Reviews (by Paul)

My review and experience with this beautiful aircraft was a bit frustrating. I had some time off, limited money (like many of us), and a budget to support at least one decent add-on for flight simming. Since updating x-plane 10 to 64 bits I have fallen in love over it, and have know reduced my time on FSX, in favor of this awesome sim b/c it finally allows me to use all my high-end PC resources to runs lots of eye-candy, with super realistic fluid dynamics (yes air is a fluid), and silky smooth flight experience. So with my weeks vacation giving me some fun time on my hand I spent my budgeted $30.00 (USD) bucks on the newly released, and advertised Carenado - CT210M Centurion II HD Series (X-Plane) purchased from Aerosoft site. CAUTION: This beautiful X-plane add-on, despite the current spec list, is not yet 100% fully compatible with x-plane 10.2X 64-bit due to recent Windows updates creating issues with x-plane's ability to access additional memory. This will impact many users who are using the latest Windows 7 OS, and enjoys popular x-plane 10 airport scenery to add life to the default blank x-plane scenery (that's about 1/2 of us). The developers report although Laminar has updated their software, the actual C-210 developers have not. They do offer some work around which work for many, but not all...basically they suggest flying the aircraft from only default airports, or loading it at a default, and then trying to move to your add-on airports, but this still does not work for all. So other than that this aircraft is beautiful, flies and feels close to real C-210 and like aircraft, beautiful sound, all in all one of the best for -X-plane 10. So if you don't mind not being able to use with your lifelike add-ons, and a few CTD every hour or so, or more..this plane is waiting for you. My suggestion is go with another light aircraft for now and wait for the patches. BTW the makers are very well aware of this serious issue but have not posted warnings, or compatibility issues anywhere despite the suggestion from many end-users who wish they had only knew before purchase. Oh, I'm told that it works perfectly in old 32-bit X-plane if you don't mind reducing eye-candy and features due to limitations of 32 bit software unless your own the ultimate super-computer! Happy Flying. HD Graphics really shine through. What a beautiful external view with all visual options enabled, and a decent PC. Interior is fantastic, spot on in every way. I have heard some comments regarding the external sound not being up to par with internal sounds, compared to FSX version, but really if I had not read those comments I would not have been bothered, or noticed. Sounds I think are awesome with that throaty high-power sound that only these sort of aircraft can produce...If you have a decent sound-system you are in for a treat! Well, I wanted to make this part review (it really has potential, and lives up to expectation for apx 1/2 of us), and also a public service announcement for my fellow sim pilots with limited budgets, and limited time b/c if you are like me...impulsive, have time now..need airplane now, this is currently not the place to spend the limited time, and money, b/c there are many wonderful add-on's out there, that despite being a little buggy, as many new releases are, they will mostly work as advertised, and you will get what you wanted. Also, I’m a bit disappointing I purchased from Aerosoft b/c despite my request for some assistance, or credit to purchase an aircraft that works, it has gone ignored for almost 2-weeks now, and other vendors have assisted with less problems, immediately even refunding me with credit to purchase something else, even when I don't ask. BTW I have spent hours trying the suggested tweaks..I even have a 2nd clean installation of X-Plane 10.2X loaded on a separate drive, with no add-ons installed, and fully updated, and c210 worked as long as I stayed away not only from an add-on loaded for the purpose of testing, but also some of the more complex default scenes. I have even updated and cleaned up my Windows 7 OS, and played around with the plug-ins installed with this bird, reset plug ins as recommended, loaded from default airport..then reloaded in complex airports, and/or add-ons, I even flew into a more complex airport..and as soon as the roll-out was completed at the airport...bang CTD with no previous warning, or indication, but when you read trouble-shooting log its always the same issue..the plug-in taking up to much memory. My system has always been very stable, dedicated, very high end flight simming system, and as a result I have experienced less CTD s and problematic behaviors as compared to more average, casual simmers..but nothing works so I am patently waiting for a fix to fully enjoy this beautiful add-on, so far over 2-weeks and no real help or solutions offered..nothing but the expression of "Its not our fault" from vendor and developers...so my response is" if its not your fault understandable, but at least warn potential buyers so they can make a more informed purchase choice" And when has it ever been the customers burden when they purchase a product expecting it to work at least closely as advertised when the specs are adhered to, and its used as advertised? That seems sort of upside-down, and IMHO this is beyond the typical new release bug.

OK, let’s start by saying “I don’t do reviews”. I think this is only my 2nd in the past 10 years, and the 1st one was inspired for a bad reason…”add on was so bad I felt totally ripped off.” But, I am happy to announce this is for the complete opposite reason….”I am completely blown away with this add-on”. I own a lot of add-ons, and these days most of them are good, but I expect them to be good based on the money I pay for them, especially when there are often very nice freeware offerings of high-quality. But this aircraft impressed me in two ways…outstanding quality for an unbelievable price.. I have no experience with the developer ANTS, nor have I read much about “Ants”, so I did not expect much. I gave it a 2nd look b/c the T-28 is one of my favorite aircraft and it is often ignored when it comes to things like this, such as sim aircraft and decent scale models. Everyone wants to make another P-51, or B737. SO just the fact that it is a T-28 got my attention. But how good could it be for under $20 bucks? Well the answer is surprisingly good in every way, better then good. The VC is awesome in everyway….perfect textures and level of functioning is above average. Everything works and sounds as it should. The overall sound inside and out is awesome. Love that big radial sound, especially the sound at altitude, cruise setting, from external spot shot. Wow, gave me goose bumps. Is it perfect? Well NO but what is..its a sim. My favorite livery of this aircraft has always been the Navy training orange/white theme, but once I got a look at one of the USAF polished aluminum liveries there is no turning back…out of this world. I have spent thousands on add-ons…purchase several per week for several years but I need to say that the textures as seen from inside the “pit” looking out over the wing is the best I’ve seen. It is perfect the way they simulated the high sheen of aircraft enamel and polished aluminum stretched over the stringers and wing structures. All the dimples…awesome. The flying experience is as good as it gets from a total immersion perspective, look, feel, sound….totally swept away. I can actually smell the oily steel of this military warbird..not kidding. And it flies like a dream, with a nice challenging take-off experience common with high HP, high torque military war birds of this error. I have not flown a T-28 but I’m a pilot and have flown a North American SNJ (AT-6), and it has a similar feel…very different from a Piper or Cessna 172. This add-on captures that feel with the torque pull, and wing dip on take-off if not totally on top of it and prepared. Trimming is very important. The landing feels authentic and you get this nice little stall buffet if your close to stall speed as the heavy duty gear hits the concrete. Really nice. It also has all those typical bells and whistles, and much more…nice package of extras. If I was to find fault in any of the flight model features I would say “It’s a lot hotter then ever expected in the performance department”, but then again I have heard this aircraft was a great trainer b/c if the neophyte aviator got into trouble all he would need to do is push the throttle to the firewall and this ship will climb its way out of anything..and yes, as advertised 4000 fpm climbs are the norm with this bird…really, really hot on take-off climb…maybe a little to good, but I could be wrong. I reach T/O speed so quickly that I often over rotate, as I completely miss the posted V1 and VR speeds and need to come out of full military power early if I want to keep it in the pattern. So in summary after spending thousands’ of dollars over the past 3 to 5 years on FSX add-ons, I have to give this one a very very big thumbs up in every way…actually better then advertised. Keep it up “ANTS”…don’t let this one get to your head. What else is in store..would love to see an F-4 Phantom…most prolific modern aircraft and not a single quality add-on available…hint, hint. If you like this sort of aircraft I would say it’s the best bang for the buck on the market with no corners cut for price. JJETMEC