Re SirStiggie,

" Flying it has me wondering though how exactly did pilots fly a SID and STAR with plane of this era? Was it always radar vectors or some other navigation tools?"

 

Nope, they flew the SIDS/STARS as published, in fact Most SIDS/STARS for UK airfields like London Heathrow/Gatwick, can still be flown by non RNAV capable aircraft, even if RNAV is mandatory in real life. Pick a SID from Heathrow or Gatwick (or most UK airfields I think), set up the navaids and fly it with the 727 (or CS 707), it's more fun than following the magenta line!

Plus, no boredom in the cruise, it's a full time job tuning and setting the navaids for the next fix, which is why I'm critical of the inability to use the FO's HSI more usefully. But that apart, it will keep you busy from the beginning to to the end of the flight.

PS skyvector.com do great free web browser charts to help you maintain situational awareness in the cruise - very useful, especially if flying non-RNAV.

After falling in love with the excelent Dreamfleet 727 I missed a proper 727 for FSX for along time, I got the CS version at one of their famouse 9,99 € sales but I it has/had a lot of flaws (maybe I´m just spoiled by Dreamfleet and PMDG?) like the electrics system being availabe from the start even with no batteries on and some other inaccurancies on the engines (Dreamfleet´s 727 could be flown by the book in case of the engine setting, CS definitely not).

But apart from this, it looks good and flies respectively.

After falling in love with the excelent Dreamfleet 727

 

I kept Fs9 installed just to fly one aircraft.

I kept Fs9 installed just to fly one aircraft.

 

I have to admit that I have FS9 kept as well. :-)