A little feedback on this little bird

[CedricLFMA]

Hi all ! 

I was really happy to buy this little bird because I really like it ! (and price is pretty good !), and after some flights I have to admit I'm a little bit frustrated, here's why.

-No documentation at all. We have absolutely no information about how to fly correctly the F406.

-Check List seems incomplete? for example at startup we have to put fuel pumps on the "ON" position, nowhere in the checklit, it's asked to set it on "normal", and when. and because we have no documentation. This is just an example.

-From a user's point of view it would be very nice to allowed us to use a GTN750, Iso 650 + 2x transponder + 1 nav2 + 1com2. Maybe it's like that because it's intended to be realistic but in this case, why do we have the "Spray Panels" in all of the versions of the F406? I guess the best for customers will  be to have the possibilty to remove the Spray Panels and to have the possiblity to have a simple GTN750.

-We can remove chocks and others stuff, but no set the stuff again. a simple command on the EFB would be great.

-a complete integration of simbrief is missing here, for loading cargo/pax and fuel.

-I did'nt notice any big différences with or without cownflaps on T° , may be it's me?

-an "Headset" option will be more than welcome in the EFB !

 

So,  I know there's little things, but...

 

Thank you all and have a nice day

 

[Eddie]

Hi there!

Thank you for the feedback. I'll answer these in the order you've asked them. 

- There are FAQs available on this forum as well as downloads for the manual and quick reference guide. You can find them all here: https://forum.inibuilds.com/forum/653-faqs/ 

- Let me know if the above information is sufficient for the check-list procedure.

- Will forward this suggestion to the team, but as far as I know, this is intentional. As for the spray panels, increased customisability for the user. 

- Clicking the spot outside of the aircraft should re-enable them again. Can you confirm this is not the case? 

- Will forward the suggestion to the team 🙂 

- We'll take a look! 

- Will also forward this suggestion to the team 🙂

Thank you for your continued support! 

[CptCrawley]

9 hours ago, CedricLFMA said:

-I did'nt notice any big différences with or without cownflaps on T° , may be it's me?

As a real-world pilot of the F406, we very very rarely actually see a temperature difference with cowl flaps, its mainly a precautionary item and is around a 5 knot decrease in cruise speed with them open.

[CedricLFMA]

Hi, 

 

First thank you to both of you for answering me!

 

So, in order:

 

@Eddie

-Thank you for the link to the FAQ, I didn't even the existence of theses documents ! It helps, for sure !

-About checklist procedures is sufficient, yes ! I notice some items are missing in the checklist in the aircraft(for example Fuel cotrol Lever "ON" @ 12%NG) from simplified procedures, I don't know if it's intended?

-It will be very nice to have this level of customization, for the users !

-About the clicking spot, unfortunately it seems broken for me, no way to set the chokes....

Many thanks about the the 3 last points !!

@CptCrawley

Thank you for this information !

By the way I want to ask you, because you have experience on this aircraft, something about the start-up,

Could you confirm to me the fact we set propellers lever FF only during taxi checklist and not just after start the engines?

If yes, what if we have to wait 10mns between the start up and the taxi, we stay in Feather position until taxi?

For me we have to set the propellers lever FF after the startup (engine 2 then 1) but I could be wrong of course.

 

Thank you 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CptCrawley]

On 8/11/2025 at 8:05 AM, CedricLFMA said:

@CptCrawley

Thank you for this information !

By the way I want to ask you, because you have experience on this aircraft, something about the start-up,

Could you confirm to me the fact we set propellers lever FF only during taxi checklist and not just after start the engines?

If yes, what if we have to wait 10mns between the start up and the taxi, we stay in Feather position until taxi?

For me we have to set the propellers lever FF after the startup (engine 2 then 1) but I could be wrong of course.

This is correct, it's a AFM item from Reims/Cessna, once I've done the after start flow the props would come out of feather, if its particually hot it would be the first thing I do as the pilot door would get noticely warm... if its that warm in the cockpit I don't want to know how hot the surface skin would be.

I would normally set the props at the same time, but I know that can be hard to do in the sim

[Daveo]

On 8/10/2025 at 1:47 PM, CedricLFMA said:

Hi all ! 

I was really happy to buy this little bird because I really like it ! (and price is pretty good !), and after some flights I have to admit I'm a little bit frustrated, here's why.

-No documentation at all. We have absolutely no information about how to fly correctly the F406.

-Check List seems incomplete? for example at startup we have to put fuel pumps on the "ON" position, nowhere in the checklit, it's asked to set it on "normal", and when. and because we have no documentation. This is just an example.

-From a user's point of view it would be very nice to allowed us to use a GTN750, Iso 650 + 2x transponder + 1 nav2 + 1com2. Maybe it's like that because it's intended to be realistic but in this case, why do we have the "Spray Panels" in all of the versions of the F406? I guess the best for customers will  be to have the possibilty to remove the Spray Panels and to have the possiblity to have a simple GTN750.

-We can remove chocks and others stuff, but no set the stuff again. a simple command on the EFB would be great.

-a complete integration of simbrief is missing here, for loading cargo/pax and fuel.

-I did'nt notice any big différences with or without cownflaps on T° , may be it's me?

-an "Headset" option will be more than welcome in the EFB !

 

So,  I know there's little things, but...

 

Thank you all and have a nice day

 

I would also prefer the GTN750.

A Hobbs/Hours Meter somewhere on the panel would be helpful also.

[CedricLFMA]

It would be great to have an SOP for this aircraft, unfortunately I didn't find one on the web...

[Mawingo]

As to the fuel pump usage. AFAIK for the 400 series of Cessna aircraft, they used Off (for Off, obviously) and On for a positive On, and Normal means it's in an Armed state. Should fuel pressure drop, they kick in automatically I believe. Happy to be corrected, but I'd say for all stages of flight leave it on Normal.