AVSIM Commercial ADD-ON Update Review Precision Manuals Development Group B-757 ver. 1.1 for Fly!

Introduction:

We at AVSIM Online feel that this project by the Precision Manuals Development Group (PMDG) has been met with such interest by the FLY! community that it warrants an occasional follow up. I will also go into the Flight Management Computer (FMC) and Autopilot operation of the PMDG B-757, as evidently there have been questions on its proper operation. Note that some of the screenshots use the upcoming add-on of Dusseldorf International Airport (EDDL) by Marc Storing and Jürgen Kloos. I felt that an excellent aircraft deserved better than the default landing strips in Fly!. I also include in this review an image gallery of images of the Condor B757 using enhanced scenery backgrounds Marc Storing provided. Please be forewarned that this B-757 is good—in fact excellent—and in my opinion unparalleled, so be prepared for coverage in which I could find very little lacking.

In my initial review I gave this product 4 stars—Good, but not great (you can read that review here). In fairness to PMDG, with that review I later learned that I had left the environment mapping option enabled and the graphics on my computer were less sharp than would have been rendered with environment mapping off. This is clearly stated on the Readme file. Alas, even a reviewer sometimes misses things in the readme.txt. Anyhow, this version – PMDG B757 version 1.1 (and v1.2 patch) – without question earns a full 5 stars!

Condor

VC-32A

Trans World

Test System

AMD K6-2 400MHz (powerleap upgrade) Windows95 64 Megs RAM 16 MB 3dfx Voodoo 3 2000 PCI 12X CD ROM Creative Labs 16 Sound Blaster Suncom SFS Stick Flight Controller and Throttle Series 17" Monitor Flying Time: 40 hours since Ver 1.1 release

Sometime in December, on the Avsim forum a fellow posted a message to PMDG stating that the $24.95 price was too steep for the B757, and he would therefore "skip this product." I have thought about that comment many times since then and it always reminds me of a movie I once saw. This movie, which will remain nameless, had something to do with mail order brides, a musical instrument, and an adulterous affair. Frankly, in my opinion it was the most stupid, frustrating, piece of trash that I have ever wasted my time watching. After about an hour of torture I had to stop. Never before, or since, have I been unable to finish a movie, but this one was awful, and it makes me mad now just thinking about it!

Ok now that I've gotten my composure back, what does this have to do with the PMDG B757? Well, this movie cost about $25.00 when one considers two tickets, soda, popcorn, etc. Twenty-five dollars for a lousy two hour movie, can anyone relate to that? Fellow sim pilots, think about it. I and most simmers have enjoyed hundreds of hours of shear pleasure flying the PMDG B757. In a word it is the best example of a civilian aircraft simulation available bar none, and that's all that need be said. Nevertheless, there's more:

1. The people at PMDG have been supportive of their customer base to a degree that I have never seen elsewhere.
2. PMDG has consistently, within their ability, fulfilled all of their promises to the sim community.
3. PMDG is committed to maximum realism in their product line.
4. They continue to develop and refine their product.

I don't know the financial situation of all of our readers, but I am confident that most have blown $25.00 at some time in a dumb way. I assure you this will be the best twenty-five dollars you'll spend (value = enjoyment x time spent) in a long while.

The new USAirways model

An improved United Air Lines

Here is the old panel; A new 3D is on the way

Reader Survey This survey is intended for those that have used this add-on. If you have used it, please let your fellow simulation enthusiasts know how you rate it by taking this survey. Please, if you have not used this product, do not take this poll (you can view the poll from the "Results" link below). - Review Poll - Have you used PMDG's B-757 Upgrade? Excellent Good Average I can live with it Taking it off my system Results

Overview:

With version 1.1 PMDG has corrected several issues from the original. First and foremost the B-757 aircraft graphics have been completely redone for a greatly improved visual affect. VOR antennae have been added to the model, and also improved landing gear, flap fairings, and an enhanced paint scheme. The matrix imbalance error has been corrected and now shadows can be displayed. PMDG has provided three new liveries to supplement the original United Air Lines, and USAirways. These are Trans World Airlines, Condor (a Lufthansa subsidiary), and a USAF VC-32A VIP transport. As an example of what was meant by their support of the customer base, PMDG solicited reader input at AVSIM Online's Fly sim forum to determine what new liveries they would like to see. The only limitation was that the chosen operator had to fly the B-757 with Pratt & Whitney engines, as this was necessary to maintain fidelity to real world. The Rolls Royce variant is a three spool engine and as such would require major modification to the cockpit instrumentation, which is not possible now within the limitation of the Fly! code. PMDG has stated that they are willing to look into this further as data on the engine is available, and the Fly! SDK has been released.

The APU switch logic has been corrected. After start-up the APU switch will return to the run position, and the APU can be turned off by switching to the off position.

The easy start option [E] is now enabled. I swore I wouldn't use it, but it has come in handy when time is limited.

