Carenado's B1900D
A review by Marlon Carter
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Introduction
During the mid to late 90s and even for a portion of the early 2000s, the Beechcraft 1900D has always been a popular choice for regional airlines. The aircraft was designed to carry 19 passengers in all weather conditions from airports with relatively short runways. The design of the 1900 is derived from the King Air and the two are so similar that they basically share the same cockpit. As is the case with the King Air, the 1900D can also be flown as a single pilot operation for private and cargo flights. All of these features combined with the fuel efficiency while operating on shorter routes made the 1900D one of the most popular regional aircraft in the world. While production of the aircraft ceased in 2002, they are still extensively used today by many airlines and charter operations.
While the 1900D is quite popular in the real world, the flight sim community has been lacking a “new” 1900D for a number of years. In the past, the only options for enjoying the 1900D were either freeware versions or the more popular PMDG version. As the years went by since the release of these add-ons, many things have changed within the FS world. The detail of aircraft models, quality of textures & systems modeling have all improved significantly.
Among some of the few developers who have been innovative in the area of aircraft modeling is none other than Carenado. In the past, Carenado mainly focused on general aviation aircraft such as the Cessna 172, Beechcraft Bonanza, Piper Seneca and other similar aircraft. This time around Carenado is stretching their wings to larger, more complex aircraft. After releasing the King Air 90 and 200 series, the 1900D was the next perfect step due to the similarities between the models. With each release, Carenado has managed to implement new features to their models that make them unique among others. For example, their previous releases featured window scratches; volumetric side view propellers and dynamic propeller shine effects just to name a few. So what features can we expect to see with the release of the 1900D? Here is a listing as seen on their website.
B1900D Special Features
- Original B1900D Flight Management System (FMS).
- Carenado GNS530 with Reality XP integration option.
- EFIS (EADI and EHSI) installed.
- Avidyne Multifunction Display.
- Full FSX and P3D v2.0 compatible.
- Cockpit vibration effects.
- Landing and Taxi halo effect lights.
- Dynamic environment gauges reflections.
Other Features
- Original B1900D Flight Management System (FMS).
- Carenado GNS530 with Reality XP integration option.
- EFIS (EADI and EHSI) installed.
- Avidyne Multifunction Display.
- Full FSX and P3D v2.0 compatible.
- HD quality textures (2048 x 2048).
- Separated lighting for cockpit flood, pilot, instrument and panel text.
- Vibrating effect on stall and takeoff run.
- Cold and Dark start option
- Windows lighting scratches effect
- Volumetric side view prop effect
- Dynamic propeller shines effect.
- 3D stereo sounds.
- Original HQ digital stereo sounds.
- Customizable panel for controlling windows transparency, instrument reflections and static elements such as wheel chocks and sights props.
- Real behavior compared to the real airplane. Real weight and balance. Tested by real pilots.
- Realistic night lights effects on panel and cockpit.
Included in the package:
- 5 HD liveries.
- 1 HD Blank livery.
- Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) PDF.
- B1900D Emergency Checklist PDF.
- B1900D Normal Checklist PDF.
- B1900D Flight Management System (FMS) PDF.
- B1900D Performance Tables
- Carenado GNS530 PDF.
- Avidyne Multifunction display PDF
- Electronic Vertical Speed Indicator and TCAS PDF
- Recommended Settings PDF
Get 6 EXTRA FREE Liveries after you buy it.
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From the listing of features, it is quite clear that Carenado has once again implemented new feature to their aircraft. Some of the new features include a Custom FMS, Cockpit vibration, Landing and Taxi halo effects and Dynamic environment gauge reflections. As we continue with our review we will have a closer look at these features and impact they have on PC performance and the overall flying experience. But before we continue, let’s have a chat with Fernando from Carenado about their latest product.
Q: Hi Fernando, can you tell us why Carenado decided to create the B1900D?
A: We think it was a natural evolution after the King air series. B1900D was the best option for entering to the regional airline aircraft space, because we already had the knowledge of many systems of it.
