longhaul747

I was going to give this program a go last night but I found the process confusing for my old brain. You have to install the Reshade utility but no instructions provided that explained how to do that. I found a YouTube video that explained it which is not difficult. When I tried it I got some kind of warning that my file size was not big enough or whatever and that it would cause problems if I did install it. I could not find anything about that so I just gave up. Not sure I want to carry on anyway since I have heard mixed about this program out there and even some downright scary stuff like it contains spyware or whatever.

Glad to see the v1.1 updated available. I updated no problem on my system. I had a random Nest update a few days ago and I just let it do its thing and updated then so maybe some users just need that update. Looks like they might have addressed most if not all the flyability issues I was having. V1.0 did not really work for those with a basic joystick and keyboard users which is probably a large majority if users in reality. I tried the work around's with limited success but just sort of got new issues that came with me trying to fix things. Unfortunately because of real life commitments I won't be able to test the 757 in full until Thursday.

It is interesting...PMDG has never actually shown it's Max publicly that I am aware of! It has also been an on again off again project since the P3D days if memory serves. This does not sound like something even PMDG would do but whatever mentioning of the project they have done could have been a placeholder more than anything. Meaning by mentioning the project it was an attempt to scare off other developers from creating one. This obviously did not work and iFly created the MAX 8 which has proven to be mostly superior over PMDG's NG series. We were within month(s) (possibly weeks) of a supposed PMDG MAX release when the iFly MAX dropped and PMDG silently withdrew it's release. After a while we did not hear anything about it and when it started to be questioned in mass PMDG mentioned the so called "Enterprise Project". I had my doubts about that so called "Enterprise Project" but I did pick up on a forum out there that someone claimed to see this project in the works at Boeing. The model they claimed to see what very basic so that was likely not the model we will supposedly get in FS2024. I think the only chance we will actually ever see a PMDG MAX is if iFly fails to complete the series. Last year the ice cold PMDG MAX project was getting a bit of buzz again but iFly mentioned the MAX 9 and likely others once certified and ever since PMDG has gone silent again. Only news is the so called "Enterprise Project" is now supposedly done. However the development team is working full time on the 747 project but once that is mostly rapped up the MAX will continue development again and they say time and time again it is coming. My speculation is they are waiting iFly out. If iFly does not get moving on the other variants it will open the door for PMDG to come in. I don't consider the Asobo Max 8 and the voodoo models others have now made of it. It is a nice looking model but something is very off about how it flies and still has some annoying bugs. It is free and came with FS2024 so that will rob some sales from PMDG but probably not many. The iFly on the other hand is a serious threat and I that is why I think PMDG is waiting it out. In order to keep things fresh it is probably time for iFly to do a press release on the status of the FS2024 model and toss a bit of MAX 9 and maybe even some MAX 7 or MAX 10 news as well now that they are certified. The MAX 10 is selling very well so we definitely need a high fidelity version in the sim. The longer iFly goes silent PMDG will start blowing the dust off it's MAX again! This is all just me speculating but I think it is all fairly plausible!

I second Cloudsurf available as freeware on flightsim.to. I downloaded it yesterday and have now done 3 flights using it. It gives you that wispy 3D cloud affect detail as you fly into the clouds. You even get a little bit of cloud vapor around the wings. It is one of the better utilities I have tried in the sim and I have tried many. It is only on V1.0 so no doubt improve as time goes on. You do have some user settings including some advance settings that are optional. I just left mine set on default. The developer is working on a lighting affect while flying in the clouds but this will take some time as it is not an easy affect. Overall it works pretty well. I do get a bit of performance degradation but it not all that bad. I imagine on a newer and faster machine it will be hardly noticeable. I have not tried the AtmosphereMod yet but have downloaded it! Flightsim.toCloudSurf: fly through clouds - MSFS Add-on - Flightsim.to✓ For Microsoft Flight Simulator: CloudSurf enhances cloud flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 by adding visual cloud puffs that move past your aircraft, providing a greater sense of speed and i

