Skybird
06-08-08, 04:51 PM
Some weeks ago I asked if somebody could recommend a high quality Airbus-package for FS9, that would compare to the three or four formidable Boeing and ATR-modules available for FS9, and found out by reply and further research that there is none that would rank en par. My intention was to find another airliner whose avionics handling and cockpit manipulation would be very different to the three boeing-designs that I know by ow, and who all three share many similarities and are very familiar to each other, especially the PMDG-747-400 and the Level-D 767-300 are very close to each other in FS9. My ATR-72 gave opportunity for a change in cockpit handling, but still it was quite modern, and knopwing the modern glass cockpit stuff from the Boeings helped a lot to get into the ATR quite quickly, although it is closer to Airbus than Boeing.
Instead of an Airbus, I stumbled over an older FS9-package, which has just been rereleased in a new version for FSX as well: the somewhat famous MD-80, nicknamed Mad Dog. there are two products available, and I decided for the one by CoolSky and Flight1. Reviews for it are available at Avsim, both for FS9, and the FSX version. Search the review appendix for "Super 80".
I got exactly what I was looking for: a very drastic change.
The plane modelled represents the technological standard of the early 80s, when front panels still were dominated by analoge instruments and needle-gauges, and the overhead panel being a maze of knobs and switches. No NAV-map, no MFDs, but a drastically increased workload that teaches you on the fly how dramatic work ergonomy in the pilot's seat has come since then. The thing comes with a 280 pages manual that reminds me of the m,anual for the ATR 72-500 by Flight1. There seem to be as many switches as in two or three modern Boeing cockpits together :) That's the way I like it, although I admit that this is the first time ever that learning a new complex airliner gives me really problems and shows me that I am no 15 year old youngster anymore. Plenty of meanings and functions to store in memory! The Omega Navigation System seems to have been a predecessor of the FMS-systems of today, while modern avionics also seem to find a root in the way the PMS (not FMS) aboard this MD-80 has been designed. The cockpit is an early hybride, it seems to me. and it adds more workload to your sim-flying, which for flying with a computer actually is a good thing. you know, once you got a modern 767 or 747 into the simulated air, it runs the show more or less fully automatic, with you just sitting and monitoring. That might be fine in reality, in a sim, you want some more action, so you add random generated technocal malfunctions, for example. With the MD-80, I am finding my hands full with just handling the many functions of the plane while flying manually, and rememberign where what was and what it does. :)
the cockpits both 2D and 3D are well done and crisp, not truly photorealistic, they nevertheless have been painted in one fluent stroke with the brush, and give a very round and complete visual impression. Only the light conditions during dark worry me, the lighting is very sparse, and the dome light gives no dramatic improvement like I am used from other airplanes, however, the backlight of the gauges and switches at least saves easy visual access to most functions. but all in all the VC is too dark. If it is like this in reality, for the sake of computer egonomy one should have lighten it up a bit.
It is the only known aircraft module for FS series that comes with fully integrated onscreen tzraining of all different phases of flight, and procedures, were you are being led through the needed sequences at a given phase of flight both in writing and marking on the panel, where the steps are explained, but you must carry them out. Also the load manager, and onscreen-prpogressing through the checklists works life and from within FS. finally the always accessible software manager of this package allows you to autoconfigure all paneols for all possible different phases of flight, from colddark over ready to taxi, take-off, climb, descend, ready to land and parking for the night. This is for the lazy amongst us who see no point in learning complex manuals. But you miss the best in this package that way.
Visual model of the plane is solid and okay, but nothing spectacular, the FS9 version of the MD80 is several years old now. the sound is well-done, the copilot also accustically interacts with you. I cannot comment on the flight model, since I do not know the real plane, but it feels very different than what I know from modern airliners, it takes longer to take off, the nose is heavy and lifts with little enthusiam, and in midair again it - simply feels different. But, and that is the important thing: it feels believably enough for this sim-flyer that i am that I accept it to be sufficiently realistic. reviews back then said that the flight model actually is quite good - and I am in no position to argue with that statement.
I wanted a change from the usual Boeing business, something that must be handled differently, must be learned from scratch, and feels different in flight, while also giving me a higher workload. and exactly all this is what I got, the historic feeling from all the old-fashioned gauges and panel-layouts comes additionally and for free. If I do not discover major bugs and showstoppers and weaknesses in functionality, I will rankt this MD80 amongst the best airliners available for FS9, beside the LevelD-767, PMDG-747, the ATR 72, and a group lower (for it has some minor faults and weaknesses) the PMDG-737 800/900 NG.
Comparing by reviews alone, available packages for the Boing 727 and 707 seem to be more bug-ridden and and more shallow in functionality when bebing compared to the MD-80. these would be the obvious closest rivals (regarding time and technology) to which the MD-80 compares. Of these I am sure I picked the - by far - best package.
If you are looking for a change from all the ultra-modern avionic suites like me, check the software out in the reviews at Avsim, and other places. Mad dog might be worth for you to balk for.
