rsrandazzo

Notam From PMDG Captains, You are cleared for pushback and start on engines one, two, three and four! I will keep this brief, because I know most of you won’t even have read this far, but our flagship product, the PMDG 747-400 Queen of the Skies II is now available for purchase! Thank you to all of you for your continued support of the PMDG team, our products, our quirks and our obsession with providing you with the most detailed simulation products imaginable. If it were not for your interest in our work, this simply wouldn’t be possible. We know you will love the new 747- and we have put a tremendous amount of ourselves into this project during the past 42 months. We do this for you, so thank you! Now get out there and fly! Read through the Forum and get your copy from the PMDG 747 Product Page

Notam From PMDG - Captains, Welcome to Release Week for the PMDG 747-400 Queen of the Skies II for FSX, FSX-Steam Edition and Prepar3D v3.x! As of this morning, we are still on track to our planned release date- and we have only a few small detail items to take care of before we push her out of the hangar for you to fly! I have been promising to give you a quick rundown on some stuff that you might find interesting about this incredible new product, and late last night I sent an email out to the team asking for their help in collecting the various features and details that spring to their minds as "stuff that will interest you!" We all agreed that this list is very short compared to what we have packed into this product, but it will serve as a reasonably good preview to give you an idea just how packed full of detail this product is! (This list isn't even close to being all-inclusive...by the way... if you like detail - this product is going to blow your mind.) Included: - 747-400, 747-400BCF, 747-400D, 747-400ER, 747-400ERF, 747-400F, 747-400M, - 62 liveries (as of tonight..still growing) available for immediate download via the PMDG Operations Center. - Paint Kit available from our site on release day. - Software Developers Kit for those who wish to develop products to interact with the 747. Things the Development Team Thought You'd Like to Know: - Unique performance models for each available engine type. - Some airframes have multiple engine types to choose from. - Accurate cockpit controls for all engine types. - Accurate cockpit displays for all engine types. - Accurate simulation of all engine start processes including duct pressures and valve operation. - Accurate application of hydraulic or pneumatic operation of thrust reverse by engine type. - Pressure blow out doors on Main Deck Cargo Door as well as forward and aft cargo doors and 2 ports just below and forward of door 2L - Cargo containers on lower deck as well as main deck (on freighters) that appear appropriately - Dynamic articulating main gear trucks, each independently animated, with independent interaction with the ground. - Body gear truck is free-hinged and will swing freely when weight is removed during takeoff. - Improved exterior light splash effects - Accurate landing light bright/dim animation based upon gear handle position. - Highly detailed exterior model with 3D modeled Leading Edge Device actuators and flap mechanisms that work like the real aircraft. - Windmilling engine fans that will turn while parked on the ramp on a breezy day. - Engine pylons that shake in severe turbulence. - APU and Engine exhaust "efflux" effects. - highly detailed exterior model with perfectly dialed in spec and bump maps, can see skin imperfections, stringers and added stress plates around the doors etc. - changeable antenna configurations - operable emergency lights along wing/fuse fairing. - 400ER/ERF modeled with improved, heavy weight landing gear assembly and larger tires, - 400ER fitted with pressure operated aux fuel tank. - 400D has significantly restricted operating weights to preserve airframe cycle life. - Stabilizer fuel tank optional, except on airframes where it is not offered, or on airframes where it is not optional. - Numerous optional configurations for the fuel system to allow simulation of the early fuel system design, all the way up to the most recent required design/operational changes. - Numerous new interactions between cockpit and ground crew, to help you manage the pre-departure process. - Accurate refueling during Ground Operations (real-time refueling.) - Accurate fuel temperature based upon aircraft wing skin heat transfer characteristics - Accurate fuel density/temperature effects during real time refueling. (including volume limitations in the event of low density levels.) - Fuel density during refueling based upon actual global/regional variations in fuel density. - Fuel density during refueling adjusted for expected fuel temperature during fueling. - Accurate fuel density/temperature mixing as fuel moves between tanks during operation and refueling. - Optional power source for System 2 and System 3 Demand Pumps. (Pneumatic Air or Electrically driven) - If you choose pneumatic power for DEM2 and DEM3, you will see the exhaust louvers on the #2/#3 engine pylons - Accurate modeling of hydraulic pump flow rates (Based on pump type and power source) - Accurate modeling of hydraulic pressure/temperature relationship. - Accurate modeling of fluid flow dynamics through system, including the potential for leaks, standpipe protections and hydraulic overheat. - Fully modeled electrical system with numerous options for standby power, battery configuration, and more. - accurate