I'm curious, do you guys think that PMDG would go back to the drawing board for the T7's FDE now that this has been released? are they doing something similar? 

 

I highly doubt it.

The STAR arrival used in the Tutoriol is not even in the Data base It just seems like they have missed complete sections in the tutorial and left us to work the rest out.

 

Agreed it is a bit frustrating but if you are familiar with procedures and FMC in other aircraft then surely you should be able to apply the principles and calculate it yourself? Part of the fun?

The dash is amazing but as a plane I fly the NGX more.

I find it a bit of a futile debate. They're different, as is the DC-9, MD-11, RJ etc..., even if the 8D is often considered a jet for ATC purposes (at least it is here w/r to SIDs/STARs). I think we're fortunate that there are clever people out there will to put in the effort to produce the things for us at all. Just an opinion. YMMV.

 

Mike

I think a lot of the comments on here hailing the Q400 as better than the NGX is down to pure excitement and novelty of a a new release. 

 

The simulation complexity of the NGX is way and above anything I've seen so far in the dash. It's not because the NGX has had a couple of service packs either. The NGX was a far more polished and complete product on day one. Failure modelling, service based failures, HUGS, the little unseen details (anyone read the NGX intro document and tested it out?), LNAV/VNAV simulation, custom autopilot that doesn't rely on default FSX autopilot and all it's limitations. The overall feel of a 'complete' product....

 

The only area where the Q400 is on top at the moment is FPS. There is nothing particularly innovative here that PMDG didn't do with the Jetstream 41 3 years ago.

 

Adam.      

The simulation complexity of the NGX is way and above anything I've seen so far in the dash.

How exactly? I think Pilot version has already pretty much all the systems simulated correctly, pro will have also failures and circuit breakers simulated, latter being something that isn't simulated by PMDG. 

 

Also custom built in shared cockpit in pro version will be totally awesome. 

 

Also custom flight dynamics calculated outside FSX is something that is totally superior to anything seen before, ground handling, stalls, the overall feel, all that stuff is just so much better. 

 

Other than some bugs that will surely fixed in time I can't really see how it would be even possible to simulate an aircraft any better than this with FSX. 

How exactly? I think Pilot version has already pretty much all the systems simulated correctly, pro will have also failures and circuit breakers simulated, latter being something that isn't simulated by PMDG. 

 

 

 

I'd already given some examples - Failure modelling, service based failures, HUGS, the little unseen details (anyone read the NGX intro document and tested it out?), LNAV/VNAV simulation, custom autopilot that doesn't rely on default FSX autopilot and all it's limitations.

 

True, I haven't delved in to the simulation of the Q400's electric and hydraulic systems yet, but remember the NGX models details such as fluid quantity fluctuating with control surface movement and temperature variations etc. The electric system accounts for every amp of current in the system and correctly models load shedding and numerous failures. The air conditioning and pressurization system models duct pressure being dependent on engine rpm and outside temperature. The cabin temp will drop with an open L1 door etc - lots of little things like this.

 

True failures might be coming in the PRO version, but that could be months away. We'll have to wait and see. 

The external FDE is interesting but it's too early to judge it's real benefit. Apart from ground friction and stalling the NGX flight model is really good - it feels pretty similar to the full motion 737 sims I've flown...

 

Adam

Apples and oranges. NGX is great! Only had about an hour in the 400, it's good. Not great yet. Time will tell. To me it depends on where I want to fly. I definitely won't park the NGX, just hop back and forth and enjoy them both.

Pilot version is already in the PMDG price range, pro will be more expensive, so I'd say you get what you pay for.

 

Stll, PMDG NGX has better graphics (both external and internal) and some features that I miss here, like the option to load/save panel states, customization though FMC, HGS. Don't forget that real Dash 8 is simpler airplane than 737NG, so it's easier to simulate "everything".

 

Both products are great simulations though. But very different aircraft.

I dont think we get anywhere with these comparisons. IMO the two planes are both top notch and both deliver what was promised (should be self-evident but unfortunately isn't). I think the two complement each other perfectly - the Dash can go to places and can do things the NGX cannot do and vice versa - it also keeps your pilot-brain flexible

 

lets just thank both developers for providing us with these excellent addons!

 

chris

 

 

One thing i will give to majestic... they have a way lower virtual memory requirement than the NGX.

 

The Q400 doesn't have any 2D panels (a couple of pop-ups). It's 2D panels that soak up memory when they're loaded.

 

Also - don't expect other developers to flock to an external flight dynamics engine. The FSX engine is very capable of simulating jet aircraft to within a very narrow margin of real world performance figures, you just need to know how to manipulate it to give the required results. As I understand it, Majestic went with an external engine to simulate the effects of a turboprop aircraft properly.

The Dash 8 is kinda a step backward in pilot career evolution compared with the 737 me thinks

 

Comming from both ATC and real life airplanes, FSX itself, as it regards a career move,  is a step backwards itself...

 

The only true advantage is the pause button to figure out how to remedy a catastrophe....

 

But seriously, anything that improves immersion is a step forwards, not backwards.

If PMDG are close to releasing the T777 they should stop playing secret squirrels and announce a date or they will lose a big chunk to the Q4

 

No they won't. I'd be prepared to bet you a beer that it'll be their bestseller whenever it's released :-)

 

This post is meant in a humorous way, not to start an argument :-)

My only single problem with the q400 is the external load manager.Im tired of external load managers.

 

The beauty of the NGX for me was everything was loaded using the FMC.

 

Apart from that single niggle, I am delighted to have both aircraft in my sim.

 

Also its nice to download an aircraft which isn't for the most part a public beta test.