Get Ready for the Queen! 747 arriving to X-Plane

[Janov 2,383]

Just now, Brian Mackie said:

If it contains automation that makes it flyable by one person then, although it might look like the real thing, it can't be realistic in flying terms.

How so? If the automation mimicks what the other two crew members would do in the real aircraft, how is that not a realistic depiction of flight experience for the user?

[Brian Mackie 123]

I'll consult my more experienced ex-747-200 (and 400) captain about that, Janov. He is from a different generation of ATPL than you, although he handles a Tiger Moth today just as spiritedly as he apparently did as a kid. I can easily accept single-crew operation of a simulated A320, but a 747-200? Pushing the credibility envelope slightly, maybe... but certainly no capital crime and the aircraft does look wonderful.

[C2615 319]

As my feeling, 742 with slightly advanced AP/AT system actually flies easier than say 727 or DC8, those 2 are more on my envelope even for normal opeartion.

For 742, if fly short haul with no need to change fuel configeration except open the RES VALVE at TOD, didn't really requist much attention from F/E in the air, of course assuming no failure would happen in the sim world.

[Alec 370]

My brief review of the Felis 742, for those still at the fence about buying it.

Everything feels, sounds and looks like a Classic Boeing. The way the Manipulators work on the MCP, you spinning the Knobs, and watching the beautiful animations done on this, it's just a treat. Talking about animations, it's well done all around the cockpit. The Gauges don't ever feel Faked, just instantaneously going to random values because a code said so, everything has proper detail, moves and functions as you would expect on a plane from the 60s

The System Simulation is just incredible. You will have to read a lot of manuals to know how to balance the fuel because you left the APU on too long on the ground, scavanger pumps, reserve tanks on the wing, the whole deal! Hydraulics also, you will get no braking until you energyze the Electric Pump 4, no Steering Tiller without proper setup as well. It's not superficial knobs going on and off, it has the entire schematics correctly in the code, so your actions have consequences. 

Radio Navigation and INS: The best I have seen in any Simulator so far. I still am not confident to operate the INSs, but it supports DME Updates, Drifts realistically over time, you manage 3 separate units, etc. It is just the most realistic plane to get the Airliner experience from the 60s 70s and 80s. Radio Navigation, using Custom Plugin simulating ADF Needle Dip, Realistic VOR and ILS propagation ranges, False Glideslope Signals from above. It's all there. It never feels like you are flying a Default Xplane addon.

Best for last, Flight Handling. It is an area Felis really stands out. The Handling, contrary to what people might think, is very agile and responsive in a 747. You really control it at the tip of your fingers, and Felis has captured this just perfectly. It's not there's no inertia, there is a LOT, but it's not an aircraft you go Full Movement and wait for something to happen. Also, the Drag seems spot on on varios configurations, go Flaps 10, let your airspeed drop below target, and just notice how difficult it is to hold altitude and get it back on speed, you are on the wrong side of the curve, it will not want to accelerate. It takes a lot of care to never let yourself in a bad situation. The attitudes all seems very close to the Manuals, The performance also spot on. Even the Ground Handling has been a pleasure to do!

The 3d External Model is beautiful, the shape is just perfect for the 742 to my eyes. There are a ton of liveries already for download at Felis Discord. One area I don't mind, but people coming from MSFS2020 might, is that you will not get that sharp text from looking at 10cm from the fuselage like it's possible in MSFS2020, the Liveries don't hold that well from so close, but it really is just something only someone who goes for visuals above all else would notice.

The Framerates here are around 35-40fps with Felis 742. Pretty good to me. Not saying there is no impact on the frames, because there is for an addon of such complexity, but nothing close to some addons that will bring X-plane to it's knee.

 

Overall, I can't recommend enough the Addon! You can really feel it is an addon 3+ years in the making. Nothing was Rushed, it's something that will get a ton of support, future variants, a LTN-92 Navigation System in the future, so it really is a must have purchase for anyone who loves a Classic, and like to deal more with Flying, and less with typing on a Computer 🙂

[Janov 2,383]

2 hours ago, Alec said:

The Handling, contrary to what people might think, is very agile and responsive in a 747.

Thanks for the detailed review! I don´t have the plane (yet), but I can confirm what you say about the 747 - even though I only flew the 747-400 variant. It actually rolls BETTER than the 737s I flew before that.

