Pleased to hear of the upcoming 777 as well as a bit surprised how soon. I have high hopes for FBW aircraft simulations from top developers. Will the product be a genuine FBW airliner simulation, i.e. a true databus (Boeing DATEC) simulation? If not then what exactly are we getting for a "FBW simulation"?

I don't think the FBW will appear to be much different in terms of flight control to any other Boeing to be honest.If i remember correctly, the 777 has no autotrim and limited or no flight envelope protection.FBW is purely the hook up between control surfaces and yoke, it's the flight envelope protection that sets Airbus apart.The Boeing philosophy on FBW is that the pilot is in full control, rather than the autotrim, limits to banking and pitch etc, in an Airbus. Not sure if that applies to the 787 though.I'm sure others with more knowledge will add to that.

While not as advanced as the Airbus Laws, the 777 has a pretty in depth system. Here's some details below.Normal Mode Pitch ControlIn the normal mode,airplane pitch control characteristics are like conventional airplanes with improved handling qualities.Unlike conventional airplanes,the control column does not directly position the elevator in flight.The control column commands the PFCs to generate a pitch manoeuvre.The PFCs automatically position the elevator and stabiliser to generate the commanded manoeuvre.The PFCs constantly monitor airplane response to pilot commands and reposition the elevator and stabilser to carry out these commands.Airplane pitch and responses to thrust changes,gear configuration changes and turbulence are automatically minimised by PFC control surface commands.The PFCs also provide compensation for flap and speedbrake configuration and turns up to 30° of bank.The PFCs automatically control pitch to maintain a relatively constant flight path by eliminating the need for the pilot to make control column inputs to compensate for these factors.For turns up to 30° of bank,the pilot do not need to add additional column back pressure to maintain altitude.For turns of more than 30° of bank,the pilot needs to add column back pressure.As airspeed changes,PFCs provide conventional pitch control characteristics by requiring the pilot to make control column inputs or trim changes to maintain a constant flight path.Primary Pitch Trim ControlPrimary pitch trim control is controlled by the dual pitch trim switches on each control wheel.Both switches must be moved to command trim changes.The primary pitch trim switches are inhibited when the A/P is engaged.Pitch trim does not move the control column.In normal mode,primary pitch trim operates differently on the ground than it does in flight.On the ground,the stabiliser is directly positioned when the pilot uses the pitch trim switches.In flight,the pitch trim switches do not position the stabiliser directly but make inputs to the PFCs to change the trimreference speed.The trim reference speed is the speed at which the airplane would eventually stabilise if there were no control column inputs.Once the control column forces are trimmed to zero,the airplane maintains constant speed with no column inputs.Thrust changes result in a relatively constant indicated airspeed climb or descent with no trim inputs needed unless airspeed changes.When the pilot trim inputs are made,the PFCs automatically move the elevators to achieve the trim change then move the stabiliser to streamline the elevator.Stabiliser motion may also automatically occur to streamline the stabiliser and elevator for thrust and configuration changes.

Thanks for your interest.

FBW is purely the hook up between control surfaces and yoke

Perhaps from a pure piloting simming point of view a "plausible model" is sufficient, indeed I can't think of many projects that give you the circuit breaker panel either! It interests me to what degree a project to simulate a FBW aircraft actually addresses the FBW systems architecture and behaviour. I'd always imagined that this was the signifficant challenge for simulating any FBW aircraft in detail (?). I don't have a software development background so I'd be interested in what the development team or people with more insight into such things think about this.

Rob thats great info above, thanks for that.

A few products out there that simulate FBW, also the PMDG MD11 Simulates LSAS, it's all about filtering flight control inputs.Regards

it's all about filtering flight control inputs

But don't we need more logic for a realistic interpretation of protections and mode changes?

I was giving you a basic answer, it has been done in the past by a few company's. dont worry about it, PMDG are more then capable of getting the job done. :)Regards

And dont forget it has a bank protection, which activates when the bank exceeds 30° it will push your yoke oposite and a low speed protection as well.Kickin in full throttle in case you are reaching low speed.

Pardon my lack of knowledge on this issue, but in terms of replicating FBW in MSFS, is it even possible? I mean, if you turn the yoke left, the aircraft banks left regardless of whether it is FBW or otherwise. It's not something the average Joe would notice a difference in when using MSFS, is it? So if that is true, is it really necessary to go to all the trouble of creating thousands of lines of code attempting to replicate FBW controls?

Yes it is, as feeling is unique, and average Joe is not target audience for PMDG products.It is possible to make it properly, I really do not know properties of 777's fbw hardware, but lets say you have to override FS inputs and put your virtual processor in between to be able to pick up control inputs (and many other inputs) and do all calculations, and finally gives informations for control surface movements as output. It is not easy, but it is possible.

Matthew, in regards to our private conversation I would hope you spend a little time studying how FBW and how protections work. FBW in itself is just the lack of cables to the control surfaces, however when most people speak of FBW they are talking about the computers that are limiting/modifying the digital signals that reach the control surfaces. Yes it is possible in FS9/FSX, has been for some time.Regards

Matthew, in regards to our private conversation I would hope you spend a little time studying how FBW and how protections work. FBW in itself is just the lack of cables to the control surfaces, however when most people speak of FBW they are talking about the computers that are limiting/modifying the digital signals that reach the control surfaces.Yes it is possible in FS9/FSX, has been for some time.Regards

I know the difference between the two - just didn't think it was something that could be simulated in MSFS to the extent that someone would notice without being told that it had genuine FBW dynamics.

HiI'm sorry for over simplification, but i have some questions :- Will the 777 hold my pitch if i release the yoke ? If so, what will keep it stable, Elevator or Trim ?- If i do a bank less than 30 degrees, the FBW will hold pitch or rate of climb ?- Will it blend ?

Maybe this can help us to better understand 777's fbw:http://www.davi.ws/a...book_Cap_11.pdf