Hi folks,The real airline that my VA simulated is going to move it's operations onto Boeing 717-200 aircraft soon, so I need a B717 for FS2004 and would like it to be as realistic as possible...I am looking at the Perfect Flight product 'Fly The B717-200 X' but can't find all that much info so wondered if anyone here has it and could tell me about their good or bad experiences with it? I would like to know; How good is the model, are the panels good (2D and VC) and how well are systems simulated? My other option that I am aware of is Ken Michell's freeware panel (with ISG upgardes for FMC etc) on the JCA model. Anyone know any other B717s out there?Cheers,Geoff

Hi folks,The real airline that my VA simulated is going to move it's operations onto Boeing 717-200 aircraft soon, so I need a B717 for FS2004 and would like it to be as realistic as possible...I am looking at the Perfect Flight product 'Fly The B717-200 X' but can't find all that much info so wondered if anyone here has it and could tell me about their good or bad experiences with it? I would like to know; How good is the model, are the panels good (2D and VC) and how well are systems simulated? My other option that I am aware of is Ken Michell's freeware panel (with ISG upgardes for FMC etc) on the JCA model. Anyone know any other B717s out there?Cheers,Geoff

Hi Geoff I personally would never buy anything from Perfect Flight. your better off going with the Ken Michell's freeware panel with ISG upgardes for FMC on the JCA model. The only other model that has a vc would be the vans 717. so far thats the only option that I know of. maybe the guys that did the vans 717 and the new md-11 dc-9 which are now skysim, would do a brand new 717 package. as I like that aircraft very much. I do have to say that the vans B717 was made a long time ago but I think it still looks good the vc is not detailed like some of the aircraft we have now but at least we have something.http://www.vansairco.com/index.eng.php?fra...ie+200&id=2

Hi Geoff I personally would never buy anything from Perfect Flight. your better off going with the Ken Michell's freeware panel with ISG upgardes for FMC on the JCA model. The only other model that has a vc would be the vans 717. so far thats the only option that I know of. maybe the guys that did the vans 717 and the new md-11 dc-9 which are now skysim, would do a brand new 717 package. as I like that aircraft very much. I do have to say that the vans B717 was made a long time ago but I think it still looks good the vc is not detailed like some of the aircraft we have now but at least we have something.http://www.vansairco.com/index.eng.php?fra...ie+200&id=2

Ok, thanks for your advice. Since my first post, I've looked around a bit more and seen plenty of reasons to avoid the Perfect Flight aircraft!!The Vans plane looks very interesting - I'm not too worried about the VC as I'm a 2D panel man at the moment, although a good VC might bring me over... Do you know if there is a paintkit available (I'd need to do the new liveries for our VA) and also if the data for their FMC be updated from Navigraph etc? I couldn't see a forum or contact email on their site - do you know if there's a way to ask them pre-sales questions??Another possible B717 is this one, but it's not finished... http://www.pairbus.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=169Geoff

Ok, thanks for your advice. Since my first post, I've looked around a bit more and seen plenty of reasons to avoid the Perfect Flight aircraft!!

In case you need any more input, DON'T bother with this addon. Have it, used it briefly, remains uninstalled to this day and beyond no doubt...:(

The Vans plane looks very interesting - I'm not too worried about the VC as I'm a 2D panel man at the moment, although a good VC might bring me over... Do you know if there is a paintkit available (I'd need to do the new liveries for our VA) and also if the data for their FMC be updated from Navigraph etc? I couldn't see a forum or contact email on their site - do you know if there's a way to ask them pre-sales questions??

The Vans 717 FMC is very light functionally, there's no Navdata for it.It is basically by the same guys that did the SkySim MD11,and DC9, I'd say their work has improved since they did this product.The panel and VC is not bad considering. The exterior model and texturing isn't great IMO.Its a Lite product, at a Lite price.Don't expect a lot from it , you will get what you pay for.Regards.Ernie.

I've been trying to get Vic at Feelthere to tackle this bird so we'll see what happens. From my vantage point that's the last airliner currently flying that's never been done properly in FS. If you guys want one done decently flood Feelthere's email with request as we need one badly. Second do the same with Skysimulations and hopefully one of them takes up the call. These two developers may be our last options to get one done right in FS9. Everybody else is fleeing to FSX sadly...

The Vans 717 FMC is very light functionally, there's no Navdata for it.It is basically by the same guys that did the SkySim MD11,and DC9, I'd say their work has improved since they did this product.The panel and VC is not bad considering. The exterior model and texturing isn't great IMO.Its a Lite product, at a Lite price.Don't expect a lot from it , you will get what you pay for.Regards.Ernie.