For me I would probably end up owning both eventually. I tend to think in this day an age the iFly would probably end up being the better model over what PMDG will put out. Even though the iFly model will be better I would probably end up using the PMDG version of the MAX just because it is likely going to match the current NG the most. Simple things like switches would function the same and it is likely things like the view modes will be very similar. I tend to think the PMDG flight dynamics tend to be slightly more refined as well. No guarantee of this but same developer would probably make it so. One thing that concerns me about the PMDG MAX is the original release was supposed to be between the 777 release cycles like 2 years ago. I believe for FS2020 and than FS2024 came out that forced them to redo the NG's for that platform. So unless they have completely rebuilt whatever version of the MAX they had it will likely be a tad dated by now. Also the so called commercial project delayed it even longer but this is all over and done with now so they say. When PMDG is asked they said the MAX is definitely coming. The question is when? My gut instinct which means about a grain of salt is the real delay was because the MAX 7 and MAX 10 were not yet certified. Some reason PMDG did not want to release only the 8 and 9 early or did not want to develop but never release the 7 and 10 if it is never certified. Just one of my crazy hunches but now that the 7 and 10 are certified and will by flying early next year just maybe PMDG will get it out around that time or at least officially put it on the menu.

I have started to wonder when the MAX9 will be coming? It was announced around Jul or Aug of last year and was supposed to come after the SP1 update. A bit later they changed it to after the 2024 native build which has not happened yet. It seems they have gone quiet since the last big SP1 update last summer. Original news was the MAX 9 was coming next and if the MAX 7 and 10 get certified they would likely do those as well. They are now certified and will enter service by early next year. Hopefully no news is good news and like the Fenix Neo it is now sooner rather than later. Only speculating on the Fenix Neo release but my gut feeling is soon! I used to be anti MAX during all the bad publicity and groundings but I have really warmed up to the plane lately. The iFly MAX is by far the best model out there. Tried the default Asobo MAX 7 and it is just so full of stupid bugs and flies like garbage. Tried the RMStudios MAX 9 and it looks the part but flies like the default MAX it is based from (bad)! PMDG will probably be a nice MAX and will fit the NG they already have but they seem to just be sitting on it. Probably years away!

"According to a post on Discord from today of one of the BB devs they have now finally declined any change coming to the flight model (flight controls / sensitivity) as they think it's perfect." If this is the case than they are finished as developer. Community feedback and how they respond is critical.

Well, this morning I finely got the 757 airborne. Just a quick circuit around the airport. I did not think the flight model was that bad but definitely very twitchy beyond very minor movements. I think it might be technically correct but in the sim environment and especially 90% of the configurations the technically correct aspect does not really work out. My biggest issue is the amount of rework I have to do to get it working on my setup. During the test flight it turns out a lot of the rework I have done is not really working either. I definitely need to fix the full left or right rudder deflection issue. I can't touch the rudder in flight and this limits what you can do with it. Also when I touched down and turned off the runway my nose gear got stuck at 90 degree angle and would not straiten out. So all that rework just so I could taxi the airplane pretty much went down the toilet. I am thinking it is related to the full left and right rudder deflection issue I am still having. My biggest issue is why on an $80 payware aircraft do I have to dig in and change so many settings on what is pretty much a 99% stock configured install? I get it if you had a lot of cool and custom stuff it would be up to the user getting it all working well together but for a plane to not work on a stock install is not good. Pretty close to sending this plane into the garbage bin. Might revisit it in 6 months but unfortunately BlueBird's lengthy track record it is doubtful this plane will ever work properly. It also leaves a pretty big whole in the simulation community. If BlueBird turns turtle which I suspect will happen it will be many years before we get a nice 757 in the sim that actually works.

I had to dig into my sim settings and I finely set it up so I can center the rudder using the numerical key 5 on my keyboard. I had to delete the default setting and create a custom setting for the 5 key on this model. Only thing I need to figure out next is how to set it up so the rudder moves incrementally instead of full left or right deflection. I admit is not super complicated fix and you can set up custom profiles per aircraft at least in FS2024 you can. However I am still deeply disappointed that a plane out of the box needs to be configured this way. PMDG did not require it, Fenix did not require it. Most planes are functional for the most part out of the box but this one was not. I think the only other aircraft that gave me trouble was the Synaptic A220 and is still giving me trouble on my setup. I have not flown it yet since I have had to reconfigure many default settings in relation to my set up. So I can't comment on the flight dynamics yet but if it is like the rest of the package it is probably flawed as well.

Forgive me if I am totally off on this one but I question the modeling of the old school CRT's? I thought most of these were upgraded to a more modern and reliable LCD display like 20+ years ago? It is cool they modeled the original configuration but I don't think any 757's flying around today have the original CRT's in them. Having a choice of CRT's or LCD's would be super cool! I can't remember about the 757's. Maybe it was the A320 Series planes that were all eventually upgraded and not the 757's but I am pretty sure they were upgraded at some point as well. Still can't get my rudder to work. Numerical key 5 does not center the rudder as it should. No Assistance options are ON either. It is either full deflection left or right. Once you move the rudder off center it is no longer flyable. I read something about changing your key assignments for the rudder to something else but that is a PITA to do and should not be necessary.

