Ctrl-Ezy FMA IA-58 Pucara released for FSX

[pilto von pilto]

Hello Everyone.

The CTRL-Ezy Pucara is now released and is available from the following page

https://www.control-ezy.com/product_pucara.php

We have dedicated un-doctored screenshots from each simulator. That way you know exactly what you are seeing is what you are going to get. And a manual that you can download to learn all the deep ( :adoration: ) systems a Ctrl-Ezy plane has ( the clue is in the name :encouragement: ). Paintguide is also available for the painters.

Keep safe.

http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/attachment.php?attachmentid=76904&stc=1

[menef]

Thank you for the HU , very nice model/graphics as all Aeroplane Heaven products but ... the choice of the very basic cockpit left me a little perplexed ...
I really hope that the product will be re-released with complete VC :loyal:

[RS]

Dear Pucará Team,

first I have to say "Thumbs up" :encouragement: for the exterior design of your Pucará. It is looking great. I was really looking forward to seeing this rare bird in my sim...
But when I pointed out that the interior model only allows more or less a frontsight view... this was hard... you see left or right or downwards and see .. the razor sharp end of the interior or... only fresh air. I have to acknowledge that this reduces my wish to buy the Pucara a lot.

May be this opinion is a little bit exessive... Yes the Pucará is in comparison with other addons really cheap, but I would have pay some more money to get the feeling to sit in a full cockpit. The second seat isn´t required. Also the functional depth of the systems can be simplified (for example: ...on the level of a DC Design fighter...)


May be I will change my impression/opinion in future ... may be there will be a 360 degrees cockpit some days...


Greetings RS

[flaviossa]

+1 for the complete VC (No need to be functional, but at least see the entire cockpit)
I complete understand the Ctrl-Ezy filosofy and the niche inside a niche that the Pucara stands BUT the 1/2 VC is a stop show in the simulation. (Just a honest critcism) :encouragement:

[falcon409]

The reasoning for the "front-view-only" VC was explained many months ago. It was done for a specific reason and based on the developers explanation it will continue producing a line of aircraft done in a similar fashion. I suggest you go to their website and "read" why it was done this way. They will not be re-releasing it with a full VC.

This was posted in the Forum previously:
http://www.sim-outhouse.com/sohforums/showthread.php/118888-Cntrl-E-pilots-please-read?highlight=CTRL-Ezy+Pucara

[DaveWG]

I understand the "Control-Ezy" philosophy from a systems-wise point of view, however the lack of a complete VC model is a deal breaker for me. I don't mind simplified systems, but I want to be able to look around and see aircraft around me even if it's simplified and non functional. You must have the 3d model already for the external model, why not just use that?
It just seems a strange decision to me.

[DennyA]

I missed the latter part of the conversation, on the partial cockpit, in the original topic.

I don't need to interact with the rest of the cockpit. I'm FINE not clicking switches, etc for minutia.

But when I look around the plane, in 2D (if I'm on an approach, say) or VR (how I typically fly), I just don't want the jarring experience of nothing under my butt or behind me. :)

I *am* the target market for this in other respects. I don't want a $49 full-systems Pucara. $20 simplified that "feels" right is perfect.

I just can't imagine modeling the rest of the cockpit, in non-interactive mode, just so there are polygons there, would be that expensive in dev time, particularly since the first renders we saw showed the cockpit from the exterior. Put the 2D panel substitute up front, copy and scale up the simpler cockpit from the external view for the other 40 degrees of the FOV, and I think your potential sales increase significantly for the line.

[thefrog]

I, like many others, use TrackIR and I look around the cockpit. I'm not even very bothered about the exterior but the vc interior is very important to me. So for that reason, relutcantly, "I'm out" on this line of products, I'm afraid.

[bazzar]

It is safe to say that Ctrl/Ezy as a concept is going to polarise people. It is not something that will suit all people. We knew this when we first designed the concept. However, Ctrl/Ezy is an evolving concept and will be improved and changed over time with customer feedback being critical. We will not, though, deviate that far from the original concept. It was designed this way for a reason and to go to what otherwise is a standard AH product would be self-defeating.

