carenado G1000 Full Customised 180

You can hide the yokes, but as they are set very low on the panel there is no need to vanish them unless you want access to the lighting panel.

Because for the first time X-Plane had access to not only one of the very top tier of FSX developers, but also their experience, quality and features of which where at the time a huge step forward for the simulator.

Those first few releases however were from Carenados back catalogue, and although good (compared to what we had at the time) they were still a little dated with their heavy (older) graphic textures.

It was however in Mid-2012 that things really changed with Carenado releasing the C208B Caravan.

Not only was the C208B a sensational aircraft, multi-usable but also it was a more modern version of currently released aircraft.

The results of course speak for themselves as the Caravan was a sales success and not only cemented Carenado as an X-Plane developer per excellence, but also provided the way in sales for Carenado to see the results of creating aircraft for the X-Plane platform was actually a profitable exercise, the rest as they say has been one of the greatest success on both the developer and user sides in the simulators history with a current number of around 53 aircraft in being released for the platform.

A project to create a G1000 avionics system system resulted in a poorly written and framerate crushing package that was neither very good or even usable.

But when Laminar Research released their own X-Plane default G1000 package for X-Plane11 then the chances of releasing the Executive variant was always going to be resurrected, and finally here it is.

The excellent hi-res textures, incredible glass (shape, reflections) metal detailing (note that amazing exhaust and nose spinner) and every quality detail is still all here and they are excellent.

A ) is for the pop-up window of a Garmin G3X Hybrid Autopilot which can be scaled for size.

C ) Is the standard Carenado ten preselected Views, Field of View and Volume panel.

The Static elements provided here are still quite basic with only two cones, wheel chocks and front flag pitots, engine inlet covers and tail support.

Doors opening include rear passenger door and separate front nose baggage door, and there is also the choice of changing the liveries with out going to the mai n X-Plane menu.

The original Caravan had the lower Cargo Pod and it featured Opening Doors, but the EX version also has the extra feature of a Liquid Ice (storage) Protection Tank.

I usually fly clean, or without the extra drag (which is well modeled) of the bulky cargo pod, but many will like it.

As noted frequently now, I find this old fashioned Carenado menu very restricting, it is still an all or nothing approach, and when parking I need the chocks, but not the engine or pitot covers, and a more separate selection with a Weight and Balance feature are now the normal rather than these old fashioned basic element sets.

Twin-tables are nicely animated, but the small video screens are inert and blank.

You do feel for the poor soul in the tight jumpseat, it looks uncomfortable, and the panel makes it look like a confession box.

The Garmin G1000 avionics pack in the standard two left and right PFD (Primary Flight Display) and the single central MFD (Multi-Functional Display).

I earlier found these menu driven systems quite confusing, but is now far more used to them, but however at times you can still get lost in overriding key settings.

A-Ice supply in GAL and the Flap and Elevator position is noted on the right.

The flightplan view can also be switched from WIDE to NARROW to your preferences.

Carenado G1000 Full Customised 180

Full Customised 180 FMOD sounds are as brilliant as they ever were, with depth and detail that you expect from the Caravan.

The Ex Caravan has been flown and assessed by real Caravan pilots, but it feels basically the same aircraft as the original version to me in feel and operations but you do have more power available and it is noticeable, and it also confers to the current X-Plane11 dynamics.

Carenado G1000 Manual