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/images/notams/notams22/tfdi1012.jpgIt has certainly been a while since our last update, but we wereholding off making a post to add some highly anticipated features. Inthe background, we have made significant changes to our infrastructureto support the productivity of our developers and our supportingroles. With that being said, we would like to welcome @Ethanb_UK to hisnew role as Support Representative, and @lscott122 on his promotion toCommunity Manager. We look forward to seeing what both individuals cancontribute to their new roles and how it will make a difference to ourcustomers every day. We've got some exciting content to share today, so read on for more(yes, we know the videos are low resolution; this is to assist inviewing and uploading). PACXAlthough we periodically update PACX, it’s due for something newand exciting. @lscott122 and @Jishwaah have been working in thebackground preparing for the upcoming Voice Packs Expansion! The Voice Packs Expansion will add a whole slew of new voices (inboth their native tongue and English) to further enhance the realismand localization of the PACX experience. smartCARS 3We have been spending time working on smartCARS 3 behind thescenes. Finally, we are happy to present some solid shots (and avideo) of some new features, as well as a more in-depth technicalexplanation. Although that doesn’t seem like a great deal of functionality, whatis happening under the hood is quite significant. As we have mentionedbefore, smartCARS 3 is a platform, not simply an application. Thisplatform allows developers (both third-party and first party) to addfunctionality at any time. What you are seeing above is this conceptin practice. MD-11The highly anticipated TFDi Design MD-11 is progressing well and weare thrilled to announce that the aircraft should be released by theend of September, 2023. We are still leaving this to be veryambiguous, as we would like to allow some breathing room for anyissues that may crop up. Since our last development update, we have welcomed another 3Dmodeler to the aircraft design team, with @arwasairl taking up thework on our newly modelled MD-11 cabin. The virtual cabin will allowyou to move around the aircraft freely and get the experience of anairline passenger during your own simulator flights. Initial tests inP3D V5.2, the performance impact of the cabin was negligible. It willstill be optimized before release, of course, and for those working onmore performance constrained systems, we will provide an option todisable it entirely. ClosingAs always, we greatly appreciate your support! As we end the quietperiod of development on both the MD-11 and smartCARS 3, we are happyto start sharing more with everyone as we progress toward an excitingproduct line-up over the next year. Source

/images/notams/notams20/tfdi0815.jpg"Will X be compatible with MSFS 2020?" is a question that we havebeen asked a lot recently, both in Discord and on the forums. For thepast couple of days, I have been testing the compatibility of bothsmartCARS 2, smartCARS Premium and PACX. These tests have not beenthorough by any means, but we feel that enough has been covered tomake this announcement. smartCARS 2 and PACX will be compatible with MSFS2020 at launch. From our tests using FSUIPC7, the results were staggeringlypositive. All variables that our application reads to and from are allworking and being recorded inside of smartCARS and shown in the flightlog. PACX was also able to correctly identify the stages of flight,and all announcements were spoken at the correct time. Although these two pieces of software both run well, we havenoticed a bug with the flight pausing system included within smartCARSPremium, in which abnormal flight (such as steep banking or stalling)would cause the simulator to pause. This behaviour is normal, butduring testing, we were unable to unpause the aircraft while thisoption was enabled. At the moment, we do not know whether this bug iswithin our code for smartCARS 2, FSUIPC7 or the simulatordirectly. Until we have more test flights completed using smartCARS,we will not know immediately. In the mean-time, this option can beturned off, then re-enabled once normal flight has resumed, and youcan still enjoy using smartCARS in MSFS 2020. We look forward to the launch of the sim next week, and we will beasking for users to help test these products following the release ofthe simulator on Tuesday, 18th August. Should you wish to help testthis upon launch, or if you have any additional questions, please askin our Discord server and one of our team will reply to you. At this stage, we have no immediate plans to bring the TFDi Design717 to MSFS 2020. Source