I've been looking more closely at it and I agree the FMC looks lite on functionality... but otherwise seems fairly well put together so I think I'll probably get it next week and have a look... The panel looks like it needs some work (is there are parts of the 2D that are not fully mapped to the VC and probably could be) and then I think with a decent FMC and ND (I have ISG already) it will be good... Will report progress...Geoff

Anyone know how I can actually get the Vans B717? I tried going through the order process last night and it took my $15 happily enough but I got no download codes and their only email address support[a]vansairco.net bounces my messages back with the error 'Unrouteable address' :( Geoff

Anyone know how I can actually get the Vans B717? I tried going through the order process last night and it took my $15 happily enough but I got no download codes and their only email address support[a]vansairco.net bounces my messages back with the error 'Unrouteable address' :( Geoff

Thats odd I know it worked fine with other simmers here all there downloads in the website work maybe its just taken a little bit of time to process.

Thats odd I know it worked fine with other simmers here all there downloads in the website work maybe its just taken a little bit of time to process.

I went throught PayPal and everything seemed to work right up to the point where it asked for the download access codes and there weren't any on the page (or on the email from PayPal). I only thought afterwards that it was odd there was nowhere to enter my email address etc... Anyway, I have sent an email to support at SkySimulations (since they have some connection with Vans) asking if they know how to make contact...Otherwise there are always the slightly less legal routes for getting the package. I would normally not even consider getting an addon via a torrent site but in the end I have already paid for this... But not yet... I'll wait and see what happens over the weekend...Geoff

I've been trying to get Vic at Feelthere to tackle this bird so we'll see what happens. From my vantage point that's the last airliner currently flying that's never been done properly in FS. If you guys want one done decently flood Feelthere's email with request as we need one badly. Second do the same with Skysimulations and hopefully one of them takes up the call. These two developers may be our last options to get one done right in FS9. Everybody else is fleeing to FSX sadly...

I think any developer who to takes on the 717 from scratch is taking a real risk.It just wasn't in production long enough, few airlines had it.It really does not seem to be a model a lot of simmers are asking for. I can't see a developer putting in a yearor more development time for a highly detailed realistic version this model. To me it'd make more sense for an existing MD80 developer like Leanardo SH, or Coolsky to upgrade their MD80 modelsand produce a 717 variant.Regards.Ernie.

I went throught PayPal and everything seemed to work right up to the point where it asked for the download access codes and there weren't any on the page (or on the email from PayPal). I only thought afterwards that it was odd there was nowhere to enter my email address etc... Anyway, I have sent an email to support at SkySimulations (since they have some connection with Vans) asking if they know how to make contact...Otherwise there are always the slightly less legal routes for getting the package. I would normally not even consider getting an addon via a torrent site but in the end I have already paid for this... But not yet... I'll wait and see what happens over the weekend...Geoff

I have exactly the same problem: no access codes received and I, too, didn't get the chance to fill in any form. Luckily I paid through Paypal so if worse comes to worse, I'll probably be able to get a refund through them. For now I sent Vans an email using the address mentioned in Paypal's confirmation email: support(AT)vansairco.com. I can only suggest that you try it too, it didn't bounce back for me. If you get any closer to solving this problem, though, could you post about it? I'd like to see it solved too...

If nobody gets a response, report it to PayPal so they can prevent future transactions from taking place.

I have exactly the same problem: no access codes received and I, too, didn't get the chance to fill in any form. Luckily I paid through Paypal so if worse comes to worse, I'll probably be able to get a refund through them. For now I sent Vans an email using the address mentioned in Paypal's confirmation email: support(AT)vansairco.com. I can only suggest that you try it too, it didn't bounce back for me. If you get any closer to solving this problem, though, could you post about it? I'd like to see it solved too...

Well spotted - I didn't notice the address in the PayPal email was a .com one. That one looks like it works...Geoff

I think any developer who to takes on the 717 from scratch is taking a real risk.It just wasn't in production long enough, few airlines had it.It really does not seem to be a model a lot of simmers are asking for. I can't see a developer putting in a yearor more development time for a highly detailed realistic version this model. To me it'd make more sense for an existing MD80 developer like Leanardo SH, or Coolsky to upgrade their MD80 modelsand produce a 717 variant.Regards.Ernie.

I agree. Now that Midwest--one of only a few worldwide operators--has retired their entire 717 fleet, there's even less of a reason. Here's hoping, though; I've always fancied flying one on a regular basis. Maybe someone at Leonardo will come to their senses...