For context, I can answer some of the questions that arose - I have a lot of time in the real aircraft. Is a Stearman stable and easy to fly? Absolutely - minus the taildragger directional instability / groundloop behavior during takeoff and landing. It will bite you harder in that regard than any other airplane ever built, but you never see accurate groundloop behavior in the sim, so they get a pass there. But once in flight... Remember, this was a primary trainer. Cadets were expected to solo in 7 hours or wash out. It is a very honest airplane - flies like a big Cub. You commented a couple times with what seemed like surprise that the engine doesn't die in flight when pulled to idle. I guess I didn't understand what you were getting at; would you have expected it to? What kind of primary trainer (or any airplane at all) would be expected to do that? Your comments about spins confused me too. The GAS Stearman does spin and even snap; it was literally in a spin as you were saying that it wouldn't spin. I won't disagree that certain textures could be higher res, but I think some of what you saw as low res textures were parts of the airplane you weren't understanding. For instance, the dark texture above the tail wheel is a canvas boot that covers the tail wheel strut; it is olive green, crumpled, faded, and oil stained in reality... It kinda looks like that ;). And those blue stringers curving away from the top of the panel at 20:25 do exist, and pass behind the green zinc chromated stringers. I've been flying and teaching in these airplanes for almost 30 years, so it's obviously near and dear to my heart. I was excited when the DCD Stearman came out in the sim, but that wore off quickly ;). I can unequivocally say the GAS Stearman is much better. The DCD flight model is so wrong, you have to wonder why they thought it was supposed to fly like that. I asked them once on a forum why they were so sure their roll rate was correct (it's twice as fast as it should be) and they pointed to a particular roll in a video of an airshow performance in a Stearman. I watched the roll in question. It was a snap roll, not an aileron roll. They DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. Anyway, just some context. The perfect sim rendition of an aircraft doesn't exist and I can always find a few things I'd change... But in general, this is far from a bad Stearman. It is in fact a very good one, with a very nice flight model. Absolutely recommended.
Thank you Jonathan for another wonderful video! Regarding the GAS Stearman, like others I already have the DC Designs version and don't really see why I should by this new one. Which is sad, because the dev obviously put a lot of work into it. But the standard in MSFS is so incredibly high nowadays that it is hard to get excited about a plane like this.
The #D model seems well fone. Hope in a decent flight model. This flights at down don't permit to me to judge the quality of cockpit gauges however. Better if you fly during the day.
I have the "original" version and can't remember whether I paid for it or if it was part of an update but graphically it is better that your version...........................
So I guess it won't replace the DC Designs Stearman, at least for me. I hope though that GAS find the diligence to make native MSFS aircraft that live up to a certain standard. They cater exactly what I love regarding airplanes, a shame that the details are somewhat lacking. What is on the following pages of the EFB, though? I hoped, you would show it.
Hi John, any videos on your actual sim setup? Or what I'm really looking for is options to not break the bank, but solid buys to enjoy the sim more, thanks.
I really am sorry to see this great opportunity missed (again) by GAS. This was one of my fav model from them under FSX, they also had marvellous releases like the Pitcairn Mailwing (also for FSX). On the other hand I had to get a refund for one of their biplanes (the Travel Air package) I was waiting for very much, because it was hands down horrendous on release: similar negligences like here all over the place. Reverse-working gauges, awful modelling and texturing (I could literally see through the whole plane between textures), and other bits and pieces. It's just strange because these guys at GAS are fabulos figures, they are huge enthusiasts of early age flying and still, their releases are like French cars: either top notch or outright useless and irrepairable. Unbelievable extremes. Not sure what the reasons could be though. The low polygon issue is something you can see in every one of their products, that's something they techically stuck with (might be the software they use and they haven't upgraded their knowledge to catch up with the increasing standards). I don't even see the point for this release after DC Designs did theirs ages ago and it's still great. I guess this is a possible problem with labour of love projects, behind the adorable and very relatable passion and emotions, there's a raffle ticket to scratch :(
For context, I can answer some of the questions that arose - I have a lot of time in the real aircraft.
Is a Stearman stable and easy to fly? Absolutely - minus the taildragger directional instability / groundloop behavior during takeoff and landing. It will bite you harder in that regard than any other airplane ever built, but you never see accurate groundloop behavior in the sim, so they get a pass there. But once in flight... Remember, this was a primary trainer. Cadets were expected to solo in 7 hours or wash out. It is a very honest airplane - flies like a big Cub.
