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iFly Jets 747-400Publisher: Flight1Review Author: Meng YuSuggested Price: $59.95/images/fsc/wbicons/store-buy-now-button.pngThough the development of the 747nearly bankrupted Boeing initially, the plane has now evolved tobecome one of the most recognizable aircraft that ever took to theskies. Today, the 747 has been adapted to fill multiple roles beyondthat of a passenger and cargo aircraft, including the carrier aircraftfor the space shuttle, an airborne telescope and laser (separateaircraft) and even the presidential transport for the United States ofAmerica and several other countries. The -400 model of the 747 which we will look at today features manyimprovements over its "classic" predecessors, including glass cockpitdisplays and, most notably, a 2-man crew instead of three. The -400 alsohad several derivatives, including the 747-400M combi for carryingboth cargo and passengers, the 747-400D for filling high densitydomestic routes (and lacks winglets!) and the Large Cargo Freighter(LCF) for transporting oversized cargo. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-1-8i-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-1-8i-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-1-8i-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-1-8i-04.jpgDevelopmentiFly has faithfully recreated the 747-400 in all its glory forPrepar3D (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions) and of course, FlightSimulator X. Included in this package is the base passenger version ofthe 747-400 with three engine configurations: The General Electric CF6-80,the Rolls-Royce RB211 and the Pratt and Whitney PW4000. An update in December of 2018 introduced the 747-8i passengermodel, at no additional cost to registered users of the iFly 747-400v2. This is not a simple exterior model, but includes severalimportant system changes as well, including an Electronic Checklistand several updates to the panel displays, resulting in a somewhatcomprehensive 747-8i simulation beyond an exterior model change. Moreinformation is included in a PDF after installing the update. Furthermore, should you wish to become a cargo pilot, the iFly teamhas introduced a 747 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) model of the747-400 in February this year, which features appropriate adjustmentsto the model of the -400 to reflect the aircraft in reallife. However, the BCF model is not available for 32 bit versions ofP3D and FSX, a reasonable decision considering the myriad of benefitsa 64-bit simulator has. Hence, for the price of the 747-400, you would receive five variantsof the 747 in total: the -400 GE, -400 PW, -400 RR, -8i and BCF. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-2-variants-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-2-variants-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-2-variants-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-2-variants-04.jpg Exterior AppearanceThe iFly 747-400 ships with three liveries: Virgin Atlantic and Britishairways for the GE and RR engines respectively, and an iFly livery forall three engine variations. Additionally, there are a total of 47 otherliveries available for download on the Flight1 file system, includingthe liveries of KLM, Northwest and Delta so you are likely to find alivery that you wish to fly. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-07.jpgIn terms of the exterior model, the iFly 747-400 certainly looksthe part of a high-quality add-on. The modelling and textures are verywell done and are of a standard comparable to other high-qualityadd-ons. The sheer variety of downloadable liveries from Flight1 alsomeant that I was able to select a livery that was appropriate for theflight I was undertaking. Besides textures, the aircraft is not at all short on animatedcomponents. Through the FMC, I was able to open every door on the 747,including the second level emergency exits. Additionally, smallerdetails have also been modelled, such as the air intake for theAPU. Control surfaces also move according to the number of hydraulicpumps that are currently operational. When pumps are turned off, youcan observe that control surfaces deflect less and some even stopmoving at all! These features really show the dedication of iFly tothis add-on as they could have easily glossed over these details, yetthey chose to include then in this add-on. Ground services such as a Ground Power Unit and a Ground Air Sourceare also available, in the event you wish to simulate an inoperativeAPU, but unfortunately there does not appear to be ground servicevehicles included in the model. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-04.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-05.jpgOverall, the iFly 747-400's exterior is excellently modelled withmany tiny details that will no doubt allow you to have an immersiveand enjoyable experience flying the aircraft. Interior AppearanceMoving onto the interior of the aircraft, iFly once again did notdisappoint. The virtual cockpit has a full set of 3D modelled knobs andswitches, HD textures and comprehensive systems including a fullyfunctioning FMC. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-09.jpgThe 3D switches really add to the immersion of the add-on, givingthe aircraft a professional feel. Whilst some less important switchescould have easily been replaced with textured surfaces (such as thecircuit breakers), iFly's decision to include them goes to show theattention to detail the team at iFly had. Another detail of the aircraft rests in the EICAS display. On theRB211-engined variant of the 747-400, the lower EICAS display showsboth N2 and N3 indications, whereas only N2 rotation speeds are shownfor both the CF6-80 and PW4000 engines. This is to reflectRolls-Royce's triple spool engine design. Additionally, the team at iFly has chosen to include a fullyfunctioning set of 2D panels, a useful component for those who eitherstill wish to fly with these panels or prefer to use them to accessswitches. Personally, I found the 2D panels a helpful additionespecially when flying without any camera add-ons as it allows foreasy access to the various switches on the overhead panel without anyawkward camera angles. However, if you prefer to stick with thevirtual cockpit, that option is readily available too. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-04.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-05.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-06.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-07.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-08.jpg Systems And DocumentationWhen it comes to the systems of this add-on, iFly really has leftme speechless. In additional to the complete set of gauges andcomprehensive FMC as outlined before, there are several other keyfeatures that are modelled. An example of this comprehensive programming is in the hydraulicssystems. The switches that control the hydraulic systems are notmerely aesthetic but really do affect the way the control surfacesmove. From the Boeing 747 Operators' Manual the hydraulic systems loadis as follows: "Systems 1 and 4 power the trailing edge flaps, landing gear,normal brakes (SYS 4), alternate brakes (SYS 1), and steering. Systems1 and 4 also provide redundant power to the primary flightcontrols. Systems 2 and 3 power the primary flight controls,stabilizer trim, and elevator feel. System 2 also powers the alternatebrakes and lower yaw damper. System 3 powers the upper yawdamper. Systems 1, 2, and 3 power the related center, right, and leftautopilot servos. Systems 2, 3, and 4 power the spoilers." For those who prefer a visual representation of the systems: /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-5-schematic-01.jpgIndeed, when testing the aircraft, switching off all but system 1results in operative spoilers, and powering on only systems 3 and 4results in operative spoilers across the aircraft, but only flightcontrols on the right side respond to control inputs. Beyond the hydraulic systems, there are dozens of other systemsthat have been modelled in-depth, including the electrical, fuel andair systems. Detailed explanations for the operations of these systemscan be found in the "iFly 747 Operator's Manual" under \iFly\744\Manual. I strongly recommend a good readthrough ofthe manuals if you wish to understand more about the Boeing 747. Flight DynamicsIn order to better understand how the aircraft works and handles, Ifollowed along on the tutorial flight, a step by step guide for aflight from London Heathrow to San Francisco International Airport,with the flight time at just over 10 hours without time acceleration. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-6-colddark-03.jpgOur tutorial first takes us not to the simulator, but to theaircraft configurator where we must set the payload and fuel for theflight. As per the instructions, we took aboard 382 passengers andjust over 20 tons of cargo. A minor complaint I have regarding thisprocess would be that there is no option to simply input a passengernumber. To get 382 passengers, I found myself selecting the full 416passengers and clicking away till the number of passengers dwindleddown to 382. Perhaps there's a better solution to this, but I haven'tdiscovered that from poking around the configurator. The fuel loading was especially interesting. Whilst you are able toinput the desired quantities of fuel into each tank yourself, the 747has a somewhat complex fuel management system, where fuel must bedelicately managed to feed the main tanks to ensure that the aircraftis balanced throughout the flight. For this, the iFly 747 configuratorautomatically spreads the fuel load correctly amongst the tanks as periFly's programmed "fuel logic". After loading the passengers and fuel, iFly guides the user throughseveral pages of settings, which should be set correctly for thesystems to function properly. Amongst other customizations, a keypoint to note when prepping the aircraft is to ensure that metricunits are used in the simulator. This is to ensure that the FMChandles