I got this installed tonight and other than some mapping issues getting it installed in the right folder and some odd error messages during the install it finely installed correctly. When I looked it over it did not look all that bad minus some already mentioned texture issues. However the trouble began as soon as I wanted to taxi and take it for a quick circuit around the airport. It seems Bluebird has forgotten people have vastly different setups out there. I still rely on the keyboard for some basic functions and have old but trusty CH Flightstick Pro. I can't steer the plane using my keyboard and I can move the rudder but it only has full deflection left or right with no option to center the rudder. I don't see any sort of option for the rudder controlling the tiller in the EFB either. Basically the plane is useless with my setup! It is about to be shelved until such time it is usable on my system! Edit: I found the Options in another sub menu of the EFB. For some reason I was in the Aircraft Tab and was looking for it there. I can now steer it on the ground (Sort of) but I still have the technical issue of the rudder not centering. So in reality it is still messed up.

Purchased this morning on the Bluebird website. I got the serial key right away and created an account as requested. However my serial key is not working. Just says invalid key! I purchased this morning before work and was hoping to get it installed before I leave. I will try again tonight. Might have to wait for Bluebird to activate the key on their side.

Absolutely love the folks at Fenix Simulations. Best airplane and best customer support in this hobby! I was not expecting a full on V3 but I will take it. Heck I will even pay for it but nice to see I will not have to do that! I have a sneaking suspicion the Neo's are not far behind now. I not going to guess when I think they are coming but it will probably still be cold in most of the northern hemisphere when it arrives.

After updating this morning I did a flight in the RMStudio's 737 MAX 9 from SEA to PHX. It is not a perfect model but it is not half bad and gives me my MAX 9 kicks until IFly or PMDG ever release it. I did not notice any drag issues with that model but I was sorely disappointed to see that Phoenix is still broken in FS2024. I can't believe it has been almost a year and it had not been fixed yet!

Unfortunately I did a longer test flight. SEA-PSP and like before everything uneventful until on final approach. As soon as I hit the flaps I get a WASM crash. Not sure why this is happening? It used to be rock stable and I have uninstalled and reinstalling fallowing the directions down to the T but it seems to be still happening. Seems to be time related? If it is a short 30 minute flight it does not do it but anything over an hour it is guaranteed on my system.

Another thing I am happy to report is repaints seem to be working again. Previously it would just show up as all white but one of the latest patches secretly fixed it.

I installed the latest update following the directions as before and so far knock on wood it was stable. I did a short 30 minute commuter flight and no WASM crash. I bit early to break out the champagne but hopefully the trend continues....

Tonight on my return leg from PSP back to SEA everything went smoothly until on final. I seem to get a WASM crash as soon as I lower the flaps. Not sure if it makes any difference but the when the screens go orange it indicates some sort of WASM failure in the panel folder. I cleared it all out and installed it the way they say to do it. I even tried the utility provided by FSS. I don't know? I think it needs a lot more work! Now I have a theory that this so called 1.0 build was rushed in response to the rumor that Inibuilds might be doing the E-Jets. I know it is tin foil hat stuff but this so called build felt very rushed. When they mentioned the other day that 1.0 was close I was expecting at least next month yet it arrives literally a few days or so later! Also not impressed with the least that all the past repaints I have no longer work. If this was disclosed I probably would not have installed the 1.0 build until compatibility is either made or painters get caught back up. For now thought I need to get this WASM issue resolved. I seem to remember I had to clear out something else last time not really published. Might be some WASM stuff located in the E175 folder itself that needs to be cleared. I know I had it bad during one of the Experimental builds and I fixed it by clearing one of them.

I find the default A330 to be mostly okay for the type of flying I do. Some bugs and it would be nice to see it updated at some point. My biggest issue is the last of a PW model. Seems like an odd oversight to me. Hopefully we can get a version 2 of the model at some point that is more feature complete and has PW engines. It is my understanding that Inibuilds would certainly like to do a V2 but hands are tied by Asobo. Curious if they have bothered asking if they could update them? Not sure I am a fan of these major developers making default planes for FS2024. Seems when this happens we get a water downed model that can't updated easily!

