ell
as you see this panel, you probably can't believe your eyes. I didn't
either and had to get it myself a couple of months ago, and have since
enjoyed the totally realistic 737-300 panel while flying FS5.
You can purchase this thru VIP/Technique Direct via links from here. I got
mine thru mail order also.
The panel comes in HQ collection 1 where you get more airliners to fly.
I won't review the planes here, as they are shown in my
Europe II review
here, and for the most part are really well made aircraft. MD80s, 737s and
767s are featured, along with many small biz-jets, warbirds and other air-
craft that are very nice. In fact the planes are so nice, you may just want
the CD for these 60 new aircraft!
But here I am reviewing the panel. I have been flying with it for 2 months
now and will list the features:
- real operating toggle buttons for autopilot, radios, radio altitude,
engine starting levers, fuel management and more... this is a breakthru
for us flightsimmers, as we never could control all 4 fuel tanks on panel
before, nor would most panel buttons operate. Here, all you see can be
manipulated easily with the mouse!
- real operating autobraking system. Simply arming the AB system, you will
hear a brief horn sound, the light come on in the panel, and now you're armed
for heavy autobraking upon touchdown. Upon main wheel touchdown, you will
notice the following take place:
- spoilers pop up
- nose wheel trim starts trimming nose down automatically to the ground
- reverse thrust is fully enguaged by its self
- steady braking is applied firmly.
- at 20 kts airspeed, reverse thrust cuts off, spoilers retract, trim
returns to neutral and brakes disconnect! It's really quite amazing!
- a horn will sound signifying AB is now off
- real autothrottle system. Yes, it's true and it works great. Just
set the desired INDICATED speed in the dial, and hit the AT button,
and your throttles will now work precisely to set the exact speed.
There is no Mach to set, so in cruise you must use 250 - 300 kts to
give you the Mach you desire for normal speed cruising (.74 - .78 for
a 737). During flight the throttles will change rpm during flaps,
gear, spoiler, pitch and bank changes...it's quiet fun to watch..and
hear all the minute changes it does, that humans can't! It's easy to
disconnect, and when you do, power will go to where your throttle was
set before you disconnected the AT system. Why, you can even use the
AT to taxi you at 15 kts!!
- real HSI display
- real RMI display
- realistic 737 gear graphics, quadrants, and better engine guages
- realistic functioning autopilot panel with all your favorite adventure
autopilot features built in (like altitude settings, heading changes etc.)
- new control position indicator that's real nice and precise
- a real functioning stopwatch function on the clock
MY FINAL VERDICT
Well, after flying the panel for 2 months I must say I really like it
a lot. At first I loved it. The reason I don't now, is I discovered
a major bug that they must not have known about, and is that you
can't select a cruise altitude greater than FL320 on the alititude
window in the AP. Now, this is ridiculous. And because of that, you
can not set the autopilot to hold altitude above that. If you try,
it will descend the plane to FL320. The only way to cruise above
FL320 with this panel is by handflying the 737. No one will do that!
The second big problem is this panel will cause database errors from
time to time. Even fatal errors will pop up and boot you to DOS.
Yikes! But it's true. Now, these errors occur I believe if you save
modes with this panel, or try to startup with this panel. I must say
the errors are infrequent, but they do occur with this panel only.
I would recommend the panel because as of now, it offers much more
than we have. It works well other than what I mentioned above. It
certainly adds a great amount of realism for the 737-300. I also use
it on the 737-400s, 200s, DC9s, MD80s and any old A300B4 jetliner.
It will be fun to see what TD and VIP have in store. I hear a 727
panel is coming!
This is only the beginning of great new realistic panels for our
airliners!