We want Ctrl/Ezy to be the way simmers can get their hands on subjects that maybe are not main-line fare but still offer an HD experience at a manageable cost. They will be "point-and-shoot" simple systems products that are easy to fly and deliver one major promise - fun. I should also add that we do not expect them to have long lives. People get bored easily in this game - we understand that. A few hours of entertainment and you will probably be looking for the next one. That's Ctrl/Ezy. We want to make it the best "bang-for-buck" out there.

We value customer feedback in evolving this concept, that is why we have put the Pucara out there - a toe in the water as it were. We are encouraged greatly by the response so far and the figures indicate that there still is a strong market for this type of product, especially in the FSX community.

There will be many new subjects to follow the Pucara, some more familiar to many. The concept will evolve within the parameters of the original specification.

With Ctrl/Ezy, we see a way of keeping the flame burning in the FSX world for some time to come.:engel016:

[pilto von pilto]

I missed the latter part of the conversation, on the partial cockpit, in the original topic.

I don't need to interact with the rest of the cockpit. I'm FINE not clicking switches, etc for minutia.

But when I look around the plane, in 2D (if I'm on an approach, say) or VR (how I typically fly), I just don't want the jarring experience of nothing under my butt or behind me. :)

I *am* the target market for this in other respects. I don't want a $49 full-systems Pucara. $20 simplified that "feels" right is perfect.

I just can't imagine modeling the rest of the cockpit, in non-interactive mode, just so there are polygons there, would be that expensive in dev time, particularly since the first renders we saw showed the cockpit from the exterior. Put the 2D panel substitute up front, copy and scale up the simpler cockpit from the external view for the other 40 degrees of the FOV, and I think your potential sales increase significantly for the line.

I can answer "the exterior cockpit in the VC views" question.

We tried it during development, it wasnt ideal for plenty of reasons. That's not to say that the concept is not evolving and future developments we may well do this.

[tommieboy]

I was one of those who commented in the original thread; one of those kick the tires and light the fire flight simmers. So I bought it and took it for a quick spin. I tested it with my freeware autopilot add-on FSXPilot v2.89 and freeware FSX Banking Camera v1.2. Both seem to work just fine with this new aircraft for what I do, which is pretty simple. The freeware FSX Banking Camera v1.2 works within the VC and pretty much takes control of the VC so some may not like this add-on. But when you are flying with a sandwich in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, it works pretty darn well as it stays within the viewing limits of the current VC build on this aircraft. And hey, I can hang a torpedo on the underside of the fuselage too!

:encouragement:

Tommy

[HighBypass]

Despite the nice price point I'll still have to wait for some cash to come in. Yes, I would still like to give this aeroplane a go. In the initial thread I slightly misunderstood the concept and expected to see more of the VC modelled, knowing that as has been said, much of the VC doesn't function and I'd be happy with that. I am still going to pick this aircraft up as I already use buttons on my TM HOTAS X stick and throttle configured for gear,flaps, trim and spoiler operation. I'll see how much of a negative impact I get when panning around the view with my hat switch - it might depend upon my personal zoom level for the cockpit view.

I like the idea of a "load manager" so we can visually have representations of the varied payloads which the Pucara carried (does that affect the all up weight in FSX?). I also like the slight nod to "cold & dark" in that one can flick a few switches in the cockpit to start the engines in addition to the product's raison d'etre - CTRL-E. :cool:

I would however, love to see a quick flight video, thanks.:applause:

[WarHorse47]

Thanks for doing this aircraft for FSX. It's an interesting addition to FSX. And I didn't think the cost was excessive.

I've taken a couple flights so far, and am still getting familiar with it. Exterior modeling and textures are great. Not sure about VC limitation to 15 degrees of center, lack of joystick, etc. I tend to change the VC zoom and angles frequently and found myself looking into space a lot.

