What’s it really like to fly the FreedomFox (MSFS)? Is it worth the price?

[@TrentonPalmer]

Awesome review man!

[@cgaviator]

High praise, thanks chief! This model, and now your channel, has inspired my retirement plans! Keep up the good work!

[@cgaviator]

Whilst I think about it. Are there any routes/areas that you would recommend those with this model fly in the sim? Keen to use it more when the day job permits!

[@Retset]

It is so refreshing to see a balanced review that not only goes through the strengths of the aeroplane (including the reveal of a small tailwheel fetish) but also looks closely at it's value for money and position in the marketplace. I love the livery (iconic if you watch Trent's stuff) and packaging it with its own airport in the heart of the real thing's stomping ground is an excellent touch. For me, the GotGravel Cub is all I will ever need for STOL stuff in the sim but I'd not blame anybody for buying this aircraft. Kudos for the lack of manual reading as well as the lethally low spin entry heights! If this is the standard of any further reviews you do then I shall be watching.

[@cgaviator]

It's only my second review and it was perhaps a bit lengthy! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Amen for the slew button!! lol

[@edwinkorteweg3612]

Ahh you found the POH! Great ... thanks. I love this little bush-whacker. I used it to scout my next mountain hike. Set it down, pitched the tent and went for a stroll with the MSFS drone! Good fun.

[@paulphibbs7162]

Thanks for the review. To show the one wheel, you click on the left of two buttons on the extreme right of the panel. It appears on the right strut. Trent has an autopilot. The main difference is his uses the right display to show engine details.

[@cgaviator]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated!

[@Parallel42]

Someone poked around and found the goodies! Thanks for the info drop! //e

[@antonioiozzi291]

I confirm everithing you have written. 👍👍👍👍👍

[@cgaviator]

@@antonioiozzi291 owner or operator?

[@volkerjansen3901]

Excellent review, really appreciate the comparison to other, similar planes! Trent Palmer's channel is probably my favorite in all of KZbin, so I simply had to get the FreedomFox. The sounds are disappointing, but as you mentioned the developer has that on the to-do list. Anyway, I'm having a blast flying in a beautiful virtual copy of the plane that I've seen so many times in Trent's videos. For me that's worth the price :)

[@cgaviator]

Agreed totally!

[@harpoon_bakery162]

have there been any improvements?

[@bobbyrutz9402]

I've only had it a few days, but it's quickly becoming my favourite module in MSFS. I was on the Kodiak but this little guy is awesome.

[@cgaviator]

It’s beautifully simple!

[@bobbyrutz9402]

@@cgaviator Exactly! And maybe I like the tent.

[@cgaviator]

@@bobbyrutz9402 😂 I love the tent idea. You should see P42’s camp out utility. Lots of utterly pointless fun! 😁

[@bobbyrutz9402]

@@cgaviator Well I'm going to have to go and find that now! Have you done a video on it?

[@bobbyrutz9402]

@@cgaviator I found it! Thank you.. but also you're gonna make me go broke. 😆

[@luke_atthat]

Nice video! I like your quick summary of Take-off. I am very happy that the Trent Palmer's plane is now available on FS2020. There was a cute one out there at cheap price, but with bad low flight behavior. I was so frustrated. And finally a model well done has been created. Also the vew from the cockpit is so clear, perfect to discover spot and to check your landing area.

[@cgaviator]

Yup, love it!

[@ricardograde5134]

It does have auto-pilot… Oh, and the zenith have an amazing wind sound when approaching stall. The flaps are fixed in the last update.

[@cgaviator]

I couldn’t hear it. And I’ll have to put it down to not having real life zenith experience I guess

[@yams900]

Good work ! Just bought this aircraft :)

[@cgaviator]

It’s an excellent aeroplane 👍🏻

[@LCTRgames]

Not seeing the chapters in the YT player, think it might be because you need to start the first chapter from 0:00. So if you just put "0:00 Intro" above your current list it should pick them up

[@cgaviator]

Will do, thanks!

[@dillank3240]

That was useful. I especially appreciate the comparisons you made. Excellent!

[@cgaviator]

Thanks! This one was an oldie! I’d like to do a new one soon but have a long todo list! 😅

[@todd92371]

I'm loving the Aviat Husky also.

