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shamrockflyer

Nitpicking...

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As the title suggests - there is something I have noticed from watching videos of the -8 and flying the -8 in the sim. That is strobe light timings. The PMDG -8 strobe lights appear to be 1 to 2 seconds longer in duration of the flash than to that of the real aircraft. Anybody else think of this also? 

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1 minute ago, shamrockflyer said:

As the title suggests - there is something I have noticed from watching videos of the -8 and flying the -8 in the sim. That is strobe light timings. The PMDG -8 strobe lights appear to be 1 to 2 seconds longer in duration of the flash than to that of the real aircraft. Anybody else think of this also? 

This is nitpicking to a pretty high degree, but I'm not sure it's even a correct nit, honestly.

If you've spent any amount of time with the 747-8 or the 787, this strobe timing is not at all foreign, or incorrect.


Kyle Rodgers

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6 minutes ago, shamrockflyer said:

As the title suggests - there is something I have noticed from watching videos of the -8 and flying the -8 in the sim. That is strobe light timings. The PMDG -8 strobe lights appear to be 1 to 2 seconds longer in duration of the flash than to that of the real aircraft. Anybody else think of this also? 

The “strobe” lights on modern airliners are not gas discharge xenon flash tubes, which used to be the standard way of implementing wingtip anti-collision lights, and which flash very quickly.

The lights on current aircraft are high-intensity LED arrays, which literally switch “on and “off” at intervals, and stay lit much longer in each cycle than the old style units.

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Jim Barrett

Licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Avionics, Electrical & Air Data Systems Specialist. Qualified on: Falcon 900, CRJ-200, Dornier 328-100, Hawker 850XP and 1000, Lear 35, 45, 55 and 60, Gulfstream IV and 550, Embraer 135, Beech Premiere and 400A, MD-80.

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34 minutes ago, JRBarrett said:

 

 

The lights on current aircraft are high-intensity LED arrays, which literally switch “on and “off” at intervals, and stay lit much longer in each cycle than the old style units.

But still - this doesn't answer my question as to why the strobe lights are illuminated for much longer with the PMDG -8 as to the real world -8.

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1 hour ago, vc10man said:

Great explanation, Jim.

 

54 minutes ago, shamrockflyer said:

But still - this doesn't answer my question as to why the strobe lights are illuminated for much longer with the PMDG -8 as to the real world -8.

I’m not sure what the “correct” timing is on the real aircraft.

We replaced original flash tube strobes with LEDs on one of our Falcon 900 aircraft two years ago. In these units, the “on” duration can be selected (within limits) by jumpers in the power supply/control unit.

The FAA legal requirement for anti collision lights (ref: FAR 25.1401) is that they must flash no less than 40, and no more than 100 times per minute, so that gives some latitude. 

I’m not at my FS computer. Best I can suggest is to time the number of flashes in 60 seconds on the PMDG -8. If less than 40, maintenance is required!

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Jim Barrett

Licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Avionics, Electrical & Air Data Systems Specialist. Qualified on: Falcon 900, CRJ-200, Dornier 328-100, Hawker 850XP and 1000, Lear 35, 45, 55 and 60, Gulfstream IV and 550, Embraer 135, Beech Premiere and 400A, MD-80.

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1 hour ago, shamrockflyer said:

But still - this doesn't answer my question as to why the strobe lights are illuminated for much longer with the PMDG -8 as to the real world -8.

Source?


Kyle Rodgers

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FWIW,

If the real -8 that’s being referenced here by the OP isn’t installed with the new LEDs then the timings will be with faster flashes. (As Jim said) However I’m of the belief that PMDG are modelling their new release of the -8 with the new LEDs installed. Hence the landing lights are slightly brighter looking from the Cockpit.

In real life some of our Aircraft are slowly getting LEDs installed and I think PMDG have modeled the strobe timings correctly. (IMHO)

IM

Edited by Iceman2

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2 hours ago, scandinavian13 said:

Source?