weights correctly when performing our preflight later on. After some rather quick time with the configurator, we are finallyready to load the aircraft up and fly! /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-6-colddark-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-6-colddark-02.jpgSetting up the systems in the FMC went extremely smoothly. I cannotstress the importance of a good tutorial flight enough as it makeslearning how to fly what you've just bought so much simpler. Unlike asimple checklist, a tutorial flight provides visual aids and astep-by-step guide as to what to click and what to input. Through myown experiences, I am extremely thankful to iFly for including atutorial flight to make things so much easier. After powering up the aircraft, I was ready to taxi. Taxiing theaircraft really gave me a feel for just how heavy an aircraft I'mflying, certainly a departure from the commuter propliners I've beenreviewing lately. Despite the size of the 747, I noticed that it doesnot take an immense amount of throttle to get it moving even whenflying it in a fairly full configuration. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-7-takeoff-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-7-takeoff-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-7-takeoff-03.jpgA gripe I had with the default 747-400 was the unrealisticacceleration of the aircraft on take-off. Hence, I was very happy whenthis iFly 747, accelerated at a more realistic pace, taking upsignificant runway before finally getting off the ground. Aftertakeoff, I engaged the VNAV and LNAV modes and allowed the aircraft totake over flying itself to San Francisco. At this point, the tutorial goes much more in-dept regarding usingthe autopilot, including various VNAV profiles. Cruise in a 747 is rather uneventful, with little to do other thanfuel management and planning ahead for climbs or descents. As per themanual though, the iFly 747 is designed for use with time accelerationof up to 8x, most certainly a welcome feature when flying offline. After a lengthy cruise, I came back to find the simulator paused ashort distance from the Top of Descent point. At this point, Iconfigured the FMC to take the GOLDN6 arrival to RWY 28R for thevisual approach, clearing any discontinuities as I found them. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-8-approach-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-8-approach-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-8-approach-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-8-approach-04.jpgFor descent, I once again elected to use VNAV to control my descentinto KSFO. VNAV is such a handy feature that is sometimes taken forgranted, and it's only when flying smaller aircraft without thisfeature that I really appreciated the availability of VNAV. Lining up for the runway, the aircraft was much slower to respondto my control inputs. This add-on really gives the feeling of flying aheavy aircraft and requires that you constantly plan ahead in order toperform pitch and bank adjustments early to stay ahead of theaircraft. Should you choose to hand fly the approach, do note thatconstant input is required to keep the aircraft on the glideslopeunlike default aircraft, which are generally more stable to fly. On landing, I planted the aircraft somewhat firmly onto the runway,and activated the reversers. Just like on take-off, the aircraftslowed down very gradually, much like how you would expect a heavy toperform. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-9-landing-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-9-landing-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-9-landing-03.jpgHaving made the flight form London to San Francisco, I must saythat I was truly impressed with the complexity of flying the 747 aswell as the accuracy with which the developers at iFly have recreatedthe actual aircraft. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-10-parked-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-10-parked-02.jpgFinal CommentsThrough my experiences with the aircraft, I am highly impressed bythe iFly 747-400 v2. From the stunning graphics to the in-depthsystems to the detailed documentation, this product is very friendlyto beginners and veterans alike. Additionally, whilst this is acomplex aircraft, the processing power required to run this add-on isnot very demanding at all. I was able to get frame rates in the regionof the 30s on my mid-range system (with a Pentium G series) from2014. Ultimately, whilst there are other detailed 747 simulations outthere, the iFly 747-400 is a highly affordable option that gives youboth the -400 and -8i models in a single package whilst maintainingsystem depth. Therefore, if you're a flight simmer looking for a morecomprehensive simulation experience or even a veteran looking to takethe next step, the iFly 747-400 would certainly be an affordableoffering that is almost too good to pass up. /images/reviews/ifly747/fod-190-ifly-jets-747-400.jpgMeng Yu Purchase iFly Jets 747-400 for FSX
