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[Released] Miltech Douglas A-1 Skyraider

StormILM

StormILM

Charter Member
Got it, looks and sounds great. The one point that makes it unflyable and thus no fun is the Rudder/Yaw Moments which tend to think is an FS2020/Asobo flaw which some models tend to be uncontrollable during takeoff and landing. What I found is that during the takeoff roll it tends to veer left even with the right takeoff rudder trim added and when you right rudder to correct, I add very little and it goes full right and then the model makes a hard yaw to the right. It is like it goes to max rudder in very little pedal travel, there is no nuance/feel to it. Seen this issue with other models yet on many, developers have dial out this bad issue. The guy who did the video of the model had the same issue,

For me, it ruins the model and money I just put into it. I am convinced Beta Testing is not being done to many models including this one. If I had been a beta tester, I'd have made a big fuss about it until it was fixed. As far as the rest of the flight model, it is actually very responsive yet it feels like a heavy single engine aircraft that needs to be muscled a bit. Hope they go back and fix the rudder issue.
 
Well, I couldn't stand it....I bought it. If you like the A-1H, it *might* be worth it-- AFTER they get rid of the rudder/yaw movements, which I second as being a nightmare on takeoff. Other than the A-1H variant..."meh". Again, not including an A-1E is an absolutely mind-boggling (okay, actually unconscionable) omission, IMHO.
 
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I had to go into my controller settings in FS2020 and make a bunch of adjustment combinations to get this model's rudder/yaw moment. I have no idea if or what effect that is going to have on other models so I have a lot of testing to do. Sigh... I truly like the model.

Also, anyone else having issues getting the load manager to work? The map on the slide-out tray works but the button for the loadouts does not. No idea... facepalm! I want to say I am getting to old for this but I don't want offend the older Cadre here all of whom are super good & more patient than I am!
 
Well, I have an affinity for the A-1E because my introduction to the Skyraider was the Monogram 1/72 kit I built as a kid in the 70’s, so it wasn’t until I found a magazine article about it later that I even knew there was a singles-seat version.

That said, given how oomplex modeling is in FS2020/2024, I can understand why they wouldn’t see enough ROI to do the A-1E with its completely different cockpit and interior. But yeah, “the three most popular variants” on their website is questionable.
 
On the takeoff yaw, they mention over on the official MSFS forums that rudder trim is on the takeoff checklist and needed for takeoff as per the real plane. (I’m buying it tomorrow so I haven’t flown it yet to see how bad/unrealistic the yaw might be… I certainly remember the early days of MSFS taildraggers.)
 
DennyA said:
On the takeoff yaw, they mention over on the official MSFS forums that rudder trim is on the takeoff checklist and needed for takeoff as per the real plane. (I’m buying it tomorrow so I haven’t flown it yet to see how bad/unrealistic the yaw might be… I certainly remember the early days of MSFS taildraggers.)
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StormILM said:
Got it, looks and sounds great. The one point that makes it unflyable and thus no fun is the Rudder/Yaw Moments which tend to think is an FS2020/Asobo flaw which some models tend to be uncontrollable during takeoff and landing. What I found is that during the takeoff roll it tends to veer left even with the right takeoff rudder trim added and when you right rudder to correct, I add very little and it goes full right and then the model makes a hard yaw to the right. It is like it goes to max rudder in very little pedal travel, there is no nuance/feel to it. Seen this issue with other models yet on many, developers have dial out this bad issue. The guy who did the video of the model had the same issue,

For me, it ruins the model and money I just put into it. I am convinced Beta Testing is not being done to many models including this one. If I had been a beta tester, I'd have made a big fuss about it until it was fixed. As far as the rest of the flight model, it is actually very responsive yet it feels like a heavy single engine aircraft that needs to be muscled a bit. Hope they go back and fix the rudder issue.
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Im in 2024 which is just as bad, make sure you have the tailwheel locked. That makes a massive difference. Lever is inboard side of the left console, slightly hidden by the seat.
 
I just came over here to post the same thing-- locking the tailwheel does help a bit. Also..."Alternate" Carb Air is your friend in suspected icing conditions....otherwise it becomes a glider....and it doesn't glide far! The A-1H is slowly growing on me.
 
