O.K. I may get slammed for this one but I don't understand the hype and site changes going on over there at VMAX. Looking at the pics, their new version of Ready for Pushback looks exactly like the version I have.:-hmmm What in the world is so big and grand and new about their 747 that beats out the old (FS2k4) one? The panel looks the same, the VC hasn't changed, the only thing I've seen that looks different (besides the website) is a new default paint scheme. I love my VMAX version of the 747-200 in FS2k4 (interactive VC etc.) so what's so different and new about this new one their pushing???

It seems like they've added a lot more functionality to the package like failures in Hydraulics,pneumatics,Fuel,Fires,atc.How about reading their site?I'm not going to list them all out here, but I will state that it is NOT VMAX who make this addon, they only sell it.And the current release that you have is made for FS2002, and only patched to FS2004.John http://homepage.eircom.net/~eamonnmca/images/logo_ba.JPGwww.bavirtual.co.uk Senior Captain Simflight.com Staff Reviewer

You must have missed the fact that there is an Analog (round Gauge)version of the panel. Some changes have also been made to the Tape panel and lots of different functions added. Have a look at the site and check out the shots etc. http://www.panelshop.com/

Yup, the changes are mainly under the hood.Kinda hard to show those in a screenshot...Check http://www.panelshop.com for the designer site.

Actually the VMAX package looks great. I do have a question that I can't find the answer to on their web page, maybe one of you could answer, does it only work as a "cold-start-panel" or can you load it with engines running and just go fly?I usually can only get to FS9 late at night after work and sometimes I just don't feel like going through the whole start up process, I just want to load a flight plan and go. I do fly PSS and PMDG a lot, but I gave up on the SSW A310 for this reason...too long a set up.Lee

I purchased the first RFP747 and wanted to voice my opinion. As a study sim Im sure it is one of the best available. It was said I believe that It had over 400 working switches. However there was one problem with it. Framerates!I just could not get over the single digit framerates in even low detail airports. And the VC was totally useless unless you were flying all by yourself with no weather. Because of that I never have spend the time I would like to learn the systems. I tried to land it once in LAS with minimal weather,AI and Scenery settings. And found myself staring at 6-10fps in 2d cockpit and 3-7fps in the VC. That was it for me. Comparing this to the PMDG737NG I estimate my frames are HALF of the NG.I noticed about a month ago the RPF747V2 was put on hold because the developers had exceed the maximum number of polygons for the Model and were streamlining it. That even scares me more.Its obvious the developers have put thier heart and soul into this fine study sim of the 747-200 and Im sorry if my comments are so critical. In the RFP forum I saw a few comments made about this issue a while back and the answer was its a very complex system and you can expect some hit on the framerates because of this. The only problem with that logic it the above mentioned comparison. Thats a very complex system also and I have not framerate issues with it.RegardsDennis Waggoner

Dennis,You don't say what your machine spec and what other add-ons you are using.Personally, I have no problems with the fram rates, even going into LAX (Simflyers). I also have most sliders, including AI (Ultimate Traffic) set to max and am using ActiveSky 2004.I also perform regular maintenance (defrags, etc) on my PC to keep it tuned.My machine is:Intel P4 3.06 with HT enabled1.5GB RAMAlbatron FX5900 Graphics card with 128MB RAM running dual monitorsRegardsRussell Jourdain (NZL007/ZK-RHJ)

Hi Lee. Good question and I wasn't sure of the answer so I tried to set up that sort of scenario with Version 2. The answer is that it is perfectly possible to create a flight with the engines running and the plane pretty well configured to go. Since this wasn't the intent, it's probably a good idea to move through the various systems and just make certain that everything is as it should be but that just takes a few seconds. Autostart ( CTRL +E) is purposly disabled in V2, but that doesn't prohibit you from loading this sort of scenario if that's what you want to do.Hope that helps answer the question.Best Regards,Ed GreenKCLTRFP Development team

"You don't say what your machine spec and what other add-ons you are using.Personally, I have no problems with the fram rates, even going into LAX (Simflyers). I also have most sliders, including AI (Ultimate Traffic) set to max and am using ActiveSky 2004."RussellPerhaps I need to look at it again. My system specs have changed quite a bit for the better since I first installed it. I did not post my system specs but just compared it to the 737NG on my system at that time.Since then Ive upgraded to a Radeon 9800 Pro and Athlon 3000 with 1 gig of cas2 ram. Pehaps its time to revisit it.RegardsDennis Waggoner

Dennis: You should be able to cut through RFP2G now with your new rig. I'm running a 3.0 w/Asus P4G800/Radeon 9700 Pro/2g-PC3200 ram and have no frame rate problems (in 2D and VC) with most sliders at max with the exception of auto-gen which I have set to normal.To other people: RFP is 2nd to none in system complexity. Even PMDG can't match the 2D and VC functionality. But we talking about 2 technically different era's of a/c. Based on the 1970's 747-200, hence, no glass cockpits here, thus the systems require a significant amount of crew attention. RFP's site even has a warning to beginners and the faint hearted that they can easily become overwhelmed and/or discouraged. But frankly that's what makes RFP so much attractive and challenging. Because once you're over the hump, then the "real fun" begins. As mentioned, a great deal of the improvements are under the hood as well as the FDE which makes sense because as for eye candy... what more can be done to RFP's exterior/interior with todays systems that it doesn't already have? My question is "when's the lightspeed chips that are 50x faster than current chips due out?" I want to land in standing water, taxi at night along rain soaked ramps refelcting termianl lighting, condensation vortex's spirling into the intakes, apt vehicles, linemen, passengers scurring, highway traffic, snow piling up and plows struggling to keep the apt open... oh... that's another subject :-)BP

Dillon,as we also run a forum we were pleased to answer your qustion over there aswell. The RFP V2 differs alot from V1. Many changes cannot be shown in screenshots but here is the most significant ones:- FFRATS - Full Flight Regime Auto Throttle System - Analog Panel with Analog Flap indicators - Tape Panel - Flame Outs - Engine Fires - Hydraulic Failures - Electrical Failures - Fuel Jettison - Pressure Refueling - Minimum airspeed protection - Over speed protection - CAT II autoland - Fuel Planner available - Passenger loader available - Cargo loader available - Combi loader available - Full overhead panel - Realistic Flight Engineers Panel - Classic S-Combo provided at no charge - Accurate Fuel Management - Electric's Panel - Hydraulics Panel - Pneumatics Panel - Take-Off calculator available - New FDE - Comprehensive documentation - More liveries included - Revised VC - Training Videos available and much more.... ___________________________Best Regards,Bodo M