The Boeing B757 is a midsize narrowbody jet airliner. The Boeing B757 was intended to replace the B727 in short to medium haul routes. The B757 became popular with US and European airlines, especially European charter airlines. However aircraft such as the Airbus A321 and Boeing B737-900ER are now replacing the B757. 1050 B757s were produced from 1983-2004. Delta Airlines (USA) operates the most B757s.
A decent payware Boeing B757 had been missing from FS until FS2004. Then Captain Sim and Just Flight came out with good ones for FS2004. Captain Sim also did an FSX version which was subsequently published by Just Flight. Not everyone liked it because of the poor frame rates on many systems. Quality Wings, a relatively new company, has now released an FSX and FS2004 version.
The 194 MB download includes FSX and FS2004 versions. This review is for the FSX version. Download and installation is painless; you have to enter a serial key which is emailed. An Internet Connection is required for installation and uninstallation.
The base package only includes Quality Wings house colors. The liveries (over 125) all are available for download at the Quality Wings web site. Some are in HD (QWHDT) for FSX only. These install very easily via the Quality Wings repaint manager, which also includes a load manager.
The Ultimate 757 Collection is the most extensive 757 package ever created for Microsoft Flight Simulator. There is truly something for everyone. Every 757 ever to come off the line from Boeing has been reproduced for your enjoyment. And with mid-level systems programming, they've simplified the simming experience while providing you the look and feel that makes the Boeing 757 such a special airplane to fly.
One purchase gets you both Microsoft Flight Simulators 2004 and Flight Simulator X versions of the 757. The Flight Simulator X version includes FSX native models.
Choose between 15 highly accurate and detailed models.
Boeing 757-200 Passenger
Boeing 757-200 Special Freighter
Boeing 757-200 Package Freighter
Boeing 757-200 Air Force Variant (C-32A)
The QW B757 external modelling is excellent! The modelling really captures the B757 well. The package includes 2D and 3D panels. The 2D ones are very nice but for me they just seem to lack a bit of sharpness. The ability to enlarge all the major displays is a very useful option. The VC is very nice, except some of the switches are a bit "chunky". However this is the first jetliner I fly nearly all the time using the VC.
All the essential switches work, i.e. lights, engine start switches, etc. But there also are a few dummy switches on the overhead panel. The VC has this nice slightly used look. Cockpit night lighting is good. QW also includes first officer VC views and custom wing views.
The exterior texturing is of mostly high quality, although on super close inspection i.e. wing views viewing the wings, some textures are slightly blurred.
My favorite liveries are the American Airlines ones; they have this nice shiny metal look.
Another nice touch is the ability to switch between original and retrofit panels via the Livery Manager. By default some liveries have the original and others have the retrofit. Of course this can be overridden and you can pick what you like.
Original
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Retrofit
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A cool little GPU appears when you park the aircraft with the parking brakes on. This can be turned on and off with the QW Control Panel.
Support is handled through a forum available to paying customers.
The QW B757 is a great plane to fly. Not exactly a heavy aircraft, but feels in between the B737 and B777. This plane is also a joy to fly manually if you want to fly, not monitor. Since this plane is aimed for intermediate simmers, it lacks some of the system complexity of other full system add-ons like the Level-D B767. However it has enough complexity to keep many jet pilots like mehappy. It will also appeal to people who don't want to spend 30 minutes getting ready before takeoff! The FMC shortcuts some functions and omits a few, i.e. no need to enter weights and the ability to upload a default ATC flight plan without needing to manually enter each waypoint, although you can if you want. However the FMC will do all it needs to in a flight.
A virtual co-pilot calls out the V-speeds and flaps, a nice touch. The package also includes cabin announcements, however they just don't sound realistic to me...the engine sounds though are fantastic! The really capture the sound of a jet airliner. There is even a sound for the GPU when running. The autopilot works very well; the only gripe I have with it is that the dials on the MCP increase or decrease by increments of 1, so it can take a little while sometimes changing settings. The autopilot supports autolands including the correct autoland alerts and process, with all three autopilots arming.
On the ground the Quality Wings Control Panel allows you to open each door, add wheel chocks, and even modify the flight director style, among some other little things.
And all importantly, it has fantastic frame rates. Frame rates are roughly comparable to the default B737-800.
The Quality Wings Ultimate 757 is a fantastic add-on! What more can I say! Great frames, superb modelling, nice paints, a very good virtual cockpit, and more. A great product aimed for the intermediate level simmer. This is now my favorite FSX jetliner!
Test System:
Dell Studio 1555
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T6400 @ 2.00 GHz
3.00 GB RAM
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 512 MB Graphics
Alexander Czarnecki
Aussie FS Administrator/Founder
alexczarn@gmail.com
http://aussiefs.webstarts.com
http://aussiefs.freeforums.org
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