I thought it only appropriate to circle back and provide feedback now that I ended up getting the T7. I did one flight with the 77W. I gotta say... it might very well be my new favorite aircraft! The VC, despite it being older than the 747, is pure joy. Really beautiful. The systems are very good as always, no doubt even there. What I love is how close it is to the 747, with just enough differences to keep me on my toes. But the real kicker for me is the sounds of those engines. MAN is that good. These days whenever I fly back home I make sure to take KLM’s 777, and so the sound of those engines is instantly familiar. So cool. Here I was thinking the  747 was my favorite plane... the queen has however been kicked of her throne.

you might wonder why I suddenly decided to go for the T7. It’s really because I spent a fortunate on Technobrain’s Japan sceneries and found that these make for great 777 routes: real world 777 use on relatively short flights into some very interesting airports, particularly Haneda with its proximity to downtown Tokyo. Even if my first flight was actually Kuwait-Dubai, as I’ve had Dubai for a while and never actually used it. So decided to give it a whirl. Might I just add that the performance at OMDB was surprisingly good? A completely smooth landing into a bustling airport with incredibly detailed city scenery right next to it... I was amazed that such a thing is possible! Good times ahead!

Hi Benjamin,

It's always nice to see a member make a feedback after having benefited of the input of the community. You did the right choice, mate. The PMDG T7 is my favouirite airliner of all time.

"The VC, despite it being older than the 747": I imagine you are talking technologically in P3D because the real T7 has a more recent cockpit? And in the sim, from a graphics point of view, the cockpits of the 747 and 777 represented are both used, but the one of the 747 is really really used.

In my days of FSX I had the 777 and 747 but never got hooked to the 747. When I moved to P3D I only (re) purchased the 777.

I'm happy to meet a Technobrain scenery fan. I'll PM you.

I would consider the FSL a320 if you are considering a major purchase - money wise.

The T7 is very good but since you have the 747 - the T7 is still a Boeing so you are not going to see huge differences. Unless you insist on a long range wide body you are not going to be getting more of the same with the 320.

Quality and immersion-wise, the FSL planes are at a level of their own.

On 6/22/2019 at 1:50 PM, ha5mvo said:

I would consider the FSL a320 if you are considering a major purchase - money wise.

The T7 is very good but since you have the 747 - the T7 is still a Boeing so you are not going to see huge differences. Unless you insist on a long range wide body you are not going to be getting more of the same with the 320.

Quality and immersion-wise, the FSL planes are at a level of their own.

Well I already bought the T7, so there's not really much else to discuss in terms of a major purchase 😉 That said, the FSLabs has sparked my interest recently. I've used the Aeroosft Airbus since the early days and also now I still enjoy it a lot. My primary reason for getting it at the time was the huge discount I could get for it (I paid 30$ for the entire family due to that), the very high price tag of the FSLabs, and the feeling that previous iterations of the Aerosoft Airbus had been fine for me.

But, things are changing. The PMDG 747, and now the T7, have RE-opened my eyes to the fact that the extra cost really can get you something very special. And it's not even in the big features - it's in the details. Thus I couldn't care less for failures or maintenance modes, but little sounds (hums, squeaks, rattles) really increase that feeling of immersion that is absent from the Aerosoft Airbus. Which is not to say it has none of it - it just feels 'canned'. My impression is that the FSLabs has a much more dynamic sound system, and this very important to me. I also think I would prefer the textures of their VC, which are more subtle in their shades of blue, rather than the stark contrasts on the Aerosoft Airbus.

But still... That price! It's 140$ for the base pack, and another 50$ for the A319 (though I saw it's currently discounted to 40$?). I'm sure the A321 will come in at another 50$ or so. There's a reason I haven't gotten the PMDG 747-8 yet: I don't want to pay that 70$ price tag. Instead I went and paid 70$ for the QW787, which gives me a whole new type to play with, including all of its variants. The 747 was 135$ for all members of that 747's generation. Though I should admit I did ghet the 77W expansion for the T7 base pack, since it was 30$ or so... It all comes down to perceived value and the need to pay extra for expansion packages.

I do believe there will come a day that I do purchase the FSLabs Airbus, but it won't be anytime soon.

Though, if there's one thing you could tell me: Did FSLabs already apply the features that came new with the A319, to the A320?

Benjamin,

A warning to you, if you now see what a high-level add-on brings you, DONT buy the FSL because you will find all other aircraft sit in the hanger once you have tasted the FSL.

