SurClaro.com: LAGO "Roaring Thirties" review by The Rhythmosaur

„The ROARING THIRTIES“

An FS2004 Add On by

LAGO

Staggerwing over Wake Island

Reviewed by

The Rhythmosaur

“Warning!

The use of this add-on

could lead to

serious addiction.”

(Quotation from LAGO’s “Roaring Thirties” Manual)

Content overview:

This package focusses on two remarkable aircraft of the golden age:

The Stinson Gullwing and the Beechcraft Staggerwing.

It comes with a large variety of those aircraft : Very individual liveries, aircraft for civil and military use, with gear or floats, with military, old or modern panels.

Much care has been taken on special graphic effects and sound. LAGO gives a new initial ignition for innovative concepts.

Brief history

Built in the thirties, some aircraft of both types even made it to see combat in World War Two. Their trademarks were reliability, power and comfort.

- Stinson Gullwing

Note the reflections, the suspension and gear details and the prop!

“The last airplane under the Stinson name was the Stinson Reliant SR-10, introduced in 1938. It was also known as the Gullwing because of the unique wing spar construction that puts a hump in the wing about a quarter span outboard, combined with the tapered wing profile. (...) Not only the exterior was great looking, Stinson made the interior as much as luxury cars of the day, from leather upholstery, to polished walnut dashboard panels. Even the instruments looked like they were from a car and even the windows used an automobile style lowering mechanism. (…)

In 1940 the Stinson Aircraft Company was embedded by Vultee, hence the models were renamed V-77. In 1941, when the US entered WW II Stinson produced only military Reliants, and in July 1942 the United Kingdom ordered 500 Reliants as AT-19. When the war was ended about 350 of the 500 British Reliants were shipped back to the US and updated for civilian use.”

(Quotation from LAGO’s “Roaring Thirties” Manual)

- Beechcraft Staggerwing

On the Rhine near EDGP

Walter Beech started in 1932 in Wichita the Beech Aircraft Corporation and began the design of his dream: a luxurious 5 seater doublewing aircraft, faster and with a longer range than any other aircraft built before.

During the air races in 1933 in Miami the speaker shouted: “look at that negative stagger wing Beech go!” From that time it was called the “Staggerwing” because the lower wing was placed before the upper wing: a negative stagger. This negative wing stagger was incorporated to assist pilot visibility, the undercarriage location, and the aircraft's stall characteristics.”

The negative stagger: the lower wing is placed before the upper one.

(…)

Still undergoing improvements there was the C and the D-type and for the Airforce the UC-43 type. At the end Beech sold 781 aircraft. (…)

The Beech Staggerwing is still a very popular aircraft, hundreds are flown all over the world and many are updated with faster engines and the most modern avionics. (…)

Every one you will find will look different, feel different and fly different. The models we incorporated in this product are made up from a diversity of models we visited. From one we loved the polished wood cockpit, from others the superb fabric used for the interior. This aircraft is as real as any you’ll find.

(Quotation from LAGO’s “Roaring Thirties” Manual)

Evaluation

- Beechcraft Staggerwing

In front of Kahului, Hawaii Islands

OUTSIDE

No matter from what side you look at it, you’ll love it. Though massive floats are not the most esthetic that can happen to an aircraft – just think about the Cessna C208 Amphibian – this aircraft maintains an elegant silhoutte even with pontons. This is achieved by carefully designed proportions, the short and stubby wings and virgin like shape of the tail.

Have a closer look to get an impression of the character of this aircraft: Details wherever you look. What you see above the wire crossing over the big brown lines is the reflection of a skyscraper ashore! The shades of color are not static but alter with changes of the light. Even the windows reflect. The worst thing you could do is switch reflective textures off in your FS graphics settings.

Also note the polished prop: Each of the models brought to you by LAGO in this Add On has an individual prop.

Just the visible parts of the engine are a little stylized for my taste.

All moving parts move. In addition, you can open the cowling, the pilots window and door (seen from inside, even the handles move.) and a hatch for the baggage. I will show you more of this.

Lighting – beside the taxi and landing lights – might be a bit more powerful. I also miss the strobe and beacon flashes. The position light’s shade mingles with the livery color wich looks very nice.

RATING: 9

INSIDE

Animated parts…

Note the visible nose, the open pilot side window, the window reflections, the door handle, the way the door is attached (see mouse cursor, right hand picture), the way sunlight alteres the textile covered doors, the carpet and the chairs…

RATING: 10

PANELS:

Look at the inside section to see the modern panel.

Old panel, lit, right hand unlit with pop up panel. Note the effect on the wood when the lights are turned off.

Military panel. Note the most important military device to the right of the prop handle, as well as the flaky paint and the effects of sunlight and shadows. Wether the woman is an american girl or an italian bella ragazza they did not write in the manual… J

RATING: 10

You should know that the autopilot still works via shortcuts in the planes with old/military panel, so you can chose it to be as realistic as you prefer,

SOUND:

(Valid for both types!)

