Don't forget... The DC-6 is not intended to be PMDG's best selling add-on ever. It's a sandbox, a test bench. If it sells in huge numbers, that'd be great. That's the reason it's not being developed with the same timeline as a high end add-on.

For now, they're just testing the waters in XPX.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the GPS, and other modern stuff, was switchable, like a lot of customer options in the NGX and 777.

The DC-6 is not intended to be PMDG's best selling add-on ever.

 

I'm seeing comments like this, saying do not expect the best. Why would I want to spend a-n-y amount of money, if I didn't think I was getting the highest return for my investment?

 

Wasn't there some line about a turbo-prop (J-something?) being "lite", but not carrying a $20-25 selling price? It should be interesting to see the price for this release and it's "don't expect too much" expectations.

 

Should also be interesting to see if people will have to buy it twice to use it in FSX and P3D? And how much of a "discount" there isn't.

I'm hoping that even without an FS2Crew or MCE module, that there is some built in virtual copilot functions to monitor engine parameters and automatically manage things like cowl flap and intercooler positions as they would in real life. When A2A used to make multicrewed airplanes, they provided automation for things like that so that the pilot would have an appropriate workload.

You don't need to take my word for it, though...

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/463714-03mar15-pmdgs-first-product-for-xplane/?p=3192197

 

Once the DC-6 is out- we aren't really all that concerned with sales units in XPL, FSX or P3D.  This project had a purpose, and it's purpose is being well served by the XPL development cycle.

 

Also, I have never claimed the DC-6 wouldn't be a good add-on. It is, however, still a "light" product. This means that the actions you would take on a normal flight are all included in glorious amounts of detail. However, things like an extended failure model are indeed absent.

Please, don't just assume things, read up on them before drawing conclusions.

Robert said they were big fans of A2A and have worked with A2A in the past.  I don't doubt that PMDG took some lessons from the COTS and B-17 packages for operating large multi engine radial aircraft, no doubt they will make the DC-6 manageable by a single pilot.

 

Think of it this way, if PMDG plans on doing a classic Boeing jet in the future, they can benefit themselves a lot by developing a COTS-like system with the DC-6 that will carry over to future classic projects.

 

Cheers

TJ

I'm seeing comments like this, saying do not expect the best. Why would I want to spend a-n-y amount of money, if I didn't think I was getting the highest return for my investment?

 

Wasn't there some line about a turbo-prop (J-something?) being "lite", but not carrying a $20-25 selling price? It should be interesting to see the price for this release and it's "don't expect too much" expectations.

 

Should also be interesting to see if people will have to buy it twice to use it in FSX and P3D? And how much of a "discount" there isn't.

 

The reason they choose the dc-6 is because the complete developer team is nuts for old prop liners. And if you plan to learn something new you start with something you really like. So they choose the DC-6. They need to build alot of things from scratch. There is no operations center for Mac, no Operations Center for Linux.  There is no knowldege about OpenGL, Multiplattform etc. You build the foundation for the future and that is what they do. Plus it is better to start with something completely new than with already existing code. Thisway you learn how something works instead of trying to make you exsiting code fit.

 

It took them 2 years to bring a "simple" plane to this level. The T7 or NGX would still take 2 years

 

 

 I don't doubt that PMDG took some lessons from the COTS and B-17 packages

 

Hope you're right.  As I posted over on Sim Outhouse... the only A2A aircraft I deliberately avoided was the Stratocruiser before they added the Captain of the Ship crew features.  I've never liked micromanaging or being overloaded, either in life or in sim life...  A DC-3 can plausibly be flown as a single-pilot airplane (I read recently about one in Alaska that was certified as such, with some special mods such as moving the cowl flap levers to the left side so the captain could reach them).  But the DC-6, not so much.   I'm eager for it, but I'll be that much more eager if it comes complete with some skilled e-people to help me out.

I have the Just Flight DC6. Little above a default model but still fun. Gives you the feel of the DC6 cockpit lay out and some concept of power plant management, as well as old school nav. What I would like to see in a classic liner is a twin like a DC3 or my favorite  Martian 404.