I guess with all the focus on the 777F and 2024 compatibility, the bit about the 747 got lost in the last PMDG update thread...

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/337094-23nov24-your-weekend-update-part-2-pmdg-777f-pmdg-737-and-pmdg-747-updates

PMDG 747:
Development work on the 747 continues to roll forward. Code-side preparation for the 747-400 is in an advanced stage of readiness and the code is running within MSFS2020. We are beginning to work through a strategic process to start mapping in changes that are necessary based on the documentation for the MSFS2024 platform, and it should make for a truly magnificent simulation of this airliner.

On the 747-100 Classic Whale side of the hangar, the 747-100 model (which will serve as an initial basis for the 747-200 and 747SP that will come later) is really taking shape nicely. We have mapped out some feature-sets for the 747-100 that we feel will open this product line up to a greater swath of users and we are excited to see them fill out in the months ahead. After all, while navigating via fixes defined by their lat/lon positions was revolutionary back in 1971, it can be intimidating and confusing for folks who don't understand how the process works, or who might not be inclined to take the time to learn it just for their weekend simming experience.

PMDG_747-100_002.jpg

Our 747 Classic will come with the CIVA triple INS system, fully modeled to the degree of detail you would expect of PMDG- but we have issued an upgrade bid to our pilot pool, and Henning, the erstwhile DC-6 flight engineer who has helped you one thousands of DC-6 flights the world over, will be on the 747 flight deck to greet you and work through the INS navigation complexities for you. If you aren't comfortable programming and managing the INS navigation on your own, Henning will (cheerfully...cuz he is always cheerful, as you probably noticed) take your simbrief flight plan and continually keep the INS fixes updated so that all you need to do is link the autopilot to the INS and it will navigate you just like the FMS/Magenta line you are all used to...

If, like me, you find this stuff fascinating, you can just have henning manage the usual flight engineer duties and take the INS work all to yourself. If i can find some time, I might even put together a few how-to videos such as those we did with the DC-6 so you have some references to go by online.

PMDG_747-100_001.jpg

Now- if you don't trust Henning to do that work for you, we are also going to give you the option to treat your 747-100 as a "later-in-service-life" iteration that uses the honeywell FMS as the primary mode of navigation. This will function just like you are used to, plunking your flight plan into the FMS then sipping your coffee as the little boxes do all the hard stuff for you. While it might sound like I'm poking fun- this is actually a great way to fly this classic airplane just as she was flown for most of her service life, as FMS units became common to the 747 classic fleet pretty early in their service life. Flying around with live ATC giving you fix names will certainly be easier with an FMS onboard- and that is why nearly all aircraft have them now in some form or other.

These images are taken from the modeling software and do not show texturing or surface qualities. What they DO show you is just how detailed the model is in terms of size, scale, complexity and finish. We anticipate that this will be the most detailed classic airliner yet produced for desktop flight simulation- and what better airplane to get The PMDG Treatment than the 747-100?

Edited November 25, 20241 yr by lwt1971

I might have passed on this as to complex for me if it weren’t for the flight engineer feature. That’s great. 😃 

Edited November 25, 20241 yr by Azapata87

1 hour ago, Azapata87 said:

I might have passed on this as to complex for me if it weren’t for the flight engineer feature. That’s great. 😃 

Many such cases... I think an already small market becomes dwindling if there isn't some sort of automation

The images for those who can't see them;

Word salads anyways I'm done with PMDG.

That first rendering is phenomenally detailed. If the rest of the plane is like this, the 747 will be awesome.

I’m confused.  Is the -400 coming to FS2020?

31 minutes ago, Dreamflight767 said:

I’m confused.  Is the -400 coming to FS2020?

That's the platform they're building/developing it on as of now, but only releasing on 2024 I believe.. presume they'll transition over to continue its development on 2024 once they have the dev environments and tools set up.
 

Edited November 25, 20241 yr by lwt1971

Cool an FMC fitted in the analog cockpit too. Awesome!

38 minutes ago, lwt1971 said:

That's the platform they're building/developing it on as of now, but only releasing on 2024 I believe.. presume they'll transition over to continue its development on 2024 once they have the dev environments and tools set up.
 

Shucks.  Thanks.  I had hope they had changed their minds and would release for FS2020.  My only hope is iFly now.

I hope PMDG strongly reconsiders their decision to release this 747 on FS2024 only.

I just requested a refund for FS2024- I thought I'd never see the day where this would happen on an MS FS release.

I'm still on my original MSFS install from when it first released and perhaps that market isn't as dead as it seems as the masses get a taste of FS2024.

No doubt I'll purchase it when they get it sorted but that day looks like a long way off.

Now maybe I'll go get that Spitfire I've been holding off on purchasing.

1 hour ago, MikeH99 said:

Word salads anyways I'm done with PMDG.

Then why bother commenting?

1 hour ago, MikeH99 said:

Word salads anyways I'm done with PMDG.

What....Don't you like being Randazzled???

This is how PMDG keeps the hype train runnin'

At this point it appears there are already many alternatives available or in the pipeline.

1 hour ago, skully said:

No doubt I'll purchase it when they get it sorted but that day looks like a long way off.

I suppose 6 days in since release with all the current issues it might seem that way, but I very much doubt it is a long way off. For example after the default and marketplace aircraft/scenery are allowed to be locally stored the streaming situation will be effectively same as 2020.

And by the time PMDG has the 747 ready for release it might be a while into 2025 anyways 🙂

 

Edited November 26, 20241 yr by lwt1971

45 minutes ago, Piotr007 said:

Cool an FMC fitted in the analog cockpit too. Awesome!

It looks like they will have an option for the “old school” Delco Carousel (CIVA) 10-waypoint INS, or a newer system with FMS, which would probably indicate Honeywell Laseref IV IRUs behind the scenes.

I’m pretty sure any Classic 747 still flying in 2024 would have to have the latter system to comply with RNAV and ADSB mandates.