I saw this sticky and was thinking, I didn't post this? lol. BTW, if anyone else has flown it yet, it will exceed 300 in level flight and clean BUT you'll get a crash detection. I reset the do not exceed to over 400 just to keep from having CDs every time I flew. Had one relative who flew them as a Naval Aviator, he once said that bird hold together even if you exceeded max speed but you likely wouldn't get it out of the dive due to compressibility on the elevator surfaces. Those giant speed brakes were the savior to such things. Love the model, hope they get the yaw issues squared away.
 
The Spad is one of my favourite aircraft and it's great that we still have a decent number of different versions still flying on the air show circuit. Given that, I can't believe Miltech entrusted the first review video with that guy....I guess because he "has a very good relationship with Miltech". Hopefully some of the more seasoned reviewers will publish their findings before too long. At the moment, given what I have read on here so far, it's not a slam dunk purchase.
 
StormILM, did you get two carriers with A-1H and do you own the Miltech Carriers for FS2020/24?
StormILM said:
I had to go into my controller settings in FS2020 and make a bunch of adjustment combinations to get this model's rudder/yaw moment. I have no idea if or what effect that is going to have on other models so I have a lot of testing to do. Sigh... I truly like the model.
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Why would this effect your other airplanes if you created a seperate Profile for the A-1H?
I would bet that there is some tweaking that can be done in the flight_model.cfg to correct the take off roll issues.
This model looks like a Milviz port-over from P3D.

collensr said:
At the moment, given what I have read on here so far, it's not a slam dunk purchase.
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Unfortunately, I kind of feel the same way, but that might change. The cockpit looks pretty good and I like the way they included the PMS50. The sounds are not too bad either from the last review I just watched on YouTube. There is another one besides the original reviewer. The oleo struts seem to be over extended and the exterior model is absolutely filthy, every developer should include at least one factory fresh model, like it just rolled out of the factory.AD1.jpg

What a shot from the 50's, NAS Alameda, California. Looks at all those beautiful A-1H Skyraiders and F8F Bearcats.


AD4.jpg

Beautiful and clean profile shot.
 
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Likewise Kent, when I think of the "Skyraider" from my time in Nam it was the A-1E. It's the variant I saw every morning while working on the Dragonfly and the one I watched taxi out every day laden with everything but the kitchen sink under it's wings. I'll look for any indication that an A-1E will materialize but I'm not holding my breath (why it wasn't included is a headscratcher). . . . .I'll get what's available at some point just to have a Skyraider in my hangar.
 
After watching that video and all that I have experienced with FS2020, I am of the opinion that the issue has been the plug-in with XBox and the difference between a set of fine flight controllers and the parameters needed for Gamer Controllers. I know we have plenty of Devs who work diligently on Flight Models but for some time now, I have been greatly aggravated at spending hard earned money on crap like this and to the point I don't want to invest another dime unless the product is well vetted. Perhaps Microsoft/Asobo need to change rules on payware products to give some assurance to their being at least somewhat realistic as opposed to eye candy for casual Grand Theft Auto type gamers??? To the Devs who do it right, I tip my hat...
 
Okay. Let me start out by saying "YMMV". I got sort of obsessed last night and today and really decided to try and learn how to manage the powerplant on this thing. It hasn't gone well. I have attempted flying from NAS North Island to NAS Point Mugu in the A-1H at least 10 times so far. Over and over. Initially, I was having carburetor icing soon after passing Miramar and would lose the engine and crash. Then I leaned about the "Alternate" vs. "Direct" carb air selector. And it helped-- some. But a little further on, I'd run into the same thing. An engine that died-- and then I'd crash. And a little while later, I learned about twittling with the mixture...and still, it doesn't seem to help keep the CHT in the green. Undaunted, I read in the online documentation (that seems to be almost like Microsoft's Q&A format-- HIGHLY irritating) that if you flip the audible beacon switch near the MP gauge to off, it disables the engine failure "feature". I've tried the flight several times in this mode-- and I still get an engine failure. So, I believe something is "hinky" with the code. I love the external model, and despite hand-wringing on their Discord everytime the prospect of an A-1E comes up (Thanks for bringing it up, Ed...I did too), I think I could enjoy this airplane, but thus far, I have not been able to make the engine behave. Frustrated...back to the T-33 for a while!
 
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