All - I have it on excellent authority Virtavia IS NOT working on their C-17 for this sim. I was told, the development process is too expensive and porting the XP or FSX one is actually more work than starting fresh. He has put much of his stuff up for purchase to another plane vendor. I hope someont take up the mantle. I have DL’ed and installed Destroyer’s verison. The engines are not correct in sound, the plane accelerates way too fast (version 06. 07 is out and I have not tested it but it’s opens in sim). Very little of the cockpit is functional, but overhead panel is almost spot on. Have not tried cold and dark startup yet, suppose I should to verify it’s possible. Have also not purchased the XP one yet, as busy in F-14 figuring out navigation systems. YES, I Get that it is a WIP and it’s free. Since not creator or programer, I salute his work and efforts. I have also sent one vendor a request to create one, they have acknowledged, maybe, but creators do what is in their heart, who wants an old trasnport plane? Well based on this thread, we do. The C-17 is unique, in that it is a cross between the old C-141 and the C-5, better fuel economy, can land places others fear to tread. Has great performace full loaded, and has legs to go long distances. Boeing has excellen spec sheet on it. Many military services around world have adopted it, so it’s a great plane.
BUT, as part of this, any US military plane uses TACAN as part of their navigation system, that needs to be implemented into the sim for all the “rumored” military planes to be introduced. That would make them all “real world”. I am hoping the Maverick Update next year implementents this because, as part of brief prior to mission, the TACAN frequency is published to all pilots, they use it to find mother ship. If you check approach plates on Skyvector, for any base published, TACAN approaches are one of your choices. It’s implemented in DCS. So it’s not impossible.
As update to post above. Did purchase the X-Plane 11 (actually 10) version. Several errors which have to be fixed in Plane Maker. Still the flight characterizes are not as good as FSX one. I have a technical document from BA which shows all of them so I can try to fix all those once I put back on system. Looking forward to the releases above, but “announcements versus real release” it could be years.
Destroyer’s one has gotten better, go to his discord group and get the latest one. Was flying it PMDY yesterday, and after several attempts got the landings down fairly well. Still lots which is not modeled, and engine starts with clicking on the ignition button from cold and dark. AP is still WIP for sure, no FMS/FMC system either, but no manuals on that unit from BA or anyone else.
Configuring my Virpil TM3 Throttle unit also is proceeding, and slowly as well. The sim did not want to see some of my choices for parking brake, and landing gear, think now they are working. Assigning throttles for 4 engine plane is way easier than FSX, since you can do it. I started out coping the default profile and then configured it for C-17 & 747- 4 Eng Jet, and then I will work down from there. Doing it that way, do not have to reassign all the buttons and switches selected, and they seem to work in F-14 & 787 2 Eng Jet profile I created from the 4 engine one. Eventually I will create a C-152-172-Single Engine one, and then only have to configure the throttle levers etc. The AP and Navigation assignments are again another “device profile change” and that takes more YouTube watching to get down.
All - Few weeks ago, DC Designs said in Q3 the Globemaster III will be released, am looking forward to that one. Not sure of their timeline now.
As aside, Destroyer121 has a freeware version, which is ok. FSX (Virtavia release) was very good, and his X-Plane 10 version (after updating a few things is also ok) but nothing now in release for MSFS which like the FSX one for sure. Hopefully this will happen soon.