Here's my quick 'n dirty guide on how FSL Concorde 64-bit works in P3D v5.3HF2. It doesn't replace the official tutorial of course. This is just my take on the ground operations which are completely different to the previous version.

Position Concorde at a gate with GSX jetway. To check the jetway will move request the jetway option in the GSX menu. If a menu appears requesting confirmation you can cancel it. It will work with Concorde ops. If it doesn't appear there's an issue with the gate and Concorde ops will still work but boarding pax without a jetway is a little unusual.

On the upper panel left-click GRND CALL. You should have your flight plan ready to load. A few GSX menus will appear. Don't touch them. The process is automated. You'll hear the FE say he's finished his external check. The walkaround is a virtual one.

Open the HP computer either via a click-spot on the panel or via a browser using the IP address of the flying computer. Networked PCs also work. Setup your flight plan. You'll need to choose departure gate and runway, arrival runway and gate. The accel and Mach 1 arrival points are calculated. Adjust as required. Be aware the current version doesn't allow for supersonic flight over populated areas. A few aren't happy about that. The purists are okay with it.

You'll hear various cockpit noises during this time as various systems are checked. When you've finished entering details of your plan you select an option on the HP computer that will bug the instruments. This sets v1, vR, v2 speeds as well as engine settings. At this point you can print your documents. These are generated as a PDF and can either be shown on the left of the pilot or alternatively if using a browser to use the HP computer as a separate tab.

Soon after finishing this you'll hear the FE say "I'm done, how are you doing?" The PNF asks for a little more time. That's your signal to move to the next phase.

Right-click the GRND CALL button and the catering truck will arrive. The fuel truck will arrive soon after and begin loading fuel. Then the cabin crew and passengers board. Baggage handlers load the aircraft. If you have glass jetways you can see passengers boarding.

Once boarding and fuel loading is completed this is where you start your work. On the section below the Captain's INS display is a switch to talk to the ground crew. Press it to undock the jetway. The marshaller will also arrive as will the pushback truck. The GSX menu requesting direction of aircraft will be shown. Choose the appropriate direction. That is the only GSX menu option you need to use.

The Captain, PNF and FE will read through the checklists including the lat / lon of the first four waypoints. After more checks some of which you need to respond to the FE requests ground power to start engines 3 and 2. Listen out for the FE saying the ground power unit can be disconnected. Soon after the marshaller requests brake release.

During pushback, engines 4 and 1 are started. You have power so lower the visor. Don't lower the nose until the pushback truck is disconnected. You as Captain have overhead switches to set. You'll get nagged until they're set correctly.

Once the marshaller gives you the all clear start taxiing. t's very immersive. Once the After Start checklist is completed you start your taxi. A speed > 5kts triggers the Taxi checklist. During this time the FE and PNF are going through more checks. You have to set take-off trim and will get nagged until it's correct.

Turning onto the runway and flicking the landing lights on / off will trigger the take-off checklist. The T/Off monitor is armed as are the reheats. You are then clear to take-off.

I'll end it there as from this point on it's more about flying the aircraft. The FE handles fuel movement for you easing your workload.

I hope that gives you a good feel for how this Concorde is handled. The interaction with GSX is extremely effective as are the cockpit checks. You don't feel alone. All together a far better experience than with Concorde-X.

Finally, to setup views for the various panels ChasePlane is more or less essential. Whilst the VFE will handle fuel you do need to see what is happening on his panel and a quick way of switching views will make your life a lot easier. GSX is more or less essential and Active Sky will allow you to setup correct weather for daytime departures anywhere in the world.

Edited September 11, 20232 yr by Ray Proudfoot
Screenshot added.

Thanks Ray, nice summary.  I just wonder if you miss doing all of it yourself or do you think this is a much better way to do it, as it replicates real world procedures for a Concorde Captain.

Thanks Mark. For now I’m happy with the duties being shared around. If you opted to do more yourself I’m not sure whether you’d hear other crew members talking.

It took me several years before I handled fuel myself on X and I still left many other things to the VFE. Time will tell I suppose.

I have been really enjoying the VCS, and it makes some of the more finicky procedures a lot more convenient. In particular having the FE manage the throttles through all the stages of a noise-abatement departure makes is a godsend - makes it far easier to focus on flying the aircraft!

The new radar on Concorde in Map mode. Enroute from Lisbon to Glasgow and approaching the SW of England.

A friend who bought the Concorde is getting CTDs when computing the route on the HP palmtop... 

Anyone with that same problem? Any suggestions?