[@ceegnz]

The panel is pretty much exactly like Trent's, including the autopilot. If you're seeing a cockpit in his plane that doesn't look like this it's because he updated it, you need to go to a more recent video :) Worth noting that on any plane that has this sort of fuel 'gauge' they only read correctly when the plane is level, so they don't read correctly on the ground.

[@cgaviator]

Awesome info, thanks 👍🏻 And I stand corrected about the AP! The cockpit texture is a fault, not sure why it’s only the Artic Fox, it’s my favourite livery

[@Parallel42]

Correct!! Thanks for the kind words. //e

[@Parallel42]

@@cgaviator Community created liveries by Canuckshaw which are in the mod manager have been updated, and you should have properly lined up dashboard labels in today's update. I've passed on your kind words about his work! //e

[@cgaviator]

@@Parallel42 thank you, very kind. And I'll be flying this onto some gravel bars in my next video. The handling is just lovely!

[@TigerWalts]

I don't know if it's correct for this plane but the Rotax engine doesn't like being shut down at too low RPM. In the Eurofox that I once spent an hour in, the engine was shut down by: 1. Idle throttle 2. Turn off one of the 'mags' 3. Press the Start button The engine will automatically increase RPM, hold it for a few seconds and then cut off the fuel.

[@cgaviator]

I saw a few variations on shutdown.

[@rasta77-x7o]

I very much enjoy this plane, it's the best bush flyer available in MSFS.

[@cgaviator]

Absolutely agreed!

[@northcoaster76]

Thorough review, nicely done. Trent's freedomfox does in fact have autopilot - there may even be a video of him installing it on his channel. I believe it's for the cross country flights he does. Just found your channel from this review so I'll keep watching for your content!

[@cgaviator]

Yup, I do stand corrected! And thanks 👍🏻

[@ravenn22]

for future content - would love to see POIs added for a bunch of the off-airport landing areas TP shows in the videos - both around Reno and into NorCal and Utah later

[@cgaviator]

Not sure I follow?

[@pedrorego940]

Top notch review, cheers!

[@cgaviator]

Much appreciated!

[@MojaveHigh]

I picked up the Zenith when it was on sale and I actually like it, bizarre design and all. Takes a while to get used to, but it's fun. I am not an expert on flight physics so your review was helpful. It is by SimWorks Studios (developer of the Kodiak, as you know) and they are going to release a free float upgrade some time. As for the FreedomFox, as others have said, there are so many other great freeware STOLs (I LOVE the Savage Carbon) that I just can't plunk down US$35 for it. I'd rather save that for when the Hawk (hopefully) goes on sale. Haha

[@cgaviator]

Good luck waiting for that discount! 😅 I keep getting told that the Zenith flaps are different so perhaps it’s my naivety about the design. Still, boggles my mind 😆

[@MojaveHigh]

@@cgaviator The Hawk looks truly amazing and I want it badly, but I'm cheap. Haven't spent more than US$35 on a plane (the Kodiak) and don't want to start now. But I'll probably break soon.

[@MojaveHigh]

@@cgaviator You do such a good job on your reviews and videos, I look forward to every one.

[@forrestt610]

If your volume is up the zenith tells you your about to stall by the sound of wind over the leading edge. Quit loud in the open cockpit skin.

[@ragzzytv]

that random button is A/P disconnect. at least that's what the tooltips says.

[@cgaviator]

I should use tooltips more to begin with! 😅

[@DekelElz]

kitfox cost too much while we have the free ones there that make a great job. 30$ for opening doors, germin and a tent is too high. 15$ max i would pay for it

[@cgaviator]

You can get it cheaper if you don’t want the extras. But having used it for a while, there’s no going back for me

[@ItzLazerLight]

I noticed that your camera movement in the cockpit is very smooth. I don't know if that's a mod I can get or something. But if you could tell me how I can make it like that, that would be nice.

[@cgaviator]

It’s just TrackIR, with the curves smoothed out a touch.

[@ItzLazerLight]

@@cgaviator Hey, thanks! I'm gonna look into TrackIR so my setup is a little more immersive I guess you could say.

[@cgaviator]

@@ItzLazerLight worth every penny! The other option is Tobii Eye Tracker

[@ItzLazerLight]

@@cgaviator Alright thanks, I'll investigate that one too. And trackir or the eye tracker will be used to enhance my setup without you know, getting a VR headset! As well as training to get my licence this year! Wish me luck haha.

