There's a new 154 B2 package available at http://tu154.avsim.ru/files.htmlScreenshots here : http://tu154.avsim.ru/scr.htmlIt works also in FS2004, but has been tested in FS2002 only, so I assume there might be flight model problems in FS2004.Captains panel + copilot panel + engineer panel + nine different subpanels. And approx. 100 pages manual in Russian.After 8 years of flightsimming, probably the biggest challenge I ever came across. Very addictive.PS: Anyone with Russian knowledge out there to maybe team up translating the manuals ?Mike

Hi Mike,I had a look on this new Tu154 package. Superb!! No virtual cockpit though. I enjoy flying russian aircraft. Unfortunately the manuals are badly needed! It is nearly impossible to fly these Tu154 without spending hours reading the manuals. They are DIFFERENT from what we are used to!.Let us hope that some nice fellow can give us a translation of the manuals. I started translating them (using an on-line translation service) but I gave up - the text comes out very difficult to understand. RegardsEdmundo

HI Edmundo,I just made a few circulars around my home airport and this is nothing but fascinating. Put all the swithces on the overhead panel in the up position, wait until the ADI comes up and then try it.Plane, flight model, panel, all the inside views, the sounds and voice callouts - I am almost totally speechless and that rarely happens.I think I have figured out the major part of the AP already, but this NVU and other navigation stuff I might never be able to figure out. But I'll try ...Mike

Hi Mike,It looks we are the only ones enjoying this jewel!! Wake up guys! Give this package a try because it is really astonishing! Mike, if you have some information on how to fly the aircraft please let me know ([email protected]). I might have the procedure to start engines but I have to test it further. Did you find out how to open/close teh subpanels? Only a few ghave dedicated icons. I had to add some toggles into the main panel to do this job.RegardsEdmundo

Others are flying it -- you can tell because people have screwed up contrails in their FS, thanks to installing this package, which has outdated effects files in it.This is one of the really great airliners, with smoothest ride and best stability of any (relatively) big passenger a/c. Plus one of the highest cruise speeds. Someone who flew this and also flew western types said that the difference in handling is like a Cadillac versus a Yugo. The real question is: how does this Tu-154 compare, especially in terms of the airfile, with the earlier one by Tibor Kokai, with a VC?I get from one panel to aniother by using the Shift+(number) keys.It seems like Kolesnik, the panel designer, has made a big step forward because he has eliminated the "bortengineer" panel, which used to make the previous versions crash. Now the big question: has anyone tried merging the new panel with Kokai's VC model? Which air file to use? Isn't it great to have a Russian chick in the crew now? (You Tupolev enthusiasts know what I mean.)WangWang

Wang,I had no problems with the installation of this package. Of course, I installed first everything into a dummy folder to check what it is in it .. in this case it installs even an outdated version of FSIUPC. This panel is better (IMHO) than that included in Tibor

Thanks for the info, Edmundo. I will attempt to merge the new panel and Tibor's aircraft as soon as I have time, because I agree with you that the new panel seems like a big improvement.I also had some issues with the nose gear on the new model -- in my case, it collapsed while taxiing. And I also think that the previous airfile is probably better. ThanksWang

@Edmundo,I've send you little APU start procedure by Email and am certainly interested to see your engine start. There's also some translation effort in a German forum going on, maybe resulting in a little tutorial soon.@Wang,I wouldn't merge this for now. It's not only the panel and the airfile this package is all about. They have also implemeted own joystick routines (you need to decouple the Microsoft stick assigments) to simulate special nose wheel steering, delayed control surface reaction, trimmability and so on. I'm slowly getting into it, and the more I do the more I am blown away. This is just damn gorgeous.Mike

Wow! I am downloading it now :D One look at the panel shots and I am sold!

I too am sold purely by looking at the panel screenshots. Am off to download this outstanding looking package right this instant :)