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Post by cowpatz on Apr 22, 2010 23:47:08 GMT
There was talk some time back of a pending HJG FDE modification to the DC8. The 60 series seem to be quite a bit off. Is this still on the cards? Failing that anyone know of a good 63 series FDE?
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Apr 23, 2010 1:17:52 GMT
To answer the last part of your question first ....
"YES" .... this will happen.
The reason why this's been so long-winded is due to other projects which have been prioritized over it, along with both business and family related issues .... among which has also involved a very recent funeral !
Other than confirming that a DC8 FDE upgrade "WIIL" be forthcomming .... I'm not prepared to even speculate as to precisely when this will become available. We still have another major project to release here and which has been prirotized over this.
I'm by no means defending our current DC8 FDE .... because due to a multitude of limitations no FDE is ever perfect. Also .... our DC8 models/panels have not, to date, ever been subjected to the same degree of fine tuning as those for most of our other aircraft .... the B707/720 in particular. Our current DC8 FDE does represent one hell of an improvement over that which we started out with 4 years ago. Like a good wine or cheese .... these things do take "TIME" to perfect, but, it's precisely this "time" aspect of things that hasn't been so readily available to me, and others within this group, lately in order to advance things as quickly as even we, ourselves, might like.
"IF" you're using our/HJG DC8 panels .... then I wouldn't be inclined to use any FDE other than that which we offer "HERE". Not everyone else's FDE may be compatible with certain aspects or the panels, and soundpacks, which we offer. This's something which not all folk seem to understand, but, it's certainly something that does need being born in mind.
Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by skyking on Apr 23, 2010 1:41:44 GMT
I'd be interested to know what part of the DC-8 FDE seems to be off.
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Post by cowpatz on Apr 23, 2010 2:49:32 GMT
Well after reading Mark's post I am not sure that I have the latest FDE. When was it last revised? The power settings are way off. It can cruise along at altitude at practically idle thrust or just above it. The residual thrust is also too high which is why most users are experiencing problems in the descent. I know that the RW DC8 was a somewhat slippery beast (and inbd reverse thrust was approved for use inflight due to no speedbrakes) but this is just not right and significantly detracts from the enjoyment.
No problems though as I have plenty of others to fly....I just have a special liking for the 8 having worked on them briefly when I was ground engineer.
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Apr 23, 2010 4:14:13 GMT
"DECEMBER 2007" .... was the last major revision for the DC8-60's .... and most of the others too I believe without checking. In other words .... what's there at the moment is the most current publicly available DC8 FDE we have ! It's been a while since I've flown any of the DC8's ....and that's despite the fact that thes are my favourate aircraft too. I know a couple of people (only) have reported speed related problems during descent .... but .... whilst I do acknowledge that these FDE's probably aren't perfect (nothing ever is in FS), I'm also inclined toward thinking that a lot of these issues are due to user "technique" .... namely starting descnts early enough and also perhaps managing power on the way down too .... because I, myself, don't actually recall experiencing any such difficulties with regard to handling any of our current DC8's. Again .... my response doesn't imply that what we've currently got can't be improved .... of course I can say, definitively, that 1 thing which will change when the new DC8 FDE becomes available .... is the engine spooling times for each of the 3 classes of engines which apply to these aircraft and which will result in engine spooling variations pretty much like that currently observed in respect of our B707/720 series aircraft .... and which is about what they should be based on our own extensive private research. Any other changes I've yet to determine per future testing. "SKYKING" .... you've used our DC8's more than I have recently ! How do you sit regarding the performance of our current flight modelling .... having yourself flown the realworld -50's, 61's, -62's, and -71's for UA. A lot of our last DC8 FDE tweaks were actually applied by John DETRICK .... himself an ATI DC8 PFE of many years ! Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by MKA742 on Jan 12, 2011 16:48:22 GMT
I'd be interested to know what part of the DC-8 FDE seems to be off. Really??? Too much power resulting in too high climb rate, fuel flow is not right, EPR behaviour is way off, descent is too fast, etc... Try flying it by the numbers ;-) I have good hopes thet the new FDE will be awesome! Looking forward to a MTOW takeoff from Entebbe at 36 degrees!
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Post by christrott on Jan 12, 2011 21:49:19 GMT
Really, did you do a search or note that this thread is over a year old?