You might expect something really loud, as the name is “roaring” and you read about Pratt & Whittney engines. You certainly think of the sound of some well known warbirds wich can be skullsplitting when you are exposed to it for a long time..

Well, both planes have a mighty and throaty, yet calm sound. No, you won’t fall asleep with it, but both sounds are of that sort you can stand for hours without your ears ringing. The Gullwing’s sounds are a bit more like a fighter than the Staggerwing’s are.

There is an exception though:

When you get close to Vne you will hear something that sounds just like the so called Jericho Trumpets on the Junkers Ju87 StuKa. This sound cannot be heard from outside. When you switch to idle for a fast descent, you will hear it very clear and it will make your hair raise.

Both planes use the same sound for shut down and start up sequences. But in return, it takes some time till the engine runs with the idle sound.

One thing caught my ear in an unpleasant way, or better it did not: If you fly with your ears (no, not like Dumbo!) you won’t realise the loss of power when you climb without adjusting the mix. If you don’t change it, the engine will fail all over sudden once you climb high enough. Since there is no EGT gauge, you don’t have a visual control. But I am sure, LAGO will get the sound algorithm fixed so you could trust your ears again.

And now something special:

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â All planes equipped with floats are even delightful when you did not start the engine. You hear the waves crash, alongside with a sound you will hear in a heavy boat that scrapes with its buffers onto the kai.

-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â You can hear the hatches being opened and, well, slammed.

RATING: 9

DOCUMENTATION:

If you are either a beginner or a pro, LAGO tells you everything you want to know. Though the files come with a self installer, there are clear instructions on installing, deinstalling and contacting LAGO support. Installing procedure is made “suave” (sweet) by some Thirties style music, by the way.

Both aircraft see a large history treatment (I reduced my quotation to the essence) wich make you smile once in a while. It is more than just dry facts, you will love to read it.

Checklists and procedures are enclosed AND copied to the kneeboard. The only thing I miss is instructions on how to manage the prop properly.

Within FS, you will find in your menue bar the new entry “LAGO”. From there you can access to the readme file, the manual and to other LAGO products you might have installed, e.g. for changeing shortcuts. The manual tells you how to use it.

RATING: 10

Notes on behaviour

ISA-Test

Designed for an ideal cruising altitude of FL100, you can easily reach FL300. If you do not care for your oil temp, you can achieve a GS of 253kt or more.

The higher you go, the more difficult it will be to keep the oil temp out of the red arrow. In addition, the Staggerwing will become a bit moody and own headed with handling.

At FL100 you get a reasonable cruise speed of 190mph KIAS with about 2200rpm and the oil temp needle out of the red arrow. You may have to adjust it a bit if speed increases to much when the fuell weight decreases and the aircraft will acellerate.

I found it easy to land, and it is true what LAGO tells: This plane is forgiving and easy to master.

Note that you will feel the difference between the gear and ponton version.

Sorry to LAGO, no reasonable human being would come to the idea to perform aerobatics with a float plane like this, but this belongs to my test program:

The different CG of the version with the floats will not allow you to fly in back (upside down). Additionaly, fuel feed will be a problem in back flight, so the engine is likely to complain about such treatment. Inner loops and rolls are possible, I just don’t now if they are allowed… Outer loops will drill you into the ground.

STINSON GULLWING

Over London

OUTSIDE:

What I have wirtten about the Staggerwing is also valid for the Gullwing as LAGO made it with the same love. Here are some pictures to prove this:

…that shakes Buckingham Pallace…

My favourite

INSIDE:

If you think army aircraft are uncomfortable you probably served the wrong one…

PANEL:

Notes on behaviour:

It seems you really cannot stall this plane. If you really want to, you have to errect the nose with high speed or use the autopilot.

When stalled, you easily regain controll and you cannot come into a spin. This would be the ideal trainer for landing approaches with low speed, for if you really mess it up, you got a mighty and fast responding engine that can pull you out of trouble. Though behaviour of the Staggerwing is similar, it has not that much power, so this might make you kiss the ground just like the Pope… J

The Gullwing feels like a real fighter. You can really kick it up, if you really want to. Pratt & Whitney indeed built and build fantastic powerful engines…

Animation candies:

Overall Rating: 10 Highly recommended

Here are just a few more liveries included in this package, while I show you how to find LAGO and probably why they call themselves as they do:

Board at Milano Malpensa,

Take off and head north to northeast. You’ll see the river Ticino to the left, LAGO Maggiore (Lake Superior J ) at 11 o’ clock and LAGO di Varese at 1 o’ clock.

Here you see LAGO di Varese and a small part of LAGO Como with Monte Boletto (1236m).

Follow now the Autostrada (Highway) 8 north. Shortly before you approach the eastern shore of LAGO di Varese, you see (in FS!) the railroad approaching to A8. Within this triangle you’ll find Gazzada and Schiano.

Note those wonderful reflections!

If you prefer to start on floats, start at Lugano at LAGO Maggiore (slew to the water).

Fly runway heading of Lugano till you can see the LAGO di Varese.

ENJOY!