A lot of add-on makers portray the 747 as a lumbering oil tanker of the skies that will need a good 30 seconds do develop a noticable bank...because users expect it to be like that. It isn´t. 🙂

 

[Swe_Richard 1,172]

1 hour ago, Janov said:

Thanks for the detailed review! I don´t have the plane (yet), but I can confirm what you say about the 747 - even though I only flew the 747-400 variant. It actually rolls BETTER than the 737s I flew before that.

A lot of add-on makers portray the 747 as a lumbering oil tanker of the skies that will need a good 30 seconds do develop a noticable bank...because users expect it to be like that. It isn´t. 🙂

 

You've flown the 744? That's really cool! Not at all jealous... 

Kind of envious of all you real professional pilots out there tbh!  Sometimes wish I was 15 again to start over. 

 

[jon b 2,041]

5 hours ago, Alec said:

My brief review of the Felis 742

Excellent review, thanks.

I shall add it to my autumn shopping list. Having spent years on the 400 I’m interested in comparing the feel of the classic, and particularly like old style instruments so this should be a good purchase.

I never got to fly the classic , other than the full motion sim , but the guys I flew with on the 400 who flew the classic before said there was much more job satisfaction getting it to the other side of the world than with the 400.

Again, I agree with Janov, the 400 at least was quite manoeuvrable, but the trap was even though it was quite easy to point the plane where you wanted it to go, it took the plane a moment or two to realise what you’d done and it kept going straight. That was only really noticeable on approach near the ground, the trick to hand flying an approach was lots of little corrections all the time to keep it going where you wanted.If you left a correction until after the aircraft had started to depart the desired course the inertia meant it was too late.

Imagine trying to guide a heavy rolling bowling ball that’s burning hot to touch down a hole and you’ll get the picture, lots of little dabs !

The classic I believe had a higher wing loading and wasn’t quite as slippery.

[Janov 2,383]

46 minutes ago, jon b said:

the trick to hand flying an approach was lots of little corrections all the time to keep it going where you wanted.If you left a correction until after the aircraft had started to depart the desired course the inertia meant it was too late.

So true - but in gusty conditions this played into your hands as the thing would just pretty much keep barreling down the ILS like a freight train while the gusts where trying to tug at it...whereas a lighter aircraft would swerve this way and that 🙂

 

[leinsters 42]

Spent a few hours getting familiar with the systems before my first circuit today. It exceeds my expectations in every way and I am so happy to have a fully modeled Queen of the Skies of this era in flight sim. It really is something I am going to have to learn and get used to as the system are beautifully in depth but not overtly complicates (like the Concorde). There's a wonderful flow to procedures and it is a breath of fresh air to be so deeply connected to every facet of the flight experience. Felis and team have poured love into this addon and it shows. 

If you're into this type of things you will not be disappointed!

[jcomm 5,890]

You're being very bad boys saying this stuff in here !!!

I just spent my monthly pay in the Mosquito for DCS, and now this reading - this hearts !  🙂

[BostonJeremy77 519]

Purchased it and it’s a monster! This is gonna take a while to learn! Also, I hope when XP Next Gen is released, these guys will update their aircraft. Both this and the 154!

[GCBraun 2,390]

Unfortunately no cargo version...

[JRBarrett 3,048]

I purchased it the moment it released, and it is outstanding. Fortunately, I owned the Ready For Pushback 742 back in the days of FS9, and flew it a lot, so was already familiar with the fuel tank config, CIVA INS, FFRAT autothrottle and the 742 autopilot. It’s been years since I last flew the RFP version, but I remembered quite a bit re: flows and operating techniques. 

The Felis aircraft goes several steps beyond the old RFP in terms of systems emulation, and has a beautiful VC. I get about the same frame rates as I do with the Zibo mod.

[bugbee 26]

For some who are looking for a very good video tutorial this is Reflected Reality Simulations, I need all the help I can get and like what he is doing.

[rfresh737 36]

If all systems are operating normally, one pilot can fly a 747 without any issues. I'm not sure what the other 'automation help' does for the pilot flying but I can't imagine what it would be doing that the PIC couldn't do themselves. I have flown in level D full flight simulators (L-1011, B-747, DC-10) and one pilot can fly around the pattern doing touch and goes or full stop landings just fine.