Steve Dra

Chewwy, Fabio and Filbert are all flying her in their streams this morning....won't be long until she's released. 😉

Hehe.....hopefully you'll be flying it tomorrow. I have to say that when you fly it as a tester, with so many fights to test various things, it does get a little tedious...so it was refreshing to hop into the shorter models and to be able to rotate without the fear of a tail strike, LOL or as great a fear) Been also trying to give you guys some good screenshots along the way...you know...to tease ya. 🙂 Can't recall if I posted this one publicly yet (maybe on the PMDG forums...can't keep track of where I post them all, LOL)...but it was a particularly pretty sunrise over KLAX that warranted a screenshot: Should not be long now and you can post your own screens of the long one. 😉 (but that's not an official announcement...just echoing RSRs statement that its planned to release tomorrow the 7th)

I'm a little fond of it. 🙂 Was testing the whole line this weekend.... from the stubby -600 to the ridiculously long -900, and flew my US Navy paint for the 700 Here we are departing NAS Key West, heading up to NAS Jax (Where I served 2 tours). I like the -700, was great to hop back into her after many, many flights in the -900.

I knew it would not be long before CS started deleting posts on their forum when folks...especially when freeware painters, started asking: Why is there is no paintkit for it? Why did you remove the P3d version of the paintkit as soon as someone mentioned that you can use the P3d kit as it works fine for the MSFS version? They deleted my post when I informed them that despite their efforts to suppress freeware painters, some are still finding a way to create liveries. Looks like we're heading into the same, sad situation they got themselves into when they tried to force all freeware painters to upload their paints to CS's site only, and threatened flightsim.to with legal action if they didn't remove them. Its pretty clear what they are trying to do, and it's not going to end well. Looks like the benefit of the doubt I gave them only last about 4 hours, LOL. Not that I'm surprised it would happen...If CS isn't anything...its consistent on its ability to create good looking exterior shells, and excellent reasons to dislike them.🤣

Pretty surprised that there has been zero chatter about it here since it release several days ago. Maybe folks are finally doing a little research before they buy instead of impulse-buying a pretty model and fancy marketing speak. 🙂 No doubt the external model is very beautiful (that has never been an issue with CS), and they actually created a pretty nice looking cockpit model from what I see in the marketing pics...but this is a CS product for MSFS...so you should know what that means concerning systems and such (you'll be flying a default 747-8 system-wise). In a new twist, they are offering livery packs for it. Not a bad price (aprox $1 per livery...you gotta' buy in packs of 5). As you can imagine, when asked about a paintkit by livery artists, they say that one is not available. When a painter mentioned on their forum that you can just use the P3D paintkit and tweak a little, they promptly removed the P3d paintkit from their website.🤔 The hilarious thing is that painters always find a way....despite a dev's attempt to restrict their efforts. There are a few repaints already showing on flightsim.to, and I've grabbed the popcorn to see what CS will try to do this time. The last time CS threatened flightsim.to with a lawsuit didn't work out so good for them. I respect EULAs, and CS technically has some ground to stand on IF you use the P3D paintkit you may have already had in the past on the MSFS version....but proving that would be sketchy. And since they have not specifically rolled out a EULA for the MSFS version of the 767-300 in regards to painting, what they don't say is not arguable in court (not that I think they'd ever get a case to court). They have not specifically said you can't paint the MSFS 767-300 and put it out there for free, so until they do, any action they try to take will be laughed at by flightsim.to. TBH, I hope CS has learned their lesson about trying to restrict painters from offering free paints to the community...and if CS were not charging for them, like in the past, they should let it slide as the negative publicity will surely be detrimental to sales. However, they are now attempting to sell liveries... and of course nobody who's aware of flightsim.to would give them a dime for liveries when they can get them for free. Unless of course CS tries to take the free liveries off flightsim.to...again...that will be the next saga to watch. I'm looking to see who's gotten it...and how they are liking it. We'll see over the next few days how the livery subject pans out, but wondering who here as purchased it and their experience. I want to give CS the benefit of the doubt that this release won't be the train wreck their previous MSFS have been...at lease it has a cockpit that looks like a 767-300 cockpit. 🙂 Can't really say that about their last release. I know that any CS thread has the potential for heading quickly off the rails, but let's see if we can stay civil and keep it open for a bit and see if the 767-300 has any merit to the community.

Departing Atlanta on my way to Boston. 1st of many 737-900 test flights this weekend. 🙂

Got it! Was just a little confused on the content of your sig....The big AA logo threw me off. 🙂 Still hope if you're looking for another great airliner, you'll consider the 737....heck without the restriction of flying the -800....get the -600 for $35. You can't beat it at that price!