simulation of no-break-power and break-power logic for power transfers. - accurate simulation of all AC and DC power distribution systems and controls. - As in all PMDG products, every piece of equipment from pumps to valve controllers right down to light bulbs and switches is correctly connected to all AC and DC power sources. - It is possible to have AC powered equipment become uncontrollable due to DC power faults in panel . (Will you know what that looks like? hmmm) - Accurate fire detection systems modeled for all aircraft types. - multiple fire detection/suppression system manufacturers modeled and user selectable. - accurately modeled test methods for fire suppression - physics based fire simulation for all simulated fires. When operating with real time failures, some fires may not be extinguished or may flash back to life in hot/protected spaces as oxygen levels return to normal after suppression/descent. - Main deck cargo fires may spread/may not be controlled. - simulation of reduced control effectiveness with loss of various hydraulic systems. - simulation of roll/yaw imbalances if various flight controls fail in flight. - Accurate flight models for all body types. - Accurate LNAV, VNAV and autoflight modes. - Accurate operation of FMS systems, including degraded performance due to failures. - Polar operations - Inertial position drift - accurate operation of landing gear and position detection. - accurate operation of alternate landing gear systems, including electrical and hydraulic processes up-to-and-including gear door operation - Free fall of landing gear (and the resulting door impact) in alternate mode. - correct operation of all external doors, including power sources for nose/main deck cargo doors. (this will trip some folks up, mark m words!) - Catering, fueling, ground handling, lavatory services, maintenance, cabin service and cargo loaders all respond in sync with Ground Operations for realistic traffic and servicing around the airplane during ground turns. - Alternate EFIS source option - APU start source power option - numerous selectable locations for the Autobrake switch - Multiple Autostart options based upon engine manufacturer. - Optional System #1 Auxiliary hydraulic pump - Optional cockpit lavatory - Electrical or hydro-mechanical scavenge pump operation - Selectable displays in CRT or LCD format. - Accurate color representation on CRT display type and separate, also accurate color representation on LCD format. (They are different!) - Accurate surface glass/projection surface model for both CRT and LCD displays. (CRTs are a curved projection surface...) - EEC Maintenance Options - EVAC panel options - Multiple Fuel panel layouts depending upon installed equipment - Optional Interphone - Optional analog or digital autopilot mode control panel - accurate bouncing digits on analog mode control panel. - Optional Integrated Standby display or analog alternates. - Various wing/nacelle anti-ice system options with optional ice detection systems - Various radio options - Optional RMIs - Optional Taxi Lights - Multiple window frame styles - Optional yoke checklists and counting devices - airline specific touches throughout the cockpit - random "clutter" placement throughout the cockpit (cans, pens, etc) - Numerous cockpit animations - Customized reflective surfaces such as windows, crt and lcd surfaces - random delamination artifacts in the cockpit windscreens. A few new, big items we are bringing you as well: - Fully customized sound production model that allows us to enhance the cockpit sound experience to accurately match that you would have if you were sitting on the flight deck of a 747-400 in flight. This includes accurate implementation of fan noise, slipstream, cockpit environmental sounds, engine sound fading with speed and/or altitude, shaking, vibration and other environmental sounds you experience during the operation of the flight. - Fully customized sound cones and projection models created using movie studio quality engineering equipment and software to reproduce the internal and external engine sounds for all engine types.This implementation includes multiple bass layers, seamless blending, customized sound cone stitching to eliminate distortion and reproduce the unique sound signature of each engine type. - Significant support for sub-woofer use. - Did we mention a fully customized sound engine with enhanced memory management to that allows us to provide an incredibly feature rich sound environment without negatively impacting VAS. In this product, we are also introducing a new, fully customized physics model that becomes pervasive throughout the simulation: - Realistic ground interface between the surface of the airplane tires and the ground surface. - Accurate rolling resistance model between the aircraft tires and the ground surface. (variation between surface types is right around the corner, too!) - accurate thermal energy transfer model for autobrake and manual brake use, including thermal soaking of brake/tire/landing gear elements. - accurate thermal energy transfer model for cooling - wing flex model based upon accurate rigidity, stiffness and oscillation model of the 747-400 wing structure. - accurate thrust and energy model simulation for all engine types. - accurate mixing and blending of air temperatures and pressures from engine bleed tap to cabin outflow valve, including thermal changes and pressurization. - accurate control effectiveness based upon airspeed, angle of attack, control operation