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/images/notams/notams18/aero1227.jpgAerosoft has announced a new lower price for theirDouglas DC-8 for FSX and P3Dv4, the award-winning flightsimulator version of one of the great early jetliners. Our reviewertermed it "an absolute joy" and an aircraft highly recommended. Read our review here Aerosoft Douglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 was one of the aircraft that brought long distanceair travel to the masses. It made transatlantic air travel possiblefor a much larger group of people, thus making the world a muchsmaller place. Commercially it was successful up to 1972 when widebodied aircraft like the B747 took over its place. There were manyvariants and once in a blue moon you still see the "Old Smokey" carrycargo. Old Smokey was just one of the many nicknames the aircraft wasgiven by pilots that loved flying them. DC Late, Greasy8, DeathCruiser, Whiney Bird and Cigarette Jets were others. For a long time, we lacked these important aircraft in oursimulators but this add-on adds a version to your virtual hangar thatis not only looking and sounding good, but also offers a good systemdepth. Every real pilot will enjoy navigating by VOR and NDB andmanually managing the four finicky power plants. It is hard work butthe DC-8 will reward you with great handling. /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-1.jpgIt's time to forget about MCDU, FMS and FADEC and go back to realflying, complete with instruments with needles and a sturdy but steadyhand on the throttles and stick. FeaturesSimulation of a 50 series DC-8 passenger airliner with a focus on normal procedures3D model of the exterior with animated flight surfaces, reversers, landing gear, four exits and two cargo doorsVirtual cockpit model with detailed simulation of instruments and controls at the pilot's, first officer's, and flight engineer's positionsIn-depth simulation of more than 10 aircraft systemsVisual rain effects on cockpit windows using TrueGlass technology by TFDiP3D V4 version includes dynamic landing, taxi, and ground floodlights that illuminate objectsCockpit lighting including main panel, pedestal, and engineer's panel floodlights, dome light, panel back lighting, and instrument gauge lightingInstrument gauge lighting has four selectable levels of intensityEngine and other sounds by Turbine Sound Studios including start-up external air cart sound /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-2.jpgRadar display showing terrain with three ranges selectableLoader utility to add and remove passengers, cargo and fuelDetailed engine simulation with accurate EPR readings to set power for takeoff, climb and cruiseDetailed performance tables to determine V speeds, power settings, takeoff trim, manoeuvre and stall speeds, and moreCustom icing code will cause airframe ice accumulation to increase drag and degrade lift while de-icing will gradually remove effects of iceINS waypoints may be manually inserted, or simply by loading a standard FSX flight planINS simulation is very detailed with random drift, DME updating, realistic or fast alignment and moreA cold and dark state is available at any time using the pop-up loader utility Purchase Aerosoft - Douglas DC-8 for FSX and P3D v4 /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-3.jpg

Douglas DC-8Publisher: AerosoftReview Author: Michael HaywardSuggested Price: $42.99/images/fsc/wbicons/store-buy-now-button.pngThe DC-8 series was a first generationjetliner developed and built by Douglas in the late 1950s andthroughout the 1960s. It competed directly with Boeing and their 707series in the early days of the Jet Age. Today we take a look at Aerosoft's rendition of the Douglas DC-8-50developed by Michael Cependa, and see if it's worthy of a place inyour virtual jet hangar! Aircraft SpecificationCrew: 3Length: 150.7 ft (45.9m)Height: 42.4 ft (12.92m)Wingspan: 142.4 ft (43.4m) Empty Weight: 124,800 lb (56.6t)Maximum Takeoff Weight: 315,000 lb (142.9t)Powerplant: 2x P&W JT3D-3BAircraft Performance:Range: 5,855 nmi (10,843km) Service Ceiling: 42,000ft (12,802m)Max Cruising Speed: Mach 0.82 (483kn, 895km/h) /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206235310_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234152_1.jpgTwo installers are provided with the product; one for 32-bitsimulators and another for 64-bit. Select your chosen simulator,input your activation key, and the rest of the installation isautomated. In the root directory of the DC-8 folder, you will find six PDFdocuments, covering the tutorial, checklists and CIVA for theaircraft, as well as a support folder for XML animations that theaircraft uses. As with all Aerosoft tutorials, each one is checked and signed offby Cependa himself, giving you his assurance of quality. The tutorialof the DC-8 in particular is 33 pages long and covers absolutelyeverything, from starting cold and dark, right up to securing theaircraft after landing. Exterior ModelThe exterior model of the aircraft is modelled on the DC-8-50variant, and its likeness to the real thing is fantastic. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233528_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181205004717_1.jpgDetails such as panels and textures, have been defined through bumpmapping, as well as an additional 200 or so small textures carefullydefined and placed up and down the body of the aircraft. These can beseen especially when looking up close at the model, where thesedetails are crisp and clear - text and decals can be read without anyissue. As is the norm with most modern add-ons nowadays, the cabininterior has also been modelled in 3D, and is visible from the outsideof the aircraft. This not only gives the DC-8 a real sense of depth,but also provides an additional element of eye-candy (alwaysappreciated). The grey smoke emanating from the P&W JT3D engines when on fullthrottle, is also a nice touch and helps ensure that the DC-8'snickname of 'cigarette jet', remains intact! Small attention todetails such as this, really help bring the spirit of the DC-8 to lifein the simulator. When flying at night, the exterior of the aircraft lights up tomatch that of the interior, with the same being true for the cockpit.Anti-collision lights also reach out across the front of the wings,and help give the aircraft a more dynamic look (despite these lightsbeing baked into the wing). /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234106_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233514_1.jpgOne issue I did run into though, and I'm not sure if this is downto my FSX install, or if the textures failed to load properly, but thestrobe lights appeared to have small red boxes surrounding them. Ibelieve it may be down to the fact that P3D v4 has HDR lighting, andso the boxes remain hidden, but for me at least, they don't appear asthey should across multiple flights. On a positive, the model is really light on system resources, andprovides excellent frame rates. During testing, I managed up to 60 fpsin unpopulated areas, and this was when using the external camera.Performance like this is highly reassuring, and means (hopefully) youwon't be dealing with too many lagging issues when flying from variouscamera positions. There are seven liveries included with the aircraft and these areas follows: N8035U United Airlines PH-DCT KLMEC-ARC IberiaCF-CPM CP AirN8008D LufthansaN820D Delta AirlinesLN-MOH Scanair/Scandinavian /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206232531_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233443_1.jpgAll of the above have been textured in full 4K resolution, meaningthat every livery looks almost life-like. Main textures are also separate and have their own files of varioussizes (over 600). While most add-ons use a texture sheet andreference each texture based on coordinates, the DC-8 instead has afolder filled with each individual texture. An example being warninglights, flip guards, etc. This is not a method used in too manyESP-based simulators due to the heavy loading times and negative VASusage, but in this instance, it is well-managed and adds to theexperience, rather than taking away from it. In all, it's clear that both the modelling and texturing of theaircraft are phenomenal, and are up there with the very best of what'savailable on the platform! Cockpit And InteriorThe cockpit of the Aerosoft Douglas DC-8, much like the exterior,is an in-depth re-creation of the real aircraft. You get a fullyrendered and functional Captain, First Officer and Flight Engineersdeck, as well as detailing right across the cockpit. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206232341_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181205004522_1.jpgEach switch, knob and button has also been carefully modelled in 3Dand animated to match that of its real live counterpart. One thing Iabsolutely loved, was the massive gear lever protruding from thecenter of the panel. While most modern aircraft require you to leanforward to move a small stick, the DC-8 had a foot-long lever thatreached as far back as the co-pilot's seat, making for easiermanagement at the time, albeit blocking some of the controls from theright-hand seat. If flying in P3D v4, you also get TFDi Design's TrueGlasstechnology, which enables you to see dynamic raindrops and effects onthe windshield as you fly. At night, the cockpit looks fantastic. You have the ability toturn on either the dome or panel lights, and depending on your setup,the results can look stunning. Personally I turn on the dome lightonce above 10,000 feet, which makes things a little easier to find.However, even when the cockpit is plunged into darkness, turning onthe panel lights can make for a rather fun experience! Buttons, Gauges And FunctionalityAs with many large jets of the time, the Douglas DC-8 required athree-man crew to operate, and this is reflected within the Aerosoftmodel! /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233631_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233716_1.jpgEach switch, knob and lever found in the cockpit is functional,including that on the engineer's bay. This means when starting up yourengines and managing your fuel flow, you will need to switch yourcamera viewpoint back and forth in order to get everything going. The DC-8 also features an original CIVA Instrument Navigationsystem which is a nice touch. However, setting it up can be initiallyquite difficult (if you're not used to this approach), but once you'veprogrammed it enough times, it becomes second nature. Loading the flight plan is done through either the virtual cockpititself, or via the Flight Plan Loader window (Shift + 2). The firststep is to set the CIVA to 'Waypoint' mode. This is where you caninput your flight coordinates in the place of waypoints, building upyour flight plan (up to a maximum of 9 waypoints). Using the littlespin wheel, you can select a waypoint and then insert yourcoordinates. This automatically stores the information within theaircraft navigation database, and once you fly over this location, theaircraft will head to the next waypoint. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233741_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233801_1.jpgAnother notable instrument is the Altitude Alerter, which is veryhelpful in warning you that you're about to reach a certain altitude.When climbing, it will beep at you when you approach cruise, allowingyou to level off the aircraft. The same can then be done as youdescend, alerting you as you reach your next designated altitude. I must also give a shout to the weather radar too. This is fullyfunctional and simulated into the aircraft! Whether you're using thesimulator's default weather,Active Sky,or any other tool, the aircraft will take its data directly from thesimulator and display it onto the map. The green glow from thedisplay, with the added green spinning line, works very well, and isvery fitting of the period! SoundWhere do I start? I absolutely love the sound of the AerosoftDC-8! From the cockpit, the harmonics of the engines really do giveyou a sense of flying an early-days jetliner. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233837_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234047_1.jpgLicensed from audio experts Turbine Sound Studios, this aircraft,in the opinion of this reviewer, is one of their all-time best soundsets! The numerous high-quality recordings taken from the aircraft,really come together, and like an orchestra, produce a totallyimmersive experience; something I absolutely adore when flying. The Pratt and Whitney JT3D-3B engines found on the DC-8 always gaveoff a wonderful low-toned scream, and these have been expertlyrecreated by TSS from both the interior and exterior of theaicraft. Each knob and switch in the cockpit has its own defined sound, aswell as the flaps, landing gear and alarms. Everything soundsauthentic, and makes the experience of flying a DC-8 even morespecial. My only complaint would be with the stick shaker. The sound loopis only about two seconds long, and there is an audible jump that canbe heard. Extending it by a couple more seconds would definitely notgo amiss. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234052_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206232208_1.jpgApart from this very minor quibble, Aerosoft have done anincredible job in the audio department! Flight DynamicsThe DC-8 was controlled with direct cable linkage and was a veryheavy aircraft to control. This is nicely simulated in the Aerosoftadd-on, and the result is an aircraft that can be rather sluggish tocontrol at times. Its massive wings generated a lot of lift, and as aconsequence, without proper trimming, you'll be left fighting thepitch! The DC-8 had no autothrottle, so pitch, speed and altitudemanagement is key. The higher you climb, the harder it is to gainspeed and as a result, increases the chance of a stall (something Ifound out the hard way!). Above 38,000 feet, I found the DC-8 almostimpossible to climb at anything more than 200 fpm, and once at itsservice ceiling of 42,000 feet, it basically wouldn't do any more (notwithout speed becoming critically low). /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234128_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181205003834_1.jpgWhen it comes to your first few landings, expect the aircraft tofloat before you get accustomed to its behavior. As mentioned above,the wings generate a lot of lift, and as a result, you need to timeyour flare perfectly, or else you'll find yourself gliding halfwaydown the runway! Speed brakes were not operable during flight, so toslow the aircraft down, you would have to operate the reverse thrust.While this would never get certified today, it was something that theDC-8 originally did as part of its speed management. Overall, the DC-8 gives you a different experience when flying, andis one that I have very much enjoyed! Opinion And Closing RemarksI have to say, I have very much enjoyed my time with Aerosoft'sDC-8, as it's a fun aircraft to fly, even if it does seem overlychallenging on the first few flights. Now that I have gotten the hang of many of its features, flying theDC-8 is very rewarding and fun! There's no FMC, no autothrottle, noaltitude hold...yes...this is real flying, as they used to say! /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181204234901_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206235350_1.jpgPriced at $42.99, the DC-8 is also far from the most expensiveaircraft add-on for FSX and P3D. Aerosoft have also kindly providedinstallers for both FSX and P3D, which is nice to see (doesn't makeuse of the infamous 'P3D tax' that some developers use). This factalone, definitely makes the DC-8 a highly attractive purchase,especially if you enjoy flying this type of aircraft in bothsimulators! As I have said throughout this review, if you're into