Piper Aztec coming from Aeroplane Heaven

[thefrog]

Just noticed this on their Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/Aeroplaneheaven

Due for release later this year

Dave

[b52bob]

That is going to make some people very happy!

[Bushpounder]

IT JUST DID!!!!!!!! About half of my multi time is in an AZTEC. I cannot wait!!! THANK YOU, Aeroplane Heaven!!

Don

[RyanJZ]

Well its about time someone picked up an Aztec project! Can't wait to see it!

[txnetcop]

That is very very good news indeed. I never got my twin engine rating but I did get to fly a couple of twins because of friends. The Aztec Model B was one of them. Very fine, stable twin! Way to go Aeroplane Heaven!
Ted

[RyanJZ]

Piper has always built the most docile airplanes out there. Even the original Seneca wasn't half bad. It just didn't have the best climb performance! :P
I go up for a training flight in a Warrior tomorrow!

[Flyboy208]

Grew up with an Aztec in the family, with my Dad flying his all over Florida and the Bahamas in N74JC. I was not even a student pilot at the time and Dad was no CFI, so I don't have any official "FAA" time in it, but experience wise, probably several hundreds of hours in the right seat when dad let me fly it all by myself once airborne ! Learned all of the flight instruments and atc communication in this aircraft as well as how to do a portable urine carrying lav service ! Love the "Aztruck" ... Bring it on. I am a certified Aztec loadmaster though, at least according to my Dad ! Mike


For me personally, this is the most highly anticipated addon of the year, unless some developer makes a Pilatus P-3-05. Now I will long for some ORBX quality Bahamian islands.

[Portia911]

IT JUST DID!!!!!!!! About half of my multi time is in an AZTEC. I cannot wait!!! THANK YOU, Aeroplane Heaven!!

Don

Hey Don, I thought you were going to say "About half my forum posts have been asking for an AZTEC"

Great news indeed.

[kiki]

I am not so familair with the Aztec. Therefore: is that the B-variant? Release for Christmas, I think.

[Flyboy208]

Hoping for an E version ! Mike

[bazzar]

This is the PA-23-250 "C" model of the mid 60's. It has a good old factory-delivered steam-driven cockpit. We prefer to specialise in classics for our own stuff - glass arrays are fine but take a long time to deliver properly if you want depth as well as reasonable frames. As our market are likely to be cruising some pretty awesome sceneries in the Aztec, we've kept the focus on simple, frame-rate friendly flying.

[donnybalonny]

As our market are likely to be cruising some pretty awesome sceneries in the Aztec, we've kept the focus on simple, frame-rate friendly flying.

Its a good attitude. After all, what we see on our PC screen(s) is a compromise. Some 60% of my simflying has a strong focus on whats going on outside the cabin. At the moment I´m preparing my vacations in a little campervan in the Alps. Its fun and for that, I need an AC with a good feel and that looks good enough. I dont need picture perfect super realistic panel textures. Smooth gauges, yes, but often I prefer good readability over 100% realistic looks.
I´m not going to buy the Aztec. I´m not into small twins. The engines take way to much of the outside look, but its a good idea. I would prefer a European classic like the Jodel DR150, a small French gullwing beauty.

[Bushpounder]

Hey Don, I thought you were going to say "About half my forum posts have been asking for an AZTEC"

Great news indeed.

CLOSE!!! LOL!!

Don

[Bushpounder]

This is the PA-23-250 "C" model of the mid 60's. It has a good old factory-delivered steam-driven cockpit. We prefer to specialise in classics for our own stuff - glass arrays are fine but take a long time to deliver properly if you want depth as well as reasonable frames. As our market are likely to be cruising some pretty awesome sceneries in the Aztec, we've kept the focus on simple, frame-rate friendly flying.

I am so glad you are doing an older version. I flew the B model (about 500 hours in it) which isn't too different from the C. They are a sweet, hard working airplane. I am glad you are going steam on it. I could see glass IF it was some of the last ones made as an option. One option that was, and I guess still is popular on these planes are tip tanks. They removed the old rounded ones and added fiberglass tips. That added 18 gallons onto each side, which is basically one more hour of flying combined. Fuel burn was right around 32ish gph if I am remembering correctly, and they do make it look nicer. Just a thought. I am really looking forward to this. With the Navajo coming soon and this, I am only missing a couple of planes I used to fly. This is like Christmas!! Thank you!!

Don

[Portia911]

I don't know about Christmas in June, but if the Navajo, Aztec and Beaver come out around the same time, it will take until Christmas to pay off the credit card!

[ryanbatc]

Sweet! How bout this classic paintjob? I'm not even sure what version this is.... can someone tell me please?

[txnetcop]

Sweet! How bout this classic paintjob? I'm not even sure what version this is.... can someone tell me please?

That looks like a 1962-64 "model B" varient...long nose. The B was one of the first GA airplanes to feature a modular instrument panel, allowing instruments and avionics to be removed and replaced much more easily than before. The B also had removable skin panels in the nose to ease access to the area behind the panel, the battery, "brake valves," and hydraulic fluid supply.

[fsxar177]

Good-choice!

I have real-world hours in a 1956 PA-23-160 Apache (Lyc. -320). If you need anything in Beta.

-Joseph

[bazzar]

The optional split screen will be included with this model so livery choice can be extended.

[Naki]

Looking good. We have a whole bunch of Aztecs based at our local airport. Will it have a GPS?

[bazzar]

We are considering installing a Garmin GNS430 as an option.

[Naki]

We are considering installing a Garmin GNS430 as an option.

Great thanks Bazzar

[Corpse_Grinder]

Any news on this? This one has me VERY excited! Just to be clear, there will be both the "B" and "C" variants in this package? From the pics it looks like the engine cowlings and scoops are a combination of both "B" and "C" models. The air inlets are saying "C" model but the round scoops are saying "B" model.

Either way...my CC is burning a hole in my pocket for this one!!! My birthday is the 17th.....just putting it out there. (hey...I can dream right!?)

[bazzar]

There were two production number series of the C model. We are using official Piper factory engineering manuals to build from and they show rounded intakes. However, rest assured these details will be correct when the project is due for release in the last quarter of this year.

[Corpse_Grinder]

There were two production number series of the C model. We are using official Piper factory engineering manuals to build from and they show rounded intakes. However, rest assured these details will be correct when the project is due for release in the last quarter of this year.

Thanks for the update! I'm very ready for this airplane.