Hi all,

 

Ok so I took the plunge and bought the Just Flight Tristar earlier today. Only had time  for a quick test flight of about an hour but quite encouraged so far.

 

While it isn't very system intensive, which Just flight said it wasn't, in fact I even found that I didn't even need to start the APU to get the engines running, weird but true! Todd was right with all the important switches work to fly the plane but not much else. I did find climbing through cloud that the Pitot froze up and I had to turn on the De-icer's so some of the systems like that are modeled, which is nice.

 

I also noticed that the INS system is somewhat simplified, although I didn't use it on this flight for navigation, it did give me the correct winds and ground speeds. Although the panel in the overhead to align the INS only has two positions "Align" and "Nav" the other positions don't do anything and all the units are slaved together, so turn one knob and they all turn, which isn't correct. The units in the centre pedestal are slaved together too, which they shouldn't be. Your supposed to load up the first 9 waypoints and then remotely transfer the points to the other units from the first, the units are supposed to compare any error between them to stay more accurate. I actually installed the freeware INS Carousel unit in a freeware Tristar a while  back which was fun, very accurate too!

 

I like the VC and textures nice even the outside are pretty good, although I wish the coaming over the top of the instrument panel wasn't quite so black, as it seems to loose it's texture and just become a black mass on my monitor.

 

So overall pretty pleased I bought it now, it sure is the best Tristar seen on FSX so far and on those days when you just can't be bothered with setting up the FMC on a PMDG plane I can just jump in and go. It's sure going to get alot more miles in service and not sit in the hanger collecting dust.

 

Now just got to read the manual on the INS system!

 

Interested in all the CaptainSim comments here as I only have one of their aircraft the C130 Hercules, bought the boxed one Just Flight sold a few years ago. It all seems to work fine, so I'm wondering if this is a one off product that was good or is it the download ones that have the problems?

 

Happy flying,

In my own research, the plane came with one of the very first FMS units that preceded modern FMCs and was the inspiration for the latter including LNAV, VNAV throttle management and autoland.  Also, the Tristar's autoland is even now still considered by many the Babe Ruth of autoland systems.

 

 

This is correct. I flew many hours on the flight deck jump seat on the first 2 BA -500s in RAF service (specifically ZD948 and ZD952) soon after they were transferred to the RAF during 1983-85 but before they were converted. This was before 216 Sqn reformed and they were flown by mixed RAF and BA crews and they were equipped with dual FMS devices. This avionic fit-out was how they came from BA.

 

The autoland was incredibly smooth and the RAF crews were much in awe of it.

 

Cheers,

 

Andy

(...)

Interested in all the CaptainSim comments here as I only have one of their aircraft the C130 Hercules, bought the boxed one Just Flight sold a few years ago. It all seems to work fine, so I'm wondering if this is a one off product that was good or is it the download ones that have the problems?

(...)

 

 

I own that FS9 C-130, boxed by JF, myself and don't remember any severe issues with it.

 

People more experienced with CS than me state that the quality of their planes has diminished from steam gauge (like the C-130) via their older Boeings (737/757/767) to their complete disaster with the '777 Captain'. I bought their 777 at stage v0.9 and did a bit of research on their other planes while I was spending a few weeks in their forum.

 

I'm not willing to find out what the quality of their upcoming L1011 will be - 50% of my CS planes work as advertised and I won't let that ratio go down further ...

Question: you appear more adept at operating the aircraft then I, would you be able to report on non autopilot climb? i.e. set power to climb then trim aircraft to hold certain speed and let v/s take care of itself. I admit to being a slave to automation so my skills in performing this procedure are inept is why I am interested in an accomplished pilot's report.

Hi,

 

I'm not sure what there is to report, on setting climb power and manually flying the aircraft at a pitch that maintains IAS ...... yes it's perfectly possible in this TriStar (as it is in any airliner). But the issue for me, is that although I am not a realism nut, I do generally like to fly an airliner as it is flown in real life.

