This plane is nothing like the pmdg 737 ngx or 777. There is no autoland as been said already, although with some practice its not too bad to land by hand. The plane has a lot to do in it and since its not a jet its a lot different to fly. The FMC is very different from boeing as well, although after reading up on it and maybe watching some videos it will become simpler. Its like pmdg in that its a complex simulation. The learning curve is a bit steep at first, but I got it because I wanted a complicated plane I could dig in to. While I am still a novice with it I do find it to be a rewarding experience to fly and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a high end plane simulation.  

If this based on the real aircraft then pilots warrant a pay rise to try and use it operationally. When viewing the aircraft in flight from an outside camera view, it appears to be too stable and not subject to any wind or turbulence (no rolling or pitching), this detracts from the realism but something you can live with. (...). The TCAS works sometimes but not always as does the ALT SEL. In any updated version I would like to see.

 

Cold and Dark or pre-configured cockpit scenarios

Autopilot selections on the FMS to highlight when engaged

 

Pay rise to try and use the FMS? Well, it's all a matter of getting to grips with it. If you're used to Boeing or McDonnell Douglas systems, then yes, you will have a hard time with it while you learn the in and outs of it. It's a different approach, just as it is a different manufacturer. I think I have a FMS sim used by the pilots to learn how to use it themselves, albeit from the DHC-8-200 version (I think they are the same, Universal FMS). If someone wants to get a hold of it, I'd be more than happy to look for it and upload it or something, as long as someone gives me pointers on how to do it LOL.

 

Generally, high wing turboprops are notoriously stable, even more those made by "Mr de Havilland" due to their STOL configurations (although the Q400 might not so STOL as say, the TwOtter, but still)

 

Cold and dark scenarios? +1 on that one. I'd love that too

AP selections on the FMS? I don't think the real aircraft does that, so I think it would be unrealistic. The -200 series, as most modern aircraft, have FMA's, Flight Mode Annunciator, which does what you say.

 

I have had issues with the "beta" range and I have to brake a lot to keep from running away at taxi.  

 

How are you taxiing the aircraft? Once a turboprop aircraft has sufficient momentum to start rolling you'll need to control the taxi speed with a watchful eye. Use of "beta" (bad labeled anyway, as beta means an entire different thing, don't worry, everybody, including me, calls it that way even when it's wrong) or "DISC" on the -8, even a tiny bit of effective reverse and sometimes even toe brakes is necessary, as just having a bit of positive power, just a smudge above idle will be enough for the aircraft to keep accelerating (depending on weight, wind and the usual factors). I like my taxiing slow anyway, so almost all of the time I taxi with the power levers just a tad above disc and using a bit positive power just to keep it from stopping altogether. I don't fly the actual -8, but I do fly it's older sibling, the DHC-6. I do, however, have a bit of knowledge about the DHC-8 series as I did a ground school years ago. Fortunately, I have a bit of good memory and I still remember some details of it. Tell us your taxi technique!

 

This plane is nothing like the pmdg 737 ngx or 777. There is no autoland as been said already, although with some practice its not too bad to land by hand. The plane has a lot to do in it and since its not a jet its a lot different to fly. The FMC is very different from boeing as well, although after reading up on it and maybe watching some videos it will become simpler. Its like pmdg in that its a complex simulation. The learning curve is a bit steep at first, but I got it because I wanted a complicated plane I could dig in to. While I am still a novice with it I do find it to be a rewarding experience to fly and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a high end plane simulation.  

 

I absolutely agree with you. Any turboprop is a different animal from your 737 and your A320. A turboprop, even a modern one like the Q400, needs you to fly; it can't do everything on its own, thats why I love them. You still need to know what you're doing and you still need to clean up your act immediately if you screw up. I love the jets, but TP's just have that extra magic. The learning curve will be a bit steep, but just like with any other difficult challenge, you will enjoy yourself to death once you get the hang of it (which you will sooner than later if you pay attention.

 

Don't judge this airplane with a PMDG eye, it's unfair to it. This is a league of its own, it's turboprop league! Don't regard it as unrealistic or impossible to fly; we all got used to our jets and this is just a different thing to fly. Open up your mind a bit and you'll love it. BTW, I've only flown the Q400 a few circuits while I relearn my DHC-8 stuff, but it feels a joy to fly it by hand. Bear in mind this is coming from a guy who dropped his sim activity around two years ago and is just picking it up again. I loved it when I got to hand fly it. Loved the feeling of it.

 

Make the effort if you want to fly this aircraft, it pays off. You'll love turboprops (like I do!)

Hi.

 

I consider buying this turboprop now but after reading many opinions all over the Internet I have mixed feelings. It seems this plane is on par with PMDG products but in the same time it has some annoying bugs as a brand-new design. Therefore I'd like to clarify several things before purchase:

 

- How does installation process look like? What about patch installation? Is complete reinstall always necessary? Do I also need to install DirectX every time? How does activation process look like?

 

- What about several top issues: torque effect causing bouncing starts and landings, inability to catch ILS in stable way, advancing throttle power during landings etc.

 

- What is AIRAC support for this plane? Is its FMS fairly complete or some functions are absent/simplified versus real thing? Are there any problems with vertical speed management, flight parameters predictions etc.?

 

- Does MJ Dash-8 Q400 have comprehensive manual, let's say comparable with PMDG 737NGX, or new user has to search the Internet to find more detailed informations he needs to flight this plane?

 

Thanks in advance for all your replies.

While others have answered most, I would say that the losing of ILS is annoying.

If you google search the "Q400 losing ILS" a post of Avsim will come up suggesting how to

Modify the airplanes CFg to make the rudder and aileron trim more effective.

That solved the problem for me.

 

The Q400 is amazing in that the is literally no FPS hit!!! It's almost shocking!

I gave up the NGX till I get a new computer, but the Q400 has revitalized my airliner flying.

The learning curve was steep but I have finally been able to get a handle on it after a lot of practice!

 

 

B.

I love it. Haven't lost ILS yet, although with a simulation this deep I'd probably think it was an instrumentation error or bad reception or something like that, forcing a go-around and another try. 

 

It's a fantastic addon, very different from PMDG's stuff but just as deep I think. From reading this thread I see that it has no custom waypoints, something that kind of embarrasses me since I haven't had to make on yet after all this time. I usually fly on VATSIM and I tend to follow regular SID/STARs, vectors or visual procedures so I've yet to need a custom waypoint, except I would have liked the feature if I did a DME arc(which can be flown splendidly without an FMC but more comfortably with one) which is a very rare procedure.

Oops! So sorry, I got my turboprops mixed up. I had the runaway taxi problem on the Flight 1 King Air, not the dash 8. I have not flown either lately and was going by memory. I had no problem taxiing with the dash. Just wanted to clarify.

 

Don