Introducing the Bamboo Bomber

The T-50 Bobcat from MilViz is now live.

First flown in 1939 and reaching production in 1940, the Cessna T-50 Bobcat was of fabric-covered steel-tube construction featuring retractable main landing gear and electrically actuated trailing edge flaps. With the wing structure built up of laminated spruce spar beams and its fuselage faired with spruce stringers, it gained the nickname, “the Bamboo Bomber.”

It quickly found success as a military multi-engine advanced trainer and utility transport; its wood construction was ideal since it didn’t require diverting a lot of valuable aluminium from the war effort. Over 4600 airframes went into service with US forces, with another 640 flying with the RCAF and the BCATP. The Bobcat also found cinematic fame on the 50’s television show Sky King, where a T-50, named Songbird, was flown by the lead character (one of which used on the show was the actor’s own aircraft) until replaced later in the series by a Cessna 310B.

Milviz´s goal was to create a highly detailed and precise replica of this classic aircraft. This starts with an 3D model, both inside and out. Every switch, lever, crank, and control is in its place, allowing the virtual pilot full control. High resolution textures and smoothly animated gauges, along with high quality audio, add to the sense of immersion. Once in the air, a carefully tested flight model combines by-the-book numbers with a smooth sense of proper flight response in order to carefully replicate the same experience that so many wartime pilots experienced on their way through the multi-engine training program.

A first for a FSX/P3D commercial product, the T-50 Bobcat includes a detailed and fully functional simulation of the Low Frequency Radio Range system. This was the early radio navigational system used across North America (as well as a few other regions) beginning in the 1930’s until replaced by VHF band VOR navigation in the 1950’s.  The system allows you to tune a set radio signal and “follow the beam” by listening for the continuous tone while navigating from station to station. Off course information is given to the pilot through a quadrant system of Morse Code signals.

The Bobcat also features the Milviz Aircraft Management System (MVAMS), an external application for setting up options when the Bobcat is loaded in the simulator.  From within the MVAMS application, you can choose pilot and passenger figures to display, your avionics options, and whether you prefer the T-50 to load cold and dark, or with the engines running and the aircraft ready for flight!

An option for no modern avionics is available, although built-in configuration support is included for the following in various configurations: