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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
So Phoenix 5.5 is out of Beta and on version gThe downloaded worked without issue, which was nice for those of us who remember the early versions which were a pain to download!I've been using the new version for about 4 hours this evening and I have mixed feelings about it. Firstly, I fly fixed wing mostly and my preference is the larger gas planes, so that's what I tested mostly. But also spent time with the PA Addiction, New Rare Bear (more on that in a bit) and a few others.. Haven't tried a Heli yet so I can't comment on that.Well, they said the physics model is changed and they weren't kidding. Precision flight is fairly similar but 3D flight in the stalled or high alpha feels quite different. Some for the better, some for the worse. The first thing you will notice is the elevator authority is greatly reduced, I thought I was on low rates on my tx when I was in fact on high! So much so that I went through the calibration process again to no avail. Pulling hard to perform a wall or elevator with some models no longer works, just performing a tight radius turn instead. Hovering is notably easier in no wind conditions, however, to prevent a torque roll you will have to add lots of right aileron, and I mean lots! The extra 300 needed full right aileron and still it was trying to torque roll! Talking of torque rolls, these now rotate much faster than in version 5.0, making them easier but unrealistic imho. It seems that the physics governing progression from normal flight into a stalled or 3D flight is not so progressive and feels a bit clunky or sudden at times. For example, trying a knife edge spin, adding a little throttle made a sudden and unrealistic slowing of rotations, and knife edge spins are now not entered as easily. Next up, weather... The effect of wind on the hover and harriers etc felt more realistic but with the lack of elevator authority, made it next to impossible to pull into hover with some larger models. The effect of wind speed has too much effect too, with just 6mph wind making 100" gas models impossible to hover nicely, but maybe that's just me! Tho I have no problems with my real plane...The effect of prop wash on the surfaces does seem to be improved greatly but the "calibration" for want of a better word, seems off. The models now feel as though they have some weight and momentum to them, particularly post stall which has really improved the 3D feel, although a lot of the models seem to have too much lift, noticed mostly on a landi approach where some barely sink.All in all, First impressions were not bad for an alpha download version. I'm pleased that The guys at Phoenix are working hard to further improve the sim, and I feel it has potential, but needs
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