Just Flight 777 Professional

By Nigel C. Martin (13 May 2006)

A little clue is in the title, (the mighty) Boeing 777. For the keen eyed of you there is a 777 as a default offering in FS2004, but, and it is a big but, this baby is the same in shape only, the detail on offer is light years more advanced.

I guess this Heavy Metal offering will not be to the 'simming' taste of some, you may prefer a quicker and more nimble steed. Frankly I must 'come out' and say I am one of those. All you have to see is the aircraft list saved on my computer, which would be testament to this, each to their own... But it has to be said, I am not adverse to experience some multi million pound or dollar piece of advanced technology.

I am however, looking forward to getting to grips with one, and do some serious planning for medium and longer distance flights. Bit of a change from my UK and European jaunts usually undertaken; a little insular I know!

So, because of my lack of serious heavy flying I have asked a fellow pilot, Dan Entwisle, to assist in the review, which he has agreed. I know you will enjoy it.

With 19 liveries on offer and types 200LR and 300LR, this Boeing 777 monster will be an interesting steed to try.

Packaging

The quality of the pictorial graphics on the front and back inlay card show you a 'taster' of the mighty 777 and looking on the reverse, you can marvel at a selection of screen shots.

Also on the reverse of the box is the salient data, system requirements etc. Worthy of note here is the reference of very impressive and accurate looking Collins WHR 2100 weather radar. This will be fascinating to have a play with; I wonder if it is accurate? We will have a particular look at this one once airborne.

The brochure, I mean 777 Professional Pilot Notes, covers all that you would expect - 'oodles' of tech data, which I found most interesting and useful. Some may find the information superfluous; either way it is there, and worth a read.

In Use & Overview

It is even more interesting when you realize the Boeing 777 was the first jetliner to be 100 percent digitally designed using three-dimensional computer graphics. "Let's hope their computer never crashes!" Food for thought? Throughout the design process, the airplane was 'pre-assembled' on the computer, eliminating the need for a very costly full scale mock-up.

The 777 design program was launched in October 1990 having a firm order from United Airlines. In June 1995 United flew its first 777 in revenue service. Many more airlines were to follow with orders both in the passenger configuration and its highly popular freight option. The Model 777, the first entirely new Boeing airplane in more than a decade, was delivered in May 1995.

As I have previously said I enjoy more, well 'local' flights, but a friend Dan Entwisle has been known to fly 'over the pond' and enjoy that well known experience 'the red eye special'. So without further ado, over to him... Now let's get one thing straight. This is not a toy. As Nigel admitted he's no long-haul jetliner jock, however, I have been known to do the odd all-nighter sipping coffee in the small wee hours at a virtual 31,000 feet, on some northerly track somewhere between Greenland and Iceland looking for a dawn landing at Heathrow after a trip from JFK or O'Hare.

I think that is one of the disappointing things about the standard flightsim aircraft that came with the FS2004 box. There is a 777...but after a bit of experience, you realise that, though competent, it ain't that inspiring.

Then there are the web downloads - the freeware which I can never get to go into the right bit on my PC - despite efforts by the good Mr. Martin to show me.

So, I suspect that like a lot of simmers, I have to go to the commercial market for something decent, modern and long-haul capable.

This 777 is just the ticket. Well-designed sums it up perfectly.

This is not an exciting model in the sense that perhaps a new jet fighter might be. But let's face it, you haven't invested your hard earned in this to go tearing round Welsh mountains? Have you? Well 'each to his own' I suppose!

The excitement comes here in the realism. Now let's face it, few of us involved in this hobby do it for real. But we all secretly think - "Yeah, I could land this." when we take the shuttle to Gatwick or the holiday jet to the sun.

Well this excellent 777 is in that territory. And it is exciting. Exciting if, like me, you like a chunky detailed handbook, and an avionics suite that beeps, buzzes and flashes at you when you have not selected the appropriate flap setting etc.

This is one aircraft you need to train yourself on. It has a flight management computer that, if you program it correctly, behaves like the real thing. Misuse the engines on the ground and this bird will shout at you and tell you off.