the earlydays of jetliners and want an aircraft which faithfully models thesystems of the time, then this is definitely an aircraft worthexploring. Likewise, if you're a modern heavy metal flyer who'sthinking about delving into something a little older, then here too,the DC-8 becomes highly attractive. Flying the Aerosoft DC-8 has been an absolute joy, and is anaircraft I highly recommend flying! /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206235423_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206235439_1.jpg /images/fsc/logos/flightsimcom-award-of-excellence.png Because of our reviewer's outstanding findings, FlightSim.Com gives the Aerosoft Douglas DC-8 our Award of ExcellenceThe Technical BitMinimum RequirementsFlight SimulatorLockheed Martin Prepar3D V4Microsoft Flight Simulator XOperating System (64 bit)Windows 7Windows 8Windows 10 ComputerCPU: Dual-Core with 2.6 GHz (Quad Core highly recommended)RAM: 4 GB RAMGraphics card: 3 GB VRAM, DirectX 11Disk space: 1.1 GB free disk space (SSD highly recommended)Resolution: 1920x1080 (Full HD) or higherReview PC SpecMicrosoft Flight Simulator X: Steam EditionWindows 10 Professional6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 6700K Processor16 GB RAMNVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 745/images/reviews/aerosdc8/ASD-2107-douglas-dc8.jpg Michael Hayward Purchase Aerosoft - Douglas DC-8

DC-8 Series 50 To 70Publisher: Just FlightReview Author: Meng YuSuggested Price: $29.99/images/fsc/wbicons/store-buy-now-button.pngHeralded as one of the first commercialjetliners, the Douglas DC-8 was certainly a popular sight at airports formost of the late 20th Century. Originally developed by Douglas AircraftCompany to compete with Boeing's 707, the aircraft was hugely popularamongst airlines, with a staggering 556 examples built. Like several aircraft models from its era, the reliability of the DC-8allowed it to operate with several cargo companies for a very longtime. Engine replacement programs by Grumman further extended the DC-8'sservice life. In fact, UPS only retired its DC-8 fleet as recently as2009. /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-landing-03.jpgSeveral DC-8s are still in service today, although large scalecommercial use of the aircraft has ceased. Quoting directly from Wikipedia: As of July 2018, one DC-8 remains in commercial service with Trans AirCargo Service. In addition, several DC-8s are in use as private aircraftalong with one in use by NASA for air quality testing as of October 2017. As of 2017, Skybus Cargo Charters based in Las Vegas, Nevada lists threeDC-8 Super 70 series aircraft in its fleet including a DC-8-72 in VIPpassenger configuration, a DC-8-72CF combi aircraft capable of transportingboth passengers and cargo on the main deck and a DC-8-73F cargo aircraft. Disaster relief organization Samaritan's Purse, based in North Carolina,also operates a DC-8 for flying disaster relief supplies and staff. Just Flight has recreated this beautiful aircraft for both FSX and P3D,splitting the entire package into two add-ons: Series 10 to 40 and Series 50to 70. As another reviewer has already reviewed the Series 10 to 40 package(read it here).I'll be taking a look at the Series 50 to 70 package, arguably the morepopular DC-8 variants. As this package contains eight models of the DC-8, I'll focus my review onthe DC-8-55 to provide comparisons between this and Aerosoft's DC-8(Review Here).Nonetheless, I will still cover the Super 70's FMC and glass cockpit inthis review as it differs significantly from earlier DC-8s. Installation ProcessInstallation from the FlightSim.Com Store was a hassle-free process. Iwas able to download the 900 MB file in about the time it took me to take aquick shower. The entire add-on is contained within a 964 MB zip file. Upon opening theinstaller, I was greeted with a pop-up that prompted me to enter theprovided serial. Using the "License Manager" from the store, I was able toactivate the product without drama. Installation was also extremely quick,and it took me at most 5 minutes to get everything up and running. DocumentationDocumentation for this add-on is contained entirely within a single109-page PDF document. This document contains useful information,including an overview of the models and liveries contained within thispackage, a quick familiarization with the position of all the knobs,buttons and switches in the virtual cockpit (this model is not equippedwith a 2D panel) and perhaps most importantly, a tutorial flight for theSuper 70 series that details the use of Just Flight's FMC. Curiously, there also exists a text file titled "manual.txt" and withinit contains just one line: "placeholder - replace withmanual.pdf". Evidently, they did not do that, but I'm entirely nitpickinghere as the additional text file has no detrimental impact to yourexperience using this add-on. Exterior Modelling And LooksMoving on into the simulator, we'll take our first look at thisaircraft. I find this aircraft to be adequately modelled, though there isno particular "wow" factor associate with the model at firstglance. Nonetheless, I'll allow you to make judgments yourself. /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-01.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-02.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-03.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-04.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-05.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-06.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-07.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-08.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-09.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-10.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-11.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-exterior-12.jpg Whilst the modelling may not be the most beautiful in the world, it is,however, accurate to the real DC-8. Besides the standard animated surfacesand crisp textures, Just Flight has modelled and animated the fuel dumpnozzle at the rear of the aircraft. As noted in the manual, reverseranimation is also unique to the individual engine options on the DC-8. /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-reversers-01.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-reversers-02.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-reversers-03.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-reversers-04.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-reversers-05.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-reversers-06.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-reversers-07.jpgMore interestingly perhaps is the thick black smoke emitted from theengines when the engines are spooled up. While it may initially seem thatJust Flight has overdone it with the amount of smoke being emitted from theengines, comparisons with period photographs confirms that Just Flight hasperhaps actually erred on the conservative side of things when it comes tosmoke. Furthering our discussion on the smoke, Just Flight has also correctlymodelled the smoke effects when the reversers are deployed. As theseearlier engines did not use the cold stream reversers we see today, thefull effect of the exhausts can be seen coming out of the side of theengines. Thankfully for the virtual environment though, such smoke is notpresent on the CFM-56 engines on the DC-8 Super 70 series models, as theyshouldn't be. Moving on, Just Flight has included a "Performance Switcher Tool",located in the JustFlight folder in your root simulator directory and isaptly named "DC8_Switch2.exe". This tool allows you to switch between ahigh-quality model with one that is more performance oriented. Additionaloptions in the tool allow you to disable the smoke effects of the aircraftshould that cause you fps issues and gives you the option to replace theannoyingly loud default fuel pump sound with one that is more