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jan 12, 2011 22:17:38 GMT
They're just "badgering" Chris ! And I suppose we should be grateful of that .... to some extent at least .... because (even though it's irritating .... sometimes) it shows that people are "interested" .... BUT .... all the asking in the world simply isn't going to hurry things along. ;D Given the fact that commentary regarding DC8 FDE's appears to be undergoing something of a revival here recently (on this and other forum threads) .... I should, perhaps, remind folk of something I mentioned/hinted at much earlier on .... in that our DC8 FDE's, to date, have never been subjected to the same degree of fine tuning/tweaking as those for some of our other aircraft .... like the B707/720 in particular. Other newer HJG aircraft we've which we've released more recently have actually benefited from far a more concentrated efforts in respect of their FDE work by us. Our last lot of DC8 FDE editing was in relation to minor, but necessary, panel related details .... around 36 months or so ago .... BUT .... our DC8 FDE's are all otherwise, currently, more-or-less precisely what they were when Tony, Nick, and myself assumed control of HJG back in April 2006. George has done his bit more recently .... which addresses engine spooling rates (etc), but, the rest of this FDE revision, to come, is entirely up to myself and Mike now ! There's a lot of DC8 aircraft to review .... and .... there's yet a few more sub versions that we're planning to add (different weights for different aircraft series) as part of this current FDE revision. Given that each of these DC8 aircraft are "different" .... in terms of weight, powerplant, wing, size .... OR .... a combination of all of these details .... AND .... us wanting to do the best we can within the realms of our own abilities and certain FS limitations too of course .... not to mention our own limitations of time as well .... then it must be understood and accepted that, by everyone, that "THIS PROJECT" is going to take time .... "A LOT OF TIME" .... to complete .... and we're simply not prepared to hurry it ! Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by jimhalinda on Jan 13, 2011 2:11:59 GMT
"We will serve no wine before it's time" - Orson Welles
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Post by aerofoto - HJG Admin on Jan 13, 2011 3:29:10 GMT
Couldn't have said it better myself Jim ! WELL SAID aulde son ! ;D Mark C AKL/NZ
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Post by CORLL ONE on Jan 13, 2011 9:55:27 GMT
I think the HJG staff has done great job with all the aircraft. Nothing in life is perfect...DEAL WITH IT! I see these guys that post remarks about little, tiny discrepancies that for most of us go un-noticed. Quit picking fly nuts out of pepper and enjoy what these guys have given us. I started simming in 95 and remember being limited to the Cessna 182 and a Learjet 35 along with horrible (if any) scenery. Just enjoy what we have available and not worry about silly crap like "oh I noticed at cruise alt my pitch is off by 0.00025 degrees" (read: sarcasm). Come on. Again, thanks to all the staff at HJG for all your hard work and efforts, you guys do great work and we all look forward to what's coming out of the paint hangar next.
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Post by Mike Monce - HJG on Jan 13, 2011 15:17:44 GMT
yep... patience folks ;D I've just experienced a major computer failure and until I can get FS9 running on a new machine, I won't be doing much FDE work. Of course if this new computer allows me to push all the sliders to the max, then I may spend more time having some new fun with FS9 rather than FDE work ;D Just kidding... sort of... Mike
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Post by kenwig0556 on Jan 13, 2011 19:12:32 GMT
yep... patience folks ;D I've just experienced a major computer failure and until I can get FS9 running on a new machine, I won't be doing much FDE work. Of course if this new computer allows me to push all the sliders to the max, then I may spend more time having some new fun with FS9 rather than FDE work ;D Just kidding... sort of... Mike Sure, Mike ...You're looking at those space-age, super-cool, Quad i7, blinding fast, dedicated FS computers, aren't you???
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Post by Dan K. Hansen on Jan 13, 2011 20:32:17 GMT
I have a blinking fast Space-age i7, blinding fast dedicated FS-computer, but in order to have FSX running as you want it, you have to find your own preferences .... "all sliders to the right" is NOT always a desireable setting!
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Post by Mike Monce - HJG on Jan 13, 2011 22:10:13 GMT
Well, yeah, it's an i7 quad. But, Dan is right about all sliders to max not necessarily being a good thing. If I can get the autogen to run a bit more dense, install some of these detailed airports I have hanging around on CD's and up the cloud density with Active Sky and still keep 25 fps, I'll be very happy One slider that has to be kept down, IIRC, is the horizon distance for both realism and AS to run properly Mike
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