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iFly Jets 747-400Publisher: Flight1Review Author: Meng YuSuggested Price: $59.95/images/fsc/wbicons/store-buy-now-button.pngThough the development of the 747nearly bankrupted Boeing initially, the plane has now evolved tobecome one of the most recognizable aircraft that ever took to theskies. Today, the 747 has been adapted to fill multiple roles beyondthat of a passenger and cargo aircraft, including the carrier aircraftfor the space shuttle, an airborne telescope and laser (separateaircraft) and even the presidential transport for the United States ofAmerica and several other countries. The -400 model of the 747 which we will look at today features manyimprovements over its "classic" predecessors, including glass cockpitdisplays and, most notably, a 2-man crew instead of three. The -400 alsohad several derivatives, including the 747-400M combi for carryingboth cargo and passengers, the 747-400D for filling high densitydomestic routes (and lacks winglets!) and the Large Cargo Freighter(LCF) for transporting oversized cargo. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-1-8i-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-1-8i-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-1-8i-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-1-8i-04.jpgDevelopmentiFly has faithfully recreated the 747-400 in all its glory forPrepar3D (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions) and of course, FlightSimulator X. Included in this package is the base passenger version ofthe 747-400 with three engine configurations: The General Electric CF6-80,the Rolls-Royce RB211 and the Pratt and Whitney PW4000. An update in December of 2018 introduced the 747-8i passengermodel, at no additional cost to registered users of the iFly 747-400v2. This is not a simple exterior model, but includes severalimportant system changes as well, including an Electronic Checklistand several updates to the panel displays, resulting in a somewhatcomprehensive 747-8i simulation beyond an exterior model change. Moreinformation is included in a PDF after installing the update. Furthermore, should you wish to become a cargo pilot, the iFly teamhas introduced a 747 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) model of the747-400 in February this year, which features appropriate adjustmentsto the model of the -400 to reflect the aircraft in reallife. However, the BCF model is not available for 32 bit versions ofP3D and FSX, a reasonable decision considering the myriad of benefitsa 64-bit simulator has. Hence, for the price of the 747-400, you would receive five variantsof the 747 in total: the -400 GE, -400 PW, -400 RR, -8i and BCF. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-2-variants-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-2-variants-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-2-variants-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-2-variants-04.jpg Exterior AppearanceThe iFly 747-400 ships with three liveries: Virgin Atlantic and Britishairways for the GE and RR engines respectively, and an iFly livery forall three engine variations. Additionally, there are a total of 47 otherliveries available for download on the Flight1 file system, includingthe liveries of KLM, Northwest and Delta so you are likely to find alivery that you wish to fly. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-07.jpgIn terms of the exterior model, the iFly 747-400 certainly looksthe part of a high-quality add-on. The modelling and textures are verywell done and are of a standard comparable to other high-qualityadd-ons. The sheer variety of downloadable liveries from Flight1 alsomeant that I was able to select a livery that was appropriate for theflight I was undertaking. Besides textures, the aircraft is not at all short on animatedcomponents. Through the FMC, I was able to open every door on the 747,including the second level emergency exits. Additionally, smallerdetails have also been modelled, such as the air intake for theAPU. Control surfaces also move according to the number of hydraulicpumps that are currently operational. When pumps are turned off, youcan observe that control surfaces deflect less and some even stopmoving at all! These features really show the dedication of iFly tothis add-on as they could have easily glossed over these details, yetthey chose to include then in this add-on. Ground services such as a Ground Power Unit and a Ground Air Sourceare also available, in the event you wish to simulate an inoperativeAPU, but unfortunately there does not appear to be ground servicevehicles included in the model. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-04.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-3-exterior-05.jpgOverall, the iFly 747-400's exterior is excellently modelled withmany tiny details that will no doubt allow you to have an immersiveand enjoyable experience flying the aircraft. Interior AppearanceMoving onto the interior of the aircraft, iFly once again did notdisappoint. The virtual cockpit has a full set of 3D modelled knobs andswitches, HD textures and comprehensive systems including a fullyfunctioning FMC. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-09.jpgThe 3D switches really add to the immersion of the add-on, givingthe aircraft a professional feel. Whilst some less important switchescould have easily been replaced with textured surfaces (such as thecircuit breakers), iFly's decision to include them goes to show theattention to detail the team at iFly had. Another detail of the aircraft rests in the EICAS display. On theRB211-engined variant of the 747-400, the lower EICAS display showsboth N2 and N3 indications, whereas only N2 rotation speeds are shownfor both the CF6-80 and PW4000 engines. This is to reflectRolls-Royce's triple spool engine design. Additionally, the team at iFly has chosen to include a fullyfunctioning set of 2D panels, a useful component for those who eitherstill wish to fly with these panels or prefer to use them to accessswitches. Personally, I found the 2D panels a helpful additionespecially when flying without any camera add-ons as it allows foreasy access to the various switches on the overhead panel without anyawkward camera angles. However, if you prefer to stick with thevirtual cockpit, that option is readily available too. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-04.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-05.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-06.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-07.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-4-interior-08.jpg Systems And DocumentationWhen it comes to the systems of this add-on, iFly really has leftme speechless. In additional to the complete set of gauges andcomprehensive FMC as outlined before, there are several other keyfeatures that are modelled. An example of this comprehensive programming is in the hydraulicssystems. The switches that control the hydraulic systems are notmerely aesthetic but really do affect the way the control surfacesmove. From the Boeing 747 Operators' Manual the hydraulic systems loadis as follows: "Systems 1 and 4 power the trailing edge flaps, landing gear,normal brakes (SYS 4), alternate brakes (SYS 1), and steering. Systems1 and 4 also provide redundant power to the primary flightcontrols. Systems 2 and 3 power the primary flight controls,stabilizer trim, and elevator feel. System 2 also powers the alternatebrakes and lower yaw damper. System 3 powers the upper yawdamper. Systems 1, 2, and 3 power the related center, right, and leftautopilot servos. Systems 2, 3, and 4 power the spoilers." For those who prefer a visual representation of the systems: /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-5-schematic-01.jpgIndeed, when testing the aircraft, switching off all but system 1results in operative spoilers, and powering on only systems 3 and 4results in operative spoilers across the aircraft, but only flightcontrols on the right side respond to control inputs. Beyond the hydraulic systems, there are dozens of other systemsthat have been modelled in-depth, including the electrical, fuel andair systems. Detailed explanations for the operations of these systemscan be found in the "iFly 747 Operator's Manual" under \iFly\744\Manual. I strongly recommend a good readthrough ofthe manuals if you wish to understand more about the Boeing 747. Flight DynamicsIn order to better understand how the aircraft works and handles, Ifollowed along on the tutorial flight, a step by step guide for aflight from London Heathrow to San Francisco International Airport,with the flight time at just over 10 hours without time acceleration. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-6-colddark-03.jpgOur tutorial first takes us not to the simulator, but to theaircraft configurator where we must set the payload and fuel for theflight. As per the instructions, we took aboard 382 passengers andjust over 20 tons of cargo. A minor complaint I have regarding thisprocess would be that there is no option to simply input a passengernumber. To get 382 passengers, I found myself selecting the full 416passengers and clicking away till the number of passengers dwindleddown to 382. Perhaps there's a better solution to this, but I haven'tdiscovered that from poking around the configurator. The fuel loading was especially interesting. Whilst you are able toinput the desired quantities of fuel into each tank yourself, the 747has a somewhat complex fuel management system, where fuel must bedelicately managed to feed the main tanks to ensure that the aircraftis balanced throughout the flight. For this, the iFly 747 configuratorautomatically spreads the fuel load correctly amongst the tanks as periFly's programmed "fuel logic". After loading the passengers and fuel, iFly guides the user throughseveral pages of settings, which should be set correctly for thesystems to function properly. Amongst other customizations, a keypoint to note when prepping the aircraft is to ensure that metricunits are used in the simulator. This is to ensure that