Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jul 3, 2023 5:19:14 GMT
The HJG DC-9 series offers everything plus an integrated WX and has no shortcomings.
Although its by no means a favorite aircraft of mine .... I'm glad we introduced the DC-9 to the HJG virtual flight line.
The DC-9 was a project Nick BOTAMER and I discussed together during one of 2 occasions we met at LAX .... at the CROWNE PLAZA LAX AIRPORT HOTEL ... during a layover on one of my regular AKL/LAX/MIA/BOG runs.
I'd never really thought much about the DC-9 beforehand and HJG during this period was still a 4-engine jetliner show, but, I knew, at the time (this was around 2007/8, Nick's JET CITY project (focused on the DC-9 and MD-80/90 .... Nick was the proprietor of that particular project) had more-or-less reached the end of its development .... so .... I casually asked Nick how he'd feel about producing "a version of his JET CITY DC-9's for HJG". His response was "encouraging".
To cut a long story short: DC-9 SERIES models began to arrive at HJG some time around 2008 .... and by around 2010 these had evolved into the MD-80/80 SERIES too .... all thanks to Nick BOTAMER.
The next stage was to locate a suitable panel. Nick recommended the Stellan HILMERBY version (originally designed as a home-based familiarization tool for SAS DC-9 pilots .... HILMEREBY flew the DC-9 at the time he produced this panel). I then contacted Stellan and briefed him about our/the HJG project and asked how he'd feel about us supporting it using his panel/s (there's 2X basic types of DC-9 panel configuration associated with the HILMERBY project) .... and he too was "most enthusiastic and co-operative".
Now we had models, and a panel, but the panels needed a few fixes .... and we also needed DC-9 version JT8D SERIES sound packs for this project too.
My partner in FS crimes .... George CARTY was able to employ his "genius" in order to not only fix the HILMERBY DC-9 panels, but also, add other features to them as well .... so .... what we ended up with were panels that were not only a bit different from those we'd originally started out with but were also "quite a bit better too". The only drawback to these DC-9 panels is they were "FS2004" compatible only .... although an FSX version of these panels (of sorts) was much later produced by someone else and which was essentially based on what we'd already done, but, HJG's had "nothing to do with that particular project by this other individual. The "complexity" of the original programing supporting the HILMERBY DC-9 panels we offer made these "a mission" to easily port over to FSX.
My other partner in FS crimes .... Benoit PLAMONDON .... then later produced "customized" (all based on HQ R/W interior and exterior recordings) separate FS2004 and FSX version P&W JT8D sound packs for our DC-9 SERIES .... representing D-7 and D-9/D-11/D-15/D-17 engine audio (the D-7 sound packs are composed of greater high-power engine "roar" whereas those for the D-9/D-11/D-15/D-17 collectively feature the classic high-power engine "turbine/fan buzz/whine" .... whilst the volume of engine audibility for both lots of these sound packs is also considerably reduced given the engines on DC-9 aircraft are located way aft from the FD).
The 3rd stage in this project was Mike and I between ourselves then fine-tuning the FDE's for our entire DC-9 series simulations .... quite a task, over almost an entire year, given the considerable weight, power, and configuration differences that exist across the DC-9 family we represent .... BUT .... if any FS project is worth doing, then, it needs to be done "PROPERLY" (or its simply a waste of time trying doing it at all) .... and which is precisely what "we all" tried to do.
The final stage of this project was then up to our painters .... and just as it still continues to be so today also .... after all one can have decent 3D models, 2D panels, customized HD sounds, and supporting customized FDE too, but, these are all "entirely useless" without a wide variety of "decent liveries/textures" too .... and which are essentially the icing on our DC-9 cake provided by "each of" our cooks/painters since HJG's 2009 launch of this particular project.
Needless to say also .... those of us intensely involved with putting these DC-9 simulations together needed to study "a lot" about DC-9 performance as well (real world manuals and stuff like that). A good simulation simply can't be produced without considerable performance and technical knowledge/understanding of the aircraft type being simulated (correctly translated this all means "understanding the aircraft being simulated" and also "understanding the limitations of what FS allows with ease and then finding an acceptable balance between both extremes").
And that folks is the (much lesser known) story behind development of the HJG DC-9 project
.... and which has also been translated into just about every other project HJG currently offers and/or is planning to (hopefully) be able to offer in the not too distant future 
Mark C
AKL/NZ
