My latest FS toy

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:24 pm

Never had the original 767: Pilot In Command but I'm starting to appreciate the hype that used to surround it if it was anywhere near as good as its replacement. This Level-D Simulation 767 is blooming marvelous!

Flight: BA1502
FP: N0457F330 MERIT3 PUT J42 BOS J575 TUSKY N63B VIXUN/M079F370 -NAT-V- LOGSU 49N050W 52N040W 54N030W 55N020W RESNO NIBOG/N0464F370 DCT NURSI UN551 BEL UL10 IOM MIRSI1C
Airframe: G-BNWH
Depart: 12:57z
Arrive: 19:51z

1. Just about ready for the off.

2. Don't think I'd swap... What am I talking about. Ofcourse I would.

3. We're finally underway.

4. Starting our takeoff roll.

5. CLimbing out for PUT and on to Boston and VIXUN for out NAT.

6. On NAT-V and out over open ocean.

7. Rolls-Royce RB.211's powering us along, plus a useful tailwind.

8. A rather splendid VC me thinks.

9. .79M at 37,000ft and the on-set of dusk.

10. Land ho!!

11. Descending towards the Isle of Man.

12. Taxiing to the gate.

qzdcg8 · Post by **qzdcg8** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:42 pm

hmmmmh - so just how much do I have to spend software wise to get to this level...

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:10 pm

The aircraft (model, panel, sounds, configurator etc) is $39.95 from Flight1.com, JFK is part of World Airports 2 (Â£17.99 from play.com) and I believe* Manchester is included in British Airports: Central & South-West England (also Â£17.99 at play.com).

* I got it with British Airports: Central England before the four volumes were compiled into two and at the time Manchester was included as a bonus. Whether it made it onto the more recent compilation I don't know.

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:11 pm

Oh yes, and to enjoy it fully you'll be wanting a fairly decent system (2Ghz+).

qzdcg8 · Post by **qzdcg8** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 1:01 am

Speedbird083 wrote:Oh yes, and to enjoy it fully you'll be wanting a fairly decent system (2Ghz+).

Athlon XP3000, 512Mb Ram, 256Mb Geforce FX should suffice!

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 1:11 am

Well it should. I wouldn't be surprised if even with that system you might experience a little slowdown if you have all the sliders maxed and the bells and whistles turned on.

Some of the Simflyers designed (World Airports 2) sceneries are particularly bad on my system.
A busy JFK or Dulles on a clear day with a 150 mile horizon and its down at 5-10fps, ocassionally even pausing for a pie and a tab at times.

Not ideal but I do like FS looking good - even at the expense of fluidity.

qzdcg8 · Post by **qzdcg8** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:00 am

All this on FS2004 yes? I have FS2000 which I picked up in the bargain bin at Wal*Mart in the US a few years back but I was disappointed by the on-ground modelling and the in cockpit view restrictions and have been thinking about FS2004 for a while.

Do you know whether there is a FS2005 in the pipeline before I splash out?

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 10:12 am

Like it say, its FS2004 plus the above mentioned add-ons in those shots.

FS2000 was a dog. Awful. Hell Microsoft even released two service packs for it and that's the first time (up until the recent FS9.1 patch) that I can remember that happening so it must have seriously flawed in their eyes... and they were right.

I've certainly not heard anything regarding an upcoming version.

Fodda · Post by **Fodda** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 12:16 pm

There are rumours of FS2006 appearing at some time this year Steve, but that's all I know.

2004 is a cracking buy. I don't regret buying it a few months ago.

Post by **martinhodgson** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:25 pm

It has beensuggested that MS having a large stand at the Blackpool Flight Sim show (July 9th and 10th) could be a demonstration.

bigvern · Post by **bigvern** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 6:44 pm

That 767 lash up might be worth a look, especially the panel. Downloaded a couple from FS.com but couldn't get on with them so have reverted to the default at present (flying one of the iFdg models). How are the sounds?

FS2006 will certainly be on my shopping list, so long as MS don't cut that from their games division too.

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 6:53 pm

bigvern wrote:That 767 lash up might be worth a look

You've heart my feelings

. The Level-D 767 a lash up indeed!

bigvern · Post by **bigvern** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:53 pm

ROFLOL - it was actually a statement of respect!

Hopefully the 767 will make it in the shops - can you confirm the autopilot and a/throttle follow standard MSFS conventions? Seems far better than some of the tat I've bought from the Just Flight label lately (like 747 RFP - Â£30 for an add on where you can't even start the engines).

In the meantime can anyone recommend a decent freeware 767 panel. I have tried the kmentt one from FS.com but the lettering by the various dials and switches was illegible even at 1024 x 780.

Speedbird083 · Post by **Speedbird083** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:01 pm

Have you tried Lonny Payne's. Stick 'boeing_757-767_panel.zip' in the AVSIM search engine if not. That's what I was using before the Level-D sim came out.

Its pretty standard stuff in the LDS though can make it as complex as you want. Engine failures, losing gauges, plus it looks beautiful. You'll have no bother with it I'm sure as you get just load it up and fly if you want, use Alt Select and Hold instead of VNAV etc. Its FMC navigation though but you shouldn't have any trouble if you use or have used any of the PSS Airbuses, the PMDG 737NG etc. No hideous default flight planner here.

bigvern · Post by **bigvern** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:08 pm

Downloading now, I'll give it a whirl.