realistic. However, from my testing, I found no significant performance issues withthis aircraft and whilst it certainly has a lower frame rate than defaultFSX aircraft, there is nothing too alarming regarding the FPS Ireceived. As such, I found no need to switch from the high-quality modelthat is installed by default. In terms of liveries, the base package contains plenty of options foryou to choose from. According to the store page, the following liveries areincluded for free: DC-8-53 Aeronaves de Mexico (XA-SID)Air New Zealand (ZK-NZF)United Airlines (N8065U)DC-8-55 Jet Trader Air Canada Cargo (C-FTJP)Iberia (EC-BMV)KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Cargo (PH-DCZ)DC-8-61 (The first of the 'Super 60' series)Japan Airlines (JA8043) (Early and later version cockpits included)Nationair (C-GMXB) (Early and later version cockpits included)DC-8-62 Rich International Airways (N1805)Swissair (HB-IDL)DC-8-63 Icelandair (TF-FLV)Sterling Airways (OY-SBK)Worldways Canada (C-FCPS)DC-8-63 CF ONA Overseas National Airways (N8635)Trans International Airways (N4863T)DC-8-73 F (The 'Super Seventies') DHL (DHL Airways) (N805DH)DC-8-73 CF Air Transport International - ATI (N604BX)Lufthansa Cargo (D-ADUE)United Parcel Service - UPS (N814UP)DC-8-EC-24A United States Navy (163050)Should the above be missing your favorite livery, there are two liverypacks available for 12 dollars apiece that encompasses 40 more historicalliveries. There is even a fictional livery pack that allows you tovisualize how the plane would've looked in the liveries of airlines thatnever actually owned a DC-8. Overall though, I am rather pleasantly surprised by the amount of detailJust Flight has included in the exterior model of this aircraft. From theanimated fuel dump nozzle to spoilers that refuse to deploy when in theair, this was certainly no rushed job. I did feel that the aircraft had anoverall matte look to it, which seems to be too exaggerated, though that ismy opinion. Nonetheless, as a whole, I feel that Just Flight has done asuperb job recreating the real aircraft. Interior Modelling And LooksMoving onto the interior, we are greeted with a full set of customgauges. I'll include two sets of screen shots, one of the older DC-8-55, andone of the glass cockpits found on the DC-8 Super 70s. DC-8-55: /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-early-cockpit-01.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-early-cockpit-02.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-early-cockpit-03.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-early-cockpit-04.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-early-cockpit-05.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-early-cockpit-06.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-early-cockpit-07.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-early-cockpit-08.jpgDC-8-73: /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-mod-cockpit-01.jpgThe modern cockpit only has noticeable differenceswith regards to the main panel. On first glance, I found the cockpit to be rather well made. Unlike someadd-ons which reuse default flight simulator gauges, the gauges here arefully custom and 3D modelled. The colors and general feel of the gaugesaccurately reflect the atmosphere of the DC-8. A pity here is that theweather radar is non-functional, though there are several add-ons availablethat add that functionality into the cockpit. Detailed instructions on howto replace the placeholder with an actual weather radar gauge are outlinedin the manual. In the cockpits of the Super 70s, there exists an FMC that simulates thefunctions of the Honeywell Trimble HT9100 Global Navigation/FlightManagement System found in real DC-8s. Taking a look at the real FMS(from this video at the 1:24 mark),it seems that Just Flight has taken several liberties with theirrepresentation of the DC-8's FMS. Nevertheless, the FMC itself appearsrather functional, and even has its own AIRAC cycle from Navigraphavailable. Further discussion of the FMC will be made under the "SystemsSimulation" section of the review. Another positive aspect of the cockpit is the insignificance of its fpshit. Despite the complexity of the cockpit, frame rates were at more thanacceptable levels and compared to add-ons of similar complexity, the JustFlight DC-8 yields no fewer frames than its competition. One disappointing aspect of the cockpit though is the absence of soundsfor several aircraft components. A prominent example of this is the lack ofsounds from the air system. When viewing Youtube videos of other DC-8add-ons, they have turbine sounds when the cabin compressors are turned on,something that's noticeably absent in Just Flight's representation.Moreover, the switches sound rather unrealistic in my opinion, and thesounds from systems such as the recirculating fan lack proper build-up. Itfeels that the switch controls whether or not the sound file is played,rather than actually affecting a system on the aircraft. Finally, several gauges on the flight engineer's panel also feel likethey were rushed. As an example, when flipping the low-pressure pneumaticswitches, the gauge for manifold air pressure instantly jumps to a higherPSI, without the proper response one would expect from an analoguegauge (with the needle taking some time to move to their respectivemarkings. Overall though, the interior of the aircraft is still modelled to amoderately high standard. Whilst there are issues that leave something tobe desired of the aircraft, as a whole, the virtual cockpit is passable,and I did still enjoy using it during my testing of the add-on. DC-8 Super 70 FMCThe DC-8 Series 70 features no additional aerodynamic improvements overthe Series 60 planes, but are instead upgraded versions of the Series 60aircraft. Prominent upgrades included the replacement of the Pratt andWhitney JT3D turbofans with more fuel-efficient CFM56 turbofans and generalmodernization of the cockpit. /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-fmc-01.jpgSuch changes are reflected in the Just Flight model, with the DC-8Series 70s featuring a brand new exterior model, several glass gauges inthe cockpit and, most importantly, an FMC to aid you in flying. Whilst the actual DC-8-70s mostly had a Honeywell Trimble HT9100, JustFlight's FMC is, shall we say, a custom variant of that. Nevertheless, I'mrather surprised to find that the included FMC is capable of creating andexecuting flight plans independently of the default FSX flightplanner. Flying holds about a waypoint is also possible with this FMC. Infact, Navigraph provides a customized AIRAC cycle update for the JustFlight DC-8! The default AIRAC cycle included is cycle 1405, which wascurrent about five years ago. Nonetheless, as previously mentioned, aNavigraph subscription will easily solve this. Whilst Just Flight's FMC is a huge upgrade over the navigation systemsin their previous products, there are nevertheless still some features thatI'd like to see in the FMC. Do note that I'm not familiar with thecapabilities of the Honeywell HT9100, so treat these as more ofobservations rather than judgements or complaints about the inadequacies ofJust Flight's FMC. That being said though, the FMC is unable to calculateV-speeds, and the "VNAV" button directs me to the performance calculationpage. When clicking the buttons on the FMC, they flicker up and downseveral times before registering the click, which some users may findhighly disruptive, especially when entering extended amounts ofdata. Several buttons, such as "ATC" and "BRT DIM", don't appear to haveany effect on the operation of the FMC either. All things considered though, I feel that the FMC is quite the stepforward for Just Flight in creating a more comprehensiveaircraft. Ultimately, as this is a "Jetliner" series product, systemssimulations may be a little light, but I hope to see the FMC be furtherfleshed out perhaps in a future "Professional" DC-8 add-on. Until then,we'll