[@cgaviator]

@@ItzLazerLight good luck! 😂

[@user_16309]

Has the texture issue been fixed? Any other issues as of March, 2023? Considering buying this. Thanks.

[@cgaviator]

Can’t remember the texture issue, it’s a great plane. Think it’s just recently been reduced in price!

[@cgaviator]

And it’s had new features like a car horn and super suspension! Definitely worth it!

[@Foxtrot_EW]

Out for Xbox today on Marketplace!!!

[@danlance]

One point to note, all the free alternatives are not available on Xbox (well other than the Xcub which... is ok... Until you fly the FF, and then it just feels Meh...) Such a fun aircraft to fly - really enjoying exploring NZ in WU12 - 4,000' / minute ascent required... No problemo....

[@cgaviator]

Good point, I forget about Xbox limitations

[@petersquires2100]

Sorry if this question is really thick, but what do you mean in layman's terms by applying back pressure?

[@mark_barrentine]

I heard it to mean pulling back on the stick from the neutral position (up elevator). I've been flying the Freedom Fox (the sim, not the real one) and if you need to hit the brakes using a button off of the joystick you need to pull back on the stick to keep it from doing a nose. dive. With rudder pedals that include brakes this maybe less of an issue, but you will still want to do a full stick pull back for maximum braking.

[@cgaviator]

You know, I completely mis-read this question! Back pressure = aft stick

[@weylandtyutani6330]

What do you think of the Husky or the C170B as payware alternatives to the FreedomFox?

[@cgaviator]

I haven’t got either I’m afraid though I’ve owned the C170B in P3D and it was great! It’s not so much STOL though as I don’t think it has much power. I’ll look into the Husky

[@spatialpro]

This is a crowded corner of the "market" (by which I mean payware and freeware) and IMO doesn't offer sufficient USPs to warrant a purchase at the current asking price. Just my 2p/2c 🤷‍♂️

[@cgaviator]

Totally agree though it has some excellent potential

[@harpoon_bakery162]

as long as there are enhancements every month, i think it would be good.

[@pricesteve8948]

'The ground is closer than you think'. Almost lost my lunch the second time you stalled it....

[@cgaviator]

😆

[@maximo2414able]

Hi Sir! For me i don't find any stol payware aircraft good apart from the zlin savage ultra and the zenith, well also the super cub, the rest for me all the others have a power ratio too much for a real aircraft, it's insane being climbing at 2500ft/min with these hahaha lol everything is so easy, I forget to tell the rans s6 is a good simulated machine also! Regards!

[@cgaviator]

I’m not a fan of the Zenith. I guess a lot comes down to personal preference 👍🏻

[@russellharris5072]

I've now seen at least three reviews on this aircraft,in each of these I can't help but be bothered by the glass panels inside and the wig wag lights on the outside.I'm reasonably sure the CAA in the uk would not approve of the wig wag lights unless accompanied by the standard red/green tip lights.................................

[@cgaviator]

I love the wig wags! 😂 A lot more things are legal in the US. You should see their cars!

[@russellharris5072]

@@cgaviator I agree,you can legally fly in the US in a class of aircraft not exceeding a certain weight and engine limit with NO official documentation.In the UK,any aircraft with three wheels requires a full PPL and even paramotors are encouraged to meet certain standards...........................

[@Parallel42]

The aircraft is built to #FreedomFox spec. However standard landing lights ARE included which you are free to use in the UK. Wig-Wags are an on/off switch. Standard NAVs are also right on the dash.

[@russellharris5072]

@@Parallel42 I unfortunately bought the Zenith from Microsoft which will never stop taxiing without intermittent braking and the latest update provides two glass panels that don't work whether you use the master avionic switch or ctrl+e..................DOH!!

[@SixFox]

Too many high quality free alternatives to warrant a purchase from me.

[@cgaviator]

That's about the crux of it!

[@harpoon_bakery162]

The Got Graavel stuff is unreal

[@chocks9350]

Normaly you notis a stall when plane starts to shakes all over and then stalls... Guess not modeled...

[@cgaviator]

It’s been updated alot since this. But I don’t think this is simulated. Some aircraft have very unique stall characteristics. Maybe this one likes to be smoooth 👍🏻

[@jjsmallpiece9234]

Not for me, I find light aircraft to be boring

[@cgaviator]

Crazy talk! lol! I only like the small aircraft when I'm trying to squeeze them into much smaller strips. That and when I want to enjoy the view!