Hi all,

 

I come from a Boeing background with FS2crew. I have never flown a plane on my own as i've always had a FO. Is flying the dash on your own easy to pick up or is it a steep learning curve?

I jumped into the Q400 from the NGX and its basically the same but a turboprop lol, the FMC works a bit more like the airbus FMGS when doing routes (more clicking less typing), I actually find it more ergonomic to handle than the FMS in the NGX.

The only big difference is having to deal with the condition levers/prop feather and having no autothrust, you are in control of the throttle all the time (which makes the VNAV mode a bit tricky to understand coming from the ngx) but its no big deal, just do the included tutorial flight in the .pdf you get when you purchase it and you will get a hang of it.

You will love it!

 

I jumped into the Q400 from the NGX and its basically the same but a turboprop lol, the FMC works a bit more like the airbus FMGS when doing routes (more clicking less typing), I actually find it more ergonomic to handle than the FMS in the NGX.

 

The only big difference is having to deal with the condition levers/prop feather and having no autothrust, you are in control of the throttle all the time (which makes the VNAV mode a bit tricky to understand coming from the ngx) but its no big deal, just do the included tutorial flight in the .pdf you get when you purchase it and you will get a hang of it.

 

You will love it!

 

 

I just bought it about an hour ago and I have mixed emotions.

 

There is nothing negative or under developed about this plane. It's simply an amazing piece if software. I've never flown anything on the sim that feels as real as the dash, ever.

 

There is a learning curve and I plan to tackle it tomorrow, but it's FDE is too realistic.

 

If I had a full home cockpit with actual controls from a dash (using it in a sim environment that it was developed for) then it might be easier, but there is only so much you can do with a plastic desktop controller with a USB.

 

I'm somewhat regretting it not because of what it is or because it lacks anything, but because its just too real to control given my equipment.

 

If you're up for a challenge then Id definitely get it. After about 100 hours under my belt, I think I should honestly be eligible for hire by United Express.

Might be worth Googling "Magestic Q400 Youtube", you'll see a load of flights from cold and dark,some very good ones, all run with a a single pilot.

It will give you a good idea about what's involved. You've also got the advantage that as it's a new product, all the problems "newbies" come across, are well documented on this and Magestics own forum.

I believe as others, it has raised the bar for flight sim aircraft, and without the frame hit that usually comes with extra complexity and superb graphics.

As with all sim aircraft, larger screens and good hardware are useful, but the "pop-out" panels make it usual for most, so take a look at youtube, I think you'll manageable, even without 2 crew back up.

Eugene

Like any aircraft for FS, we are operating two-crew aircraft alone.

 

The Dash maybe different to what people are used to, but as with anything, once you're familiar with the layout and operation, it is no harder to operate than anything else.

 

The design of the systems and the lack of auto-thrust, means there is perhaps more to do throughout the flight, but it is very manageable.

 

I find I have greater situational awareness in the Dash than I do flying more automated aircraft, because I'm more in the loop.

 

Best regards,

Robin.