and deflection. - parking brake, chocking position and increased rolling after tire loss based upon physics. - engine pylon shaking based upon turbulence induced acceleration moment, wing motion and rotational inertia of engine components. - cockpit viewpoint shaking based upon the airplane's physical interaction with the world, including taxi ground roll, takeoff, touch down, engine excessive vibration transmitted through the airframe, turbulence, stall conditions disrupting airflow, high speed buffet, speedbrake use, excessive G force, and more. - transfer of heat between fluids (fuel mixing, hydraulic fluid returning to reservoirs, etc.) - transfer of heat through heat exchangers in the bleed system, fuel and hydraulic systems. - accurate modeling of fuel temperature based upon the thermal exchange of heat through the wing surface, radiant heating by the sun, etc. - accurate modeling of cabin temperatures based upon a complete airflow model. - cabin temperature modeling based upon electrical equipment operation, internal lighting operation, supplementary heating sources (foot/shoulder/windshield air use) the number of passengers onboard and their relative distribution throughout the cabin, solar heating of areas such as windows and exposure to direct or indirect sunlight, the state of cabin doors. Okay... that list barely scratches the surface, if you can believe it... There is a TON of stuff, options and details that you will discover as you explore and use the airplane, including pages and pages of options to allow you to customize the cockpit to match your favorite options or airline configuration. We are also providing a bunch of "verified" cockpit configurations for various airlines and airframes that will allow you to fly a specific airplane from a specific line, with the correct cockpit options selected. The are just a few of the things that give the PMDG 747-400 Queen of the Skies II an incredible level of authenticity all around. All of this, and a ton of VAS management to keep you flying and enjoying the simulation. We are incredibly proud of this product and we think it stands as an incredible achievement for the community to enjoy. We are very close to rolling her out of the hangar you- so don't wander too far off! A second post with Further Details is available , Read On !

NOTAM From Robert S. Randazzo Precision Manuals Development Group Captains, This is a big weekend for the PMDG 747-400 Queen of the Skies II, as we begin the process of moving her from Tech Testing to beta testing at long last! We have been working with our tech team since we assembled them back in late January, and they have been an incredibly valuable resource in making this product better, more accurate, and of course- more complete. I know our beta team tends to get all of the glory, because they are usually folks who also participate here in the forum and thus you get to know them personally- but I'd like to take a moment to thank all of our tech team members who have played an incredibly valuable role in helping us to move this simulation further and further along. Our tech teams always surprise us with their knowledge and enthusiasm- and the team that has assembled to help us re-launch our flagship 747 product line is no exception. From obscure trivia to nuances to operationally based testing- no stone is going unturned and the results are really very good. In fact- the tech team has caused us to evaluate replacing some key components in our simulation engine that will have long term benefits not only to the 747, but to the 777 and NGX as well. Some of these changes are already in place, and others are so major we elected not to include them in the initial release because of the risks to the release timeline- so we will be slipstreaming some fairly major updates into the usual post release update process. I am excited to tell you more about those changes- but I'm going to hold off a bit, just in case we pull a rabbit out of a hat and have them completed prior to release! Ultimately though, this means that the product will grow and expand in the post release phase- even more than the hundreds and hundreds of changes we have made to the NGX and 777 in their post release life cycles. Okay- so with all of that said- we are currently in the process of preparing the airplane to enter beta testing during the week ahead. Our beta team has been chomping at the bit for more than a year to have access to this product- but we have held off because we just didn't feel we were ready for their input- given how much feedback we were receiving from our Tech team. We are ready now- and all of us are excited to see and hear what they think! Wow. Wall-O'-Text. How about some imagery to liven the mood? Let's start off with a nice, evening departure, fading daylight, illuminated runway and 747-400 mood shot, shall we? We have a put a huge amount of effort into animations on the outside of the model in order to please even the sharpest aircraft spotter. As with the 777, we are using an active fluid-flow and pressure model for hydraulics in the 747, and this has been expanded to include many of the flow-limiting devices that are used to control things such as gear doors and landing gear and occasionally flight controls as they near their range limits. By adding these features to the simulation, you will notice a greater fluidity, and natural motion with animations than is normally achieved with external part animations. No abrupt or instantaneous motion here- it is fluid and