Autopilot maximum angle of bank is now 20 degrees, and vertical rate is increased to (+4000/-3000). This was a sore point with many users, which was again a limit of the Hawker coding.

Wing de-ice is now more effective. The system had to be worked into the Hawker logic, so its operation is not fully realistic. The improvement is welcome, because in version 1.0 it was difficult to make it through a solid layer of clouds without 80% accumulation on the wings.

In the my first review the only other issue was the cockpit art. I felt it did not preserve the 3d look that the other Fly! panels had. PMDG has not released the new panels with Ver 1.1, but they have offered screenshots on Avsim. They look great and should be expected about the time of the PMDG B-767 release.

In total PMDG has made corrected or upgraded 35 different items with the 1.1 release. Version 1.2 was a special release to correct engine problems that a few pilots experienced. A full text of the upgrades content can be found at the PMDG website.

From inside the cockpit at Dusseldorf

This is a look at the 3D work Marc Harrington is doing on the new panels. Anticipate these to be released with the B-767 add-on!

Coupled Approach in heavy rain and thunderstorms

Flight Management Computer and Autopilot

On to a little training on the Autopilot/FMC. The information here is a combination of my own experience, things picked up in the Avsim forum, the PMDG B757 manual, and TRI's FMC 'how-to' file.

The Autopilot/FMC in Fly! is hardcoded to the default Hawker jet that is packaged with Fly!'s retail box. As a result PMDG had to do a certain amount of manipulation and work-arounds to create an autopilot with a good degree of fidelity to the real world B-757. The most important feature still missing is the Autothrottle capability. I consider the perfect autopilot to be one in which I can plan a long transatlantic flight then go to bed after take-off, and wake up in the morning on final approach. The PMDG 757 is not refined to this degree yet, but it will get you close.

FMC

The FMC is fairly simple. I think that most of the confusion over its operation is the result of users confusing its function with the GPS receiver on some of the other aircraft modeled in Fly!. An FMC is not a GPS, although it captures data from GPS; it reduces pilot workload primarily by automatically handling navigation functions. The FMC can also couple to the autopilot enabling the aircraft to navigate, and aviate by itself. The pilot is then left to the job of communication [with ATC].

On the PMDG 757 there are really only two buttons on the FMC to concern yourself:

1. The FPLAN button
2. The NAV button

The FPLAN button will show you your intended flight plan as loaded in flight planner. This includes information on courses, distances, and ETA to the fix. The NAV button will show you the actual course, distance, and ETA to the planned fix. All of this information is loaded from the Flight Planner page of Fly!. Altitude data is also loaded into the FMC. Although you can't open the page it's there, and will couple with the VNAV feature of the autopilot.

Push-back at Dusseldorf

Taxiing out

Holding position

The Autopilot

The AP on the B757 can be broken down to two types of functions, Vertical flight (changes in altitude) or Lateral Flight (changes is direction).

The Vertical Flight functions are:

1. Vertical Speed Select
2. Altitude Capture
3. Altitude Hold

The pilot will also need some kind of feedback on what functions are operating at any time. This information is provided on the Primary Flight Display (PFD), and the Navigation Display (ND). Since the best way to learning is by doing, we'll plan a flight using the PMDG Condor B-757, exercising the FMC/AP on the way. Departing Dusseldorf (EDDL) we will leave from the cold European winter and head for some sun down on South Tenerife Island (GCTS).
 

Waypoint	Distance	Altitude	True Heading	Time
Dusseldorf (EDDL)	0	N/A	N/A	10:00
(NTM 283/016)	77	15000	198	10:15
Rolampont	134.2	29000	195	10:42
Pollensa	487.5	33,000	192	11:55
Pimos1	450.1	37,000	241	13:02
Ibalu	207.8	39,000	244	13:34
Dimsa	234.2	39,000	232	14:09
Fuerteventura	224.5	25,000	200	14:42
Lomas	106.9	7,000	246	14:58
Tenerife Sur (GCTS)	50.5	N/A	294	15:11

Flight Planning

Here is the flight plan we will fly. Pay special attention to the planned altitudes for the flight and the distances between waypoints. The logic that goes into this planning overcomes limitations of the VNAV function and lack of autothrottle. Since, we do not have a fully functional autothrottle, during climbs we may lose energy if the rate of climb is too steep; unless of course we make manual throttle inputs to compensate. The image below demonstrates the recommended flight profile to avoid this issue. Click on it for a larger, more readable image.

One last thing on flight plans. Since the release of Fly! patch 1.084 the autopilot's ability to track VORs, Waypoints, etc. has been greatly improved. One issue that the pilot may run into is course changes of greater than 90 degrees. Sometimes the autopilot may turn in the opposite direction, come about nearly 360 degrees to capture the track. This ultimately leads to abrupt zigzagging until the course is finally intercepted. Minor issue, but something to consider in planning. Prior to pushback we will fire up the APU and set up our FMC. Turn it on, click accept, and go directly to the NAV page. On the Throttle console, EFI mode controls we leave the bearing source off, and change the Course Bearing selector to "Waypoint". This knob can be selected to whatever form of navigation you will use, but for our purposes today we will fly waypoints.

