Flyndive has recently released a freeware Smaug aircraft. It is a fictional STOL (short takeoff and landing) aircraft inspired by a Polish aircraft, the PZL-104 Wilga. The aircraft is created mainly for bush pilots who enjoy exploring diverse and challenging terrains in MSFS.
A powerful Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140 engine is at the heart of the aircraft. This engine, part of the renowned P&W PT6 series, has been used in constructions such as the PC12, the Embraer Bandeirante, the Cessna 208 Grand Caravan, or the DHC-6 Twin Otter. The developer has created an offset to the engine thrust line to minimize the torque effect and P-factor, enhancing the aircraft’s performance.
The oversized wings, extendable front slats, and specialized wing tips allow for low-speed handling and control during landings in very short distances, even on rough or unprepared airstrips. A large powerplant and robust airframe construction allow for fast takeoffs and high cruise speeds of up to 185 miles per hour.
The Smaug is primarily carbon fiber constructed, ensuring a perfect balance of strength and lightweight performance. It utilizes a modified C152 panel and features steam gauges for most functions. Additionally, it comes equipped with a PMS50 GTN750/650 display, ready for communication/navigation, autopilot, or transponder. Users are required to install the GTN750/650 freeware package to enable these functionalities.
Two weeks after the initial release, the add-on received a significant update that fixed numerous bugs and brought some enhancements to the flight model, such as better fuel flow, reduced elevator trim, or reduced RPM of the engine at idle position. In the update, the panels were also changed to improve the visibility of particular elements and display more information about the flight.
For future updates, the developer aims to refine the textures and modeling, implement more cockpit options such as adding G1000 panel options, and update the lightning.
Flyndive Smaug is free and available for download from flightsim.to. To get the authentic bush pilot experience, check out “The Deadly 3” bush strips in Idaho, released by Orbx this summer, which we have covered in this article.
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