Review: Carenado - DO228 100 HD Series

The DO228 100 HD Series for FSX and Prepar3D from Carenado gives sim pilots the chance to fly a nice, somewhat older twin turboprop airliner. It includes a variety of liveries with everything in HD. I liked it so much it's now probably my favorite FSX aircraft!

Carenado - DO228 100 HD Series

The Dornier Do 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier GmbH (later DASA Dornier, Fairchild-Dornier) from 1981 until 1998.

The model being reviewed has been created by Carenado, a developer well known by MSFS, P3D and X-Plane users alike. Over the years Carenado have cemented their place in the flight simulator history book as a team which produces visually authentic models. These range from the simple yet much loved Cessna 152, to the much larger Beechcraft 1900 twin turboprop. In this review, I'll be looking at Carenado's latest offering, the Dornier Do 228 to see if she too displays Carenado's usual trademark for quality.

Aircraft Specification:

• 2 Pilots & 14 Passengers
  
• Length: 49 ft 3 in (15.03m)
  
• Wingspan: 55 ft 7 in (16.09m)
  
• Height: 15 ft 9 in (4.86m)
  
• Empty Weight: 7132 lbs (3235 kg)
  
• Maximum Takeoff Weight: 12,570 lbs (5700 kg)
  
• Powerplant: Two 535kW (715 shp) Garrett TPE3315 Turboprops

Aircraft Performance:

• Range: 1075 miles (934nm, 1730km)
  
• Extended Range: 1224 miles (1064nm, 1970km)
  
• Rate of Climb: 2050 ft/min
  
• Service Ceiling: 29,600 ft
  
• Max Cruising Speed: 233 kts

Download and Installation

When purchasing the aircraft from the FS PilotShop, you are provided with a ZIP file which contains two files. One is the executable installer for the package and the other an RTF installation document.
When clicking on the installer (note: you MUST extract the installer, otherwise it will not work), you are prompted with a dialogue box where you are asked to input your email and serial key; the latter provided by the FS PilotShop. As is the norm nowadays, an internet connection is required to confirm the serial key.

Once activated, you are asked which simulator the package is being installed into. Select your chosen platform and after a minute or so your newly purchased package is ready to use.

Exterior Model

Looking at the exterior modelling of the aircraft, it's clear that a lot of work went into creating this model. Due to its design, the Dornier Do 228 is never going to win any awards for the best looking aircraft, but with that said, she really does look rather good. Having spent some time comparing the Carenado model with its real life counterpart, I'd say that the likeness (within software limitations) is spot on!

The metallic skin of the aircraft, complete with rivets and grooves, is highly detailed and of exceptional quality. Each and every one of the cables between the body and landing gear is visible and even the internal compartments (when viewed from the outside) are modelled to a high standard.

Animations include all main control surfaces, plus secondary control surfaces such as flaps. Other animations include landing gear and doors (pilot, passenger and both cargo compartments).


Exterior texturing is also done to a very high standard, with each livery being created at 4K resolution. This has allowed Carenado to show even more detail on the exterior of the aircraft (bolts, etc).

Both pilots are animated and move depending on the input from the user. For the pilot this means moving the yoke and for the copilot, throttle adjustments. Both the pilot and copilot are also modelled in 4K and look great even when close up.

There are a total of eight different liveries and skins included in this pack:

• White
  
• Aurigney Alderney (G-LNDG)
  
• German Navy (5706)
  
• Air Caraibes (F-OSTB)
  
• Western Air (G-EMEK)
  
• Italian Army (EI-101)
  
• Kustwacht (PH-CNO)
  
• Aerocardal (CC-CWX)

Cockpit and Interior

The cockpit features fully functional gauges and switches all of which are 3D and look the part. Circuit breakers are labeled, but unfortunately non functioning within the simulator (a shame).


Texture-wise, the cockpit is modelled in 4K and exhibits quite a bit of wear and tear. This works well as it ages the aircraft nicely and adds authenticity. Development of this particular Dornier started in the early 1980s and since then, this venerable aircraft has been used in some of the world's toughest environments.

Other features I liked within the cockpit included the working sun visors (for both pilots) and being able to 'hide' the yokes so as to reach hard to get controls.