the FMChandles weights correctly when performing our preflight later on. After some rather quick time with the configurator, we are finallyready to load the aircraft up and fly! /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-6-colddark-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-6-colddark-02.jpgSetting up the systems in the FMC went extremely smoothly. I cannotstress the importance of a good tutorial flight enough as it makeslearning how to fly what you've just bought so much simpler. Unlike asimple checklist, a tutorial flight provides visual aids and astep-by-step guide as to what to click and what to input. Through myown experiences, I am extremely thankful to iFly for including atutorial flight to make things so much easier. After powering up the aircraft, I was ready to taxi. Taxiing theaircraft really gave me a feel for just how heavy an aircraft I'mflying, certainly a departure from the commuter propliners I've beenreviewing lately. Despite the size of the 747, I noticed that it doesnot take an immense amount of throttle to get it moving even whenflying it in a fairly full configuration. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-7-takeoff-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-7-takeoff-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-7-takeoff-03.jpgA gripe I had with the default 747-400 was the unrealisticacceleration of the aircraft on take-off. Hence, I was very happy whenthis iFly 747, accelerated at a more realistic pace, taking upsignificant runway before finally getting off the ground. Aftertakeoff, I engaged the VNAV and LNAV modes and allowed the aircraft totake over flying itself to San Francisco. At this point, the tutorial goes much more in-dept regarding usingthe autopilot, including various VNAV profiles. Cruise in a 747 is rather uneventful, with little to do other thanfuel management and planning ahead for climbs or descents. As per themanual though, the iFly 747 is designed for use with time accelerationof up to 8x, most certainly a welcome feature when flying offline. After a lengthy cruise, I came back to find the simulator paused ashort distance from the Top of Descent point. At this point, Iconfigured the FMC to take the GOLDN6 arrival to RWY 28R for thevisual approach, clearing any discontinuities as I found them. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-8-approach-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-8-approach-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-8-approach-03.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-8-approach-04.jpgFor descent, I once again elected to use VNAV to control my descentinto KSFO. VNAV is such a handy feature that is sometimes taken forgranted, and it's only when flying smaller aircraft without thisfeature that I really appreciated the availability of VNAV. Lining up for the runway, the aircraft was much slower to respondto my control inputs. This add-on really gives the feeling of flying aheavy aircraft and requires that you constantly plan ahead in order toperform pitch and bank adjustments early to stay ahead of theaircraft. Should you choose to hand fly the approach, do note thatconstant input is required to keep the aircraft on the glideslopeunlike default aircraft, which are generally more stable to fly. On landing, I planted the aircraft somewhat firmly onto the runway,and activated the reversers. Just like on take-off, the aircraftslowed down very gradually, much like how you would expect a heavy toperform. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-9-landing-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-9-landing-02.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-9-landing-03.jpgHaving made the flight form London to San Francisco, I must saythat I was truly impressed with the complexity of flying the 747 aswell as the accuracy with which the developers at iFly have recreatedthe actual aircraft. /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-10-parked-01.jpg /images/reviews/ifly747/t/ifly747-10-parked-02.jpgFinal CommentsThrough my experiences with the aircraft, I am highly impressed bythe iFly 747-400 v2. From the stunning graphics to the in-depthsystems to the detailed documentation, this product is very friendlyto beginners and veterans alike. Additionally, whilst this is acomplex aircraft, the processing power required to run this add-on isnot very demanding at all. I was able to get frame rates in the regionof the 30s on my mid-range system (with a Pentium G series) from2014. Ultimately, whilst there are other detailed 747 simulations outthere, the iFly 747-400 is a highly affordable option that gives youboth the -400 and -8i models in a single package whilst maintainingsystem depth. Therefore, if you're a flight simmer looking for a morecomprehensive simulation experience or even a veteran looking to takethe next step, the iFly 747-400 would certainly be an affordableoffering that is almost too good to pass up. /images/reviews/ifly747/fod-190-ifly-jets-747-400.jpgMeng Yu Purchase iFly Jets 747-400 for FSX