ifly747

[Rocket_Bird]

Ah!  Now I just gotta figure out how to convert ifly's into Lbs

[Gary R.]

I just wish enough people would email the authors and in a nice manner try to get them to see if they could optimize their gauge coding a little more and maybe convert the textures to dxt3.  Clickspots would be good also but I could live without them if I could get more than 24FPS without turning every setting down to minimum.  And the funny thing is, if I run any other demanding plane like 737 NG or 747 RFP or whatever, the settings I go down to would yeild quantum frame rate jumps, like up toward 40.  With this, it seems the more I shut down, the more the model will take.  And, this is with the 2D only panel.  I can't get out of the teens in the VC even with everything else shut down.  This includes ALL un-necessary background apps to, which means realworld weather is not an option either.    :'(

[HyperionAirways]

Keep in mind this is just v1, and it's relatively new, so I'm sure that as people politely ask them for things, they'll take them into consideration.

I know I emailed them thanking them for such a wonderful model, and they were very prompt with a nice response.

[Gary R.]

Yes, I emailed them also and thanked them and also and complimented them and they were very fast with a response. I also told them of the difficulties.  They asked me to reply with some screenies also.  That's rough for a dial-up user but I did.  They don't have a fix at this time.  They probably need to go back into their coding and such.  I will work with this plane though and constructively give them feedback as they come up with different versions and patches.  I really support their efforts and want to see this package become a freeware PMDG Qween of the Skies just to stick it to the payware arena.  Not that there is anything wrong with payware.  I just like to see when freeware stuff can actually raise the bar for what's a worthy payware standard.  Plus, the closer to the cutting edge that freewares get the more likely that payware prices will stay reasonable.  I can't see anyone making a payware Beech-18 or the Vintage Rockwells and charging a lot for them when it would be hard to trump what Milton Shupe has already done with those birds.  Just as an example also, if somebody collaborated with Richard Probst and incorporated his 727-200 panel into a VC model and added a full flight engineer panel as well, would anyone buy Captain Sim's 727??  Probably not unless they did a big price reduction and added extras not found on the freeware version.  If somebody did a complete FMC for the 737 Experience would anyone buy the PMDG version unless the price went down and it had a few extras?  You see what I mean.

[HyperionAirways]

Buying the PMDG plane violates my self-imposed anti-payware policy anyway...

[cavity]

Why all the negativity towards payware?  It is simple, if you dont like it, you dont have to buy it.  If a company charges 50 bucks for a product and it sells well, good for them.  Whether it cost $10 or $50 dollars, the market will determine if it sells or not.  I have one payware plane, Captain Sim727, why, because I love the 727.  Was it expensive, maybe, but I was willing to pay for it, so it was worth it to me.  The designers of payware aircraft make planes for their living, not just because they love doing it.  They have every right to make money if they produce a product to sell.  This is only my opinion, please do not take this as a slight to anyone, just cant understand why people beat up payware so much.  Todd

[simonmd]

Very True. I've read the full review in Pilots magazine and the PMDG does sound like an amazing piece if kit that must have taken many man hours to put together. A real 747 pilot said it was as good as it could get and he admited to actualy thinking "where did I leave my car at the airport?" when he was on final aproach, it had fooled him! However, the package costs more than FS9 itself so it's a limited market.

With freeware getting so good now, I can see Payware prices being slashed in the next few years.

[GA_Pilot]

[quote] and maybe convert the textures to dxt3.

[Gary R.]

Well, I downloaded that dxt3 texture converter but I'm not sure how to use it.  I have no experience with that sort of app and I would need a blow by blow.  I'm not even sure if the ifly 747 is gmax or not.  I thought I read that it was but I could be mistaken.  Perhaps somebody could double check on that and if so maybe give me some detailed guidence or convert and uplaod with the authors' permission.

[HyperionAirways]

It is simple, if you dont like it, you dont have to buy it.

Exactly what I said, and you called it negativity.