I guess my bigger conclusion to this is, it appears a number of developers that are essentially considered "one-man bands" are struggling to make a living in the flightsim community even though the overall market place has become much bigger. It appears dominated by some key players. Also, while technology has played a part in being able to reach a larger audience/market, it appears the upkeep/maintenance costs to keep servers and forums running is now becoming prohibitively more expensive for some small developer outfits that its not worth their while to continue.

 

When I refer to "one man bands", I am thinking of FSS, Aivlasoft, UK2000, Godzone VF etc.

In the latter case a community member (TOGA projects), was kind enough to offer a site to make the download available still in this forum. 👏

 

Sorry for the tangent in this thread but @VHOJT sparked some other thoughts I had about the bigger picture.

7 hours ago, VHOJT said:

How is it behind the times? It calculates takeoff data for a 747-400 with up to date runways etc. Pmdg models a 747-400?

TBH I stopped using it about 5 or so years ago and then it had no model for a 747. Beside which, PMDG FMC does the work for you.

30 minutes ago, IanHarrison said:

TBH I stopped using it about 5 or so years ago and then it had no model for a 747. Beside which, PMDG FMC does the work for you.

?? I purchased Topcat when it first came out, and it has always had a 747-400 from the very beginning, with several seating variations specific to PMDG models that were current at the time. It was one of its biggest selling points.

I think the very first aircraft it did have was the 747-400!

4 hours ago, JRBarrett said:

?? I purchased Topcat when it first came out, and it has always had a 747-400 from the very beginning, with several seating variations specific to PMDG models that were current at the time. It was one of its biggest selling points.

Me too! I used it regularly for the first few years primarily for the B747. After a while though I stopped using it I think because of the introduction of onboard EFBs that could also perform the performance calcs. I still have it installed for P3Dv5.3 but cant remember when I last used it.

The only aircraft in my hangar that I can't use with TOPCAT are the PMDG 737-600 and 900 series.  I don't know why they were omitted, but such is life.  As Mick Jagger would say, "You can't always get what you want..."

It's available on simbrief. I don't test it, but there is a lot airctaft.

 

 

 

I did a brief run through of a recent flight (my latest on simbrief) in the PMDG 737-900 and the numbers seem pretty good both Takeoff and Landing.  However I can't compare with my plan notes for that flight as I am in the process of a move and my flight sim pc is waiting to be set up once the movers are done with the unloading and dispersion of boxes, etc..  Pity, too, that I won't have internet service in my new home for 4-6 weeks until it is installed and setup.  I will be living in rural east central Mississippi, so I am forced to sit on pins and needles until I can get back into the cockpit again.  At least I can use the internet service at my son's house just down the hill a ways to keep abreast of current events and all here at avsim. :  )

I look forward to the opinions from others here on this forum as to individual a/c accuracy in the various calculations.

18 hours ago, beechcaptain said:

I did a brief run through of a recent flight (my latest on simbrief) in the PMDG 737-900 and the numbers seem pretty good both Takeoff and Landing.  However I can't compare with my plan notes for that flight as I am in the process of a move and my flight sim pc is waiting to be set up once the movers are done with the unloading and dispersion of boxes, etc..  Pity, too, that I won't have internet service in my new home for 4-6 weeks until it is installed and setup.  I will be living in rural east central Mississippi, so I am forced to sit on pins and needles until I can get back into the cockpit again.  At least I can use the internet service at my son's house just down the hill a ways to keep abreast of current events and all here at avsim. :  )

I look forward to the opinions from others here on this forum as to individual a/c accuracy in the various calculations.

Thanks for reporting back Glenn. Sounds promising!

Haven't had a chance to test it myself. First flight will be on Saturday where I plan to compare the PMDG 77W performance numbers and compare that with Simbriefs PT numbers.

 

 

I hope they compiled their coding from the FCOM tables for each a/c, to be as accurate as possible. Maybe this is not wishful thinking.

Just wanted to add a bit more on a positive note.  I have been quite satisfied with Simbrief's new take off and landing performance calculations that I have used with several flights in the PMDG 739. They matched or were within 1-2 kts of the FMC & EFB calculations.  I only wish the calculation results could be included in the OFP document.  I think I may be using PFPX less and less.

 

16 hours ago, beechcaptain said:

Just wanted to add a bit more on a positive note.  I have been quite satisfied with Simbrief's new take off and landing performance calculations that I have used with several flights in the PMDG 739. They matched or were within 1-2 kts of the FMC & EFB calculations.  I only wish the calculation results could be included in the OFP document.  I think I may be using PFPX less and less.

 

I did also make a quick comparison with some PMDG 777 take off speeds and they were in a reasonable agreement of around 3-4 kts between Simbfrief and EFB.

I will try and post those numbers here for a flight I made the other day.

@beechcaptain In the OFP layout I am using from Simbrief, the Take Off and Landing calcs are included, I believe inserted before the weather section of the OFP. What are you specifically missing? What Simbrief OFP layout are you using?

48 minutes ago, 787flyer said:

 In the OFP layout I am using from Simbrief, the Take Off and Landing calcs are included, I believe inserted before the weather section of the OFP. What are you specifically missing? What Simbrief OFP layout are you using?

I'm using the LIDO format.  I'll look again, perhaps I missed it.  That happens a lot these days, my tired aging eyes, I guess

Ok, I found it in the runway analysis section.  I did not have that option enabled when creating the plans.  

 

As my comparison to realworld data (OPT/PET/Flysmart/FPPM/FCOM), Simbrief looks good on Boeing, but lacks quite a few engine type/rating to choose, and it seems 737-800 is based on non-winglets one.

Good to have Improved climb included, but seems no obstacle data.

Airbus is a mess, but not simbrief's fault, if you take same A320-214's data from different realworld company. Due to different calculation assumption (all within regulation limits) the result would be different IRL.

EJets is off a bit to AFM, and also it doesn't provide VAC and VFS etc... so kinda hard to use...

Not sure on CRJ, different from VAS toolbox, but again it doesn't provide VT, so harder to use than VAS toolbox...

BTW TOPCAT seems is using FPPM data, at least for Boeing, I once tried to modify it's 752PW's data into 752RR's, while I can kinda read it with notepad, once I tried to change it it won't work.

To me now, simbrief is on the last resort, my priority is realworld software -realworld data chart/table - TOPCAT - VAS toolbox - QSimplanner (with my own data for Ejets and 717) and last one be simbrief.

Edited July 10, 20241 yr by C2615