PMDG 767 Airliners For Fly!

The HEAVIES are here! The dimensions are perfect. Inch by inch, you will not find a better 767 anywhere.

NOTE: I took screenshots in a variety of quality levels. Please note actual product may look far better than in these screenshots. Some pictures are lower quality to save loading time. If your monitor is not running in 32-bit resolution, you will not see the actual great quality that FLY! runs at.

INTRODUCTION

Now, before all you FS2000 fans yell at me, the simple fact is that FLY! allows more systems and more functionality in the cockpit - plain and simple. Another thing going for this product, is the extreme fidelity in the flight modeling. I can not say for sure, but there is something more physical here to be experienced, then in FS2000. For those fans of X-Plane, I can not say for sure if this flight model is better, but when you have so many noticeable physical sensations occurring at once, it's clearly better than "Bill's sim", and a big improvement over the previous PMDG 757 flight model, which is still far better than the default FLY! models. You will learn the handling and flight differences between the 767-200 and -300. I have yet to find anything quite that finite in FS2000's jetliners. Besides the noticeable sensations, you'll see the precision only FLY! can deliver when it comes to fuel burns, engine power, air density, and ground handling. It's all there. I can not say more, but it's all there for you to discover.

A perfectly designed 767-200, basks in the sun and blue skies over Tahiti's Faaa International. The side view shows perfectly done proportions. The gorgous sky is from How in the World?'s SKY! program, using real metars.

I was lucky enough to be on the beta team so have been using the new 767s for about two weeks. In my continuing trip around the world to test the 767s, I have been to China, Singapore, Bali, Jakarta, Australia, Fiji and now Hawaii. I have not enjoyed such hassle-free flying bliss in years. Why? Because everything works. I don't have to spend an unpredictable day in troubleshooting mode, or a second day configuring panels, gauges, sounds and more, as I often would in FS. The panels line up, can't be "bumped" by the mouse, and are designed as accurately as can be, including every visible knob, switch and lever. All the CRTs look as good as they can with the current limitations in FLY!, and I can sit down and do a flight, knowing, I am going to fly a real 767 more realistically then I ever have on a home PC. Plain and simple. FLY! know offers you the experience to fly a heavy jet, far better than the competition. Now, there are a few items FLY! can not currently do as well as FS2000, and once a FLY! SDK is released, we may have even less to compare with FS2000. Currently, I do miss the functions of autothrottle, and autobrakes. There is no flight level change function on the autopilot (this is where you can set your airspeed, and the computer will adjust climb power to keep that speed, and give you a vertical speed that is maximum for that selected speed). There is no ground proximity warning system either (GPWS). I do miss having the great audible countdowns that we've had for years on FS. Finally, the engine sounds in the 767s are not truly from a 767. They are modified versions of the FLY! Hawker jet. I find them totally enjoyable however, because rpm sounds, touchdown sounds, rumblings and reverse engine sounds are in some ways far better than FS. Gear sounds are better and follow accurate timing. Flap sounds sound very real as well as some other internal sounds. So, it's a little give and take. For me, I'll take everything PMDG has so far in the 767 lineup. This is only the beginning, so for such an early stage the excitement is well understood.

Finally! An accurate gear retraction sequence, in proper order, taking the full actual time for completion. Look at this beauty in motion! You can't replicate this accuracy with other flightsims.

FLYING THE 767

When it's time to crank up, you'll want to either take an hour and learn the proper startup procedures or learn from your copilot. Hitting 'E' is nothing to be ashamed of. I use it all the time, when I am in a hurry to get going or don't have time for an entire startup procedure. You'll be treated to the sounds of switches being thrown and then the big GE's lighting off. The sounds might be slightly "Hawkery", but have a great rpm fidelity to them, that you're going to enjoy. Once you click the passenger signs a few times, you'll feel you're ready for action! Depending on your weight, you'll find out how much break away thrust is needed for taxi. Whatever the value, you'll notice it "feels just right". That's the whole them here folks, everything you do from here on out, is going to "feel just right".

Light'em up! I was practicing with the various taxi, turnoff and landing light options. There are six actual working lenses in use on these 767s, just like the real thing. Note the speedbrakes are up.

The entire flight experience is a dream. Actual performance matches that of the performance manual. With differing weights, you'll soon be able to learn about how performance varies. At light weights, the 767-200 is a rocket. Airborne at 115 kts! Rapid climb rates exceeding 6000 fpm are commonplace, just like its slender brother, the 757. The same 767-300 at light weights will perform a bit less spritely. Take the 767-300 and pack it to the max, for a 5000 mile journey, and you're going to roar down the runway at more than 160 kts before being able to lift off. Climb rates are going to hover under 2000 fpm, even less up high. Eventually, you'll burn off enough fuel to climb on a schedule up to higher flight levels. Cruise speeds will increase up to M.82 or slightly more.

