Aerosoft’s Piper PA-31T CheyenneReviewed by Ludo Lambrechts
Flight Simulator X is on the market and people have been slowly, yes very slowly, changing from FS9. There are a multitude of reasons that this change is occurring slowly. One is the performance issues that happen with FSX. It is an advanced simulator which requires high-end hardware. The other reason is just so simmers can enjoy all the nice add-ons made for FS9. At the tail-end of the FS9-era developers where realizing how high FS9 would allow them to go in their add-on development. The projects we’ve seen were unbelievable. They had the capabilities to make FS9 look almost as good as the FSX simulator. These add-ons are one of the reasons that people are sticking with FS9.
One such late-era add-on is the Piper PA-31T Cheyenne. Developed by Digital Aviation and sold by Aerosoft. Digital Aviation, who are best known for their Diamond Katana have tried their hand at developing a Piper Cheyenne. The Cheyenne is a tow engine turboprop which made advances on what the Piper Navajo already featured. This sleek aircraft is being remodelled inside FS9 by the developers at Digital Aviation and Aerosoft.
This aircraft is often characterised by its long nose, or how long and narrow the cabin is. The Cheyenne PA-31T shares a lot of exterior characteristics with the Navajo but they are still very easy to tell apart as the Cheyenne maintains its own distinct style. Digital Aviation attempts to recapture this look in their exterior model. The model is a very accurate representation of the Cheyenne. The exterior modelling is superb and even the most experienced set of eyes will have difficulties picking out mistakes in the exterior modelling. Digital Aviation modelled 4 different PA-31T models, included are the I, IA, II, and the IIXL model variations. All have been accurately modelled and made unique to themselves. This variety creates a lot of different possibilities in your flight simulator. The liveries that are wrapped over the Cheyenne are also very impressive. They are all very accurate and done with a high level of quality. There are a fair amount of liveries included, not an incredible amount but there is a wide variety. The exterior of this add-on product is a perfect example of the capabilities that add-on developers have acquired in the FS9 engine. The model is done as well as possible. There are eye candies included which complete the exterior of Digital Aviation`s Piper PA-31T Cheyenne.
The interior of the aircraft is the next segment of this add-on to look at. The interior is a very important part of an aircraft add-on. It is your office, it is your work area. This is where you sit. And this is also where Digital Aviation has made no mistakes. The panel is very realistic, it has custom, clickable gauges, photorealistic textures, and a very smooth, crisp look. One you tire of the panel you can travel back into the cabin, sit down, and lose yourself in the quality of interior of the aircraft. This is one aircraft which could make you never want to leave the interior to look at the outside. The interior is an amazing part of this package, I can find no fault inside the aircraft.
The systems included in this aircraft are the next thing to look at in this package. On many aircraft they use simple gauges and often don`t simulate the systems used in the aircraft. Digital Aviation took a completely different approach and modelled all systems accordingly. The systems were accurately recreated and therefore require some study. It is not necessarily hard but the average flight simmer will require the manual to learn how to use the systems included with the Cheyenne. It is a very nice bonus to this aircraft that you can learn these systems as not many FS9 aircraft add-ons simulate systems as accurately as this add-on.
The last important piece of the puzzle is the performance of the add-on on your system. If it runs like a slideshow then all is for naught. The aircraft is very well detailed so it is normal to assume a drop in frames. This is true but it is a really small drop in frame rates. The aircraft still ran smoothly and I only experienced about 3-4 frames difference which really is not much to lose. The aircraft handles really well within my simulator and I am extremely pleased with the performance level.
This add-on is as close to perfect as possible. You`d like to think there could be some improvements made to this add-on but I honestly cannot think of anything wrong with the add-on. It is worthy of your hard-earned cash; combining all possibilities of FS9 this add-on graces your monitor and will have you making excuses to stay in the flight simulator longer, such as missed approaches or doing a touch and go just to check the tires. It is a very rewarding add-on and is well deserving of a 10 out of 10!
Reviewed by Ludo Lambrechts for Aerosoft
Aerosoft's Piper Cheyenne, My Review
[GK-customfield]FSX[customfield-GK] 
Another great review Ludo!!
