Hi there guys! When everyones up to it i had a couple of aircraft suggestions you guys might be interested in adding to the VA. I'm not entirely sure on the rules involved with this all, but i have all of these and think they qualify as "bush craft".
 So in no particular order, here they are.

 1. The Cessna 206 skywagon. Its pretty much classified as a "Bush" plane, and definately behaves like one (I have both the 207 and 206 by carenado/alebeo, they can take off and land in a VERY short space.) I know we have the 207. but a 206 would fit in just as well.. at least i feel it would. Link provided with some stats. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_206" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_206

2. The Bell 412 helocopter. A larger Bell, capable of carrying up to 13* passengers along with 1-2 crew, and cruising at 100-120 knots, she's a nice bird, and i feel would fit into the VA quite well, easily performing some ofi the tasks the 407 currently does, and perhaps whole new ones. Very popular with search and rescue outfits the world over (including Australias Westpac Rescue Choppers) She's tough as nails, and rugged enough to fly skiers/tourists just about anywhere.  Looking at the list of current operators, i don't see a airline and/or company as an owner, so perhaps we are restricted in using the 412 for medical/rescue/government roles only. Just a thought. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_412" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_412

 (*Not sure which 412 exactly they are talking about in the wikipedia article when they say 13, will have to get in game and count seats haha.)

  Both of these aircraft have top rate payware models, but i haven't been able to find freeware alternatives for them. If this is an issue please disregard thread, but i fly both and enjoy both, and feel they would make great additions to our (dare i say bulging) hangers.

 What do you guys think? Any other ideas thoughts on it? If i'm way off base just say so, do not want to offend anyone. Just been thinking ( a dangerous sport for me).

 Cheers guys.
 - Keiron

(P.S. if someone can tell me how to get the links to work correctly i'd be very appreciative! I get that silly first link that doesn't work every time, and i don't know why! Cheers)

Yeah I have all the above. The Bell 412 is a real beauty and very easy to fly for you folk of the non-chopper persuasion, but it does have some pretty extensive and useful features and more being added according to xAlberto.

Used for SAR operations in Alaska and Canada if I'm not mistaken; and there's an Aussie (RACQ) version that flies over my house a few times a day!

Petroleum Helicopters...And most offshore support outfits in the Gulf fly the 412...13 pax is right...unless you install the aux tanks...

Answering for bc. Rules, we have no stinking rules, rules are made to be broken.

Suggesting inclusion of act is perfectly okay. Generally for inclusion: if there is a payware, there needs to be a freeware for those that cannot afford to buy every payware in the EPOCH Hangar.

That being said there are several act in the EPOCH Hangar without matching freeware: Sikorsky S-92, Sea king, KMax, Aviat Husky and more.

Also (loose rule) if the act is or ever was built/used/flown in Alaska or Canada or bush type.

For inclusion, bc will post a "poll" for EPOCH pilots to respond and comment, yes or no. If the majority say yes, then it usually is added to EPOCH act either as Standard Fleet, Special Fleet or Leasehold. If not included, you can make it your personal act for flying from point to point for skeds etc. Let bc know you are changing your act for the economy matrix.

If included (like the PC-6) bc will set up a ferry flight for volunteer EPOCH pilots (first come first served) to bring the act from wherever to their new home base or hub.

Please also keep in mind some of us are restricted to XP9.  We either can't (my case) or don't want to use XP10.

Good catch B9er. I new there was something I forgot to mention.

Well, the 207 is covered then because X-Hangar have one.

Re the 412, I'd say it'd have to go to a vote, because ... only a few people are attracted to fly choppers regularly (tlbt, gofigure and me?).

Personally I don't think that choice of XP platform should be a factor unless it's the majority or the VA actually makes it a policy to base plane choices of platform version as a denominator. Having said that, if it's policy then it is ... no more argument from me, as I'm happy so far with the planeset I have available :lol:.

Please note though that I believe the Dreamfoil 407 (XP 10 only) was recently ratified as an Epoch helicopter. At least that's my recollection.

 Hi go figure and BullHide.  Ofcourse i didn't really want to rock the boat or anything like that, was more kicking around in my head for a day or so and thought i'd ask your opinions. I'm more than happy if it requires a vote from members before any and all aircraft are accepted. Thats perfectly reasonable and pretty darn sensible haha.

   I myself fly choppers from time to time, i have the a350 (cannot fly it haha, try as i might, im just no good) the 407 (can fly it, reasonably well considering i've only got... 6 ish? hours in it?) the 412 (easily my favourite, as its a challange yet flyable) and the S-92 (Found it almost too easy, once out of the hover its too stable?)

 The 206 i suggested simply because its pretty widely known as a "bush" aircraft, up there with the 207, (and frankly they fly fairly similarly). The 412 i simply suggested as another option for the few of us who do cross over and fly the Whirlys from time to time, and it definately feels like it fits the theme around here. (Workhorses, rugged, reliable etc etc)

 Its all good though if the majority of people don't want BC investing our hard earned money into these particular aircraft! I'm more than happy with the selection we currently have, and need to expand my fleet to match what we have as is haha.  Entirely up to everyone else! I can always fly them out of my own pocket! haha.

Keiron,  no 'boat rocking" noticed here and my comment certainly wasn't intended to squash your creative and fresh ideas.  I only wanted to suggest XP9 compatibility should be part of any equation around here.

Having said that... the brutal truth is one day XP9 will be obsolete and unplayable on newer hardware which will one day replace our present computers.  Sad, but true.

Hey guys, it's perfectly okay to suggest an act. That's the way to get it noticed/included. Someone mentioned the PC-6 and soon it will be available for skeds etc. Other act added recently: Norseman, Caribou, explorer. It is extra work for bc to add them to the EPOCH matrix (look at the data for each act) but he does it willingly. Although he is not a rotorhead he accomodates those/us that are. Someone said "you can't have too many aircraft" and I say "you can;t have too many helicopters.   bc likes to keep things realistic which makes it more enjoyable IMO and EPOCH is not so restrictive like FSEconomy. No other VA has the variety of flying scenarios that this site has.

I agree Keiron, the AS350 even with Arcade mode is intense flying. I have the S-92 & Bell 407 and love flying them, some others as well. Once you get them settled in it's like flying a plane. I like the aspect of up, up and away although landing where you want to can be a challenge.

I'de say for now let's keep these on the back burner and when bc returnes we can explore their addition to the EPOCH hangar.

Hi guys,

Everyone is right on the money as far as inclusions, with a couple of small notes.

1. If the aircraft that is being considered for inclusion has no freeware equivalent, then there must be a similar bird with similar mission capabilities that is available. TDYs can take care of the rest of the issue if someone wants to fly a particular mission/sked but doesn't have the aircraft in question.

2. Same goes for V9 craft. As long as a similar craft can be available that will perform the sdame mission then we sure can take on a V10 only. Truth is, V9 stuff will start to get real hard to find in the next year, short of what is already available. But this "loose" rule set should keep us all flying for sure.

3. We will need to cull some of our craft one of these days anyhow - but bringing another one along is not a problem as long as we get some votes for it/them.

So give me a few days to get my feet under me and a few pressing VA things done and I'll rejoin this with gusto.

Thanks all. gofigure is right, at the end of the day... we don't need no steenkin' rules, which is why we don't have a CEO watching over us

Cheers,

bc