/images/notams/notams20/tfdi0727.jpgAircraft creator TFDI Design reports being hard at work ontheir McDonnell Douglas MD-11 jetliner: Electrical system development is progressing fast: buses,generators, relays, switches, loads and overall interconnection meshwere coded individually and now are being integrated to worktogether. Buses share loads and sources wheninterconnected. Transformer-rectifiers and inverters were created withefficiency coefficients so when a load is present in a DC bus, thecorresponding AC bus will be loaded proportionally to thetransformation ratio and efficiency. Generators also share loads wheninterconnected. The overhead indicators were already added. Buttonsevent handling are coming next. With all parts working together, thelogic for switching relays in automatic mode will be created andintegrated last. Finally, I've been working on the FMC/MCDU (and its associatedsensors, computers, and systems). I don't have a screenshot to showthis time, as the majority of my work has been behind the scenes. Thatsaid, here are some key points of what's been added to the systemrecently: Triple, independent IRU simulations with simulated drift andrealistic alignment behavior (for example, a fast align can beperformed once the IRU has captured true north and has been previouslyaligned).The GNS systems are implemented and have the appropriate amount ofsensors and information channels to integrate in a realistic way.The navigation database system has been optimized and brought intothe MD-11 and is now being properly read by the FMC, including bothprimary and secondary databases.The next step is beginning to code flight planning and MCDUoperations. Unlike our previous aircraft, we intend to simulate all(except maintenance/third-party software) features of the MCDU, suchas wind entry and RTA. Of course, we're still early on, but progressso far bodes well. Source

/images/notams/notams20/tfdi0403.jpgGood morning! I come bearing good news: The New 717 UpdateAs many of you know, the 717 has been plagued with the View SwitchCTD for a while now, and the SLI flicker has also been reported. As ofApril 3rd 2020, both of these bugs are now fixed. This means the CTDwhen switching views no longer occurs, and the SLI flicker whenrunning two graphics cards has also been fully resolved. On behalf of everyone at TFDi Design, we would like to thank oursmall team of affected users and testers with bringing this resolutionout as the final update of the TFDi Design 717, version 1.1.4.0. For People Affected by the SLI FlickerThere are some additional steps that need to be taken in order tosupport the fix. In the Prepar3Dv4\SimObjects\Airplanes\TFDi_Design_717\Panel\LegacyRender folder,there will be a Panel.cfg and 717.dll file. Copy these two items intothe directory above, TFDi_Design_717\Panel folder. This will allow theTFDi Design 717 to support SLI. If there are any problems or you need some additional help, pleasereach out to the support team here. Source

/images/notams/notams19/pacx0616.jpgPACX seeks to bring the feeling of responsibility and thesignificance of traveling with passengers and crew to yoursimulator. It is designed to be unintrusive, varied, dynamic, andsimple to use and works with any aircraft across all of the majorplatforms. AnnouncementsOver 175 different sounds make every flight sound different. Our AIflight attendant will not say make the same announcement the same wayat the same time. Sometimes, there will be a joke, other times, it maytake a little while to get started. It always feels human. Passenger SimulationPassengers will react to, and judge, events throughout yourflight. A business traveler may be more affected by delays than apassenger going on vacation. Each passenger has their own uniqueopinion and can make comments on your flight. Learn more about PACX athttp://pacx.online Visit our web site athttps://tfdidesign.com/for more information on our upcoming projects and current products.