just have to make do with the current one. Systems SimulationAs a whole, I'm positively surprised by the systems simulation on thisaircraft. Details such as the inability for pilots to utilize spoilersduring flight and an engine start system that actually requires the correctswitches to first be pressed before the starter kicks in are features thatindicate a departure from default systems as with previous add-ons. The FMCfor the Series 70 planes is also rather functional, unlike previousadd-ons, which had a non-functioning FMC. I believe that these areindications that Just Flight is progressing towards increasingly complexadd-ons that will be much more fun to fly in the future. Flight DynamicsAfter examining the looks of the aircraft, let's see how it flies. Aspreviously mentioned, I'll be focusing on the performance of the DC-8-55,though I've checked if any issues noted are specific to the Series 55, orare present on all variants. Weight And Balance: By default, the DC-8s carry full fuel and are seatedto capacity, though I'm sure a full load of fuel and passengers isn't whatyou'd carry for a short regional trip. This is where a payload utilitywould normally come in handy, as there are several confusing payloadstations on the DC-8. For the series 55, there exists a station titled"Potable Water", with no explanation given as to the capacity or the watertank nor its location. Nevertheless, I made do and managed to empty somestations to obtain a payload configuration that came in under the MTOW. Taxi: During taxi, this aircraft certainly feels heavy, and significantthrottle is required before the aircraft can get moving. Nonetheless, onceit gets moving, the aircraft does not feel too different from any othermid-sized jetliner that I've flown before. Takeoff: It is reported that early DC-8s had engines that were ratherunderpowered and losing an engine on take-off spelt almost certaindoom. Though the Series 70 has no such issue, the Series 55 did acceleraterather slowly with a full load and took up a significant portion of therunway before I was able to lift the plane into the air. Climb: With the DC-8 series 50, there is no IAS/Mach hold mode for theautopilot, so I had to resort to the V/S mode for my climb-out. Otherwise,the aircraft performs rather decently once it gets off the ground and I hadno issues climbing at a reasonable V/S to my cruising altitude. /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-departure-01.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-departure-02.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-departure-03.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-departure-04.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-departure-05.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-departure-06.jpg Cruise: Cruise is one of the phases of flight whereby the lack of anauto-throttle is really felt. I found myself constantly adjusting thethrottle to keep the aircraft cruising at an acceptable speed. While I havenot tried a long-haul flight in this aircraft, I do wish those who attemptsuch a feat the best of luck managing their speed. Descent: Once again, there is no automation to aid with your descentplanning. In the absence of any aid, I reverted to simply initiating mydescent based on my flight level, taking the first 2 digits of my flightlevel and multiplying by 3, giving me a rough idea when to initiate mydescent. During descent though, the V/S mode on the autopilot was more thansufficient to get the aircraft down in a controlled fashion and evenbrought back memories of flying freeware airliners. Approach And Landing: Soon enough, I was on the most exciting part of theflight: landing. Instead of using any ILS system, I opted to fly theapproach manually as the weather conditions were perfect. I noted that onapproach, quite a bit of throttle input is required to keep the aircraft onthe glidepath. If left to its own device, the aircraft has a tendency tosink rather quickly below the glidepath. Otherwise, the DC-8 is nodifferent from any other airliner when it comes to landing. /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-landing-01.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-landing-02.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-landing-04.jpg /images/reviews/justfdc8/t/Just-Flight-DC8-landing-05.jpgTools And UtilitiesOne major area of complaint from me regarding this product is the lackof any tools or utilities for the operation of the aircraft. Whilst ananimation control panel may be a luxury, for an add-on of this price, I didexpect at least a fuel and payload utility. Instead, we are forced to useFSX's default fuel and payload utility to configure our aircraft. Whileit's certainly not the end of the world, it gives the feeling that JustFlight may have rushed this product to market. Additionally, the lack of a panel-state utility is yet another complaintI have for Just Flight. Sure, it is not a tremendous hassle to first loadthe default Cessna 172, then turn off the switches before loading the DC-8or perhaps even save a flight with the cold and dark panel state, but forthe price of the add-on, I feel that it is not completely unreasonable toask for something as commonplace nowadays as a panel-state utility for theaircraft. Final Thoughts - Series 10 To 40 Or 50 To 70?In the end, despite some of the complaints I have, I believe that theJust Flight DC-8 Series 50 to 70 is an excellent package for any lover ofthe Douglas DC-8. Compared to other add-ons, I believe that Just Flight'sbiggest advantage is their comprehensiveness in covering the entire DC-8lineup, from the first ever aircraft to the latest the great Super 70s. Having said that, though, I do have several complaints regarding theaircraft as outlined above. Whilst functional, the aircraft itself doesn'tseem to exude quality from the get-go. Whilst I've learnt to appreciate thework that's been put into the aircraft, that appreciation didn't comeeasily. For users who are on the fence about the aircraft, a sale wouldmost certainly resolve your worries. At this point, I'm sure many users have a pertinent question on theirminds: Whether to choose the Series 10 to 40 package or this one. Having flown both the Series 10 to 40 and Series 50 to 70, I do feelthat the latter has a slight edge over the former. Whilst I personallyfound no additional complaints for the Series 10 to 40 package, I do feelthat the availability of the Super 70s in this package gives the user avery different experience flying this aircraft compared to the variantscontained in the Series 10 to 40. Hence, should you have no preference forwhich variants of the DC-8 you're interested in, it is my personal beliefthat the Series 50 to 70 will yield a more varied experience for you. /images/reviews/justfdc8/JFD-750-dc8-50to70.jpgMeng Yu Purchase Just Flight - DC-8 Jetliner Series 50 To 70 Purchase Livery Packs

