I'm beginning to really, really like the iFly Max8.

I find it's not quite as 'plug and play' as some other FS24 airliners (stock or 3rd Party), but once I'd developed an initial boot up routine that suits my system, and a pre-flight and start up routine that suits the complexity of the aircraft - thanks to informed, patient and tireless help from the Discord forum experts - I'm starting to get into the realm of "the most satisfying flights ever since I started flight simming many decades ago".

Let me start with a disclaimer - I'm in the class of 'enthusiastic amateur' rather than 'seasoned professional' when it comes to the complexity of modern commercial aircraft.  But generally, I can manage to load up, start up, fly under BATC instructions, land, park and shut down most of the popular MSFS2024 jet airliners without sim assistances.  However, the more study-level the modelling, the more things have to be done right!

This version has more things that have to be understood and/or done right... 

But in summary:

- I found that the load up process into the sim on my system is very sensitive to sequence of boot up.  So now I start up with: a full PC reboot; iFlyManager boot up; Renew the Licence every time from in the app; open the Ifly plugin from in the app ; then boot up MSFS2024/OpenXRToolkit/MSFSAutoFPS.  Then boot up the iFlyMax 8 at a gate or stand.  I had to set up a specific Shift+C to get into the cold/dark cockpit; from in the cockpit I could turn on the battery and power up the EFB to access external power.  Once power is on, I can boot up BATC and then, when I use VR, switch into VR in the cockpit

- I still have some learning to do with the EFB.  I'm now comfortable with accessing Ground Services, Pushback, etc.  I still have much to learn to use the EFB to calculate load, pax, fuel, etc, etc and so I am generally importing the performance ini stuff through MSFS.

- Engine start, etc, is fairly standard Boeing...but I could NOT extinguish the 'Speed Trim Fail' light!  And without that extinguished (ie root cause sorted), the autopilot will never engage.  And this is where the support of the Flight One Software Discord site came into its own.  Trying to track down the issue (there are a LOT of things in a Max8 that can affect this failure state) I started to feel guilty at the time I was taking of the Flight1 admin who was trying to help me resolve the issue.  But he wasn't going to abandon me!  And, guided by his expertise, I found my problem - I had an 'out of normal range' flaps setting.  As such, the CofG/Flap/Trim wasn't going to equate and the aircraft would have been in an unsafe position to switch into autopilot.  Dropped down to 5 degree take-off flap, all was green, trim set correctly and the warning light went out.

- So far, four successful cold-dark start to deboarded, cold dark finish at destination gate all in VR and all under BATC direction.  Everything sounded and felt so real

So next task is to study the manuals to try to do all of the weights & performance done through the built-in EFB.  I might be some time... 🙂     

   

On 7/14/2025 at 6:45 AM, zorro747 said:

What about VR? I tried MAX beofore the update in 2024. But it unflyable, because the cabin was not adjusted to VR. It was impossible to do anything with the mouse because the mouse does not stick to buttons, but just hovers above...Did they fix that in the update?

It's great - I'll post a topic in the VR section of the forum shortly...

3 hours ago, AJZip2 said:

I had an 'out of normal range' flaps setting.  As such, the CofG/Flap/Trim wasn't going to equate and the aircraft would have been in an unsafe position to switch into autopilot.  Dropped down to 5 degree take-off flap, all was green, trim set correctly and the warning light went out.

Interesting... What flap setting were you initially using?  Up to flaps 25 is approved and from what I've tested, will work fine.  

3 hours ago, AJZip2 said:

I'm beginning to really, really like the iFly Max8.  

   

I fly it almost exclusively in 2024.  Granted, I am also beta testing it, but even if I weren't, I'd be still longing to boot it up if I were flying another liner, such as the also-excellent Fenix busses. Truth be told, while I fly real Allegiant routes with it, and throw in some Bus routes when I've run all the MAX routes Allegiant has...I'm always longing to be back in the MAX when I'm enroute with the Bus.

I'm just a Boeing guy I guess, and while I know the Bus is very well designed and Fenix's rendition is fantastic, I prefer the additional interaction of Boeing logic.  Flipping a single switch to start the engine is fine for some, but I prefer to monitor the N1, EGT and such, wait until the "Motoring" disappears before introducing fuel. Makes me feel as though I'm more a part of the sequence other than just making sure nothing goes awry. 🤣

I even enjoy it "reminding" me when I'm flakey and forget to turn off the packs before starting and have the moment of wonderment as to why the engine is not turning....LOL.  I even dislike the fact the 777 does it for you automatically. I just like flipping them off and hearing that silence while the gradual hum of Boris' excellent soundscape for the MAX's engines makes its way into the cockpit space. 😊  Just a well-developed aircraft overall.

2 hours ago, Stearmandriver said:

Interesting... What flap setting were you initially using?  Up to flaps 25 is approved and from what I've tested, will work fine.  

I probably gave the simplistic explanation (as I’m pretty sure I don’t understand the full one 😊). It’s more that the CofG and flap position chosen determines the takeoff pitch trim position required.  As I understand it, If there is a mismatch between those three, then the light doesn’t extinguish.  So yes, it is more that my three settings were out of sync, rather than the flaps, in absolute terms, being out of range.  I was using 15 degrees (which is my usual lazy flying default).  Presumably, if I’d chosen a more optimum weight distribution and set the initial trim position more accurately, then 15 degrees would have been fine.

Oh - and hidden deep within the EFB there is an option to turn on or off an automatic take off trim setting…which is exceptionally useful once you know what that means 😀

I'm waiting for my Winwing gear to get into this jet. In the mean-time, can someone kindly recommend me a good YT tutorial series on this aircraft, or at least one on how to startup from cold/dark?

4 hours ago, Virtual-Chris said:

I'm waiting for my Winwing gear to get into this jet. In the mean-time, can someone kindly recommend me a good YT tutorial series on this aircraft, or at least one on how to startup from cold/dark?

You'll LOVE the WinWing kit. I was lucky enough to get an FMS and it is flawless and works perfectly. I'm considering the MCP, because why not, they're just so reasonably priced for the value.

Is fuel not being deducted one of the bugs that was introduced with this build? I have the same amount of fuel being displayed as I loaded before pushing.