World Airliners - 747-400 & 777-200 Professional
By Victor Knight (23 October 2002)
he two Boeing aircraft in
this package, produced by Just Flight / Phoenix Simulation Software, were
originally designed for FS2000, and have now been updated for FS2002. At
the time of their release, they were hailed as among the very best add-on
aircraft ever produced. Today, some may regard them as outdated, since most
newer releases have Gmax, virtual cockpits and new add-ons that duplicate
real aircraft systems so fully it is a good thing we banned smoking aboard.
We likely would be emptying the virtual ashtrays after every flight!
Basically, what we have here is two aircraft for the price of one, albeit a
little out of date. The 747 has been flying commercially since 1970. Out of
1240 delivered to airlines around the world, over 1100 are still in
service. Aircraft in the flight simulation world are a little less durable,
and in some ways that is regrettable. I say this because the two aircraft
contained in this package were really ahead of their time when first
released. They have features and a quality that will satisfy purchasers as
much today as they did a little while back. Things like beautifully
textured visual models in several liveries, with absolutely stunning
detail. Superb animation of the flaps, slats, spoilers, gear bays and
doors, plus landing gear with true hanging bogies.
The CD loads automatically, giving a choice of installation to FS2000 or FS2002. Minimum system requirements are given as 450 MHz Pentium II processor, with 16Mb of RAM, and a 16Mb 3D graphics card. A 500 MHz Pentium III or faster processor with 128 Mb of RAM and a 32Mb (or more) 3D graphics card is recommended. During installation you may select the airlines you wish to have available. There are twelve different liveries for the 747, and seven for the 777. These aircraft do differ in more ways than just livery. For example, there are multiple engine models from various manufacturers with different outward appearances. Also, each has its own unique operating and performance statistics.
As has sadly become the norm these days, the complete manuals are on the CD
and run to globs of pages. The problem here, is just that. Whereas a couple
of years ago a fifty page manual would cover everything, today it would
hardly cover just the basics. New simulated aircraft have become very
complex. Printed manuals would run to hundreds of pages and be the size of
the Manhattan phone book. Increased production, shipping, and stocking
costs would be the unpopular result. However, the aircraft under review
here when originally released, also came with a nicely produced "Pilot's
Operations Manual." Printed in booklet form, they explained how to get
things up and running. They even included a number of tutorial flights.
This was a nice compromise, but are unfortunately missing in this
package.
After installation, aircraft may be selected in the normal way. Under the
Boeing category you will find "PSS-747-400" and "PSS-777-200." Individual
airliners you have installed will appear for your selection. Having chosen
an aircraft, you will need to be patient while it loads. These are complex
models and the computer has a lot of work to do! At your chosen airport,
the first thing you will notice is the great looking panel. Both the 747
and 777 are highly realistic, and in pristine "factory" condition. Some
users prefer a more "beat-up" appearance, but I love these panels. They are
so legible, even at lower screen resolutions, and the night-time lighting
is wonderful. The overhead panels have a realistic slant as opposed to the
usual flat slab of switches. You have the capability here of controlling
all the important systems. Die-hard "realism" virtual pilots will find
plenty to play with here. You won't find the myriad of failures featured on
Wilco's 767 PIC panel, but a problem-free flight will still keep you plenty
busy.
Take the time to inspect these aircraft in spot view. Zoom in and admire the high degree of realism. I know you can't see all of this in flight, but it illustrates the commitment here to doing everything as well as it can be done. A commitment to excellence that is present in most areas of this simulation of these two very popular airliners.
Having sat down in your newly acquired airliner, you will first need to program the Flight Management Computer (FMC). This was a real innovation with these aircraft. I have used three different FMC's from three different software companies, and I must confess I like the ones in this offering the best. Fully functional, they accept information without hesitation or delay. Furthermore, for lazy people like myself, they readily accept any previously saved FS2000 or FS2002 flight plan without any alteration required. You can also plan flights using the FMC and export them to FS2000 or FS2002.
You will still need to enter vital information such as zero fuel weight, runway condition, etc., into the FMC. More about this later. SIDS and STARS can be selected using the FMC, and at the time of flight the aircraft will fly them faithfully. Bear in mind the 747, for example, can carry up to 524 passengers for a distance of over 8300 miles. Say from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. Such a trip requires 57,000 gallons of fuel. Fuel management is a must. This is done on a lower EICAS display on the center pedestal. Don't let this, or the FMC scare you off, they are wonderful pieces of equipment, and you will soon get the hang of things and learn to love them.
When originally released, the packages included a 60 minute video. These
are still available. If you want to splurge they are a treat. You will see
actual in flight and real world simulator footage, and you can learn a lot
about flying these huge aircraft correctly. The biggest surprise in the
videos, is that the panels look just like the ones installed on your home
computer! The rendition is that good.
One advantage of the FMC is that, once programmed, it places a lot of information in your direct view. It will have told you the correct flap setting for takeoff, and there are three large digital displays on the panel to show you everything else. The Primary Flight Display shows airspeed, attitude and altitude. The airspeed ribbon on the left hand side has notations for V1, V2 and VR (as calculated by the FMC). Also, the correct flap settings as the take-off progresses. No guessing here. The Navigational Display shows the flight plan, heading, and a whole lot more. The Engine Instrument and Crew Alert System (EICAS) will alert you to all that needs your attention.