On startup the brakes weren't holding. After one engine started, I would be going around in circles, LOL. By habit I always set the brakes before startup, so apparently I was deactivating the auto-brake system.

Other items noted:
* [CameraDefinition.003] "Rearview" is inverted.
* I could not get the ADF gauge to function.
* I have to use keyboard commands to turn on the generator.

As to the "Ctrl-Ezy" concept itself, I'm not sure how my style of flying fits into that definition. Flying (and navigating) from the VC is where I spend most of my time so I don't mind working with the switches and gauges as long as its not overwhelming. Although the cockpit is simplified, one still has to remember where all the "hotspots" are to activate various functions. I would have preferred a popup "load manager" for weapons and pilot visibility, for example.

[Bjoern]

Oh hey, 2D panels! My time machine did work after all. Now show me the way to the Windows 95 release party!

[SSI01]

I understood the design philosophy going in to this and picked up the bird yesterday. Installed it and have no gripes whatsoever. It IS a little unusual (but definitely NOT a problem) not to have a joystick in front of the seat, OTOH, it gets in the way a lot when it IS there so not having it is in many ways a blessing. Very simple, straightforward design that is a pleasure to fly. Don't know what else is coming down the pike - I seem to remember something being said about a jet with a pointed, chisel-shaped nose and rather gangly-looking landing gear, two wheels a side, as possibly being next in line. Looking forward to reviewing whatever comes next. Thank you Ctrl-Ezy!

PS Our repainters are going to be a little handicapped by this bird as there just were never very many exported, and they seem to be well-covered in the initial release. The only one I can think of that might be unusual and worth a rendition is the one captured at (I think) Port Stanley airport and conveyed back to the A&AEE for study, or so I've heard.

[bazzar]

Thanks for the feedback so far. As we expect, Ctrl/Ezy will polarise people. However, we think we have provided enough info, including a demonstration video, for people to decide on whether they buy or not. We understand that Ctrl/Ezy will not be for everyone - but we do believe that there is still a strong market out there for this type of product. It will evolve and only get better. Figures so far show considerable promise so we are much encouraged. Watch this space!

BTW, Warhorse, the generator switch is over on the left. ADF worked fine under test so not sure what is happening there.

[WarHorse47]

BTW, Warhorse, the generator switch is over on the left. ADF worked fine under test so not sure what is happening there.Got it. I had assumed that the auto-start feature would turn it on along with the battery and avionics.

Another flight and ILS/ADF approach to a different airport. Again, I could not get an ADF bearing. Just reporting. :mixed-smiley-010:

[bazzar]

Are you turning on avionics?

[WarHorse47]

Are you turning on avionics?Yes. ILS works fine. The avionics is on when I use the auto-start feature.

Seems I need to refine my observation.

The ADF gauge on the VC cockpit (just below the artificial horizon) works.

The ADF gauge as part of the "radio set" (ADF 1) doesn't work. I get no reading on the ADF gauge on the "radio set".

[bazzar]

OK we'll take a look at that one.:engel016:

[HighBypass]

I wonder if you might clarify the VC view situation please? FSX:SE here
Is there a view which will allow me to use my hat switch to pan around, at least, say, up to 45 degrees left and right of centre, in addition to a locked off view where the hat doesn't work, as has been mentioned?
Thanks.

With respect to repaints, I guess most of them would be in the "what-if" category.

Lovely exterior model and sound though!

[pilto von pilto]

I wonder if you might clarify the VC view situation please? FSX:SE here
Is there a view which will allow me to use my hat switch to pan around, at least, say, up to 45 degrees left and right of centre, in addition to a locked off view where the hat doesn't work, as has been mentioned?
Thanks.

With respect to repaints, I guess most of them would be in the "what-if" category.

Lovely exterior model and sound though!

In the video on our site we show this however, these are the views.

1. Virtual cockpit view. Like you are used to but with a cut off of the modelling at around 15 degrees. There is nothing stopping you using this view you simply "run out of " cockpit where the seat would be.
2. 2 locked off camera views. They look like virtual cockpits but are locked off you cant pan around as we have disabled that functionality for these views.

