[25NOV15] PMDG 747-400 Queen of the Skies II - VC Preview!

[scandinavian13]

Exactly! Haha! ☺

 

If I'm gonna be flying the 8i I don't want to be seeing those clocks. I'm flying the 8i. Not the -400.

 

As mentioned by RSR, those are alpha screenshots, which means they are in development. Moreover, keep in mind that, like the NGX and 777, you will have options as to which equipment is installed or not installed.

 

Disregard - I just noticed you were referring to the current offering and not the upcoming offering.

[cmpbellsjc]

[Hammerheadmike]

Nigel, please put a shirt on. This isn't Tinder and it's mostly just a bunch of guys posting here. I'd bet the vast majority of us probably don't want to see you're shirtless avatar, although some may, I don't.

 

Same thoughts as you. Someone starts a thread with "Queen" in the title, and all hell breaks loose..

[Sky Prince]

Same thoughts as you. Someone starts a thread with "Queen" in the title, and all hell breaks loose..

Chill! It was just a studio photo.

[Hammerheadmike]

Thanks mate, you can always pin that photo up on the 8i to cover the offending clocks. I'm sure it can be arranged.

 

I flew approx 1500hrs on the 8i v1 and it was excellent for what it was = an 8i flight model with a 744 flightdeck.

 

Looking forward to the new one. The 8i will be an expansion of the base model I understand.

[Smasher77th]

So you choose to not fly a magnificent aircraft because you don't like the look of 2 cosmetic sidewall panels? I find that rather humorous :smile:

Well I don't find it humorous at all. I feel the same way. I hate it when a newer airplane is modeled using the cockpit of an older version of the aircraft, when the cockpit of the newer one is different.

[Sky Prince]

Well I don't find it humorous at all. I feel the same way. I hate it when a newer airplane is modeled using the cockpit of an older version of the aircraft, when the cockpit of the newer one is different.

Not many people understand our fuss, mate.

 

Not like the product is free either.

[scandinavian13]

Let's wrap up the discussion of the old 744 v 748 with the note that it was only meant to be an external visual model. The pages all note this fact. Some people will find that less than ideal.

 

This is understood. Opinions are welcome. People need to stop taking shots at each other for them.

[Werner747]

The beauty of flight simming is that I can fly whatever I want - to met the 747 has a magic to it that will NEVER go away!  I am currently flying the 707 Captain from CS just to get some "steam gauge" flying done.   The 747 will someday disappear from the skies, that is true - but before saying in the next 5-10 years, have a look at the statement that BA made a few months ago - they are planning on flying the 747 for the next 15 years at least!   It is by no means dead in the water.

 

The other thing you need to remember Sky Prince is the very thing that keeps me in the 707 - when you love something, it doesn't just disappear.   For me the 747 will keep its magic forever!   I am certain that lots of folks who will fly this sim when it is released will tell you the same thing.   I still fly the V1 for FSX.   Sure it doesn't look as good the newest releases but that doesn't bother me.   The new one will have me dancing all over the ceiling with joy, but as I said, the magic is in the 747 itself.

 

Regards

[jcomm]

For me there is a big limitation in using PSX - the out-of-windshield World views.

 

I tried everything, using XView for XP10 and VisualPSX for FSX and P3D, but none of the solutions provided me with acceptable results ( * )

 

I ended up using PSX standalone, but it's rather limited in that way, specially for visual approaches... and if a user ( not my case...) likes to simulate the whole flight cycle, from gate to gate, it becomes even more restrictive and unplausible....

 

I also don't like the 3d terrain model used in PSX. Sure runways and taxiways in PSX are 3d, but the terrain resolution is less than adequate IMO, and I would rather have flat surfaces than get the bumps I get...

 

So, one of the main advantages of using PMDG's 744 is that it'll perfectly integrate with FSX and P3D from a visuals point of view...

 

 

( * ) I agree my setup is probably far from adequate to run PSX and yet another sim for the visuals and weather display - as per the PC desc in my Sig... - but PMDG's 777 was running at 40+ fps all of the time in P3D3, with ASN feeding the weather as it does so well....

[jcomm]

That's simply because this sim is not made for fun but for procedural training with the aircraft. Moreover it is made to be used on a multidisplay installation (in which you can integrate Visual PSX). Some IPT/FPT do not have display at all actually, and you can just perform auto takeoff by asking it to the IOS.