I did a new install of P3d and I've only installed the FSL as am kidding myself I will fly the -8/777 etc. 

So DONT BUY it.....its to good.

1 minute ago, Nyxx said:

Benjamin,

A warning to you, if you now see what a high-level add-on brings you, DONT buy the FSL because you will find all other aircraft sit in the hanger once you have tasted the FSL.

I did a new install of P3d and I've only installed the FSL as am kidding myself I will fly the -8/777 etc. 

So DONT BUY it.....its to good.

Hah! That's an interesting point! Will keep it in mind... Though this makes me more likely to buy the FSLabs, perhaps sooner rather than later, haha! Perhaps an early Christmas gift to myself?

I will add that it's not necessarily that I didn't know what a high-level addon brings. Rather, stuck as I've always been with the PMDG NGX, it's that my idea of what a high-level addon brings has become rather outdated. The PMDG 747 has been a real eye-opener in that regard, showing me what the current state-of-the-art is. I will add, though, that being a high-level addon is not necessary to be state-of-the-art though: I feel that the QW787 is a wonderful addon in its own right. Likewise, being a high-level-addon doesn't need to come at a top-dollar price, which is proven by the Leonardo Maddog. Now there's a plane REALLY need to get out of the hangar more. I;m always put of by its apparent complexity, though, even if, quite honestly, it's not nearly as complex as I always make it out to be!

At any rate, back to the topic. I should probably start saving money for the FSLabs...

1 hour ago, Benjamin J said:

At any rate, back to the topic. 

Speaking of which, I hear the PMDG 777 will be getting an update, to the 747-8 standard (i.e. EFB, rainmaker, etc.) ?  Is that correct?

I pretty much only fly the cargo version 777F -- but yes it is really my favorite large airliner.  You spoke of the sound...that is really amazing, and to me when those big GE90's spool down on descent, it really gives the feel that you are flying something massive.  The spool up is pretty good, too.

4 minutes ago, Mace said:

Speaking of which, I hear the PMDG 777 will be getting an update, to the 747-8 standard (i.e. EFB, rainmaker, etc.) ?  Is that correct?

Yes that is correct.

On 27May2019, Robert S. Randazzo wrote:

Quote

Next Updates for 747 and 777:
There have been quite a few questions on when to expect the next round of updates for the 747 and 777 product lines. Current guidance (always subject to change!) is that we will update both of these products in preparation for the release of PMDG Global Flight Operations. The 747 will be a largely technical release designed to install some changes required specifically for Global Flight Operations compatibility- but the 777 update will carry quite a bit of payload since we haven't published a new update for that product line since July.

 

 

3 hours ago, Benjamin J said:

I couldn't care less for failures or maintenance modes, but little sounds (hums, squeaks, rattles) really increase that feeling of immersion

That’s the point most people miss when topics about the most detailed add-ons come up.  It isn’t just about failures, it’s about the depth they’ve managed to recreate, even down to replicating some of the quirks and features of these aircraft which gives them character.

Since this thread is about the PMDG 777, here are a few examples off the top of my head that may have gone unnoticed by most users:

The hydraulic system turns the demand pumps on and off during the different phases of flight, just like the real aircraft.

The APU in a 777 prefers a pneumatic start if bleed air is available, so does the PMDG version and you can see this on the air synoptic.

You may briefly see a status message on the EICAS when climbing through 26000’ or descending through 24000’, this is because these are the altitudes where the ozone converter is activated/deactivated.  The air shutoff valves temporarily not being in their commanded position is the reason for the message, and it only lasts a few seconds.  

 

There are plenty more of these little details, and I can make the same list for the other PMDG, FSL, Leonardo, or Majestic aircraft.  Not things that are crucial for operation by any means, but for me it gets me closer to feeling like the real aircraft.  
 

6 hours ago, Benjamin J said:

Though, if there's one thing you could tell me: Did FSLabs already apply the features that came new with the A319, to the A320?

Yes, they did!

I missed the bit about you already pulling the trigger on the T7. It's a good plane, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

I can sympathize with your position as a student. I can still recall my Uni days living off 30 pounds/week, pub and club money included. Back in the day, I could live a month in good old Geordieland for the price of an FSL bus....

Edited June 27, 20196 yr by ha5mvo

If you fly real world routes you will find that both planes have their downsides. The 747 is slowly being phased out in active passenger duty, the 747-8 is basically only flown by Korean and Lufthansa as a passenger plane. 

The 777-300ER is flown by many companies, however almost no one flies the 777-200LR.