Douglas DC-8Publisher: AerosoftReview Author: Michael HaywardSuggested Price: $33.99/images/fsc/wbicons/store-buy-now-button.pngThe DC-8 series was a first generationjetliner developed and built by Douglas in the late 1950s andthroughout the 1960s. It competed directly with Boeing and their 707series in the early days of the Jet Age. Today we take a look at Aerosoft's rendition of the Douglas DC-8-50developed by Michael Cependa, and see if it's worthy of a place inyour virtual jet hangar! Aircraft SpecificationCrew: 3Length: 150.7 ft (45.9m)Height: 42.4 ft (12.92m)Wingspan: 142.4 ft (43.4m) Empty Weight: 124,800 lb (56.6t)Maximum Takeoff Weight: 315,000 lb (142.9t)Powerplant: 2x P&W JT3D-3BAircraft Performance:Range: 5,855 nmi (10,843km) Service Ceiling: 42,000ft (12,802m)Max Cruising Speed: Mach 0.82 (483kn, 895km/h) /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206235310_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234152_1.jpgTwo installers are provided with the product; one for 32-bitsimulators and another for 64-bit. Select your chosen simulator,input your activation key, and the rest of the installation isautomated. In the root directory of the DC-8 folder, you will find six PDFdocuments, covering the tutorial, checklists and CIVA for theaircraft, as well as a support folder for XML animations that theaircraft uses. As with all Aerosoft tutorials, each one is checked and signed offby Cependa himself, giving you his assurance of quality. The tutorialof the DC-8 in particular is 33 pages long and covers absolutelyeverything, from starting cold and dark, right up to securing theaircraft after landing. Exterior ModelThe exterior model of the aircraft is modelled on the DC-8-50variant, and its likeness to the real thing is fantastic. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233528_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181205004717_1.jpgDetails such as panels and textures, have been defined through bumpmapping, as well as an additional 200 or so small textures carefullydefined and placed up and down the body of the aircraft. These can beseen especially when looking up close at the model, where thesedetails are crisp and clear - text and decals can be read without anyissue. As is the norm with most modern add-ons nowadays, the cabininterior has also been modelled in 3D, and is visible from the outsideof the aircraft. This not only gives the DC-8 a real sense of depth,but also provides an additional element of eye-candy (alwaysappreciated). The grey smoke emanating from the P&W JT3D engines when on fullthrottle, is also a nice touch and helps ensure that the DC-8'snickname of 'cigarette jet', remains intact! Small attention todetails such as this, really help bring the spirit of the DC-8 to lifein the simulator. When flying at night, the exterior of the aircraft lights up tomatch that of the interior, with the same being true for the cockpit.Anti-collision lights also reach out across the front of the wings,and help give the aircraft a more dynamic look (despite these lightsbeing baked into the wing). /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234106_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233514_1.jpgOne issue I did run into though, and I'm not sure if this is downto my FSX install, or if the textures failed to load properly, but thestrobe lights appeared to have small red boxes surrounding them. Ibelieve it may be down to the fact that P3D v4 has HDR lighting, andso the boxes remain hidden, but for me at least, they don't appear asthey should across multiple flights. On a positive, the model is really light on system resources, andprovides excellent frame rates. During testing, I managed up to 60 fpsin unpopulated areas, and this was when using the external camera.Performance like this is highly reassuring, and means (hopefully) youwon't be dealing with too many lagging issues when flying from variouscamera positions. There are seven liveries included with the aircraft and these areas follows: N8035U United Airlines PH-DCT KLMEC-ARC IberiaCF-CPM CP AirN8008D LufthansaN820D Delta AirlinesLN-MOH Scanair/Scandinavian /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206232531_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233443_1.jpgAll of the above have been textured in full 4K resolution, meaningthat every livery looks almost life-like. Main textures are also separate and have their own files of varioussizes (over 600). While most add-ons use a texture sheet andreference each texture based on coordinates, the DC-8 instead has afolder filled with each individual texture. An example being warninglights, flip guards, etc. This is not a method used in too manyESP-based simulators due to the heavy loading times and negative VASusage, but in this instance, it is well-managed and adds to theexperience, rather than taking away from it. In all, it's clear that both the modelling and texturing of theaircraft are phenomenal, and are up there with the very best of what'savailable on the platform! Cockpit And InteriorThe cockpit of the Aerosoft Douglas DC-8, much like the exterior,is an in-depth re-creation of the real aircraft. You get a fullyrendered and functional Captain, First Officer and Flight Engineersdeck, as well as detailing right across the cockpit. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206232341_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181205004522_1.jpgEach switch, knob and button has also been carefully modelled in 3Dand animated to match that of its real live counterpart. One thing Iabsolutely loved, was the massive gear lever protruding from thecenter of the panel. While most modern aircraft require you to leanforward to move a small stick, the DC-8 had a foot-long lever thatreached as far back as the co-pilot's seat, making for easiermanagement at the time, albeit blocking some of the controls from theright-hand seat. If flying in P3D v4, you also get TFDi Design's TrueGlasstechnology, which enables you to see dynamic raindrops and effects onthe windshield as you fly. At night, the cockpit looks fantastic. You have the ability toturn on either the dome or panel lights, and depending on your setup,the results can look stunning. Personally I turn on the dome lightonce above 10,000 feet, which makes things a little easier to find.However, even when the cockpit is plunged into darkness, turning onthe panel lights can make for a rather fun experience! Buttons, Gauges And FunctionalityAs with many large jets of the time, the Douglas DC-8 required athree-man crew to operate, and this is reflected within the Aerosoftmodel! /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233631_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233716_1.jpgEach switch, knob and lever found in the cockpit is functional,including that on the engineer's bay. This means when starting up yourengines and managing your fuel flow, you will need to switch yourcamera viewpoint back and forth in order to get everything going. The DC-8 also features an original CIVA Instrument Navigationsystem which is a nice touch. However, setting it up can be initiallyquite difficult (if you're not used to this approach), but once you'veprogrammed it enough times, it becomes second nature. Loading the flight plan is done through either the virtual cockpititself, or via the Flight Plan Loader window (Shift + 2). The firststep is to set the CIVA to 'Waypoint' mode. This is where you caninput your flight coordinates in the place of waypoints, building upyour flight plan (up to a maximum of 9 waypoints). Using the littlespin wheel, you can select a waypoint and then insert yourcoordinates. This automatically stores the information within theaircraft navigation database, and once you fly over this location, theaircraft will head to the next waypoint. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233741_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233801_1.jpgAnother notable instrument is the Altitude Alerter, which is veryhelpful in warning you that you're about to reach a certain altitude.When climbing, it will beep at you when you approach cruise, allowingyou to level off the aircraft. The same can then be done as youdescend, alerting you as you reach your next designated altitude. I must also give a shout to the weather radar too. This is fullyfunctional and simulated into the aircraft! Whether you're using thesimulator's default weather,Active Sky,or any other tool, the aircraft will take its data directly from thesimulator and display it onto the map. The green glow from thedisplay, with the added green spinning line, works very well, and isvery fitting of the period! SoundWhere do I start? I absolutely love the sound of the AerosoftDC-8! From the cockpit, the harmonics of the engines really do giveyou a sense of flying an early-days jetliner. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206233837_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234047_1.jpgLicensed from audio experts Turbine Sound Studios, this aircraft,in the opinion of this reviewer, is one of their all-time best soundsets! The numerous high-quality recordings taken from the aircraft,really come together, and like an orchestra, produce a totallyimmersive experience; something I absolutely adore when flying. The Pratt and Whitney JT3D-3B engines found on the DC-8 always gaveoff a wonderful low-toned scream, and these have been expertlyrecreated by TSS from both the interior and exterior of theaicraft. Each knob and switch in the cockpit has its own defined sound, aswell as the flaps, landing gear and alarms. Everything soundsauthentic, and makes the experience of flying a DC-8 even morespecial. My only complaint would be with the stick shaker. The sound loopis only about two seconds long, and there is an audible jump that canbe heard. Extending it by a couple more seconds would definitely notgo amiss. /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234052_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206232208_1.jpgApart from this very minor quibble, Aerosoft have done anincredible job in the audio department! Flight DynamicsThe DC-8 was controlled with direct cable linkage and was a veryheavy aircraft to control. This is nicely simulated in the Aerosoftadd-on, and the result is an aircraft that can be rather sluggish tocontrol at times. Its massive wings generated a lot of lift, and as aconsequence, without proper trimming, you'll be left fighting thepitch! The DC-8 had no autothrottle, so pitch, speed and altitudemanagement is key. The higher you climb, the harder it is to gainspeed and as a result, increases the chance of a stall (something Ifound out the hard way!). Above 38,000 feet, I found the DC-8 almostimpossible to climb at anything more than 200 fpm, and once at itsservice ceiling of 42,000 feet, it basically wouldn't do any more (notwithout speed becoming critically low). /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206234128_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181205003834_1.jpgWhen it comes to your first few landings, expect the aircraft tofloat before you get accustomed to its behavior. As mentioned above,the wings generate a lot of lift, and as a result, you need to timeyour flare perfectly, or else you'll find yourself gliding halfwaydown the runway! Speed brakes were not operable during flight, so toslow the aircraft down, you would have to operate the reverse thrust.While this would never get certified today, it was something that theDC-8 originally did as part of its speed management. Overall, the DC-8 gives you a different experience when flying, andis one that I have very much enjoyed! Opinion And Closing RemarksI have to say, I have very much enjoyed my time with Aerosoft'sDC-8, as it's a fun aircraft to fly, even if it does seem overlychallenging on the first few flights. Now that I have gotten the hang of many of its features, flying theDC-8 is very rewarding and fun! There's no FMC, no autothrottle, noaltitude hold...yes...this is real flying, as they used to say! /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181204234901_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206235350_1.jpgPriced at $42.99, the DC-8 is also far from the most expensiveaircraft add-on for FSX and P3D. Aerosoft have also kindly providedinstallers for both FSX and P3D, which is nice to see (doesn't makeuse of the infamous 'P3D tax' that some developers use). This factalone, definitely makes the DC-8 a highly attractive purchase,especially if you enjoy flying this type of aircraft in bothsimulators! As I have said throughout this review, if you're into the earlydays of jetliners and want an aircraft which faithfully models thesystems of the time, then this is definitely an aircraft worthexploring. Likewise, if you're a modern heavy metal flyer who'sthinking about delving into something a little older, then here too,the DC-8 becomes highly attractive. Flying the Aerosoft DC-8 has been an absolute joy, and is anaircraft I highly recommend flying! /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206235423_1.jpg /images/reviews/aerosdc8/t/20181206235439_1.jpg /images/fsc/logos/flightsimcom-award-of-excellence.png Because of our reviewer's outstanding findings, FlightSim.Com gives the Aerosoft Douglas DC-8 our Award of ExcellenceThe Technical BitMinimum RequirementsFlight SimulatorLockheed Martin Prepar3D V4Microsoft Flight Simulator XOperating System (64 bit)Windows 7Windows 8Windows 10 ComputerCPU: Dual-Core with 2.6 GHz (Quad Core highly recommended)RAM: 4 GB RAMGraphics card: 3 GB VRAM, DirectX 11Disk space: 1.1 GB free disk space (SSD highly recommended)Resolution: 1920x1080 (Full HD) or higherReview PC SpecMicrosoft Flight Simulator X: Steam EditionWindows 10 Professional6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 6700K Processor16 GB RAMNVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 745/images/reviews/aerosdc8/ASD-2107-douglas-dc8.jpg Michael Hayward Purchase Aerosoft - Douglas DC-8

/images/notams/notams18/aero1227.jpgThe P3D V4 version of "Douglas DC-8" has been updated to version 2.0.0.0. The FSX & FSX:SE version hasn't been changed (v1.00). Changes In V2.0.0.0 Added cargo model and associated liveries: United, Fine Air, LAC, AIA.Added gsx.cfg files for passenger and cargo versions in the DC-8_50 folder. You must rename the files to switch to the cargo version.Updated paint kit for cargo version.Further improved tank selection initiation.Fixed reverser animation so they will not animate when engine not running.Connected take off warning to engine three throttle in addition to engine one.Corrected fuel pressure gauges so boost pumps don't create pressure from empty tanks.Fixed fuel flow gauges to not show fuel flow before valves turned on during start.Added pop-up for control of external air, external electrical power, and cargo doors. "Shift 5" to access.Updated loader pop-up to accommodate both passenger and cargo variants.Changed clocks from local time to GMT.Changed heading select coding to allow external nav apps to control aircraft heading.Fixed bug causing hydraulic problems when cold and dark flight saved.Corrected animation of PT probe heaters switch and associated text on overhead.Aerosoft Douglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 was one of the aircraft that brought long distanceair travel to the masses. It made transatlantic air travel possiblefor a much larger group of people, thus making the world a muchsmaller place. Commercially it was successful up to 1972 when widebodied aircraft like the B747 took over its place. There were manyvariants and once in a blue moon you still see the "Old Smokey" carrycargo. Old Smokey was just one of the many nicknames the aircraft wasgiven by pilots that loved flying them. DC Late, Greasy8, DeathCruiser, Whiney Bird and Cigarette Jets were others. For a long time, we lacked these important aircraft in oursimulators but this add-on adds a version to your virtual hangar thatis not only looking and sounding good, but also offers a good systemdepth. Every real pilot will enjoy navigating by VOR and NDB andmanually managing the four finicky power plants. It is hard work butthe DC-8 will reward you with great handling. /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-1.jpgIt's time to forget about MCDU, FMS and FADEC and go back to realflying, complete with instruments with needles and a sturdy but steadyhand on the throttles and stick. FeaturesSimulation of a 50 series DC-8 passenger airliner with a focus on normal procedures3D model of the exterior with animated flight surfaces, reversers, landing gear, four exits and two cargo doorsVirtual cockpit model with detailed simulation of instruments and controls at the pilot's, first officer's, and flight engineer's positionsIn-depth simulation of more than 10 aircraft systemsVisual rain effects on cockpit windows using TrueGlass technology by TFDiP3D V4 version includes dynamic landing, taxi, and ground floodlights that illuminate objectsCockpit lighting including main panel, pedestal, and engineer's panel floodlights, dome light, panel back lighting, and instrument gauge lightingInstrument gauge lighting has four selectable levels of intensityEngine and other sounds by Turbine Sound Studios including start-up external air cart sound /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-2.jpgRadar display showing terrain with three ranges selectableLoader utility to add and remove passengers, cargo and fuelDetailed engine simulation with accurate EPR readings to set power for takeoff, climb and cruiseDetailed performance tables to determine V speeds, power settings, takeoff trim, manoeuvre and stall speeds, and moreCustom icing code will cause airframe ice accumulation to increase drag and degrade lift while de-icing will gradually remove effects of iceINS waypoints may be manually inserted, or simply by loading a standard FSX flight planINS simulation is very detailed with random drift, DME updating, realistic or fast alignment and moreA cold and dark state is available at any time using the pop-up loader utility Purchase Aerosoft - Douglas DC-8 for P3D v4 /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-3.jpg

