I'm looking at aircraft that I have yet to own, and am wondering what the DC9 looks and feels like? For me, simming is all in the VC (especially the night lighting), the wing view (which are fun top look at- let's face it, that's the most familiar view to most of us), the flight model, and the immersion of good sounds. Looking at what I have read on the CS DC9 VC, it sounds like a lot of effort went into it- can anyone comment on their impressions?

 

Thanks, Bruce.

I like it. Probably gets the most hours currently in my hanger - a lot of hopping around Hawaii. I have had the good fortune to not have the problems that have been aired here with blurries and flashes in the VC. The SP will undoubtedly help. I haven't used the beta SPs because I'm content enough and don't want to break it. It's really satisfying nailing an instrument approach with VORs and NDBs alone, without the V/LNAV printing a line to follow in front of you.

 

Looks wise, people will argue about the UHDT. Personally, I didn't like the course they took with regards to selling them but bought a couple of the UHDT packs nonetheless. Didn't have the blurs in the VC. I like the blue retro look. There is a floodlight problem at night. I understand that's been fixed in one of the beta SPs. However that light is off when flying, so no biggie for me. The instrument lights give me the feeling of dodgy 1960s cockpit lighting.

 

Wing view... Wing looks like a stiff, characterless plank from a flex POV. But they're not floppy like these days. Doesn't bother me because I don't use it much.

 

Can't comment on the flight model, having never flown the thing. Feels about right - ie not plainly wrong.

 

With the caveat re the problems other have had, I'd recommend it.

 

Mike

Bruce. I find it very enjoyable, it feels nice to hand fly and has enough systems to keep you challenged

 

We published a Coolsky interview where they tell us what went into the package and how they made the aircraft, if you want to know a little more about what is included, Espen describes it in detail.

 

I am using the beta patches because they did fix an issue with the vertical speed switch and the elevator trim. Other than that, it has been great fun!

 

Will, did you introduce any problems with the beta SPs? Reading the Coolsky forums, some were complaining that graphics problems got worse... That's why I've be wary so far.

 

Cheers

 

Mike

None Mike, having said that, I never had any issues with the overhead or any blurry textures.

Thanks. Sounds like they're worth a go then.

I don't have any issues with it at all. It is a beautiful aircraft with a great VC. I purchased most of the added liveries along with the new cockpit textures. It's one of the best aircraft sims available, as far as I can see. Also, it is a lot of fun to fly VOR-DME. I'm no expert, but hey, it's still a lot of fun.

I am probably not in a position to comment on it since I took advantage of the F1 refund policy and can't comment on whether patches made it better or worse. When I last left it, it seemed like it had a long way to go. My biggest problem was the graphic corruption stuff that is still going on for a lot of people apparently, though they seem to have made it a priority to fix it. I didn't like the sound or the feel of it, couldn't do any flight planning with it, was a annoyed that the high fi graphics are an extra purchase, and all kinds of other things just added up until I finally just decided it wasn't for me. That isn't to say it is bad, and I would be willing to consider it again maybe a year or two from now when I'm convinced it is no longer a public beta test. If they had branded it version 0.7 or something, I would have been far more tolerant. It definitely has potential, and it is clear they put a lot of effort into it, but I just wasn't all that impressed with it compared to some other planes I have flown. That isn't to say you won't like it, and the most important thing is for you to have fun, only that everybody who has responded to this thread has painted a relatively positive picture of it, which I'm not sure I agree with. Maybe with all of the beta patches, it is great now, but like I said, I don't know because I don't have it anymore. This is truly an advantage of the F1 Wrapper system, so I didn't regret trying it out, making a decision, and then getting my money back. Let's just say I'm not personally willing to have me and my pocketbook revisit this plane just yet, so I would be a hypocrit if I recommended that you should

Thanks for the many replies (and your "dissenting opinion", KingGhidorah ). I got my instrument rating right at the cusp of the maturity of GPS systems in aircraft, in fact the venerable GNS 430/530 (non-WAAS) units were being fitted to the club's fleet at that very time (now G1000-fitted C172's are the norm!). So, I spent hours upon hours on "steam gauges" practicing holds, DME arcs, approaches of all kinds (even the old NDB at KFNL- "FN"). I recall that at 110 KIAS at 7,000 feet, for a simple flight of 40 nm, it seemed that there was no time to get destination ATIS and configure the approach, and so easy to get behind the aircraft. Imagine how it must have been at 250 KIAS for the DC9 guys. That's a big part of what makes this aircraft so appealing to me, not to say that you couldn't fly an MD11 from VOR to VOR.

 

Thanks again everyone, much appreciated. Bruce.

Here's an very extended review by Aerosoft : http://asn.aerosoft.com/?page_id=15684 have fun!

Thanks Robert, that's a very comprehensive review, very informative. Thanks, Bruce.

 

I don't like airplanes with a lot of workload and nothing automated. In real life you have a co-pilot, and in older airplanes, an engineer, to help. But in the sim you have to do 100% yourself. It's just too much to do most of the time, you spend all your time jumping from one switch to the other and have no real time to enjoy flying it.

I don't like airplanes with a lot of workload and nothing automated. In real life you have a co-pilot, and in older airplanes, an engineer, to help. But in the sim you have to do 100% yourself. It's just too much to do most of the time, you spend all your time jumping from one switch to the other and have no real time to enjoy flying it.

 

This is why I love fs2crew. I dont fly a plane that's not single pilot certified without fs2crew anymore.

I hope someday there will be an FS3Crew.

 

I'd look at MCE but the voices are still to computer like for me, even with the sound packs. Maybe there's a way they can take real human voices someday.

 

Otherwise this plane looks awesome.

 

Cheers

Lee

_{Would be interesting if MCE will support this aircraft....the reason the voices sound robotic is because one package has to fit all aircraft, you dont pay for each aircraft so one voice pack has to fit all.}

 

_{Mind you, the new voice packs are pretty good, they have just added support for the Simcheck A300 which is a 3 man crew...in an analogue aircraft, every little bit of assistance helps!}

This is why I love fs2crew. I dont fly a plane that's not single pilot certified without fs2crew anymore.

I hope someday there will be an FS3Crew.

 

I'd look at MCE but the voices are still to computer like for me, even with the sound packs. Maybe there's a way they can take real human voices someday.

 

Otherwise this plane looks awesome.

 

Cheers

Lee

 

I only fly cargo (Hoping for a Coolsky DC9 freighter) so that's why I never paid much attention to FS2Crew.

 

Can you remove the voice control and interaction with the flight attendants?