You commented a couple times with what seemed like surprise that the engine doesn't die in flight when pulled to idle. I guess I didn't understand what you were getting at; would you have expected it to? What kind of primary trainer (or any airplane at all) would be expected to do that?
Your comments about spins confused me too. The GAS Stearman does spin and even snap; it was literally in a spin as you were saying that it wouldn't spin.
I won't disagree that certain textures could be higher res, but I think some of what you saw as low res textures were parts of the airplane you weren't understanding. For instance, the dark texture above the tail wheel is a canvas boot that covers the tail wheel strut; it is olive green, crumpled, faded, and oil stained in reality... It kinda looks like that ;). And those blue stringers curving away from the top of the panel at 20:25 do exist, and pass behind the green zinc chromated stringers.
I've been flying and teaching in these airplanes for almost 30 years, so it's obviously near and dear to my heart. I was excited when the DCD Stearman came out in the sim, but that wore off quickly ;). I can unequivocally say the GAS Stearman is much better. The DCD flight model is so wrong, you have to wonder why they thought it was supposed to fly like that. I asked them once on a forum why they were so sure their roll rate was correct (it's twice as fast as it should be) and they pointed to a particular roll in a video of an airshow performance in a Stearman. I watched the roll in question. It was a snap roll, not an aileron roll. They DIDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
Anyway, just some context. The perfect sim rendition of an aircraft doesn't exist and I can always find a few things I'd change... But in general, this is far from a bad Stearman. It is in fact a very good one, with a very nice flight model. Absolutely recommended.
Thank you Jonathan for another wonderful video! Regarding the GAS Stearman, like others I already have the DC Designs version and don't really see why I should by this new one. Which is sad, because the dev obviously put a lot of work into it. But the standard in MSFS is so incredibly high nowadays that it is hard to get excited about a plane like this.
Ah this is a new one! Thought this was the one already on the store. Hmmmm more interested now
I keep looking at this one but I have the ants tiger moth so that pretty much fills my “old school, bailing twine and spit” urge. 😂
Love your videos. Any chance we could start getting links to purchase items you review?
Lovely airplane. Thanks for this video. BTW, I am considering the Tobii Head tracker. Would you say it was a good decision for your setup?
Tobii is very good - it's not perfect - but it's easier than the various head trackers that require hardware hanging off your head.
The #D model seems well fone. Hope in a decent flight model. This flights at down don't permit to me to judge the quality of cockpit gauges however. Better if you fly during the day.
Not bad....what is the price? needs alot of work.
I have the "original" version and can't remember whether I paid for it or if it was part of an update but graphically it is better that your version...........................
So I guess it won't replace the DC Designs Stearman, at least for me. I hope though that GAS find the diligence to make native MSFS aircraft that live up to a certain standard. They cater exactly what I love regarding airplanes, a shame that the details are somewhat lacking. What is on the following pages of the EFB, though? I hoped, you would show it.
There's one more page with a few more tick boxes.
What link did you use to get the plane?
Hi John, any videos on your actual sim setup? Or what I'm really looking for is options to not break the bank, but solid buys to enjoy the sim more, thanks.
If you expand the notes on any of my videos, it tells you in the notes :)
I really am sorry to see this great opportunity missed (again) by GAS. This was one of my fav model from them under FSX, they also had marvellous releases like the Pitcairn Mailwing (also for FSX). On the other hand I had to get a refund for one of their biplanes (the Travel Air package) I was waiting for very much, because it was hands down horrendous on release: similar negligences like here all over the place. Reverse-working gauges, awful modelling and texturing (I could literally see through the whole plane between textures), and other bits and pieces.
It's just strange because these guys at GAS are fabulos figures, they are huge enthusiasts of early age flying and still, their releases are like French cars: either top notch or outright useless and irrepairable. Unbelievable extremes. Not sure what the reasons could be though.
The low polygon issue is something you can see in every one of their products, that's something they techically stuck with (might be the software they use and they haven't upgraded their knowledge to catch up with the increasing standards). I don't even see the point for this release after DC Designs did theirs ages ago and it's still great.
I guess this is a possible problem with labour of love projects, behind the adorable and very relatable passion and emotions, there's a raffle ticket to scratch :(
Not bad? Bad textures, bad flight model (?), and missing sounds. How hard could it be to beat DC Designs on this one? Hard apparently.
Fly, this decent, freeware, Sikorsky S-16, do not waste, your time or money, buying, or flying, this underdeveloped, piece of junk.
Spare a comma for the rest of us
I thought this might be a serious post for a second and then I looked at the suggested plane. 😂