Update....I had a WASM crash on final approach into PSP the second I tried to lower the flaps. Even though I cleared the WASM when deleting the plane and deleted the plane and reinstalling it using the Contrail app I still got a WASM crash. I just downloaded the FSS Support App and used that to clear the WASM folder and uninstalled and reinstalled the model again. Hopefully that works? I had bad WASM crashes on one of the previous builds and clearing the WASM manually fixed it. Hopefully this time the FSS Suport App cleared whatever else might be hiding in there causing the problem.

Just about done with my SEA-PSP flight and so far it has been 100% stable. I can't really comment on the systems depth since I usually keep it simple most of the time but so far what I have noticed is working nicely. It did seem a bit picky getting it to lock into the Nav track. The button was not doing anything and when I manually got it right on the track the Nav button would finely click on and fly the route. Not sure if this is how it is supposed to be or if it is some sort of issue? In the past as long as you are heading in the right direction and not far away from the programmed course it would just fly to it by pressing on the Nav button. After my flight is complete I am going to dig in and see why my repaints are not working? In the past even FS2020 only repaints worked fine in FS2024. Since this update all you get is all white textures. The model loads but not the textures you are looking for. Interestingly those white textures are detailed so it is loading something but not the textures you are looking for. This is just pure theory based on no facts but I am thinking some sort of layering issue with the model. It loads default textures fine but not any sort of repaint. I hope I can get them to work because it seems historically when a model update requires new painting it takes forever for the painters to catch back up. In many cases paints out there never get updated at all even on much more popular models like the PMDG 737's. From what I have read they really did not update the model much so I am kind of surprised they don't work. Eventually they plan a native FS2024 model and that one might just require updated paint jobs but I don't think it needs it yet.

I just downloaded and installed the new update (V1.0 or technically 1.01 addressing an activation issue). Overall it looks good and the model seems to be a tad more detailed and I see more detail inside the cockpit. Some of the lines look nice and clean now whereas before I was getting some strange ghosting affect that has improved over several updates but still there until this latest build. At this time I can't comment on how it flies or any additional detail on the enhancements that have been made. That will come tomorrow when I fly SEA-PSP in the E175. Only negative that I see is previously most of my repaints for FS2020 worked in FS2024 on this model. However with this latest update none of my older for FS2020 repaints are working. Even some supposedly FS2024 repaints are not currently working. They either updated the model and it will require a host of new repaints or I am overlooking something.

Version 1.0.9A is out and I am amazed performance is pretty solid now. Always room for improvement and I am sure they will continue to tweak it but it runs pretty smoothly on my system. They also implemented some other fixes that help improve things. Overall it is coming along nicely! One thing they have not fixed yet is some of the quality of life issues. I really hope they implemented some EFB configuration settings that allow enjoyment of the product on somewhat more conventional systems. On my set up the rudder is backwards. Yeah it fixable but you have to be careful that you don't mess up anything else and this is the only plane with the issue so it's just odd. Another issue is for those that control thrust with the keyboard. I tried some of the workarounds but they did not exactly give me the desired results. I tried setting up a botton on my joystick that activates the thrust reversers and I got it working but it is kind of difficult to manage while you are trying to do everything else. A simple option that allows you to hold down the F2 Key and the thrust reversers engage just like pretty much every other jet out there would work for me. Shame on me for using a keyboard for some functions but I have a feeling I am not alone and this plane is basically almost useless trying to control basic functions using a keyboard. I am confident eventually they will make it right..I hope!

I got the nose gear steering and rudder issue fixed. Looks like they have a new option or it was always there and was properly configured before called Keyboard Flight Controls or something similar to that. When this is enabled I finely have use of my rudders and ground steering. I must have missed it the first time I was checking options out trying to fix the problem. Thank goodness I found this because it was driving me insane checking key bindings for conflicts and other Assistance options but was coming up empty. I have a CH Flightstick Pro USB and I use the keyboard for some stuff most of the time. I have throttle and a yoke plus rudder pedals but my wife and daughter complain about them being in the way when I set it all up. So most of the time I make it easy for them and use the keyboard and my trusty CH Flightstick.

This morning out of curiosity I deleted the download from Contrail and installed the build on Aerosoft One in the small chance this helped the rudder situation but unfortunately it did not. I checked key bindings and everything is fine on my system and all other planes work. I have mostly a default setup. The rudder is not working on my system now with this plane but worked fine before! My theory is this particular build when it was compiled is set up for whatever the person at FSS was using hardware wise and unless you are configured like the model builder it is not going to work. They probably forgot to reset the configuration in some sort of way.