 

But yes they could have done a minimal display, in Fs4 / Fs95 style for example.

 

Or follow the example in Airlinetools FlightDeck A32X....  But the aim of PSX is mainly, as you pointed out very well, to be a procedural trainer, and that's probably how most of it's users use it ( some of them RL 744 drivers preparing for their check rides ), or for users wanting to build a full cockpit ( something I believe PMDG can't offer with their products, with the ease of use / configuration PSX provides... ). Also, it uses it's own World-wide Weather model, and it 's a masterpiece! Even the best we can have in FSX / P3D, like what ASN gives us, can't, IMO, recreate the effects of flying under adverse weather conditions like when the winds are blowing hard and shifting or one is flying across or near where she / he should rather not be ( convective systems or CAT areas...)  This can't so far, be properly reproduced in FSX / P3D... it's always very soft and easy to cope with, even under and above limit situations... 

 

Regarding the flight dynamics, I believe MSFS / P3D / ESP flight dynamics model is a rather complex one, and used with knowledge and art, much can be done to overcome some of it's limitations, although unfortunately some areas are far from acceptable, like simply flying under asymmetric thrust... or uncrabbing when aligning with the rw under strong x-winds, where (among other problems...) simply the formulas for sideforce due to sideslip begin showing their limitations, and your aircraft drifting upwind... The flight dynamics model in PSX is another very detailed and high standard component of that simulation, and as long as a product still uses the core MSFS flight dynamics, there will always be some blackouts...., not to mention that Hardy is permanently updating his simulator, including fine tuning of the flight dynamics, using feedback from very experienced 744 captains, something 3pds for FSX / P3D can not offer unless, like Majestic, they use an external flight dynamics engine, which as far as I know is not the case with PMDG add-ons...

 

Anyway, this is about PMDG above all, and IMO, they have reached the peak of their quality, detail and complexity with the T7, which is, IMO, their best add-on ever, even for learning /training... but we have at least one real 777 driver at the forums, and he, better than anyone else, can give his own opinion on if it can really be used that way too...

 

In times of fs9, PS1 and the Queen of the Skies 1, I used PS1 to "train" and fs9 + pmdg's 744 to play and watch my landings from the outside :-), or simply flying visual approaches the way I couldn't in PS1, and still couldn't when using PSX...

[Zangdaarr]

Btw I'd like to know if 2D panels are back on this version, because 2D panels are better for operating the aircraft and procedural training, as well as for multi-monitors.

 

Also, it uses it's own World-wide Weather model, and it 's a masterpiece! Even the best we can have in FSX / P3D, like what ASN gives us, can't, IMO, recreate the effects of flying under adverse weather conditions like when the winds are blowing hard and shifting or one is flying across or near where she / he should rather not be ( convective systems or CAT areas...)  This can't so far, be properly reproduced in FSX / P3D... it's always very soft and easy to cope with, even under and above limit situations...

 

 

You are totally right, the main reason why FSX products can't compete is mainly because of FSX, and also because of their price range: they cannot be as complete and cost 4x less.

However, it is hightly probable than in a short term future, aircraft will simply integrate FSX - or other sims - visual and be totally simulated from an external point of view, giving better computer performances, aerodynamic, and why not, integrating simulink generated RT-C code to model the aircraft behavior in a really serious way.

 

Thanks,

Ilie Tremblay.

[scandinavian13]

Btw I'd like to know if 2D panels are back on this version, because 2D panels are better for operating the aircraft and procedural training, as well as for multi-monitors.

 

Thanks,

Ilie

 

No 2D panels, as with the 777.

 

Full names - first and last - are required here in the forum.

[Usmcmba]

Great job dev team on the details in the cockpit. I finally was able to go on the Dreamlifter tour at work a couple weeks ago and I compared the pics you posted here of the v2 VC to pics I taken of the cockpit inside the LCF and it looks like you guys really took the effort to model everything down to the small details. Really looking forward to the release of this app!

[jfriz]

 

 

BASIC FLYING RULES.
'Try to stay in the middle
of the air. Do
not go near the edges of it.
The edges of the air can be
recognized by the appearance
of ground, buildings, sea, and
trees.
It is much more difficult to fly
there."

 

cheers,

Jerry Friz