Working the FMS is limited to FLY!s current state. The FMS looks realistic and works to give you tracking and course guidance as well as autopilot lock-on, to your destination or waypoints. Just be sure to read the manual on how to run the FMS course guidance, as it still gets me confused sometimes. Just make sure your console unit is programmed to show you WPT navigation and not VOR or something else.

On the ground at Tahiti. Keep in mind, all parts move, from the nose wheel to the rudder and in between.

Without autothrottle, cruising can be a bit difficult. But a little practice, and once speed is set, it will not drift much until aircraft weight changes and the weather varies. I find the accuracy of fuel flow is a beautiful thing to watch, as the difference between FL300 and FL400 can make or break a trip.

There isn't much to do during a long flight. However, I find myself compelled to do a lot more here than I would on an FS2000 flight. You can monitor fuel flow, fuel consumption, fuel balance, set up V-speeds for the approach, monitor FMS navigation, and much more. You're basically going to have the same workload a real 767 pilot would have.

I didn't have time to power up before taking this picture, but you'll note the new smooth textures, placement and scale of instrumentation. I have preset my view to this position for best "Captain's view". The frame rate with the new panel is faster than the older PMDG 757 panel. 25.00 is what I was getting, sitting here with everything off.

Descending the 767s proved to be accurate as I had expected. Bringing the power to near idle, will result in an airspeed increase on a rapid descent, and a steady Mach number on a normal descent (around 1500 fpm). As you descend, indicated airspeed will increase, but so will the overspeed limit, so hitting the barber pole is not really a concern. However, there are times in a descent, where speedbrakes will be needed - especially in the 10,000 foot speed restriction zone. There, decelerating from 330 kts IAS to 250, will require speedbrake action. I usually just drag the lever to the amount needed and take it from there.

Another side view. I love side views, as you can tell. Again, perfection with accuracy.

I wish there was more wind noise. That seems to be a limitation on FLY!, and not this product. But once again, the sound effects are good. Landing gear extension adds noticeable noise. I am using a vibrating seat pad, and a sound system with great bass. The sounds are deeper and create more vibration when turning up the bass, than in any other sim. Upon landing, the touchdown rumble sounds and feels outstanding. Just like I remember in the real 777 simulator I recently flew.

Landing speeds will again be based on weights and meteorological conditions. Consult the handy flip charts on the center console. Speeds will vary from near 150 to under 120. The first thing you'll notice when flying these 767s, is how soft and perfectly accurate the touchdown phase occurs. If your sink rate is minimal at touchdown (less than 200 fpm), after the power cut (30 feet AGL on the radio altimeter), and your pitch is between 3 and 5 degrees, you'll make a perfect greaser each and every time. The articulated landing gear will cushion the "blow" - and PMDG has somehow taken out the oversensitive bounce that occurred on their other 757s, and many of the default FLY! aircraft. You will bounce if you ask for it, but as in real life, you'll have to slam it on for this to occur. Instead of a bounce, you may crash the aircraft, or break

The Qantas sits happily, awaiting startup for a return to the mainland.

a gear, resulting in a sudden rolling and out of control angling off the runway. Upon touchdown, hit the speed brakes (auto spoiler is not done in FLY!), engage the reversers to idle. Upon nose wheel touchdown, add reversing power as needed. Heavy weight landings will take a while to stop and light ones, only partial reverse will be needed to rapidly stop the 767s. The real airlines go to idle reverse (unlock) at touchdown or slightly thereafter, and then apply the thrust after nose wheel touchdown. Another FLY! limitation is the lack of autobraking, but hitting and holding the brakes, does not cause any unrealistic sudden, violent deceleration as in FS2000. Finally, a sim that does braking power, realistically!

Watching instant replays are a dream. And after you land, you know what? Taxiing in is almost as much fun! Again, I can not stress enough, how excellent the ground handling is on these jets! Just like the real thing! Under 5 kts, and you'll pivot on a dime!

For future development, I'd love for some type of built-in cabin announcements to be able to be launched. I'd love to hear the F/As in the background as well as the other dings, noises and random chatter often heard from behind the flight deck. Maybe even some dish and glass rattling when a hard landing is detected! Since I'm being choosy, an in-cabin view or some passenger window view of the wings and engines would be great... but, well, that's me.

CONCLUSION

The Precision Manuals Group 767 Airliner Series for FLY! gets a whopping 100 out of a possible 100 points.

One of the neatest features is the "flip card" V-speed chart that will tell you everything you'll need for setting the speed computer. V1, Vr, V2, flaps retraction speed as well as final approach Vref speed.

Just pan towards the middle of the panel, and you'll get a great view of the engine stack.

The complete overhead panel of the 767-300. Learn this, and you're learning the REAL thing.

Visit Precision Manuals Development Group for the 767 set for FLY!: Click Here

Air France poses for a picture in HNL, just after landing from Tahiti. She's in her glory, with all parts shown in operation for the photographer. It doesn't get better than this.

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