Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Nov 20, 2022 2:51:04 GMT
More sure than ever these'll be the last textures "I present" and that are intended for "December/Christmas" release.
The following are a selection of 4 "very fine" FINE AIR DC-8 liveries .... for our "NEW V6" DC-8-50F and DC-8 SUPER 61F 3D models featuring the STAGE III QTV ("QUIET TECHNOLOGIES VENTURE") type engine nacelles of the late 1990's/early 2000'n'noughties.
The following 2 subjects in particular were kindly fast-tracked by Paul HAAK within the past 48 hours ("THANKS" Paul
) as follows ....FINE AIR DC-8-51F N508DC (2000) .... with "DC8STAGE III" fuselage only branding !
FINE AIR DC-8-54F N57FB (1999) .... with both "DC8STAGE III" engine nacelle and fuselage branding .... this was one of the first of several DC-8-50's to re-enter FINE AIR service following their QTV engine nacelle modifications .... hence the extensive branding on this particular aircraft in order to promote the fact !
The above 2 subjects will also be accompanied by our earlier this year presented FINE AIR QTV modified DC-8 textures (not yet released either) for the following aircraft subjects too ....
FINE AIR DC-8-54F N426FB (2000) .... with "DC8STAGE III" fuselage only branding !
FINE AIR DC-8 SUPER 61 N29UA "Stephen Petrosky" (2000) .... none of the FINE AIR DC-8 SUPER 61F's ever supported "DC8STAGEIII" branding (so far as we're aware), but, their external engine modifications were obvious.
"YES" .... the N508DC livery "IS" very similar to that of N426FB. What makes the difference here though is N508DC is a "DC-8-51F" .... whilst N426B is a "DC-8-54F".
So ... what's the difference ?
Weight certification and power rating primarily !
Most (but not all of the few) freighter conversions of DC-8-51F aircraft featured the port side main deck cargo door, but, not the floor strengthening of original production/customized and/or otherwise specifically converted DC-8-54F/JT aircraft. As such the MGW of these aircraft (the -51/-51F) remained restricted to up to 276,000 LBS .... whilst their P&W JT3D-1 version fanjet engines were rated at 17,000 LBS thrust each.
SERIES -52 through -55 DC-8's were each (mostly) powered by higher thrust P&W JT3D-3B version fanjet engines rated at 18,000 LBS thrust each .... whilst also being certified for MGW's ranging from 300,000 LBS to 325,000 LBS depending on specific aircraft type version customization. The DC-8-54F/JT in particular (and subject of some of these simulations/textures) was certified for up to 315,000 LBS MGW). So .... there's some additional 4,000 LBS of power/thrust as well as some additional 39,000 LBS of weight variation between just the DC-8-51/-51F and -54F/JT alone .... or to translate this into FS terms .... more than enough to impose need for some handling differences since FS/"THE GAME" does simulate both weight engine thrust variations quite well. This's one of a number of reasons why, since 2000, HJG's always opted to do what it does the way it has .... since there's absolutely no point in making everything work the same way .... or .... doing things the same way as everyone else has previously done it either. This's where HJG tends to differ considerably from other FS groups/developers. Not saying (by any stretch of the imagination) what we do is better/best .... just saying it "does" make for "positive differences/advantages".
These sorts of weight and engine thrust variations "ARE" worked into our DC-8 (and all other aircraft type) FDE's .... and which (once again) "DO" result in variations of performance capabilities between the simulated aircraft types we represent .... but .... which are only really noticeable if one loads, and flies, each each simulations we offer precisely as we recommend/"properly"
"THANKS ONCE AGAIN" for these Paul .... you've made a "FINE" job of these FINE AIR's .... and this "V6" DC-8 project generally
Mark C
AKL/NZ