Q: Will there be any other releases such as the B1900C and the B1900C Cargo versions?
A: It is not in our short-term plans.
Q: What were some of the challenges you faced creating this aircraft?
A: This was our first regional airline aircraft. Two aspects challenged the most: optimization and some new systems. Optimization because we developed a bigger aircraft than any previous one which meant many extra polygons and textures. Some systems were much more complicated and interrelated than any other previous aircraft.
Q: I noticed that an FMS was added to the aircraft. Is there any particular reason why this feature was added even though it is quite rare to find an FMS in a 1900D?
A: An aircraft such this one deserved an FMS in order to perform similar flights as the real aircraft done in reality.
Q: You mentioned that the 1900D was tested by real pilots, were they real 1900D pilots or just pilots in general?
A: Developed by pilots and tested by several pilots, one of them a real B1900D pilot.
Q: What features of the 1900D do you think stands out the most?
A: I would say the FMS because it is something new in our fleet.
Q: Will there be any further updates to the 1900D itself?
A: We don’t have plans for now.
Q: Can we expect to see more aircraft of this type from Carenado? Perhaps an Embraer 120 or Saab 340?
A: Absolutely, we are entering the regional airline aircraft and jet aircraft where there is so much space to advance.
Thanks to Fernando for answering these questions, now that we know more about the 1900D project, let’s have a closer look.
Documentation
One of the shortcomings with products released by Carenado has been a lack of sufficient documentation as it related to performance and systems of the aircraft. This time around the documentation has improved significantly but it still lacks a basic flight tutorial that would aid new comers to the 1900D and its systems. In addition to initiating new comers to the systems of the aircraft, flying a turbo prop is significantly different to flying a 737 and it requires more hands on flying when it comes to adjusting the RPM, Pressurization and other systems of the aircraft that have an impact on performance. This is where a flight tutorial would have been a major aid to flying the aircraft correctly.
Apart from this small shortcoming, the documentation that was provided is sufficiently detailed and it covers an extensive checklist for both normal and emergency situations. In addition to this is also includes a general overview of the FMS and other Avionics that are included.
My personal recommendation would be for users to supplement this information with some of the manuals that may be floating around online. There are websites that feature detailed information on various aircraft and obtaining some of these documents might help you to understand how other systems of the aircraft function.
First Impression
My first impression of the Carenado B1900D was that the exterior model perfectly captured the look and dimensions of its real world counterpart. The design of the 1900D is very unique when compared to other turboprops. While there have been “good” 1900D models for FS in the past; this model takes the overall quality of this aircraft to the next level.
Carenado is well known for creating high quality aircraft from a visual point of view and this aircraft is no exception. What impressed me the most about the model was the realistic exterior surface of the aircraft. When looking at the model from all angles, you can clearly see many of the panels and rivets that make up the 1900D fuselage. This attention to detail can also be seen on the wings and engines of the aircraft, which can be admired from the wing camera view. Other aspects of the exterior model such as flaps, wheels and even the moving pilots seen in the cockpit have all been recreated to the highest level of detail. One of the features I also enjoyed was the Dynamic propeller shine effect, which is very convincing!
The liveries that come along with this package are also very high quality and they range from both airline and private liveries that can be used as you see fit. Some liveries can be downloaded via the Carenado website as an extra freebie and it is needless to say that these additional liveries are a must have!
Moving into the interior of the aircraft, once again Carenado has maintained its high standard by creating a stunning virtual cockpit and cabin with regard to their design and HQ textures. The virtual cockpit and passenger cabin perfectly recreates sensation of being in an aircraft. This is a remarkable achievement as not all developers are able to accomplish this despite having high fidelity systems. At night, the virtual cockpit/cabin environment comes to life with a variety of lighting options as seen in the real aircraft. While the lighting isn’t fully customizable, the ability to select different lighting options at a time makes flying this aircraft at night an enjoyable experience. Some of the features of the VC that I enjoyed the most were the vibration effect on takeoff and stalls and the window scratch effects. The addition of these features made the experience of flying this type of aircraft quite interesting. Here are a few photos.