Takeoff, Climb, Cruise

After pushback, we go through the engine start procedure, For those of us who are still considering purchase of the PMDG B-757 this is a real start-up procedure, unless of course you use the [E]asy start option. We then taxi to EDDL's runway 23L. For this flight we will not use the auto-takeoff function [Z]. The auto-takeoff seems to insist upon using full flaps, and is rather abrupt on rotation. So with 15 degrees of flaps set we advance the throttles and rotate at 152 knots. With no usable runway remaining retract gear and begin our turn to intercept the planned course.

Now is when things happen fast. Enable autopilot [A] and choose the "VNAV" and "LNAV" functions. Note, the "Alts Capture" and "VNAV" Flags on the PFD. The ND "FMS1" is letting us know the FMS is driving the nav logic. Notice that I said nothing about selecting Altitude, or Vertical speed. The AP working with the FMC will do all this for you based on the necessary rate of climb to reach the fix at the planned altitude. When you select VNAV note that your Altitude Selector Window starts moving, and the Vertical Speed changes also. DO NOT adjust the Altitude Selection Window, this is Normal! Note, that the PFD now reads "Alts Capture" and "VNAV". In our case it will capture 15000 feet at Waypoint 1 although the Altitude Selector is scrolling through different altitudes. You can adjust the V-rate dial to increase or decrease your climb rate, but this will get you to the selected altitude early or late. Make sure that the PFD still reads "VNAV", Alts Capture may change to Vs; that's Okay. So, when do you use the Altitude Selector? Dial it in whenever you need to go to a different altitude than loaded in your FMC, perhaps if you've been directed by ATC. If you do this the PFD will change label from "VNAV" to "ALTS". It will then change back to "Alts Capture" about 100 feet below the selected altitude. Use the ALT HOLD button only when you want to hold your current altitude. To go back to the preprogrammed VNAV profile, click the VNAV button off and on unitil VNAV reappears on the PFD.

Lined up with the Yanks!

Climb

Using the Heading Selector to track toward the radial

What about navigating? That's right where, in the middle of a left hand turn, we're about to bust through our course. We engage the LNAV (For lateral Navigation function); if the autopilot is already tracking the desired course it will turn using the preprogrammed intercept logic. Note that the PFD label says FHDG, or FWAY, etc. This means autopilot logic is (f)ollow Heading or (f)ollow Waypoint respectively. If it is not tracking, we can change the HDG selector to our desired heading. Simply change the HDG selector and the aircraft will turn in response; the PFD label will change to FHDG. Once the track or radial is captured the PFD label will switch back to FWAY. Once again notice that I didn't mention heading hold. Push this button only if you want to hold a certain heading. Notice that when you push it, the LNAV function goes off. The two cannot coexist; neither can the Altitude Hold and VNAV.

Now we are setup for our climb and cruise. The AP will change altitude per our preprogrammed flight plan; it will also follow our programmed track right into the ground at Tenerife Sur if we desire. Just remember that there is no autothrottle, so if you climb too steeply, you're going to approach stall, and get nowhere very slowly. If your descent is too steep, you're going to exceed Vne, and have a bad mark in your logbook. Also, the AP has a hard time above 39,000 feet if you don't give the engines some extra juice.

The Waypoint Track captured

The turn to Final at Tenerife

On the ground at Tenerife

Approach

Okay, we've reached LOMAS intersection and the AP has brought us down to 7000 feet. The AP turns the aircraft to Tenerife Sur airport and begins a slow descent to finals. Tenerife Sur doesn't have an ILS, only an NDB, but we'll make believe it does. If it did we would just turn off LNAV and VNAV, tune in the ILS and choose the Approach function on the AP. Make sure that you're receiving the signal. If the course bar is flashing yellow, you're not yet receiving a decent signal; so use you heading selector to take you to an intercept until the bar changes to green. It will capture and track automatically from that point. The same will work for the VOR, and I assume NDB, although I a haven't tried the NDB yet. (Try it and send me some feedback.) Set up for your landing as you normally would. Disable the autopilot at the Decision Height (DH) or Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA), and bring her in—then deplane and enjoy some sun.

Conclusion

The PMDG B-757 in my opinion is the most remarkable add-on available. The version 1.1 has only made it better, and there is more to come. If you've delayed buying a civilian flight simulator because of lack of realism—as I did for many years—your wait has ended. Pick-up a copy of Fly! and download the PMDG B-757. In total the two will set you back about 70 bucks USD. I assure you that you will spend many pleasurable hours with this product. If you're still not convinced, I can only advise you to stop looking, forget about flight simulation, and uhmmm... go catch a movie! You can download it from Precision Manuals by clicking here.