In true Carenado style, the Dornier Do 228 also includes a highly detailed passenger cabin. This, like the cockpit, is modelled in 4K and looks amazing and even includes its fair share of wear and tear. Labels and decals are also dotted around the cabin. There are 14 seats, which is only one off what the real aircraft can hold.

One minor issue I have found whilst in the cabin was that if you zoom in to a certain level, the FSX camera will phase through the model. This leaves a small strip in the middle of the screen where the outside of the aircraft is made visible.

Buttons, Gauges and Functionality

As mentioned previously, the cockpit features fully functional gauges and switches, each one replicating their real world counterpart. As well as the switches, the numerous buttons located around the cockpit are placed correctly and textured with their own 4K resolution textures. The only button I found which seemed to not do anything was the cockpit voice recorder switch and its erase button. In saying that though, it doesn't have a function within the simulator.

Setting up the flight management computer (FMC) was a no brainer, and connecting it to the autopilot was also a simple affair. However, I have not found a way for the autopilot to control my altitude. Either I was doing something wrong at my end or its feature was not employed on the Dornier Do 228, which is more probably the case.

Like most Carenado products, you cannot simply turn the engines on using [Shift] + [E]. Instead you have to go through the checklist which, for a turboprop aircraft, is really short and easy to follow, making the Do 228 a really easy aircraft to use.

Sounds

Each one of the sounds included in the package is recorded directly from a Dornier Do 228. To maximise audio immersion, Carenado also make use of the FSX sound cones. These are used to create the 3D sound effects and work really well (all angles of the aircraft are covered). There are 84 different sound effects included within this pack, ranging from propellers and switches to alarms.
I spent some time looking at the audio files and noticed that each sound is recorded separately, whether that's a whine from the engines or just the spin of the propeller. Each sound is then layered and positioned to its exact spot.

The result is that everything sounds very authentic. The whine of the engines is especially pleasing. Listening to them spool up (with the right speakers or headphones) is an audiophile's dream and something which should definitely be sampled. Wind noise has also been reproduced to good effect (don't open the door in mid-air).

Flight Dynamics

During the development cycle of this model, Carenado had access to a real Dornier Do 228. This was used so that the team could monitor how each of the individual systems performed during flight. The result of this hard work is that the model being reviewed here is perhaps as close to the real thing as you're going to get.

The Dornier Do 228 is an aircraft built for harsh environments and short runways, both as a passenger and utility aircraft. Having never been fortunate enough to pilot the real aircraft, I can't really comment on the authenticity of her flight characteristics, except to say that she handles as I would expect an aircraft of this size and type to perform.

When real pilots of the Dornier Do 228 claim that the Carenado model is a realistic rendition of the aircraft they fly, you know you're up for getting a quality model!

Opinion and Closing Remarks

If you ever get the opportunity to fly in this aircraft, definitely take up the offer! The Dornier Do 228 is a very special aircraft and when you see it fly in the real world you'll see why. Its operations include navy and coastal rescue, transporting cargo and medicine to remote parts of the world and also as a passenger transport in rugged locations such as St Barts and Lukla.

The Carenado Do 228 is now probably my favorite aircraft to fly in FSX. The model looks great, the controls handle like a dream and the sounds just top it all off. Carenado have always made their products to the highest quality, and finally being able to review one of their newest, top-end models is definitely an experience not to be forgotten.

[tozziFan]

Hello, I just bought this airplane.
my questions:
- where is the wheel trim? I know there's one in the autpilot section, yet it seems to be animating only when I change climb rate (I have Saitek wheel trim that works, nonetheless), not when I manually fly the aircraft
- I have CH Quadrant, and the fuel levers (the red ones) work and shut down the airplane, even if there are no fuel levers on the airplane ... ?!
- do you have any troubles with throttle levers (Hotas Warthog, in my case)?: this is the only airplane doing this: when I start the scenario, the throttle levers, when moved, always snap back to idle and don't keep the position I intend to set: I have to struggle with FSUIPC, until for some still unknown reason they start to work

thanks

[oferdavidi]

I will have one when I will be old ;)