The PMDG NGX has gone into wide-beta !

[Ian Warren]

Thought that was worth announcing ... Word is that after the thrashing the plane has had so far in development the wide beta is more about installation issues and whether the wide beta team see anything so glaringly obvious that nobody on the development team (who have all been focused on teeny details) saw it, and is not expected to last long.

Here's some of RSR's latest post :

QUOTE

Last night we began the process of distributing build 82.2732 (yes: 82 major builds and 2732 updates...) to both the Tech Team and the Wide Beta Team. This will be the first of a few updates that we give them, with the intent that we should have the last of the kinks ironed out in very short order, allowing us to move into the release phase- which is what we know you are all waiting for!

This has been a very long development cycle for everyone involved, but we feel with this build we have a "nearly release ready" aeroplane that is not going to require a significant amount of tuning to reach release. In order to quell some of the (truly uninformed and at times outright ridiculous) conjecture, I am comfortable telling you that we will be setting a date on the calendar for release within the next couple of days.

[snip]

The purpose of this phase of testing is to accomplish the following:
1) Serve as backup to the development and tech team testing to be certain we haven't missed any obvious problems.
2) To put as much flight time on the aeroplane as possible to help verify that all is well.
3) To give us a wider experience with a broader base of install machines to allow us to verify performance and verify that we do not have any installation or run-time issues.

To put in succinctly: We are in the home stretch![/quote]

[Ian Warren]

Nice to hear Gary , "I am comfortable telling you that we will be setting a date on the calendar for release within the next couple of days." been following this for a whiles now , going to be interesting to see if anyone will look at the Captain Sim 100/200 series .

[SeanTK]

This one will definitely be a hit! I bet that most FS users (who are involved with addons) will get this aircraft.
I'm still looking forward to the old 737-200. I love the classics, and have flown on the -200s quite a bit, so I'll pass on this new NGX.

[deeknow]

QUOTE (SeanTK @ Jul 10 2011,3:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm still looking forward to the old 737-200. I love the classics, and have flown on the -200s quite a bit, so I'll pass on this new NGX.

Yeah, as you say Sean the NG will be a sensation, there's no doubt about that, should make them a load of $$$
But I'll also be saving my pingas and buying the CS-1/200 originals instead.
One thing I'm hoping is that the NG release might push down the 744 price a little?

[AlisterC]

Some early beta feedback from one of our VPA members:

Posted Today, 18:53
As I type this, PMDG's long awaited 737 NextGenX airliner is well into wide-beta. All any of us can tell you is YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET!!! The preview screenshots and video's aren't even close to enough to showing off all the features of this aircraft! PMDG has truly looked at every single little detail possible. An example? The dust boots (those little rubber things that the throttles come through) are actually animated based on where the throttles are. It looks just like the throttles are moving the rubber covers aside, not just a freeze frame of what it would look like with the throttles at mid travel or anything like that. Also, you can even read the part and serial number off the sticker on the windscreen! Basically, unless it's a security risk (so most decals on the flight deck door), you can read every sticker, every label, every switch clear as day! Are you using the HGS? You can see the mount and glass deployed from outside the aircraft too! You can even control the cabin lighting. Yes, the passenger cabin has controllable lighting. (Disclaimer: there is no virtual passenger cabin as PMDG said. The effects of changing the lighting is apparent from the outside looking in.)

So far the performance of the aircraft is unbelievable; it really is! When they said it was going to run better than the MD-11, they weren't joking. Now mind you it's still a bit early to say if this will actually be how the final release will run but it's pretty safe to say. Now my system is still pretty low end running an i5 at 2.27GHz. I'm getting 20fps as opposed to about 15 with the MD-11. (I said it was low end.) After I hit Fly Now, usually it'll take about 30 seconds or so for FSX to load. In the NGX, it takes less than 10!

Handling is terrific! It almost feels like a real aircraft for once! Hand flying is not a chore at all. If you're experienced enough, you could select realistic A/P engagement which requires the aircraft to be trimmed out for hands off flying. I have not once had a problem getting the A/P to engage with this option enabled. Hand flying an approach is smooth as well. This aircraft makes the challenge of hand flying enjoyable instead of frustrating and impossible.

Even if you've never been on an actual NG (like me), you can tell there's something different about this aircraft's sound set. Just the ambient noise alone sounds somehow familiar, like it's the exact soundtrack from that last real world flight you took. And the amazing sound isn't just on the inside anymore. You get that same high pitched whine from the APU that's become familiar to anyone who hangs around (or works at) an airport. Going back inside the cockpit, every switch has a different sound than what you're used to from other FS aircraft. You can't really put your finger on it, but you just know it's different somehow.