/images/notams/notams18/aero0619.jpgThe Douglas DC-8 was one of the aircraft that brought long distanceair travel to the masses. It made transatlantic air travel possiblefor a much larger group of people, thus making the world a muchsmaller place. Commercially it was successful up to 1972 when widebodied aircraft like the B747 took over its place. There were manyvariants and once in a blue moon you still see the "Old Smokey" carrycargo. Old Smokey was just one of the many nicknames the aircraft wasgiven by pilots that loved flying them. DC Late, Greasy8, DeathCruiser, Whiney Bird and Cigarette Jets were others. For a long time, we lacked these important aircraft in oursimulators but this add-on adds a version to your virtual hangar thatis not only looking and sounding good, but also offers a good systemdepth. Every real pilot will enjoy navigating by VOR and NDB andmanually managing the four finicky power plants. It is hard work butthe DC-8 will reward you with great handling. /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-1.jpgIt's time to forget about MCDU, FMS and FADEC and go back to realflying, complete with instruments with needles and a sturdy but steadyhand on the throttles and stick. FeaturesSimulation of a 50 series DC-8 passenger airliner with a focus on normal procedures3D model of the exterior with animated flight surfaces, reversers, landing gear, four exits and two cargo doorsVirtual cockpit model with detailed simulation of instruments and controls at the pilot's, first officer's, and flight engineer's positionsIn-depth simulation of more than 10 aircraft systemsVisual rain effects on cockpit windows using TrueGlass technology by TFDiP3D V4 version includes dynamic landing, taxi, and ground floodlights that illuminate objectsCockpit lighting including main panel, pedestal, and engineer's panel floodlights, dome light, panel back lighting, and instrument gauge lightingInstrument gauge lighting has four selectable levels of intensityEngine and other sounds by Turbine Sound Studios including start-up external air cart sound /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-2.jpgRadar display showing terrain with three ranges selectableLoader utility to add and remove passengers, cargo and fuelDetailed engine simulation with accurate EPR readings to set power for takeoff, climb and cruiseDetailed performance tables to determine V speeds, power settings, takeoff trim, manoeuvre and stall speeds, and moreCustom icing code will cause airframe ice accumulation to increase drag and degrade lift while de-icing will gradually remove effects of iceINS waypoints may be manually inserted, or simply by loading a standard FSX flight planINS simulation is very detailed with random drift, DME updating, realistic or fast alignment and moreA cold and dark state is available at any time using the pop-up loader utility Purchase Aerosoft - Douglas DC-8 for FSX/P3D v4 /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-3.jpg

/images/notams/notams18/doug0420/doug0420.jpgChanges In Version 1.03 IncludeTransponder code digits no longer go above 7VOR idents now can be turned on and off with VC switches or key commands(For ADF ident on/off please use VC switches only)Additional VC performance optimizationScanair livery addedTexture mapping on rear fuselage fixed (fixed on 1.02, but not reported then)Cold and dark now turns nav light switch offEngine starter code rewritten for some users having problems with startsComm frequencies now display correctly when radios off or in standby modeFixed fuel tank selection not initiating correctly for some usersAP master switch animation is fasterTransponder mode switch set to "C"Fixed missing INS markings on overhead light map textureBetter steering wheel textureBrightened exterior non-dynamic landing and taxi lights to match view from VCAerosoft Douglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 was one of the aircraft that brought long distanceair travel to the masses. It made transatlantic air travel possiblefor a much larger group of people, thus making the world a muchsmaller place. Commercially it was successful up to 1972 when widebodied aircraft like the B747 took over its place. There were manyvariants and once in a blue moon you still see the "Old Smokey" carrycargo. Old Smokey was just one of the many nicknames the aircraft wasgiven by pilots that loved flying them. DC Late, Greasy8, DeathCruiser, Whiney Bird and Cigarette Jets were others. For a long time, we lacked these important aircraft in oursimulators but this add-on adds a version to your virtual hangar thatis not only looking and sounding good, but also offers a good systemdepth. Every real pilot will enjoy navigating by VOR and NDB andmanually managing the four finicky power plants. It is hard work butthe DC-8 will reward you with great handling. /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-1.jpgIt's time to forget about MCDU, FMS and FADEC and go back to realflying, complete with instruments with needles and a sturdy but steadyhand on the throttles and stick. FeaturesSimulation of a 50 series DC-8 passenger airliner with a focus on normal procedures3D model of the exterior with animated flight surfaces, reversers, landing gear, four exits and two cargo doorsVirtual cockpit model with detailed simulation of instruments and controls at the pilot's, first officer's, and flight engineer's positionsIn-depth simulation of more than 10 aircraft systemsVisual rain effects on cockpit windows using TrueGlass technology by TFDiP3D V4 version includes dynamic landing, taxi, and ground floodlights that illuminate objectsCockpit lighting including main panel, pedestal, and engineer's panel floodlights, dome light, panel back lighting, and instrument gauge lightingInstrument gauge lighting has four selectable levels of intensityEngine and other sounds by Turbine Sound Studios including start-up external air cart sound /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-2.jpgRadar display showing terrain with three ranges selectableLoader utility to add and remove passengers, cargo and fuelDetailed engine simulation with accurate EPR readings to set power for takeoff, climb and cruiseDetailed performance tables to determine V speeds, power settings, takeoff trim, manoeuvre and stall speeds, and moreCustom icing code will cause airframe ice accumulation to increase drag and degrade lift while de-icing will gradually remove effects of iceINS waypoints may be manually inserted, or simply by loading a standard FSX flight planINS simulation is very detailed with random drift, DME updating, realistic or fast alignment and moreA cold and dark state is available at any time using the pop-up loader utility Purchase Aerosoft - Douglas DC-8 for P3D v4 /images/notams/notams18/doug0420/dc8-3.jpg