PMDG 747- For the skeptical

[Steve_Butka]

Yes, $54.99 is definitely twice the price of what FS2004 will cost you in stores brand new.  This might make some people click their Back button on their browsers as opposed to clicking "add to cart", but as someone who just made the purchase I can add some insight ito it.

The main thing people had a problem with in PMDG's 737NG was that it was too difficult to learn.  I know I myself got annoyed when I would try and fly it and not programming the FMC left me lost and annoyed.

I cannot say the same for this product.

I loaded it up, and fly a few circuits at Seattle Tacoma and it was just wild.  I will even go as far as saying that the sounds alone make this product worth 55 dollars.  I have never experienced such an exciting takeoff roll as I did, sitting in the amazing virtual cockpit (which has about 10 or 11 interactive goodies including shades for the sun and moving seats & yoke).  My point with this is that you could fly this product just like you would a POSKY 747 if you wish, with a sweet virtual cockpit included.

If you have active camera, fire it up and take a walk around the aircraft when it is at the gate.  The detail is significant.  I have never seen such detail on the exterior of the plane.  As far as interior, you can walk around the first class cabin much like MelJet's 777- again, the detail is insane!

I finished my "test" flight and decided to open up the operating manual pdf when it finally occurred to me just how much work went into this baby.  A number of real pilots contributed to this package, as well as the Boeing company itself.  The manual has 383 pages of graphs, charts, tables, etc., making all of the Queen of the Skies features very understandable.  It also makes you feel like you are preparing to actually fly a 747 yourself and as an aspiring commercial pilot and aviation entusiast (much like many of you) I know that's what we all look for in our flight simulator experience.  The handbook clearly states that PMDG seeks to use FS2004s technology to it's advantage while making up for its disadvantages using the most experienced programmers around.

I can honestly say that PMDG lives up to its mission statement with every release and I'm sure our $54.99 will go right into the next product, their Trijet, and beyond.

So, if you are weary of the high price be assured that it's worth it.  If you cannot see how $54.99 is worth it, ok, that's your call but think about the fact that they will surely put that money to work with every subsequent release and that could only amount to more improvement, more amazing visuals, and more surprised for us that make us say "wow, i didn't know that could ever be done in FS2004".

I hope this was of use to some people and I'd like to write more, but I am off to fly a little more in my new toy that makes me feel like I am truly living my dream of flying heavies for a major airliner.

Good night!

[Silver1SWA]

I am going to assume that the majority of the skeptics here have not completed the following:

1) Purchased another PMDG aircraft, especially the 737.

AND

2) Taken the time to learn it inside out.

Because, if you have completed the above, you would know that a PMDG product is a simulation all in itself!!  They have managed to simulate real-life airliners about as realistically as possible with todays PC technology.  It's not joke...after learning the 737s by PMDG and flying them almost daily in my flight sim, I am confident to say, if I was given the chance to fly a real 737, or more practically a full-motion 737 simulator (I have visited them, played in them, but have not yet had the chance to fly a 737 simulator), I would be able to operate it from start-up to shut-down and get from say SJC to SAN.  It is THAT real!  I have talked to many Southwest Airlines pilots, played around in real 737 cockpits, shown a pilot that I can program a real FMC by actually doing so, had the opportunity to jump seat on a ferry flight giving me a chance to see it all in action before my eyes and I can tell you, I sure as hell know my way around that cockpit and know exactly what the pilot is doing during the flight...all because I have tinkered with a $50 add-on.  That is damn impressive in my opinion.  PMDG got my $55 today, and they damn well deserve it.  I have taken her for one spin, and I absolutely love it.  FS2004 is not the same without PMDG products.  I don't do much else with the sim.  If I'm playing FS2004, I am using a PMDG aircraft.  Therefore to me, PMDG is the name of this sim.

[smashie]

One other thing that I feel is worth pointing out.

For such a massively complicated flight model, physical model and VC. I get no big drop in frame rates or pauses while it re-textures things. My machine is NOT cutting edge and I've not had the luck of getting a reply from FS-GS either!!

[Nexus]

Flown 3 flights with her, latest one being LH402 from Frankfurt to Newark.

The bird performs flawlessly in terms of handling and autoflight systems, but for some reason the performance of my Sim has decreased pretty much when flying with the 744.
I'm aware it's one big resource hog, but so is LDS 767 and that bird flies just fine on my system.  :)

[Steve_Butka]

Flown 3 flights with her, latest one being LH402 from Frankfurt to Newark.

The bird performs flawlessly in terms of handling and autoflight systems, but for some reason the performance of my Sim has decreased pretty much when flying with the 744.
I'm aware it's one big resource hog, but so is LDS 767 and that bird flies just fine on my system.  :)

See, I am the opposite.  She gives me zero frame rate hits-- her textures instantly load, and nothing slows down for me w/ her!  It's really quite funny.

[Felix/FFDS]

Steve, very nice review, but, tell us how you REALLY feel!

At least make a complaint about a non-functional lavatory dump valve!

[smashie]

At least make a complaint about a non-functional lavatory dump valve!

What!!! it doesn't work??? I want my money back  ;D

I was impressed by the moving soda cans in the VC though

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

I was impressed by the moving soda cans in the VC though

Now I really need this thing...mind posting the pics of the Soda cans please??

[SaVas]

$55 is a pittance for what I think this addon is worth.

As for the framerate hit, Im not getting one or at least not one really noticable. If you are getting a framerate hit in the VC you can adjust it so you get better performance in frame rates

[krylite]

I have to add to the impressed reviews. forget about that nitwit review on flightsim.com. If you've played the pmdg737, the 747  is like the craftsmanship ^2. You really feel you're on the second level. It's absolutely correct that's it's basically another simulator. I bet more man-hours were spent in it than Microsoft did upgrading FS2002 to 2004. Watch how the flaps unfold and all the mechanics in it. The PSI(which I don't have) costs $300 and from what I seen it has a small horizon display probably even less detailed than the 8-bit FSII.
The liveries are great too(when you can download them). And I'm relieved the FMC comes fully stocked with SIDs and STARs unlike the lame empty FMC that came with LDS767. Even a real A320 pilot commented he loves it so far on the forum and didn't understand the negative review.

Sure the price would have been nicer at $45. There's no wing view from the VC. And no lower level VC. And you got to really love the big jets(which I do, and 200+ hrs in the pmdg737). But what actually is there is the best there is imo.

[ctjoyce]

Second.

However I have the feeling that PMDG will release a patch containing the main deck for the VC, and I can only imagine what it will contain.