/images/notams/notams17/tfdi0601.jpgThe initial release of the TFDi Design 717 on December 23, 2016that we initially thought was the end of the journey ended up beingthe start of an entirely new one. We learned a great deal aboutaircraft development, product life-cycle, and community management. Itis with great pleasure that we now announce the release of version 1.1of the TFDi Design 717. This version is what we originally envisionedwhen we started the project. Major Changes From Version 1.0.8.0The Community Opt-in Beta has helped us research, develop, test,and refine the product over the last year and a half. The customerswho aren't part of the COB will notice a massive number of additions,fixes, and changes, but we've selected some to highlight below. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607221051_1.jpgA totally revamped exterior model including wing flex and cabin lightsPaint kitOfficial Prepar3D v4 supportMajor AFS and MCDU improvements, such asBetter NAV logicBetter PROF logicProper ATS CLAMP functionalityImproved altitude, speed, fuel, and time predictionsVarious new MCDU functionsImproved MCDU interaction and displayImproved leg sequencing and insertionHOLD supportAFS-guided VOR tracking supportADF simulationScroll and drag support for documents on the tabletRemoteCDU integrationImproved VOR simulationImproved ND PLAN modePause at top of descent optionImproved engine performance throughout various stages of flightSettings page within the tablet for applicable on-demand settingsRevamped terrain displayImproved air manifold pressure and demand systemImproved FADEC and throttle behaviorImproved ground taxi behaviorVarious minor improvements to cockpit and night lighting texturesNew performance options via the Addon ManagerYoke lightImproved hardware and MCDU keyboard interactionImproved internal logic to improve system resource utilization /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222233_1.jpgWhat To Expect NowWith the active development of the TFDi Design 717 winding down, wewill begin to put more focus on upcoming projects. We've announcedPassenger and Crew Experience (PACX), and that will be our focus forthe immediate future. We will, of course, over the coming weeks,months, and years periodically update the TFDi Design 717 with newfeatures or fixes as appropriate, but the rate of development andupdates will be significantly slower. Users experiencing issues willstill receive the quality and timely support they've come to expectfrom us during development. Although we've announced PACX already, we have more projects linedup, but they'll get their time to shine in the future. More frequentprogress updates on PACX and subsequent projects, as we reveal them,should be expected. Source

Review: TFDi Design 717By Michael Hayward /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607221051_1.jpgThe 717 is a short-haul regionalaircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas as the MD-95 and sold by Boeingas the 717. This aircraft was designed and built during the Boeingbuyout of their competitor in 1998 and first flew commercially in 1999with AirTran Airways. TFDi Design is a relatively new developer when it comes to add-onsfor FSX and P3D, and until the release of the aircraft only everworked on software. I remember when speaking to Collin Biedenkapp atthe Flight Sim Show last year, he explained to me that the actual ideaof creating a 717 came about after a joke was made when somebodymentioned 'nobody has done a 717 for flight simulator yet'. Today we take a look at their Boeing 717 and have a look at thefeatures that this aircraft includes, as well as whether or not thisaircraft is worth adding to your virtual hangar. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607221031_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180609215333_1.jpgAircraft SpecificationCrew: 2Length: 124 ft 0 in (37.8 m)Wingspan: 93 ft 4 in (28.4 m)Height: 29 ft 8 in (9.0 m)Empty Weight: 68,500 lb (31,071 kg)Maximum Takeoff Weight: 121,000 lb (54,884 kg)Powerplant: 2x Rolls Royce BR715Aircraft PerformanceRange: 1,430 nm (1,644 miles, 2,645 km)Extended Range: 2,060 nm (2,371 miles, 3,815 km)Rate of Climb: 2,000 fpmService Ceiling: 37,000 ft (11,000 m)Max Cruising Speed: Mach 0.77 (822 km/h, 444 kn) /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607221143_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607221555_1.jpgDownload And InstallInstalling the TFDi Design 717 is a simple process. After purchase,you download the add-on manager for TFDi. This program both acts asthe payload manager and aircraft configuration tool, as well as theDRM for the aircraft as you must log in to your TFDi account to useit. If you don't log in, it doesn't work, simple as.Once the aircraft had been unlocked and you have logged into theadd-on manager, you are then free to fly it both online and offline asthe aircraft does not always-online connection for its DRM process towork. (Only after the initial install do you need to beconnected.) Once you are logged in, the aircraft starts downloading andinstalling into your flight simulator. This process is automated andonce done, the aircraft is ready to fly. This tool is VERY useful for your 717 operations as this gives youeverything you need to know when programming the FMC to setting upyour flight in general. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180609214928_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607221659_1.jpgYou also have the option to download four PDF documents. These arechecklists and familiarisation guides aimed at helping you fly theaircraft as efficiently as possible. These documents are verywell-written and very clearly laid out, allowing for both new andveteran simmers alike to be able to get to grips with how the systemswork and more. Exterior ModelThe TFDi Design 717 looks fantastic. The aircraft model includes ahigh level of detailing throughout and bump mapping that gets everylittle detail out of the fuselage as possible. The Boeing 717 is a very different aircraft to what Boeing hasproduced in the past and for the most part is the elephant in the room- it is very much a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 at heart. This, for themost part, means that there is the odd 'rough edge' on the aircraftsuch as eyebrow windows (which this model includes) and a verydifferent body to anything else Boeing have made before. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607221743_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180609215251_1.jpgThe TFDi model also includes the different aerials and fins aroundthe aircraft body, which again adds to the realism of this model. You also get a basic passenger cabin modelled too, which can beseen through transparent passenger windows. Like most modern add-onsfor flight simulator, this is more of a gimmick but does add to theoverall model giving you the extra depth. The 717, in this case, is noexception, the cabin does make the aircraft appear more life-likeespecially when flying. The detailing of the Rolls Royce BR715 engine is also really welldone. For many, the BR715 is the last 'proper' classic turbofan engineand that of the McDonnell Douglas style. (Most aircraft now use aturbojet alternatively.) This meant for many die-hard fans that itneeded to be done right, which in this case it has been. You only get one livery from the get-go, and that is a mock-up TFDi717 house livery, as to not break any trademarks. On their forums,however, there is a downloads section where you can install an'official' Delta Airlines, Qantas Link and Hawaiian livery to theaircraft. The forum also includes a number of community-made liveriesalongside these too. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222233_1.jpgCockpit And InteriorThe cockpit of the TFDi 717 both looks and feels the part. Takingmuch inspiration from the MD-80, the 717 cockpit is small butspacious. The layout is simple and clear, with each panel and gaugeright where it should be. The cockpit features a full overhead panel with buttons andswitches defined and 3D modelled. The back of the cockpit alsoincludes circuit breakers, which have all been defined with bumpmapping. Eyebrow windows are also a thing, meaning that this on a technicallevel is an earlier Boeing 717, or at least is yet to beretrofitted. One issue with the 717 and any aircraft with eyebrowwindows for that matter is that depending on where you fly and whatangle you turn at, glare was a massive issue making the panels harderto see. Likewise in some cases when the sun was right over the window,this would shine onto the pilot's eyes (namely Hawaiian aircraft inthe Hawaiian Islands!). While it was good for spotting other aircraftand hazards above you, their uses were quite limited. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222114_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222306_1.jpgCompared to the real Boeing 717, everything from the coloring tothe modelling is done to a very high standard and is a very accurateportrayal. Night lighting is also done to a very high standard, with texturesdefined and almost 'burned' into the model giving you a really goodidea for nighttime flying. For those that own P3D v4 however, this isgreatly improved upon with the new technology TFDi Design haveintroduced called RealLight. This is where a dynamic light source isdefined within the cockpit and shines on the switches and buttons,adding shadows as they would appear in the real world. This new takeon night lighting does look fantastic and is a shame to miss out onbeing an FSX Steam Edition user. Buttons, Gauges And FunctionalityTFDi Design takes pride in the fact that everything you see in thecockpit (minus the circuit breakers) are functional. This gives you analmost study-level experience with this aircraft. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222334_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222430_1.jpgThe overhead panel for starters is a work of art. This aircraft isnot your standard Boeing which only opts for switches, but instead hasa varied combination of both switch and button. This for many isactually easier to operate. With a button, you just have to check thelight to see whether it's on or off. A switch you need to check itsposition - not an easy feat when you're looking from an angle. Setting up the aircraft is simple, whether you are flying from coldand dark or just turning around. The Boeing 717 is a regional aircraftand flies many short-haul routes. Hawaiian Airlines, for example, usesthem to hop from island to island with quick turnarounds as theaircraft is very efficient to run and durable from flight toflight. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222642_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222714_1.jpgYou also HAVE to give a shout to the tablet the aircraft alsoincludes. This again gives you plenty of crucial information about thesetup of your aircraft as well as a configuration section. It also hasthe ability to upload different documents and images to it - when Idid my live stream flying around the Hawaiian Islands, I loaded thisup with flight plans and airport charts. This was so that I couldconfigure the entire aircraft from here without having to leave thesimulator! The tablet gives you a proper 21st-century flightmanagement style and is something that more developers should lookinto adding if they want a stand-out aircraft! (The only other add-onthat I know has this feature is the Flight Factor A320 onX-Plane...There is definitely a gap in the market developers!) Hawaiian Islands Live Stream Flight SoundThe TFDi Design 717 also sounds the part. Audio samples have beenrecorded from the real Boeing 717 aircraft and the end result isfantastic. Flying from the cockpit of the aircraft, all you need is adecent headset and you are soaked into the experience. The exteriorsounds also are done to the same high standard, giving you thedistinct sound of the Rolls Royce BR715 turbofan engine roar. Full buttons and switch sounds have also been included from withinthe cockpit, giving you a dynamic sense of control over theaircraft. As mentioned earlier, the 717 has a varied combination ofboth switches and buttons which all sound the part; as I keepmentioning this is not your standard Boeing but more your McDonnellDouglas. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222612_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222632_1.jpgFlight DynamicsThe Boeing 717-200 has been a joy to fly. It's not too heavy on thecontrols, but it's not too light either - That meaning maneuvering theaircraft doesn't take too much work which for some regional airportsis very important. Flight characteristics are also very well represented. Everythingfrom the high angle of attack climb to the fairly average cruisespeed, this aircraft does feel right. Landing, however, can be achallenge as this aircraft loves to float! If you don't time yourflare and reverse thrust right, you'll be back in the air in notime. I will also mention that the aircraft also runs surprisingly wellfor what it has included! I did have a few teething issues initiallywith lagging, but once I switched over to the Beta branch, things weremuch better for me. In fact, it's recommended that you do use the Betabranch as you do get many more features with the aircraft, including aslightly better tablet interface. /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222544_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607222557_1.jpgOpinion And Closing RemarksTFDi Design may not be a giant when it comes to flight simulatorsoftware, but their first take on an aircraft is absolutelyphenomenal! Known for their SmartCARS virtual airline system,TrueGlass windshield effects tool and RealLight lighting configurationtool, this was their first foray into an aircraft simulation and Ihave to say, it's probably one of the best I've flown ever. Everything from the physical modeling right down to the technicallevel and code behind the aircraft is done to the highest ofstandards. Flying the aircraft (which is very much helped by the tabletsystem) has been a blast and doing short island hops in Hawaii can bea lot of fun. I'm the kind of pilot who tends to do a medium to longhaul flight before taking a break from flying. In this, however, it'sthe first time in memory I've ever done a full turnaround and multipleflights in one session. The thing that you also have to remember is that this is theirFIRST aircraft for the platform! To have this level of standard soearly on, it means that if they do ever release a new aircraft in thefuture, it can only go up from here! /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180609215613_1.jpg /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180609215541_1.jpgSelling for $59.99, the pricing is also what you'd expect from anaircraft of this quality. The TFDi Design 717 comes with a plethora offeatures that makes flying it worthwhile, ranking up there with yourPMDGs and dare I say them, FSLabs. This is a phenomenal product withso much behind it, it's actually quite amazing. As a regional aircraft, the Boeing 717 has had its fair share ofups and downs and until recently was never the most popularaircraft. But as an add-on? TFDi Design definitely does it justice andis, therefore, an aircraft I very much do recommend. The Technical BitMinimum RequirementsCPU: 2.5 GHz Dual CoreGPU: DirectX 11 compliant, 2 GB videoRAM Memory: 4 GBHard drive space: 1.8 GBOperating system: Windows 7 32-bit /images/reviews/tfdi717/t/20180607221612_1.jpgReview PC SpecMicrosoft Flight Simulator X: Steam EditionWindows 10 Professional6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 6700K Processor16 GB RAMNVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 745/images/notams/notams18/tfdi717.jpg Michael Hayward Purchase TFDi Boeing 717