Now the part most hardcore simmers love to hear about; the systems. I hate to break it too you but there are just so many that even after over 9 hours, I'm still going through everything and heavily cross-referencing the manuals just to see what I'm supposed to be seeing or how this item works. But what I have seen so far is beyond amazing. I mean what other aircraft actually simulates the oxygen masks dropping in the passenger cabin? (Once again, you only get the indications in the flight deck and must call maintainance or reset the failure system to restow them. There is no modeling of the actual masks in the cabin.) This is also the first (I believe) PMDG aircraft to show terrain on the ND's. It actually came as a separate download from the aircraft and when installed was over 1GB in size. (I do not know if it will come with the aircraft or be an optional separate download. It will be free either way.)

As far as the electrical system, the output of the generators actually varies by what is powered on the aircraft. And the amperage varies by flight too! I turned on one of the turn off lights and the amps from the left generator went from 52 to 53. A small change, but still, who would even pay attention to something like that? Last time I saw behavior like this was the old DreamFleet Baron. Also, I don't know how I overheated the brakes while taxiing but shortly after gear up on one flight, I got a wheel well fire warning. I quickly dropped the gear back down and after about 10 seconds, the alarm went out on it's own. Apparently the hot brakes set off the alarm, it wasn't an actual fire...this time.

Compared to the MD-11 since it was the latest major aircraft before the NGX, the LNAV and VNAV on the autopilot runs very smoothly and manages the speed very nicely during decent. The planning is also much better. For those transitioning from the iFly NG, be aware that the modeling of the -800 specifically is dead wrong. The -800 is incredibly slippery and from high altitude down to about 10,000 will most likely require extra drag despite the VNAV accuracy. It's like this on the real thing. In fact, one of the tech advisors said that flying the -700 and -800 are like night and day.

[deeknow]

Great stuff Alister, thanks for sharing. She's gonna be impressive all right

[Ian Warren]

So not an issue to plop it into Nelson

[AlisterC]

Nah, I'm not likely to get this one. Not for a while anyway. For one I doubt my PC will handle it so I'll need to see what comparable systems run it like first. And if I do decide to get it, it will take a fair chunk of saving
But never say never I guess.

[deeknow]

We have a release date from PMDG, 4th of August all going well, see:
http://forum.avsim.net/topic/340301-soon-defined/

[AlisterC]

Cool! That will be an exciting day for FlightSim as we know it!

[Chairman]

Pricing details on "Tuesday". Wonder which Tuesday ?

(not entirely facetious, there are 2 to choose from ...)
Gary

[Ian Warren]

Hells , give me time to prepare , what the hell bring it on , nothing better to do

[Kelvinr]

Can't wait!!!!

[Nzeddy]

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/340470-pmdg-7...d-availability/

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/340475-pmdg-7...y-availability/

[morrisman1]

Fantastic news, and with our exchange rate $80 for the best add-on ever made is darn good going. I hope they keep piracy under control because PMDG deserve to make lots off this and that cant be said for all developers' products

[Ian Warren]

That is one thing in our favour Cam , the exchange rate ... damn expensive but buy it , anything from the PMDG hanger is .. well the best of the best

[Chairman]

Ryan said "our moronic government is about to default on our debt" - if they do it will kill the USD dead in the water and that $80 will come down nicely. If they don't it will go up, but not nearly as fast as it will come down if they default. Got my Visa ready ... I need EXYDok too, just as well I only have a debit card LOL

[Shamrock55]

It is a lot of cash but the reallism makes it worth it in my mind, i've always loved the 737. This will make me actually fly something else then the PMDG J4100 on VATSIM for a change! Looking forward to doing longer distance regional new zealand flights in this then i could with the J41, I like short sectors with interesting approaches and plenty to do, i'm not one for sitting there for 3 hours staring at clouds in the cruise. A couple of hops NZAA-NZWN-NZCH in one of these will be good fun!

I loved their 737 FS2002 version so much back in the day, I think i had another really detailed 737 that came with a VHS video and full colour manual at the time!

[morrisman1]

QUOTE (Chairman @ Jul 27 2011,11:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ryan said "our moronic government is about to default on our debt" - if they do it will kill the USD dead in the water and that $80 will come down nicely. If they don't it will go up, but not nearly as fast as it will come down if they default. Got my Visa ready ... I need EXYDok too, just as well I only have a debit card LOL

Thanks for the heads up, Ill hold out till an announcement then if it means I could save ten bucks. Surging NZ dollar means fuel prices will go down too..... Yea Right!!

[AlisterC]

The fine print at the bottom of their post advises if the US currency belly flops, they may review their pricing to suit.
Also after 1-2 months the price for the base package will be going up according to that post. Might be a good idea to get into it within the first month