To illustrate how wonderful these aircraft are, and how well they perform,
let's just do a little flying. Having started the engines (you can choose
the starting condition of the panel), and having received taxi clearance,
we are now holding short of the assigned runway. A glance at the EICAS
tells us that we have the correct degree of flaps set, engine temperatures
are within normal limits, and the landing gear is down. (Surprise!) On the
glare shield, or if you prefer, the MCP panel, which contains all the
autopilot and a host of other controls, we have set our assigned cruising
altitude of 40,000 feet, and turned on the flight director and auto
throttle switches. ATC gives us takeoff clearance and we edge forward on to
the runway. After final cockpit checks, the brakes are released and the
throttles advanced to 70% of N1, as displayed on the EICAS. Depress the
takeoff/go around switch (TOGA), and we are on our way. Speed builds slowly
at first, but increases rapidly once the great weight starts rolling. Watch
the airspeed ribbon, passing V1 and V2 you are committed to flight now, and
as VR appears pull back to 8 degrees nose up and the aircraft leaves the
ground, clawing for the skies, which is where these beauties belong. With
positive climb, the gear is retracted. Free of the immense drag speed will
rapidly increase, but the auto throttle will keep us at under 250 knots at
altitude less than 10,000 feet as required by US law. Engage the autopilot
on the MCP, then engage the Vertical Navigation (VNAV) and Lateral
Navigation (LNAV) buttons. The FMC is now in control. It's that simple.
There's plenty to do of course, but you will be amazed at the FMC's control
of the flight, right down to "autoland" if appropriate.
Another nice feature, are the landing view panels. Accessed by a small
"runway" icon on the main panel, they give you great visibility during
landing, while at the same time allowing you access to the fully functional
MCP This very original concept has since been copied by many others, but
nobody does it better.
A big point I want to make is these aircraft offer a very realistic flight experience, utilizing all the major systems, while at the same time remaining understandable to those of us who aren't surgeons or rocket scientists. You don't need a PhD to enjoy and fly these jets as presented in "World Airliners." The flight characteristics have been certified by real world 747 and 777 pilots, so you know you are getting the real thing.
The model of the 747 simulated here is the 400. This aircraft has several new features including a two-crew cockpit with digital avionics, (the engineer is in the unemployment line), optional 875,000 pound takeoff weight, optional 3,300 gallon fuel tank in the horizontal stabilizer, and a fly by wire system. Since its introduction so many years ago, the 747 remains the world's largest airliner. The 400 also has wingtip extensions with "winglets" and advanced high bypass ratio engines. Not surprisingly, it has a heavy feel, yet in real life and in this simulation, the 747 is a joy to hand fly.
The 777 has the distinction of being the first airliner to be designed
entirely by computer. Featuring all the latest technology, you will really
enjoy flying this big bird. I can recall, as a passenger, being "awarded" a
certificate for successfully crossing the Atlantic! Today, the 777-200
flies regularly from New York to London, treats the Atlantic Ocean as "the
pond," and does this on just two engines! And how wonderful those engines
sound, too. The sounds are by Mike Hambly. If you know anything at all
about flight simulation, I need say no more about sound. Mike must sleep
with his headphones in place. His contributions to flight realism are
legendary.
Many airlines had input into the design of the 777. Featuring the most efficient wing ever developed, it is capable of higher cruising altitudes, together with the ability to operate under conditions of high density altitude. What this means is, it can operate out of airfields with high elevations and ground temperatures.
For some reason, the 777 in this package is lacking some features present in the 747. The latter comes with an "Advanced Panel Manual." You will need Acrobat Reader (a copy is on the CD), to use any of the manuals. This explains the FMC very fully and well. For some reason, the advanced panel manual does not exist for the 777 in this release. In the 777 manual, the section dealing with the FMC makes no mention of the "Init. Ref." page where zero fuel weight, etc. is entered. The best you can do is follow the instructions for the 747, as the two FMC's are very similar. Of course fuel, passenger, and cargo loads are entirely different. Inside each 747 folder in FS2002 is a "Payload Editor." Using this editor you can configure passenger and cargo loads, and compute zero fuel weight. In the 777 aircraft folders these editors are non existent. Correct loading data is essential, as it is this information the FMC uses to compute and display the V speeds. I just don't understand why this vital information is missing.
I don't like to give scores to flight simulation add-ons. What I look for is what I call the "satisfaction factor" and value for money. If you enjoy flying the big ones, want aircraft that are beautiful to look at, and at the same time are fully functional and a joy to use, then you will be very happy with "World Airliners." You can't wander back into the cabin and shoot the breeze with the passengers, but in today's world the cockpit door should be locked anyway!
As for the money part of the deal, free add-ons, created by flight simulator enthusiasts from all over the world, have reached such a high standard, in many cases they are superior to commercial offerings. I can think of no valid reason to pay for what is inferior to freeware, and some commercial offerings are, frankly, pure junk. "World Airliners" is a worthy commercial product. You will receive true value for your hard-earned cash.
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