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How In-Depth are the Systems?
Carenado has never been well known for having in-depth systems simulation. While the B1900D is a fairly complex aircraft, Carenado’s approach was somewhat simplified. Many of the systems that are primarily used in everyday operations are modelled, but some of them are still not fully functional due to FSX limitations. If you are familiar with Carenado’s B200, then the B1900D will be familiar territory. Many systems such as the Pressurization, Auto feather, Air Conditioning, Icing, Autopilot and a few other systems have modelled to a reasonable degree of accuracy. Three of the most significant features of the B1900D that are worth mentioning are the addition of an FMS, Electronic VSI/TCAS, the Avidyne Multifunction Display and a customizable Lighting system.
An FMS in a B1900D?? Yes, that’s exactly what I thought at first and after doing some research I realized that this was a very rare addition to this aircraft. The FMS closely resembles the Universal brand FMS that is used commonly on private and commercial aircraft. The FMS isn’t fully functional but it works in conjunction with the Carenado’s Garmin 530 that is also installed in the aircraft. The FMS mostly functions as a means of entering waypoints individually instead of relying on the default FSX flight-planner. Apart from this feature, the FMS also displays the 5 Fuel Pages, PERF page, the FPL Summary page and it also offers the ability to select Approaches from the default FSX navigational data.
The downside of the FMS is that some of the pages displayed cannot be edited and it doesn’t allow you to save your flight plans. Also, if you are using the RealityXP G530 integration option, the FMS does not work at all as it is tied to the Carenado G530. For some of you, these shortcomings may not be a big issue, but it was worth mentioning so that everyone will know beforehand that while the unit works as described, this is not your fully functional FMS.
The next noteworthy feature is the Avidyne Multifunction Display, which isn’t new to Carenado products, but it was a very useful addition to the 1900D. This unit offers a host of features such as Traffic, Weather radar and Terrain awareness. In addition to these features, you will also find pages that display both Trip and Airport Information. The unit isn’t a full-fledged simulation, but what it offers can be very useful for everyday flying.
Finally, let’s talk about the lighting system. The lighting systems that typically came with previous Carenado aircraft featured cockpit and cabin lights that were tied together by a single switch in most cases. Again, this may not bother most users but to others who have knowledge of the various lighting options at your disposal, some may prefer to have a much more realistic experience by using the relevant lights for a given phase of your flight. For example, at night it is a common policy to have cabin lights turned down or off when taking off or landing. In FSX most developers have left you no choice but to keep the lights on full blast for every phase of flight.
Thankfully though, Carenado has changed this approach to one that allows a much more realistic approach to controlling the lights in the cockpit and the cabin. The new lighting feature of this aircraft allows you to separately control the lighting for cockpit floodlights, pilot light, instrument lights and panel text lighting. In the screenshots below you will see an example of how realistic each setting looks.
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Now that we’ve touched on some of the systems, let’s take the 1900D on a flight to see how well the aircraft handles on the ground and in the air!
Flight Experience
Carenado has stressed that the flight characteristics of this aircraft are realistic and are based on real world performance data. With this in mind I decided to put this aircraft through its paces to see how it handled under different weights and flying conditions. My first series of flights takes place in the regions of Canada and Midwestern U.S where the 1900D is still used extensively. The Cold weather and High Altitude operations in these regions offered the perfect opportunity to test the performance of this aircraft in all respects.
The end results showed that the 1900D holds up well in the cold weather and handling on takeoff and landing changes quite dramatically depending on your weight and balance. While flying into and out of high altitude airports, knowing the exact performance capabilities of the aircraft is critical to a safe flight. As expected, at high altitude airports the 1900D requires a bit more runway that usual to get off the ground and when it does, the reduced performance is noticeable.