I am still learning it and am still locked pretty much at the beginning, but if I find any major issues, I will post them here. but things currently look promising. their support is - after two or three years - still fully active (restricted forum, you gain access with serial number) and answers get posted very fast. That might be becasue the FSX vbersion was released just last Novemeber, I think. The FS9 version has seen one 41 MB service pack.
Instead of an Airbus, I stumbled over an older FS9-package, which has just been rereleased in a new version for FSX as well: the somewhat famous MD-80, nicknamed Mad Dog. there are two products available, and I decided for the one by CoolSky and Flight1. Reviews for it are available at Avsim, both for FS9, and the FSX version. Search the review appendix for "Super 80".
I got exactly what I was looking for: a very drastic change.
The plane modelled represents the technological standard of the early 80s, when front panels still were dominated by analoge instruments and needle-gauges, and the overhead panel being a maze of knobs and switches. No NAV-map, no MFDs, but a drastically increased workload that teaches you on the fly how dramatic work ergonomy in the pilot's seat has come since then. The thing comes with a 280 pages manual that reminds me of the m,anual for the ATR 72-500 by Flight1. There seem to be as many switches as in two or three modern Boeing cockpits together :) That's the way I like it, although I admit that this is the first time ever that learning a new complex airliner gives me really problems and shows me that I am no 15 year old youngster anymore. Plenty of meanings and functions to store in memory! The Omega Navigation System seems to have been a predecessor of the FMS-systems of today, while modern avionics also seem to find a root in the way the PMS (not FMS) aboard this MD-80 has been designed. The cockpit is an early hybride, it seems to me. and it adds more workload to your sim-flying, which for flying with a computer actually is a good thing. you know, once you got a modern 767 or 747 into the simulated air, it runs the show more or less fully automatic, with you just sitting and monitoring. That might be fine in reality, in a sim, you want some more action, so you add random generated technocal malfunctions, for example. With the MD-80, I am finding my hands full with just handling the many functions of the plane while flying manually, and rememberign where what was and what it does. :)
the cockpits both 2D and 3D are well done and crisp, not truly photorealistic, they nevertheless have been painted in one fluent stroke with the brush, and give a very round and complete visual impression. Only the light conditions during dark worry me, the lighting is very sparse, and the dome light gives no dramatic improvement like I am used from other airplanes, however, the backlight of the gauges and switches at least saves easy visual access to most functions. but all in all the VC is too dark. If it is like this in reality, for the sake of computer egonomy one should have lighten it up a bit.
It is the only known aircraft module for FS series that comes with fully integrated onscreen tzraining of all different phases of flight, and procedures, were you are being led through the needed sequences at a given phase of flight both in writing and marking on the panel, where the steps are explained, but you must carry them out. Also the load manager, and onscreen-prpogressing through the checklists works life and from within FS. finally the always accessible software manager of this package allows you to autoconfigure all paneols for all possible different phases of flight, from colddark over ready to taxi, take-off, climb, descend, ready to land and parking for the night. This is for the lazy amongst us who see no point in learning complex manuals. But you miss the best in this package that way.
Visual model of the plane is solid and okay, but nothing spectacular, the FS9 version of the MD80 is several years old now. the sound is well-done, the copilot also accustically interacts with you. I cannot comment on the flight model, since I do not know the real plane, but it feels very different than what I know from modern airliners, it takes longer to take off, the nose is heavy and lifts with little enthusiam, and in midair again it - simply feels different. But, and that is the important thing: it feels believably enough for this sim-flyer that i am that I accept it to be sufficiently realistic. reviews back then said that the flight model actually is quite good - and I am in no position to argue with that statement.
I wanted a change from the usual Boeing business, something that must be handled differently, must be learned from scratch, and feels different in flight, while also giving me a higher workload. and exactly all this is what I got, the historic feeling from all the old-fashioned gauges and panel-layouts comes additionally and for free. If I do not discover major bugs and showstoppers and weaknesses in functionality, I will rankt this MD80 amongst the best airliners available for FS9, beside the LevelD-767, PMDG-747, the ATR 72, and a group lower (for it has some minor faults and weaknesses) the PMDG-737 800/900 NG.
Comparing by reviews alone, available packages for the Boing 727 and 707 seem to be more bug-ridden and and more shallow in functionality when bebing compared to the MD-80. these would be the obvious closest rivals (regarding time and technology) to which the MD-80 compares. Of these I am sure I picked the - by far - best package.
If you are looking for a change from all the ultra-modern avionic suites like me, check the software out in the reviews at Avsim, and other places. Mad dog might be worth for you to balk for.
I am still learning it and am still locked pretty much at the beginning, but if I find any major issues, I will post them here. but things currently look promising. their support is - after two or three years - still fully active (restricted forum, you gain access with serial number) and answers get posted very fast. That might be becasue the FSX vbersion was released just last Novemeber, I think. The FS9 version has seen one 41 MB service pack.