A short while ago I started a thread stating my disappointment with the QW 757.Having now corrected some hardware issues at my end, and having thoroughly tested this aircraft, I think it only fair to update my findings...Considering the price, I now think this is actually one hell of an addon... According to the manual, one of the flight dynamics editors is Nick Peterson. This guy also just happens to be a certified Boeing 757 pilot. ...and there was me questioning the FDE eh?Because I love to fly difficult and unusual approaches, I want something I believe is as close to reality as finance and FSX will allow. This aircraft has as much, if not more 'FEEL' to it than many others I have, including some of those at the upper end of the price range. One of the factors that gives that feel is, I believe, the inertia that the weight of the aircraft has; When banking in hard turns on final approach at low speeds, and with high drag, it really wants to go straight on. Now, it COULD be that's not real, I'm not a pilot. All I can tell you is, it FEELS real.. Some addon aircraft I have seem to fly those turns almost like they're on rails - not very challenging. Also, it handles quite differently at different weights. Again, not something that's apparent with all addons.When I first purchased the QW757, I wasn't too keen on the graphics of the cockpit either, even after SP2. There wasn't any one particular thing I could say was wrong, it just didn't quite give me the 'immersion factor' that some do. I think it's probably worth stating, that prior to this, I'd been spending a lot of time in the Captain Sim version of the 757. Now, I think most will agree that, if there's one thing that CS do stunningly well, it's the graphics? So, once I was able to stop comparing one against the other, I realised just how good the QW visuals are. Again, especially if one also compares the prices.There's a great manual for this too. Although it should perhaps, have spent a bit more time at the proof readers (lots of small typos etc), it's very good and informative. There are plenty of diagrams and pictures. There's also a wonderfully simple tutorial flight. Something sadly lacking in most addon aircraft manuals these days. The only things I don't like about the manual are the use of hyperlinks, and there's no contents or index for looking something up, post printing (though neither of which would be an issue if using as a PDF file).As for the sounds, I guess that was all covered in the other thread. They're very good, bordering on excellent! On a very personal level, I actually prefer engine sounds to have more base, but then it wouldn't be as realistic would it? The hi bypass fans used on this bird are actually pretty quite compared to the monsters of yester-year!One of the things that really makes this addon stand out for me though, is the level of 'user options' made available. As well as the usual 'in cockpit' panel, there's a cfg file containing over 100 selectable options. Okay, so a lot don't do a great deal, but some are very useful indeed. It's possible to configure many items to personal taste, including what sounds are played and what aren't.I tend to buy most major releases when it comes to aircraft and think there's a real place for this one. It fits very well between the hardcore addons aimed at those looking for 100% realism, and the 'lite' models aimed at the 'jump-in-and-fly' crowd.Personally, I do both, which means I'll probably spend more time with this than any other. At least for a while.So far' I've only come across one serious problem, and still don't know if that's aircraft or user error; On my PC there's an issue with overspeed when flying in VNAVb mode.Is it worth the asking price? In my opinion, yes, without doubt.

Bravo. :( I think it pretty safe to rank Quality Wings alongside 'you know who' as purveyors of seriously good flightsim products, irrespective of the level of complexity. And I think the 757 is definitely closer to 'hardcore' than it is to 'lite'.I look forward to the 787.If only they'd done the Airbus instead... :( Ian

I'm not a pilot.

Well, not entirely true, you're just not a pilot of anything other than a simulated aircraft, but that's still a pilot in these days where FS aircraft are very realistic. It's a discussion point that's been had many times of course, but I'd put money on most experienced sim pilots being able to get a Cessna up around and back down in one piece, and so long as I could reach the controls in case it all went horribly wrong, I'd happily sit next to a 'sim only pilot' in a real aircraft and let them have a crack at it. I'm sure most reasonably serious sim pilots would pull it off with no bother whatsoever, it's not rocket science.Al

It's a discussion point that's been had many times of course, but I'd put money on most experienced sim pilots being able to get a Cessna up around and back down in one piece, and so long as I could reach the controls in case it all went horribly wrong, I'd happily sit next to a 'sim only pilot' in a real aircraft and let them have a crack at it. I'm sure most reasonably serious sim pilots would pull it off with no bother whatsoever, it's not rocket science.Al

Spot on Al. It certainly gave me a big leg up. Though I never did tell my instructor about flight-simming. I just preferred that he thought I was an above average pilot! :( Ian

Well, not entirely true, you're just not a pilot of anything other than a simulated aircraft

Ha ha!Very diplomatic and kind of you Al :( :(

Being the impulse buyer of FSX add-ons that I am, I was goaded by the accolades of Dougal and others to purchase this package, despite already owning the CS757, which I've never been quite comfortable with due to a combination of annoying details and the occasional bugbite (it is pretty though). I had misgivings that I'd be disappointed by the lack of system complexity in the Qualitywings product, as I so enjoy my PMDG planes (love my MD-11)....but I bought it anyway.My first flight last night was a pattern flight departing and arriving at rwy11 at KOAK, and the plane performed admirably up to including the autolanding. Well done, Qualitywings, for the great value, and I look forward to taking this one up a lot. And thanks, Dougal, for helping to empty the wallet yet again...

And thanks, Dougal, for helping to empty the wallet yet again...

Ha ha! Glad it's not just me then, and glad to be of service.Hey QW... Can I have some commission :(

And thanks, Dougal, for helping to empty the wallet yet again...

Dougal is being paid, by the various Governments of the world, to help kickstart the economic recovery through the medium of vast numbers of flight simulator add-on sales around the globe. His avatar may be a simple friendly Magic Roundabout character, but it's quite clear that in reality he is privy to the inner workings of the Bilderberg Group and a secret agent if you look closer. Notice that his signature has his location as 'UK & France', and that's because he has a secret underwater base beneath the English Channel with lots of people in there wearing boiler suits and hard hats driving around in Austin Mini Mokes.Al

Those Brits....sheesh! :(

Hey Alnow your really giving your age away :(