 

If I'm flying a 50s vintage aircraft, like a DC-6, (that has no such IAS pitch mode), I would fly it as you suggest - no flight director, no 'mode', just tracking a heading or course and adjusting pitch as I fly to maintain a desired IAS for the climb.

 

But no TriStar in the world is flown in the climb with VS set to a certain level, and adjusted during the climb. IAS modes (that adjust pitch, not IAS A/T modes) were introduced to ensure safe climb at a given airspeed; and this keeps the aircraft away from the possibility of a catastrophic stall during the whole climb phase.

 

Because this TriStar is so seems so overpowered, a V/S of around 3500 is required shortly after take-off, but that VS would result in a catastrophic stall if it were maintained throughout the climb.

 

In short, a TriStar needs an IAS (pitch) mode, in the same way that the QualityWings BAe 146 needs a FLC mode (and has one), to be in any way realistic in operation.

 

But that's just my take, according to what is important to me. Others may be perfectly happy to use this type of default FSX AP to operate the aircraft.

I just sent this to the Avsim library for those who may be interested.

 

What do you mean? A repaint?

 

I just sent this to the Avsim library for those who may be interested.

 

Yes, a repaint.

I can't believe CS is now promoting another product when their 777 is not complete (per Avsim comments). I own their 727,737 757 and 767 and overall have been pleased. However, the number of 777 comments were huge and I question their thinking on "finishing" one product before starting another?

Did my first full flight today and while all went well system-wise, I noticed this nasty little issue before push-back.  I really hope they fix this, the VC being misaligned is something that should not happen.  I sent a bug report to JF.  As a side note, this could also be the culprit behind why the wheels touch down on the "20" call-out.

 

Note the location of the jetway

 

 

It is clearly above and behind where it should be in relation to the exterior model.

 

 

Did my first full flight today and while all went well system-wise, I noticed this nasty little issue before push-back.  I really hope they fix this, the VC being misaligned is something that should not happen.  I sent a bug report to JF.  As a side note, this could also be the culprit behind why the wheels touch down on the "20" call-out.
 
Note the location of the jetway

 

Wow, that's weird. I have never seen an aircraft have such a variance in the external model and VC model in relation to a jetway before. I am surprised they didn't catch that in beta.

Hi FSXman.  Question.  Have you ever seen an FSX addon aircraft that you did not like?  I don't mean any disrespect it just seems like you love everything even the CS products that are unflyable as they are supposed to emulate a flight simulation not a video game.    

 

 

Yes, I do have some that I absolutely don't like at all, but I don't dwell on the negative.  I always have hope that even a developer that is not up to par on their products, will get there with experience and encouragement, if they keep on developing aircraft sims. If I bash them in forums, and they go out of business, they will never grow and we will be stuck with one less developer and a possible jewel.

I actually have some old PMDG FS9 aircraft that I was very disappointed with, but with their continued experience, they have become in a class of their own with no equal.

That said, I can't use PMDG as a standard for aircraft sims, because no one would make that standard and I would be stuck only flying PMDG and no one else.

I look at a developer as compared to their other releases.  Is there improvement with each release, or are they just pumping out junk to rake in fast money?

So far, I believe that this JF L1011 is a big improvement forJustFlight. I think they have listened to customers and raised their standard.

There is still some room for improvement, but this is definitely going in the right direction and I will be enjoying it a lot.

I always expect and accept there to be a little variance, it happens.  But, its like they took the location for a 747's cockpit and slapped it on an L1011.

Does anybody here know if TWA ever flew a 500?  Thank you

 

Regards;

 

Fritz

Does anybody here know if TWA ever flew a 500?  Thank you

 

Regards;

 

Fritz

 

Nope, -1, -50 and -100s only

 

Nope, -1, -50 and -100s only

Thank you

Regards;

 

Fritz