Hi there,
I downloaded saturday (price was € 35,-) and spent a few hours doing touch-and-gos at my favourite training base Luqa, as well as one flight from Luqa to Rome. I used the 30 series and tried both pax version in KLM livery and freighter version in DHL colours (makes no difference in terms of operation). For your interest please find some of my first impressions below:
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+ great outside looks, very accurately modelled (pictures don't promise too much)
+ fine liveries, much detail to discover
+ nice panel, although you have to switch from pic to f/o view in order to access everything
+ great VC to perform a complete flight, nearly everything is clickable, smooth gauges
+ good sub-panels, logically sorted
+ stunning cockpit night lighting (especially in the aqua blue VC version)
+ very special, however not very reliable Sperry autopilot
+ cool sounds, especially avionics, engines and warnings
+ smooth, easy and controllable handling (turns, trim etc. not nervous)
+ very friendly to frame rates, no studdering at all! Big plus for me!
+ nice gadgets such as ground handling cars, opening windows or moving wipers
+ Ah yes and that thing is a rocket - when you're used to the 1-11...
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- VC overall looks aren't as perfect as e.g. in DM's 1-11: some areas blurry, gauges look a little "cobbled" onto the panel
- Callouts are a wild mixture of american (gear) and spanish (flaps) accents, while the height callouts are Honeywell
- Tony, sadly you're right: reversers deploy within a nano-second! Even acoustically - bang it's there, bang it's gone!
- Anti-Collision light turns the tarmac into a turning red 70s disco, c'mon guys, don't exaggerate...
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- am I too stupid or why can't I access any checklists, speed references, trim settings etc. when seated in the cockpit? Can't be true...
- I think I have to buy active camera or somehting to discover the cabin...
- And again - how do I access the wing views from a laptop?
- no TCAS, but that's a very personal old wish of mine using old metal in today's virtual environment
Overall I must say that the first few hours with the model were great fun and I would tend to recommend it! I hope that this basic sum-up gives you sort of a first impression however I will do my best to answer all further questions - just go ahead!
Cheers,
Nick
