Passenger Fleet in FSX - My Findings

First off, HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2006 is behind us, and 2007 is here! I'd like to share my results in testing our current passenger fleet in FSX. First off my system specs:

Dell XPS400, Dual 2.8ghz CPU, 2 Gig Ram, EVA Nvidia FX 7950 GT Card with 512 Meg Ram; and a 140 Gig Hard Drive. 19" Samsung SyncMaster 913v running 1280x1024, 32bit, 72hz. Onboard Sound, Microsoft Sidewinder II Joystick.

I Installed ALL the aircraft into a temporary directory, then copied them into the FSX/Simobjects/Airplane Directory.

I've noted quite a few texture issues, which may be due to my graphics card and drivers, you'll have to try these on your system and report.

B1900 - The B1900 in our new colors flies reasonalby ok...the handling is a little quirky on taxi; but just like the stock Beach King Air; very touchy on the trottle. Once in the air, she handles nicely. I did notice the landing gear and cockpit tetures are black/grey; this could be an issue with the type of texture and FSX. Landing lights are NOT visible in exterior mode as with some stock FSX birds, but can be seen, BRIGHTLY from within the cockpit. So, the only issue are the textures. The PMDG bird handles great in FSX. PMDG has posted a link on how to install into FSX. Took me about 10 mins, not to hard, but you do have to add a few lines in the Acft.cfg file. Textures all work great in both day and night; however the same landing light issue not being seen from the exterior of the aircraft remain the same. Inside though, they show up great.

Saab340 - Everything seems to work ok; same goofy taxiing issue as the 1900; all the lights seem to work from within the cockpit, but the landing and taxi lights do not show up in exterior view. Other than that, it works out great!

ATR72 - First problem is that the panel uses several FS98 guages which CANNOT be used in FSX. After hitting "yes" to several questions, she loaded up with several guages missing from the main panel. A quick change over to the King Air panel sorted it out. The same issue of cockpit textures came about....and taxi handeling is a little better than the previous two, but not much. I'm wondering if I have to play with my joystick settings now. She's also SPEED demon in FSX....quickly climbing at 240 indicated, 2000fpm! Other than those issues, it too flys decent in FSX. There is an ATR 42 Panel for FSX available on Avsim, but I have not tried it.

Dash 8-300 - Well, I gotta tell you I was a bit dissapointed. First off; as with the ATR, it uses ALOT of FS98 guages....so much so that you have to alias it with the King Air Panel. This causes problems in itself as PAD builds their aircraft and panels together so that you loose alot of modeling with other panels. She was very quirky on take off, and the autopilot had issues as well. She was a speed demon like the ATR; quickly going past 280 indicated with the speed warning comming on during climb! Texture wise she looked marvelouse except for the prop textures.....solid black discs. This bird is probably not the best with FSX.

EMB170 - Could not get it to show on the acft list in FSX. There is another EMB170 for FSX that worked fine, I guess I could copy the textures over but this isn't the point. For some reason I cannot install OUR 170 into FSX and get it to show on the list.

Bombardier CRJ-900 - This bird flies like she belongs in FSX! I aliased the FSX RJ700 panel and sounds to her and wala! Flys and looks great. All textures are there, all lights work. Only issue is the VC. The VC is built into the model by Opensy, so no guages work. I'm sure they'll be upgrading these fine acft as time progresses.

Boeing 717-200 - Installed this bird, and the textures with out to many issues. Since there are no FSX panels/sounds out for this particular aircraft, I aliased the 737-800 panel and sounds. First time I've used the panel, and while it looks cool, I wasn't to impressed with it's functionality. First, I noticed there is no Nav light switch?? Second, the landing light switches don't work to well with this aircraft, but thats an aircraft.cfg prob, not the panel itself. Other that that, this is another bird that looks and works well in FSX!

MD87 - Well, after loading up our new MD87 Pax/Cargo Combo; making sure I had the B738 panel and sounds aliased over; started up the sim; found the aircraft in the list, selected it....what the heck? No aircraft in the preview pane? So, I picked my start point and fired her up. Well, the panel is there, sounds are there...cool, lets do a external view.....oh boy, we have a new Stealth MD87!!!! Thats right...the invisible plane. Lights all work, just no body! Must be a texture issue. Next aircraft.

Airbus' "Baby" A318 - Another great bird that I had no issues with at all. I aliased the A321 panel and sounds....works like a charm!

Airbus A319 - As with some acft, the landing and taxi lights do not show from cockpit; and external view; meaning there is no ground splash; but the lights show on the acft. Other than that, this is a great bird!

Boeing 737NG (-700) - Another great Posky bird that flys well in FSX. I was once again disapointed with the Stock 737-800 panel; some buttons don't work, and no NAV light switch??? As you can see by the pics; the night textures are a little off; but she still flys great.

Boeing 737-800 - Well, I had some issues with this bird. First, the stair textures are black...not sure what the difference is between these and the -700; but there must be otherwise they'd look the same? Next. I COULD NOT GET THIS BIRD off the ground. 50% fuel, 60 % pax etc, flaps, trim; nope....I could drive this thing to DCA; cuz she wouldn't lift off.

Boeing 757-300 - Another great bird in FSX! No panel avail, so you have to alias the 737-800 panel and sounds to it.

Boeing 767-300 - Finnally there is a heavy twin panel available for download on Simviation and I think Avsim; it's the 777 panel from fs2004; but hey, at least its a panel more suitable to the 767. A great bird, works great in FSX!

Boeing 787-900 - Flew test flight 3643; STL-DFW. Not a bad aircraft; all the extras like fuel trucks, baggage, jetways, etc work with the key commands set in FSX. There is also a 3rd party 787 panel avail for fsx, but it is a little FR heavy. You can use the 777 panel avail as well. The only texture isssues are the black spoiler textures and a light comming out of the cargo doors when the nav's are on. Other than that, it flys great in FSX!

Boeing 747-400 - Flew test flight 3701; DFW-EGLL. As with all the Project Opensky birds, this one flys great. Linked up with the stock 747 panel and 737-800 sounds, she works like a charm!

Boeing 777-300 - Test flight from MSP to ORD. Another winner in FSX. All the bells and whistles work. Using the 777 panel from 2004 is a nice touch. A winner here.

And Lastly the A340-300 - Quick day flight back to MSP from ORD; she works great. Since there is no Airbus 4-engine panel; I used the stock 747. I have NOT tried the VC model.

Well, thats my report! If you find different issues, please forward them to the staff!

Thanks all,

Ken, thank you so much for all of the testing that you have done. I'll take a hard look at these birds, and put the "FSX" icon beside those that you have reported no or very little problems. Can you send me an FSX icon please.

Thanks

Capt Paul

Paul:

I can't add photos to the common album, but here is a link to a web site where you can copy and download the FSX logo:

coppermine.luchtzak.be/displayimage.php?...stup&cat=10164&pos=0

I emailed it to you a long time ago, but you must not have been able to get it.

Thanks Bob, I did receive your earlier email, but I am looking for a small square logo or icon, similar to the FS8 and FS9 ones that we use on the aircraft download pages.

Capt Paul

Paul,

I cropped and resized these to 105x79 resolution.

[size=huge]OR[/size]

Image Locations:

www.stpaulairlines.com/fsx-std-logo.jpg

www.stpaulairlines.com/fsx-deluxe-logo.jpg

Hope these help.

Thanks.

Naresh

Paul, if you'd like I can email you an aircraft at a time zipped with the FSX panel/sound and thumbnail it needs to show up in the FSX aircraft list....just let me know!