vFlyteAir PA30 Twin Comanche for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020/2024

vFlyteAir is proud to announce the release of our first product for MSFS - The PA30 Twin Comanche. After more than a year of work, we have completely redeveloped the Twin Comanche, taking the existing 3D model and producing new textures and modelling to suit the high-fidelity lighting and graphic options possible with MSFS. The cabin and panel have likewise been reworked.

New for 2025: We are further pleased to announce our upcoming January 2025 version 1.1 update. This upgrade to our MSFS Twin Comanche includes a number of improvements, upgraded textures. We also wanted to upgrade the soundset, something we couldn't quite fit in at time of release. We have since commissioned Mike at SimAcoustics to produce a fully bespoke recorded soundset for the Twin Comanche which we are pleased to include in v1.1. This upgrade will be free for all existing customers and will be deployed to all stores.

Key Information:
This is an analogue panel version of the Twin Comanche, which includes support for the TDSSim GTN750 (separate purchase required).

We are looking to bring the glass panel options present in the XP12 Twin Comanche as a future upgrade. The instrument panel reflects the original 1960’s setup with the Century IIB autopilot. For those used to more modern systems, it’s a challenge, but a good one!

VFlyteAir is especially grateful to Frank Brunot, the new team member, a pilot with years of experience and owner of a Twin Comanche, who has provided a massive amount of time and input to help them refine the flight model - no small task with a completely new development platform! Thanks also to Igor Kirilove who continues to produce incredible work from his home in Kyiv, Ukraine, sometimes running off car batteries to continue working through power outages!

The Twin Comanche was first produced in 1961. It is a twin-engine four or six-seater successor to the Piper Apache. Featuring tip tanks, retractable gear and the safety of two engines, plus a cruise speed of 165kts at a very reasonable fuel burn, and a cruise ceiling of 18,000ft, the Twin Comanche has been a popular cross country option for many years.

The vFlyteAir Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche is equipped with a general aviation panel, featuring all common instruments, switches and avionics typical for a real PA-30.

Models

  • Accurately modelled PA-30 Twin, built using real-world aircraft plans and comprehensive photography of the real aircraft
  • Numerous animations including passenger door, baggage door, cockpit storm window, sun visors
  • 4096x4096 textures are used to produce the highest possible texture clarity
  • PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials with real-time environment reflections for superb quality and realism
  • Detailed normal mapping for down-to-the-rivet precision of aircraft surfaces
  • Ground services support (marshaller)
  • Full support for MSFS visual icing effects

Cockpit

  • A truly 3D virtual cockpit right down to accurately modelled seat belts and screw heads - every instrument is constructed fully in 3D with smooth animations
  • Cockpit textures feature wear and tear based on reference photos taken in the real aircraft to produce an authentic environment
  • Dimmable instrument, radio and dome lighting, with separate control circuits
  • Simulated electrical systems: For example, the generator power in the Steam gauge model depends on RPM. You can try this by switching off the battery master while the engine is running and then observe the ammeter change when you switch on or off various devices. In addition, many fuses (on the breaker panels) are working.
  • Helpful instrumentation: The airspeed indicator (IAS, in mph and knots) is adjustable for altitude and outside air temperature, resulting in additional display of true airspeed (TAS). The radar altimeter with adjustable minimum altitude provides assistance when flying near the ground. If you have installed the TSD GTNxi Pro (sold separately), we offer a panel variant using the Garmin GTN750 and GTN650 (instead of the default radio stack which consists of Garmin GNS530 GPS, Bendix/King KX 155 radios, and Garmin GTX330 transponder).
  • Century IIB autopilot: The classic Century IIB autopilot includes helpful roll and heading modes to ease your piloting work.
  • Detailed cockpit and panel lights: Pilot and co-pilot floods lights illuminate the cabin, while adjustable instrument and panel lights always provide perfect visibility in all weather conditions and times of day.
  • Visual effects: We modelled smoke during engine start, as well as ice building up on the cabin windows in icing conditions.
  • Emergency gear lever: Mounted in the bottom of the cabin, behind a removable panel, an Yoke-mounted flight timer/clock
  • Developed using the latest MSFS standards, including intuitive and easy-to-use controls for rotary knobs, multi-position switches and levers

Sounds
For January 2025, version 1.1 includes a professionally produced soundset by SimAcoustics, recorded from a real-world Twin Comanche.

Liveries
Lots of liveries for your choosing: 26 different liveries are included that you can select in Flight Simulator, including the livery of Frank’s real N8848Y:

  • vFlyteAir (Default)
  • N918Y (USA)
  • N64YB (USA)
  • D-GIRL (Germany)
  • G-LARE (UK)
  • E31-2 (Eritrea)
  • N8326Y (USA)
  • I-NASA (Italy)
  • C-GGRS (Canada)
  • N7581Y (USA)
  • N494NJ (USA)
  • SE-EOK (Sweden)
  • VH-BBZ (Australia)
  • C-FINY (Canada)
  • D-GMWA (Germany)
  • G-AZAB (UK)
  • OH-PAR (Finland)
  • N7EY (USA)
  • ZS-KIR (South Africa)
  • N230MJ (USA)
  • C-FUSF (Canada)
  • I-SOGA  (Italy)
  • LY-PTC (Lithuania)
  • N7690Y (USA)
  • N8596Y (USA)
  • N8848Y (USA)
  • A PSD Paint Kit is included so you can create your own paint schemes.

Flight dynamics
The Twin feature realistic and accurate flight dynamics based on real-world performance and handling data, and input from the Twin pilots.

Manual
A comprehensive PDF manual with panel guide and flight tutorial is included as well as an Operating Data Manual with performance data.

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