organic- which leads to a very convincing external model view. We are also using some new techniques for external lighting that allow us to capture details such as the variable brightness landing lights that are a unique feature of the 747-400. Most users will never notice them- but those who really appreciate detail will see them for what they are: Another example of just how deeply into the simulation we take you! Sticking with our moody, evening departure for a moment- here is a great shot of the flight deck as the ship is pivoting into position on the departure runway. What I cannot relay for you in this image is the sound the airplane makes as you conduct the turn. From the normal airframe shifting sounds to unique sounds emanating from the body gear steering or the nose gear if you abuse the turn rates, to the vibration of the nose gear slipping under tension, once again we are very focused on the use of sound in conjunction with animation to give you a very real sense of "being there" on the flight deck. Lighting as usual, is a big part of immersing you in the sense of feel, and once again we have put an incredible amount of effort into making sure the lighting matches the actual airplane. From studying the wash and panel lighting, to making certain (as we have for more than a decade) that the various lights, indicators, annunciators and such are properly powered by the correct sources- to ensuring that the mix of lighting choices accurately interplays to give you the correct response to the dimmers and panel back lighting. All of it is there- just as always- with the advantage of continual subtle improvements in techniques and form. With the base package, we are giving you three unique engine models, each with its own core engine simulation and sound package. Aficionados of the 747-400 will appreciate how accurate each ship sounds when compared to her real-world engine mates. In this image you can also see the old style MCP, with the (to me at least) incredibly annoying flutter digits making up the displays. When flying the airplane, there are few things more annoying when you are managing a complex maneuver than to have to wait around while the digits settle in from their energetic dance so that you can see if you got that ATC heading dialed in correctly or not. This version of the flight deck is using the original style CRT displays mixed with an integrated standby flight display- and although you cannot see it in this image the autobrake selector is in the original position on the center pedestal. (You will see it in the alternate position a few images down...) As always- we are cramming a HUGE number of options and configurations into the product so that you can match the equipment to a specific operator or tail number, thus increasing the level of realism in your simulation. Moving back a bit toward the perspective of the jumpseat, and swapping the night mood for a low-visibility mood, we have a bunch more detail for you. Here you can see the digital MCP (YES! No bouncing digits! Oops. Sorry I shouldn't complain...) and the autobrake selector on this airframe has been moved to just ahead of the captain's right knee. (The astute observer will note that Jason clearly did not enforce checklist use adequately- since it is still in the OFF position... Counseling session is pending...) Also visible in this image is the Para-Visual Display, an interesting little techno device that uses input from the ILS and the FMS in order to increase the crew's awareness of runway centerline tracking during low visibility conditions. We just got this operable this week, and I have been playing around with it some during my testing. For those who love gadgetry- this one will tickle the funny bone for sure- especially since you can run it through the self-test and dimming functions just like you would on the airplane in operation. Now properly lined up, you get a good sense of the mood just prior to the start of business in earnest. The low visibility, diffuse lighting in the flight deck offset slightly by Jason's turning up some of the panel flood lighting slightly in order to increase visibility of items on the panel a bit. All of it gives a very good sense of just how beautiful this product is when used with Lockheed Martin's Prepar3D. OH... Did I say Prepar3D? Why yes, I did. All of the images in this preview were taken using Lockheed Martin's Prepar3D v3.4. While our technical testing has been taking place, we have been quietly prepping the Prepar3d version of the PMDG 747-400 QOTSII for testing simultaneously in P3D by both our Tech and Beta teams starting (we hope) this week. The plan, as of today, is to release both platforms side by side... but there are some interesting challenges to accomplishing that goal- so it is still entirely possible that we might hold the Prepar3D version back while we complete updates that are unique to the v3.4 platform. We are hoping that this won't happen- but if it does- the time delta between the two releases should be relatively short. (He says... now... Hoping nothing crops up to make him eat his words...) Okay- that is our update for this evening... Now that we are pushing her out to the beta team- I expect you will begin to see far more information from us and from them... as we start winding up development and moving her toward release! Oh- and surprises... yes... surprises... they told me i'm not allowed to tell you about the.... . Dangit. That is precisely why we needed a . sigh. Read More in the PMDG Forum here at Avsim