Hope this helps

[HighBypass]

Yes that helps a lot - I can pan around to look for the airfield, but I may run out of cockpit modelling. I shall see if I can live with that. I mean I was concerned that I would not be able to pan the view at all. Thanks.

[WarHorse47]

Yes. ILS works fine. The avionics is on when I use the auto-start feature.

Seems I need to refine my observation.

The ADF gauge on the VC cockpit (just below the artificial horizon) works.

The ADF gauge as part of the "radio set" (ADF 1) doesn't work. I get no reading on the ADF gauge on the "radio set".Need to correct my earlier comments. I cannot get the ADF to function with either gauge, neither the ADF gauge below the artificial horizon or the gauge as part of the "radio set."

[HighBypass]

I've just purchased the Pucara and taken it for a little jaunt over some terrain in South America. What a fun little aeroplane - being able to pan the view around with my hat switch means that things are not as grim as I first feared. Yes, immersion is broken if you pan too far, but then again you can use the navigation light hanging in thin air as a wingtip reference!:biggrin-new: If sales are good enough, please could a VC cockpit tub be considered for patching in? Non functional is fine of course..

Can't comment on the flight model, as I've never been in a Pucara. I will say that you need a bootful of rudder now and again when tear-arsing down a river valley:costumed-smiley-071, not purely aileron & elevator.

The gauges appear to move as they should however, the temperature gauges go to full deflection - don't think the Astazou's run that hot...and keep running... :pop4: The fuel flow? doesn't appear to work although the digital display for remaining fuel does count down.

Were AH considering making the prop feathering switches functional at all (they click)??

Does anyone have an English translation of the assorted warning lights please. :dizzy: Just curious.

Sounds great! Looks great. Hopefully this isn't the last we'll hear of Ctrl-Ezy! :encouragement:

Love the "easter egg" I found HAHA :ernaehrung004:

[HighBypass]

Warhorse FWIW I appeared to get both gauges to work. However, regarding ADF I had to use the tooltip to make sure. For example my chosen NDB had a freq of 260. Whilst the radio display said 260 the actual freq could be anything from 260.0 to 260.9 the decimal isn't displayed... use the left hand knob to change the decimal (it's labelled no.8 in the documentation). Should the decimal be displayed? I hope this can be looked into..

As I was at low altitude I got within about 50 miles of the VOR and NDBs before the needles registered FWIW.

[WarHorse47]

Warhorse FWIW I appeared to get both gauges to work. However, regarding ADF I had to use the tooltip to make sure. For example my chosen NDB had a freq of 260. Whilst the radio display said 260 the actual freq could be anything from 260.0 to 260.9 the decimal isn't displayed... use the left hand knob to change the decimal (it's labelled no.8 in the documentation). Should the decimal be displayed? I hope this can be looked into..

As I was at low altitude I got within about 50 miles of the VOR and NDBs before the needles registered FWIW.By golly, you're right. Thanks for that.

The tool tip is so small on my monitor I never noticed it. The hidden digit explains why the ADF worked one time and not the next likely because I changed it without knowing. And it makes sense 'cause my other AH aircraft show and allow change to the extra digit. Guess Baz needs to update the ADF frequency receiver to display it.

BTW - the next time you land, hold down your F2 key. Helps slow ya' down a little.

[HighBypass]

By F2 you mean reverse thrust? Yep, already got it mapped to a button on my HOTAS X. Thanks for the tip though! :cool:

Are AH active enough on these forums or should I perhaps use the contact form on the Ctrl-Ezy site I wonder?

[bazzar]

If you have a problem, please use the help desk or contact form. Thanks.:engel016:

[HighBypass]

I've sent a query, and got a nice reply (quick! :cool:)

AH are working on the ADF readout.

I'm still not sure about the temp gauges, surely they would not go to full deflection and stay there, from cold?

