I enthusiastically purchased the Virtualcol Dash 8 Series two years ago and my review is a mixed bag of positives and negatives.
I like the vast amount of choices from the global airline community as well as the four models of the Dash 8 propliner. The airframes are well done and while a few of the airlines are now defunk (example, Air Jamaica), it's still a joy to fly them on the flight sim platform.
The Virtualcol Dash 8 Series cockpit panels are very disappointing. The company claims they are functional but my experience is quite different. They are ABYSMAL at best and I was forced to delete the Virtualcol cockpit panels and replace and upgrade them with the cockpit panel from the Just Flight Dash 8-300 Professional software which offers better visual instrument graphics and a very functional and programmable CDU (FMC). So with the 149 Virtualcol Dash 8 models and the 17 from the Just Flight Dash 8 Professional software, I'm a happy camper with 166 Dash 8 propliners to choose from.
This is the third VirtualCol product I have purchased. Their FS2004 products are not up there with more detailed offerings but they are excellent value for money. The 'Dash-8' is incredible value. The variety of models and airlines included is very surprising at the price. As a value proposition I was so tempted to give it 5 stars.
Da ich meinem alten Fs2004 noch eine Weile treu bleiben will und einige Ziele meiner virtuellen Airline nur mit der DHC-8 angeflogen werden, habe ich mich nach einem passenden Muster umgesehen. Daher bin ich bei dieser gelandet und bereut habe ich den Kauf, zumal bei diesem Preis, nicht. Ok, optisch und von der Systemtiefe ist die Dash-8 keine Oberliga. Auch die Geräte sind in vielen Hinsichten stark vereinfacht, aber man kann mühelos MSFS Flugpläne laden, diese auch per "FMS" anpassen und abfliegen. Allerdings stammt dieses "FMS" offensichtlich aus der Embraer 170 und ist im Funktionsumfang stark eingeschränkt. Doch auch Radionavigation funktioniert einwandfrei. Die Flugeigenschaften sind recht gut getroffen. Es macht Spaß, die Dash von Hand zu fliegen!
Wer Saitek Autopilot- und Radiopanel sein Eigen nennt, kann damit das Flugzeug einwandfrei bedienen. Zu erwähnen wäre noch, das nach dem Abstellen der Maschine mit den üblichen Tastenkombinationen eine Stewardess und Gepäckpacker gezeigt werden, die sich sogar bewegen.
Wer also über die genannten Kleinigkeiten wie nicht mehr zeitgemäße Optik und ein nur beschränkt nutzbares "FMC" hinwegsehen kann, also kein Add on auf PMDG- Niveau erwartet erhält alles in allem eine Maschine für den schnellen Feierabendflug für kleines Geld...
Daher halte ich 4 Sterne für gerechtfertigt.
This is a far better product than I expected. I only purchased it because it was on sale and I have given up on the FS9 version of the Majestic Dash-8. (A very different animal to the FSX version).... The VIRTUALCOL version certainly isn't in the top league but it's got far more systems functionality than I expected and it's fun and reasonably challenging to fly. One thing that is really impressive is that you get four very different versions of the aircraft and an amazing number of paints. The sound is good. It is a bit over-sensitive to rudder input on the ground but you get used to it and in the air it's maybe a bit more agile than the real aircraft would be but on the whole I am having fun with it and recommend it.
***REVISED***
After getting help from a lovely member from the Virtualcol Support Team, I was able to resolve these issues I was having. All works good with the aircraft now. Make sure you always read the user manuals for all of the information!
I feel badly for steering you wrong. It is a great aircraft!
I have been anticipating the release of this product for sometime now.
Now that it has been released (after postponing it for about 3 months) I am very disappointed with the aircraft. The flight dynamics are very poor (very unrealistic dynamics ex. on approach the aircrafts flies with about 15 degrees nose down while maintaining the same altitude), there are multiple major bugs (including random warnings that go off when the landing gear is retracted, along with on engine start up the aircraft's tail drops and the aircraft is stuck in a nose up attitude), and the 2D panel is rather quite irritating. Also, the aircraft is very difficult to taxi and goes all over the place.
The only nice thing about this aircraft is the exterior. Tons of repaints and crisp graphics.
Overall I do not recommend this product to anyone. It's a waste of money. Hopefully Virtualcol will come out with some updates soon. Unlikely though...