Go to your local airport and watch a -8 on arrival or departure, look at videos on youtube of many other airlines.....

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4 minutes ago, shamrockflyer said:

Go to your local airport and watch a -8 on arrival or departure, look at videos on youtube of many other airlines.....

As someone who watches the DLH 748 (increasingly in the darkness as winter approaches), I can see quite well that we've modeled it accurately.

In common discussions, the burden of proof is on the one leveraging the argument (further reading). If you wish to assert that you are correct and that someone else isn't, then you need to show up with proof. Otherwise, in any real situation, the person/group who stands accused of being incorrect is without blame for ignoring the accusation.

In any circumstance in life, if you're going to tell someone they're incorrect, it is your burden to furnish them with evidence at the ready. If they don't, and they ignore or dismiss you as a result, then it's entirely your own doing...particularly when, by your own admission, you're being nitpicky.

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Kyle Rodgers

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Just now, scandinavian13 said:

In any circumstance in life, if you're going to tell someone they're incorrect, it is your burden to furnish them with evidence at the ready. If they don't, and they ignore or dismiss you as a result, then it's entirely your own doing...particularly when, by your own admission, you're being nitpicky.

I wasn't suggesting that you have in anyway incorrectly modelled the strobe lights, I was just suggesting a potential timing difference with the strobe lights as opposed to rw aircraft. 

I just have an eye for detail and like to satisfy my curiosity.

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Just now, shamrockflyer said:

I was just suggesting a potential timing difference with the strobe lights as opposed to rw aircraft.

The implication being that it is incorrect, otherwise the point wouldn't have been raised.

2 minutes ago, shamrockflyer said:

I just have an eye for detail and like to satisfy my curiosity.

So help me see what you're seeing...


Kyle Rodgers

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2 minutes ago, shamrockflyer said:

I wasn't suggesting that you have in anyway incorrectly modelled the strobe lights, I was just suggesting a potential timing difference with the strobe lights as opposed to rw aircraft. 

I just have an eye for detail and like to satisfy my curiosity.

 

I was curious about the strobe effect too since it's noticeably slower than the older style, so I'm glad you asked the question. I assume 99.99% of the time PMDG didn't mess something up and is a new style of strobe - so I didn't ask.
Jim's answer was outstanding. 


Bob Donovan - KBOS

  • Hardware: i7 11700k on ROG Strix Z590 ► Asus ROG GeForce 3070 ►FDS 737 FMC ► VRInsight 737 Overhead ► GoFlight TQ6 ADV ► Thrustmaster Warthog
  • Software: P3D ► MSFS ► XP11 ► DCS World

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Really??...  I mean.... Seriously?????.... So many other important things to worry about and this is what concerns you???... I guess I’m gonna have to install a rear view mirror outside my window to see how my strobe lights are doing through my flight... Geez, just another thing to worry about!!!!! 🙄😳

 

PVazquez

Edited by Pablo Vazquez
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Pablo Vazquez - Flight Attendant - Major US Airline

(P3D v4.3, PMDG 744v3, PMDG 748, PMDG 777, PMDG 737 NGX, QualityWings 787, Captain Sim 757, Aerosoft Airbus Professional and FSLabs A320x)

 

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1 hour ago, Pablo Vazquez said:

Really??...  I mean.... Seriously?????.... So many other important things to worry about and this is what concerns you???... I guess I’m gonna have to install a rear view mirror outside my window to see how my strobe lights are doing through my flight... Geez, just another thing to worry about!!!!! 🙄😳

To be honest, we do want to correct even the smallest details, but it does raise my hackles when I see posts like this without any solid evidence provided.

I don't want to drag it out of people...and I also can't walz in, ask the aircraft devs to stop what they're doing and say "hey, someone doesn't like the strobes" unless I can walk in with specific examples of why someone thinks it's incorrect so we don't collectively waste time stabbing around to find an example of what they think it should look like.


Kyle Rodgers

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