Hey Bob....just speculating, but consider this: I see you're sig has you as an active pilot in an AA VA. If the VA is pretty strict on replicating actual routes with the proper equipment, you're probably missing out on a lot of cool routes that Airbus's are not assigned to, right? Grab the 737-800 and open up your route possibilities and give yourself some more variety. 🙂

Hehe.....I saw the CP birds when I was looking for the AC 727s.....I knew you'd mention them as well. Just like the 737....100's of airlines flew the 727, I'm so glad with MSFS there are dozens more great painters contributing to the hobby...In P3d there were only a small handful of us. I'm pretty sure you'll get your AC AND CP 727s to fly in MSFS. 🙂

Hey Dave....If I paint her....I'll be sure to add this livery to my list: This one will be my favorite as I've flown on both an Eastern DC-9 (I know the shot below is an MD-80), and a 727 many times in my youth. 🙂

A Paul Golding sighting! Hey Paul! I remember trying to paint the DF 727 back in my budding days as a painter...can't recall if I ever released one before I got involved in FFG, SGA and such and started painting for them. Great to hear that @simbol and SWS are making a 727 that will make us all appreciate just how awesome the 727 was. 🙂 Hey Raul....if you need a painter for this project....I know a guy. 😉

Fantastic advice! The -600 is one of the best aircraft deals in MSFS right now! You can start with JANET flights out of KLAS....always fun.

Hoping that you won't be waiting too much longer now. She's a joy to fly like the other models...and when you go from a -600 to a -900, the -600 looks ridiculously short and stubby! 🤣 I fly the 737 way more than the A320 due to beta testing, and I enjoy her more to answer Bob's question, I've always been a Boeing guy. Not that the Airbus is not capable, just prefer the 737.

Yeah if you have the -800, you certainly have the most popular model with many airlines to choose from to fly. If you're strapped for cash and can only afford one model, the -600 is one of the best values in MSFS at the moment. Being a beta tester lets me not worry about which one to buy if I had to choose...but on the other hand I have to test them, and that's quite a chore! 😉

One small caveat...each 737 model (i.e. 736, 737, 738, 739) has its own download paths. This was necessary for MSFS because they are separate packages and live in self-contained folder structures. So if you have the 737-700 and 600 for example, you need a download folder for each, along with a WX folder as show in the example above. (I don't have all my WX folders set for all the models in the example above) Its really easy to just copy an existing one (if you have more than one 737), create a new line, paste and change the number to the desired model...that is what I did with the -900. 😉

Yeah....looks like this update will make this beautiful aircraft (almost) payware quality....worth the cost of the premium deluxe itself IMO.

I could get hired on my severe overqualification on this topic alone. I am keenly aware, always have them, and have spent decades trying to figure them out!🤣 I'm sure most of you also are overqualified on this requirement too. 🙂

Me too...this was one of the 1st PMDG 777s I painted for the P3d version and I'll bring her to MSFS naturally.

KSDF is the mothership for UPS...so FedEx is the outcast there. Great shots @Alaska738! Can't wait to do 777 FedEx flights outta KMEM!

If he can't, I may be able to. 🤨 Probably not though...seeing that you never asked me. 🙂 Just giving you a hard time Eric....its not like I've ever painted anything for you before. 🙂 @virtualstuff if you want to get back into painting, this little HondaJet is not too hard to paint. I've been creating a few college theme planes using the "paint chip" method and just slapping logos on the side, engine or winglets.

Yeah with the latest update...they added a button on the "FMC" to turn the plane into an Elite II version...looks the same visually, but it has an increased range and the full autothrottle, and fully functioning VNAV with TOC and TOD calculations. It's like a whole new model...for free! I think its one of the best payware aircraft out there!

She is the Bee's Knees' in my opinion. 🙂 I enjoy a "relaxing" flight with her between beta test flights for PMDG birds. I enjoy her so much that I'm painting a "few" university-themed paints for a few colleges. Working on this for my Alma Mater:

OK.... Have more coming, this one is on flightsim.to now...just grab it from the flightsim.to link in my sig. 😉

Fabio is previewing it now on twitch. https://www.twitch.tv/theflyingfabio

Hey Jack...this is the Cessna Longitude that comes free with the Premium Deluxe version of MSFS. I believe Ryan is flying the current beta version with the Avionics update that we'll all be getting in the next release. This bird alone when this update comes out will be worth the extra cost of the premium deluxe edition (to me anyway). I don't know if the C....o company initially built her for MSFS way back when it was launched...but if it has a C......o exterior model which we all know they excel at...and a WT G3000 and updated flight dynamics....I'm all in. 🙂