If, as I do, you love the graphics then sit this thing on the tarmac, go outside, look around, open the doors, glimpse the interior of the cabin, watch the thrust reversers do their thing and wallow in the near perfection of this model.

But, I will say it again, this is not a toy. This is something you invest in. Sure, there's the initial purchase price, but to get the best out of this you need to read your book, and have a good poke around the cockpit to see what's what.

Be careful - this is very accurate! I found this out to my cost when after a quick fiddle with the switches, I discovered that only one engine would work. Like most complex machines though, a bit of thought, back tracking and logical thinking soon pointed its way to a shut-off fuel supply.

This is all more than fine if you have the time, but if you just want a decent little A-to-B flight to kill an hour or so then you might like to consider your options.

Like a lot of accurate modern jets these days, there is no option for you to use the default flightsim GPS. That is a shame as a lot of the fun of a new aircraft it getting it aloft, having a fly and landing on again - worrying about setting up auto-lands and ILS approaches until later in your learning curve.

Yes I know it is a cheat. But sometimes, bearing in mind few of us do this for real, a bit of cheating is acceptable.

So, what you have here is a highly-advanced, well-made accurate model of Boeing's 777. There is an airport load of choice too in terms of livery and 777 versions to fly.

If you like your virtual cockpits, operating procedures, great lighting, and sound effects (more of a 'roar' at full power would have been nice) that are to die for then do as I am doing. Make time for this one. Get to know it, enjoy the experience and next time you are on one for real, ease back your seat, sip your complimentary drink and say to yourself "Yeah, I could land this." Because you know what? This little masterpiece will teach you a thing or two - if you give it you time.

Observations/Conclusions

The FMC (Flight Management Computer) is incredibly sophisticated, and once you have read the notes of explanation, you can start to use it as it was intended! But, please make time to read the instructions. Your time will be rewarded.

I do have to draw your attention to the lovely action of the undercarriage. As the main set leaves terra-firma the unit sinks, or droops back at an angle (see pictures); nice touch. Keep an eye out for the entire undercarriage detail, especially the hydraulic pipes which are clear to see, such is the detail. The exterior detail reflections, crispness of line, there really is so much more, but I guess listing them all would be plain boring. But they are there!

The interior, or more accurately the cockpit, can so easily spoil a program, but again not here. Leaving out the superb accuracy of the instrumentation (with the notable exception of the default GPS) the crisp detail is a delight in non-VC or VC mode. I just love the instrument lighting, incredible crispness and accuracy; a dawn/night flight is a must.

Oh yes, the flying! Well, I have never flown anything larger than a twin, but all the inputs I felt were commensurate with the size of the aircraft. I really enjoyed approaches, ones you have to plan, not short finals here, get into the ILS tunnel and fly its length to touch down.

Taking off laden seemed to be a bit, well exciting... That threshold was coming up mighty quickly! Keep your nerve, gentle pull back on the column, and hew presto, airborne, I think that farmer in the field shared my 'slight' concern, as he leapt from his tractor!

This is not a criticism, but I feel demonstrates how a bird of this size and weight would behave, and how you have to plan more. As Dan previously mentioned, I am used to full military power and going ballistic in two seconds, well almost! So this experience was actually very enjoyable.

Any negative points? No, not really. A small observation: thought the strobes in my view should have been a lot brighter; there are some lovely examples around.

Well there it is, one or two minor points, says it all! At £29.99/ $44.99 it is not cheap but if you are looking for a superb sample of a big jet this is for you.

You know, my virtual flying in the main is limited to flights around Europe, but I would have to agree with Dan, this baby demands some serious mile (or kilometer) eating, so I will plan an 'over the pond' sojourn. Word of caution, watch out the insurance and fuel cost for this baby are bit pricy!

Combined flying time for review 11 hours.

Onwards and Upwards...

Nigel C. Martin
nigel.martin10@tesco.net
Dan Entwisle

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