I spend 90% of my time flying business jets around, mostly the Longitude, CJ4, HondaJet and Vision Jet. I want to learn something new, so thinking of the 787 Dreamliner that comes with the Premium Deluxe.
Is this plane worth spending a few hours to learn? Is it overall a pretty solid plane, or majorly buggy? For me the gold standard is the new AAU1 version of the Longitude, so would love to get an opinion to someone who have flown that and the 787.
For a point of reference, I use Simbrief, Navigraph Charts, and am familiar with flight plans SIDs/STARs/autopilot/VNAV functions, altitude constraints etc. Perf settings, etc. So I think I can jump right into airliner-level flight planning, but will need to shift from the Garmin G3000/5000 (or Rockwell in the CJ4) to new avionics.
I tried doing a simple flight from KSLC to KDEN, but realize I have a fair amount to learn about programming the FMS. Oh, I guess I’ll need to land the thing eventually.
The 787 is actually quite straight forward. Since most of the switches or FMC components are inop it aids in making it that much easier as compared to a fully functioning aircraft and model. For the FMC a lot of the leg work is done through being able to import your route through Simbrief, not sure if you can do that with the default 787 as I think that relies on having a MSFS .pln. For the weights and fuel that’s simple enough. I would recommend using the Heavy Division mod and or Kuro’s 787-800 mod as they have built in load and fuel managers. You just put the values in and execute. You can also input your Simbrief ID and it’ll automatically link and process and load whatever flight plan you have created through the Simbrief downloader.
From cold and dark to pushback takes probably less than 5 minutes once you’ve done it a few times and using the route and weight/fuel functions.
Great info, much appreciated! I usually hand-enter flight plans, but maybe I’ll start with Simbrief import (if possible) or just export Simbrief to a PLN file and load in the FS Flight Planner, just to keep it simple for now.
The only thing that is a real PITA for loading in the waypoints manually is getting any type of Oceanic waypoints entered in correctly with the correct LAT and LONG. Other than that, a more simplified route with just airways or direct waypoints is easy. As for how FMC’s function, it doesn’t really matter too much whether you use an A320, 737, 787, etc… Once you’ve programmed one, you can more or less program them all with some specific differences.
Be careful with the Heavy Division Mod version. Only put it in your Community folder when you’re going to fly it as the developers modified a bunch of default systems, but didn’t change them to their own package, so they interfere with a lot of other addons, especially tablets in other planes. Not a huge deal, you just don’t want that package in your Community folder if you’re not flying it (just move the directory someplace else when you’re not flying it).
So far so good. Followed a YouTube by Overkill Simulations from KPHX to KLAX. VNAV seemed to descend way too slowly so I had to do a really fast V/S downward to get it to the runway. Did another short flight from KSLC to KDEN, more successful VNAV-wise. Yeah, fairly simple to quickly learn this plane, after flying the Longitude. A few more flights and I should be good, though I might ask a few questions here and there.
Easy one: Is there any way to sync the HDG direction to the current heading? Normally you’d just hit the HDG button on the A/P on bizjets/small planes, but that simply seems to active HDG SEL mode.
And what’s the difference between HDG SEL and HDG HOLD modes?
Heading select: The heading select mode is used to intercept and maintain magnetic heading
Heading hold: This is a roll control mode that holds the heading of the aircraft (keeps it on track).
So it seems that one is based on magnetic heading and the other is on what your actual track is. Just my guess.
Hey mate i have purchased Boeing 787 Airlines livery and it not to be showing in my hanger on flights simulator do u know if u have the same problem on xbx
Because they are using an Xbox. You can’t gain access to liveries outside of the Marketplace and there is no Community Folder (nor access to any folder for that matter).
Still liking the Dreamliner, but unsure if certain behaviors are bugs or “pilot error”. ILS approaches work great, but for RNAV approaches, it never displays the glideslope bug to the left of the altimeter tape. Any tricks to RNAV? (I’m using the Heavy Division mod.)
Also, the A/P doesn’t seem to honor speed constraints in the flight plan. Bug or me?
For speed restrictions, you have it set to VNAV, right? Should follow them. RNAV’s I don’t think are functional yet. You only can use LOC or ILS at this point, I may be wrong. Which version are you using? The Release, Developer, or Experimental?
I’m almost positive that I had it in VNAV mode, but I’ll have to check next time I fly. On a fix (STAR or otherwise), I should be able to manually enter something like “220/8000A” and it’ll correctly interpret it as “fly 220 knots, at or above 8000 ft”, right?
I’m using the Release build. No biggie if RNAV isn’t working…I like hand flying the final approach anyways. However, I might consider the above suggestion to purchase a PMDG 737, which presumably will have a more complete feature set, as well as more tutorials and online resources than the 787.
Correct. PMDG has all the bells and whistles sans a working WXR (issue for everyone) and a parking brake (only for beta users ATM). With VNAV, whatever speed restrictions or altitudes should be followed. I did have on one occasion after I entered them they somehow disappeared (just the speeds) but that was an easy fix. Only issue I think still remains is that in VNAV it descends a bit too aggressive, talking like 4600 FPM. So I have had to keep an eye on my TOD and use LVL CHG to mitigate that. Otherwise I enjoy it.
If you want something high fidelity and more challenging than the CJ4 / Longitude / HJet, go with the PMDG 737. Much more depth than the 787 and worth the price. If you want cheap, then go for the 737-600, its the same as the other models, just fewer liveries and no sub-varients.
Yes, I am strongly contemplating this now. . In the FS2020 Marketplace, they only have the PMDG 737-700 (or is it 800?) for $69.99 USD. The PMDG site has 700/800/900 available. Any major reasons to choose one over the other?
They all have the same cockpit so just depends if you want lighter and better/ faster runway and climb performance, then go 600 or 700.
If you want bigger, heavier needing quite a bit more runway and more sluggish climb at full loads, then go 800 or 900.
I have all 4 and rotate between the 700, 800 and 900 regularly. I save the 600 for when I want to fly from Las vegas to places in the desert that don’t exist
I’d have to say I think the 900 might be my favorite
Welp, I just purchased the PMDG 737-800. I guess the Dreamliner whetted my appetite just enough for a super-realistic airliner. Doing first flight right now after watching several Youtubes last night.
