Dash 8 Series for FS2004

If you're looking for a quick and inexpensive way to populate your aircraft hangar, this Dash 8 package from Virtualcol FS Software is just the ticket. This download won't break the bank as far as price goes, nor will it fill up your available disk space, as the whole thing is only 170 MB despite that fact that there is so much included.

The Bombardier Dash 8 is a medium range, twin engined, turboprop airliner, so If you're a rookie pilot, thinking of moving up from a light aircraft, this package offers a good next step. It also has as a ton of aesthetic options to suit your tastes.

Clearly the talking point with this download is the vast collection of liveries that it comes with. Close to one hundred and fifty liveries is almost too many too chose from; you could spend months flying these plans and not get round to seeing them all. All of these liveries serve to add a lot of replay value to this Dash 8 and its included variants.

The four models are not obsessively detailed, but they are on par if not a little bit better than some default aircraft. As a result, the Series 100, Q2000, Q300 and Q400, are all considered to be frame rate friendly. You don't have to have a monster machine to be able to utilize this collection; if you can run the simulator, then you can support these aircraft. While not adorned with innumerable details and super advanced mapping, this package does still boast some nice features, including animated ground services to support each of the four models.

All of the models use original propeller sound effects, that do a good job of helping the various aircraft to stand out amongst your collection and, near as I can tell, they are pretty close to the real thing.

Each of the models also features a virtual cockpit, so you can truly take the pilots seat and immerse yourself in your flights, while 2D panel is your go to for usability, making it easy to keep track of all the important information, with fully functional gauges.

I need to write a further, updated review of this product.

I purchased this product yesterday and because I have 18 years experience with the Just Flight Dash 8-300 Professional I gave the product a 3/5 rating.

Since my original review I found the flight manual for the aircraft. I will be printing it and creating a POH for it.

I also found the vertical speed hold selector. For some strange reason it was not where it should have been yesterday. Very strange.

The FMC will take some practice. It's not quite up to the mark, given my previous experience but I'll make the best of it.

The altitude alert works. I was listening for that as I approached the altitude level set.

The ILS glideslope and localizer works and surprising well.

I was able to perform fundamental VOR navigation but will work on the FMC waypoint navigation to see how well it works.

Overall, all things being equal, I now give the product a 5/5 rating.

I have only been flying the Q400 for a couple of hours and I am still therefore learning where everything is in the cockpit and what buttons do what. I bought this add-on in the full knowledge that it would not be as good or feature rich as any I-Fly or PMDG aircraft. So, for that reason, I am pleasantly surprised to find that it is actually quite fun to fly and the interior of the 2D and Virtual cockpit are quite accetable. Its certainly 'quirky' in terms of the FMS computer (which doesn't appear to be fully functional). But the challenge to figure out how, and what works, is part of the fun. For £13.29 I think it is well worth the price.

I have some issues with these models! In Dash 8-100 I can normaly select the course button but I cannot see what number (direction) I put! I can see only HDG direction on my instruments! Another serious issue is that when trying to land the nose is down and if I try to pitch it up it doesnt descent, fly forever even with engine power down!!! What I do wrong?

Now I'm further into this SIM I'm even more disappointed. The FMS, when you pull it up, refers to an entirely different a/c: E170. I accept that not all controls at this level will be functional, but if the designers are going to make controls functional they should at least refer to the right a/c, don't you think?

I have no problem with the software, it's pretty good (especially at the price). However the manual is terrible: the translation from the original language is, in places, impenetrable.