Thx!

Edited September 18, 20232 yr by jcomm

9 minutes ago, jcomm said:

A friend who bought the Concorde is getting CTDs when computing the route on the HP palmtop... 

Anyone with that same problem? Any suggestions?

Thx!

As a verified owner he has access to the support forum. I've not had that problem. Ask him to post details of the problem there.

I think I have found the reason for the CTD. Complete reinstall of P3D. Addons installed one by one. Also reinstalled all those VisualStudio packages. Seems to be fine for now

One question Alexis, those VS packs are they mentioned in the Concorde install documentation, or did you find about those dependencies elsewhere ?

Looking fwd for your feedback on your next flight.

I am still on hold, for as long as required, in the worst scenario - forever - for native v6 installers for my Airbuses. If they make the Concorde available for v6 I will surely buy it. No other presently available or announced version looks even by far interesting to me 😕

42 minutes ago, jcomm said:

One question Alexis, those VS packs are they mentioned in the Concorde install documentation, or did you find about those dependencies elsewhere ?

I saw no mention of them and I also had to install the Control Centre.

43 minutes ago, jcomm said:

If they make the Concorde available for v6 I will surely buy it.

You might be in for a long wait. There’s another big fix due for v5 and if that fixes all known issues it seems probable they’ll start on the MSFS version. v6 may come in slow time.

 

4 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

You might be in for a long wait. There’s another big fix due for v5 and if that fixes all known issues it seems probable they’ll start on the MSFS version. v6 may come in slow time.

Will wait for as long as it takes.

Completely gave up on MFS 2020 ( I ran out of diapers..), so, no alternative for me other than reconsidering buying 1 or 6 month v5 Pro Licenses.

Edited September 18, 20232 yr by jcomm

Hi all. 

After a couple of weeks enjoying the Concorde I noticed that something was wrong with the noise abatement calculations, always defaulting to 1:04. After some investigation it turned out the HP200 cannot connect to the takeoff performance server. As a result the V speeds always turn out the same too. 

I sent a support ticket to FS Labs but was told to continue the discussion of the issue on a forum thread which I’d already posted to. Here I was told the issue was a problem with my connection and any further posts have been ignored. A week later after disabling firewalls, installing on different PC’s and trying different connection I’m stuck with the issue. 

Any help with this issue would be much appreciated. 

John 
 

 

1 hour ago, JohnH90 said:

Hi all. 

After a couple of weeks enjoying the Concorde I noticed that something was wrong with the noise abatement calculations, always defaulting to 1:04. After some investigation it turned out the HP200 cannot connect to the takeoff performance server. As a result the V speeds always turn out the same too. 

I sent a support ticket to FS Labs but was told to continue the discussion of the issue on a forum thread which I’d already posted to. Here I was told the issue was a problem with my connection and any further posts have been ignored. A week later after disabling firewalls, installing on different PC’s and trying different connection I’m stuck with the issue. 

Any help with this issue would be much appreciated. 

John 
 

 

Incredible!  So the HP200 establishes a network connection to the FSLabs servers in order to compute performance data ?

That might explain why it is sometimes a bit too heavy.

@JohnH90, I don’t have Concorde installed at present as I’m awaiting a replacement graphics card on a new PC. But that connection worked okay for me on my older one.

Did you install Concorde with admin privileges? That might help. Also, do you have another networked computer such as a laptop you can use to show the HP computer via a web browser? If so does it connect via that way?

If it does then it points to a firewall / port rule not working on your FS PC.

The absence of any helpful info in the log is frustrating. It’s going to be something simple. Try reinstalling with admin privileges if not already done so. We can take it from there.

You could ask what the address is for their server and see if you can link to it just as a test.

One other thing. How do you connect to the internet? Ethernet to router? Wi-Fi to router? Wi-Fi dongle?

Edited October 3, 20232 yr by Ray Proudfoot
Additional questions

Hi Ray. 

It was certainly working for me the first time I installed the product however at some point, perhaps after an update it stopped. 

Everything was indeed installed with admin privileges and using the HP200 through a networked device results in exactly the same.    
 

I’ve actually tried to perform the calculations with the firewall disabled for a short time but this results in the same effect. I’ve also had the product installed on another PC with the same luck. The final thing I did was to connect my PC via a mobile hotspot to discount any strange things going on with my ISP however the result is the same. My internet is connected via Wi-Fi to the router normally. 
 

I may raise another support ticket and ask just that. 
 

I appreciate the help. 
 

John