While hand flying is one of my favorite aspects of flying, I found that the 1900D was quite a challenge on takeoff as the trim settings have to be very precise in order to avoid a sharp nose up attitude. After the aircraft has been trimmed, the handling becomes easier and it allows you to hold best angle of climb speeds with ease. During the landing, the 1900D handles quite well and it doesn’t seem to show any signs of unpredictable behavior even with a full load of passengers. All in all I think the 1900D is a very balanced aircraft as far as the handling is concerned.
Some aspects of the aircraft that I thought could use some work was the ground handling. A common problem with FSX is the ground friction simulation that results in the use of excessive thrust to get an aircraft moving. I found that this was a major problem I encountered with the 1900D but applying a FSUIPC fix I found online quickly solved it. Another area that could have been improved was the sound of the aircraft itself. While the sound was very convincing, the operation of the engines in the Beta range wasn’t very accurate.
The sound of the engines transiting into and out of the beta range needed some improvement and it took away from the realism of flying this aircraft. The final area that I though could have used some improvement was method of loading passengers. I found it very tedious to load passengers and cargo on each flight via the FSX payload manger. It would have been easier if Carenado created an aircraft loader utility program that allowed users to easily adjust their passenger, cargo and fuel loads.
The performance impact on one’s PC is very minimal and it has improved significantly since the latest service pack. If performance is a major concern to you, there are options that allow you to add or remove certain visual features the aircraft that have an impact on performance. For example, while in the VC you can choose to have reflective instruments or not and this definitely affects your FPS. Apart from the minor inconveniences of this product, the 1900D is a rock solid fun aircraft to fly.
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Conclusion & Recommendations
In conclusion, all that can be said about the 1900D is that this aircraft is very balanced. While the aircraft isn’t perfect, it gets the job done with a measure of ease and simplicity. Over the years Carenado has added many unique features to their products and the 1900D was fortunate enough benefit from most of them.
One of the primary additions to this aircraft was the FMS and while the FMS isn’t fully functional, it opens the way for following realistic flight plans provided that the waypoints are entered accurately. This means that gone are the days of using the default GPS flight plans that exclude SIDs and STARs. If you happen to have the relevant charts at your disposal, you can simply enter each waypoint manually into the FMS and allow the aircraft to fly any departure or arrival procedure. Of course, altitude restrictions will be your own responsibility and this adds to the challenge of flying an aircraft of this type.
The addition liveries and other features of this product make its price tag of $39.95 a fair price when compared to similar products. Some may disagree on the fairness of the pricing and especially so when compared to the PMDG JS4100 which is a far more complex product that can be purchase for just about $4.00 more. However, it is important to note that while these two aircraft may be in a similar class in the real world, there simulated counterparts are very different in what they offer. To put it simply, the JS4100 offers you an immersive experience into the procedures of daily flying. The 1900D offers you a basic but above average experience that is built around a focus on aircraft visual effects. It is with this in mind that I think the pricing of the 1900D is fair and practical.
As far as recommendations go, it was noticed by a few community members that there was a “major” flaw with the cockpit layout of the 1900D that many of you may not have noticed. The 1900D should have had a standby attitude indicator in the cockpit in order to be legally capable of flying IFR. This requirement seems to be specific to models that use electronic displays and If you look again at the cockpit, you will notice that the standby AI is missing. Also, while the benefit of adding the Garmin 530 and Reality XP integration is quite obvious, the layout of the cockpit doesn’t reflect the layout that is most commonly seen in an airline environment. In place of the G530, most 1900D aircraft include a Bendix King KLN90A/B unit.
At this point it would be difficult if not impractical to make these changes, but I hope that in the future Carenado may revisit these observations to add even more realism to this product. All things considered, the pros of this product far outweigh the cons and this is without a doubt THE BEST B1900D model on the market. Whether you are a hardcore enthusiast or just an average flight simmer, this product was designed just for you. Well done, Carenado!