If the engine temperature or fuel flow is showing a specific amount then the game is reporting that is that amount. When running a test gauge on the pucara we noticed that the gauges were reporting correctly the values. Therefore the gauges are working as per the game. To fake it would be a minefield. You would get the people who think we’ve chosen the wrong amount to increase or decrease the FSX provided values. It is safer for our sanity sake to let FSX be at fault rather than a perceived issue with fake gauges.

The fuel flow gauges appear to be un-animated, power off, power on, as do some other gauges which I can live with and is understandable from a cut down panel/VC.

It is cutdown but from a forward view point of view it needs to be as accurate as possible. And that means certain things which might not make sense in a ctrl-ezy point of view. So there will be gauges modelled that either make no sense or simply cant be made to work within the confines of FSX.


We’re still growing the idea of CTRL-ezy.

Regardless, I, for one, am certainly interested to see what's next in the Ctrl-Ezy line.

[HighBypass]

To clarify I was on about the Tuyere temp gauges and not the combined engine 1 & 2 temperature gauge on the right of the panel which records a temperature build up from start and stays around 600 degrees C (in the green).

Incidentally does anyone have the takeoff and landing speeds for the Pucara? The weapon loadout is for visuals only, so no factor there! I can find the stall speed online which is purported to be 77 knots..

I'll experiment too - no one dies when there's a reset button! :engel016:

[pilto von pilto]

To clarify I was on about the Tuyere temp gauges and not the combined engine 1 & 2 temperature gauge on the right of the panel which records a temperature build up from start and stays around 600 degrees C (in the green).

Incidentally does anyone have the takeoff and landing speeds for the Pucara? The weapon loadout is for visuals only, so no factor there! I can find the stall speed online which is purported to be 77 knots..

I'll experiment too - no one dies when there's a reset button! :engel016:


We've updated the version to 1.1 and have fixed a few of the above issues , got a few other bugs that havent been noted and added a decimal point to the ADF. Vendors have been notified and our own customers and simmarket purchasers can get it now.

[HighBypass]

Excellent! Thank you! :cool:
I also found out today that the Jaguar is to be the next Ctrl-Ezy product. Sweet! :applause: I saw the images of the instrument panel over n the P3D forum too.

The M55 motorway is not far from me... and I used to work at BAe Warton (initially on Tornados, but did get a hands on walk-around and under a Jag (sadly no look in the cockpit) for a weapons trial.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeBZ3xbgN_M (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeBZ3xbgN_M)

[HighBypass]

I took the Pucara for a night flight - nice red glow on the instrument panel. Landing lights are great - never realised that there's one on the nose leg which of course steers with the wheel. :cool:

I note the crew figures have a green glow on them. I presume that this is from the green HUD - still looks good either way.:ernaehrung004:

[fsafranek]

Novawing24 did an in-depth review on Youtube.
Shows off the aircraft well and discusses the Ctrl-Ezy concept.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tX80fH8RaY
:ernaehrung004:

[bazzar]

Interesting video. It might have been better if he had read the manual first, particularly re the autopilot. Ctrl/Ezy is set up for keyboard commands. Achieving level flight in autopilot mode is a keystroke away. I would have thought somebody with his "experience" would know that. He also said he spends little time outside when flying. So, I guess he's probably not the target market.

[HighBypass]

Ctrl/Ezy is set up for keyboard commands. Achieving level flight in autopilot mode is a keystroke away.

I commented to him about going old school and using the key commands (TachyonDriver over on youtube). Heck, once I noticed the strange AP behaviour, the first thing I did was CTRL-Z and CTRL-H. I wanted to try out the VC switches first however.

Who can afford a minute of their time to read a 7 page pdf, the majority of which is massive full colour pictures so only about 100 words.. :dizzy:

Hehe - excuse my sarcasm!

Right there on page 2
"In fact due to the nature of the aircraft you can achieve everything you need to with the use of your own keyboard."

[Ganter]

Oh hey, 2D panels! My time machine did work after all. Now show me the way to the Windows 95 release party!

I know what you mean.
I had to check the date - thought it might be April 1st.