For those of you getting your first PMDG product with the DC-6 for MSFS.
WELCOME!!!
Now slow down. If you are starting you simming with MSFS and the DC-6 is your first study level aircraft a word of caution. Like most PMDG and hopefully soon FSLabs and Majestic products these are very complex aircraft built to operate as close as possible to their real world counterparts. As some of you are finding out not only do all of the systems in these aircraft work they also exist for a reason. While overlooking some of these systems in a stock MSFS aircraft maybe ok it won’t be in a study level aircraft. In fact you will run into the same consequences a pilot flying the aircraft would in real life. Anyone who has jumped into the DC-6 pushed power and rolled down the runway without checking the Gust lock knows what I’m talking about. You will enjoy your PMDG product so much more if you take time and read the manual and or watch the tutorials. The same goes for future PMDG products. When the Boeings come to MSFS slow down and read the material. It will make your experience so much more fun.
For now enjoy the DC-6. She is a very different beast. It’s a very “busy” aircraft with lots going on. I’m not ashamed to admit when we started beta testing her I had to go back and re learn how to operate her. With over 2000 hrs in Boeings testing 747, 737, 777 and Global Flight ops in P3D the DC-6 was a back to the learning curve trip for me. I really enjoyed flying the DC-6 in and out of some of the smaller airports in the Andes. If you plan you fuel and approach carefully it’s amazing where you can get her in and out of.
If you have questions don’t be afraid to post on the PMDG forums here. https://forum.pmdg.com/
I really like how accessible she is though.
Watched the video tutorials twice and flew two legs with AFE and now I can do simple flights myself.
I just wanted to throw that out there as to stop people from thinking you need to invest dozens of hours just to get airborne.
You don’t the automated systems and tutorial get you flying real quick, after that it’s learning by doing.
observe what the Automated flight Engineer is doing and while in cruise take a look at the manual.
Haha no chance… I already flew it inverted under a bridge then landed in my backyard.
No in all seriousness, its a nicely done addon and the AFE is really helpful, makes it easy to jump in and get a feel for the aircraft.
I spent hours just running approaches (set arrival airport only) to get the flare and approach right.
I really wish pmdg would add in-game checklists though because they’re very helpful to locate the switches and go through the work flow without constantly referencing the pdfs.
I found the YouTube tutorials for landing contradict themselves a bit, in one he constantly adjusts power on approach, in the other he keeps power constant and uses flaps to keep on glides slope.
I’d bet the pros adjust power. Exercising mechanicals under load a lot would probably drive maintenance crews nuts and also invites added problems in case anything jams. Throttles seem a lot easier, faster, and more precise for those that know the plane. Flaps on the DC-6 also just have a few defined positions I believe. That would make for big swings in other controls to compensate - I would think. But I haven’t read the manual either.
The tutorial videos make the opposite point - that radials, unlike jet engines, don’t like lots of power adjustments, and it’s closer to classic propliner style to keep constant power and use drag and (sparingly) trim to keep the approach path. Am guessing that was too much information for the first landing video - though I agree, an explanation would have been nice. But Randazzo owns and operates a DC-3, so his advice is apt to be pretty well-informed.
I’ll confess that the drag-and-trim technique was new to me - one of several things I’ve learned from the videos even though I though I knew my way around propliners. Looking forward to trying it out. I haven’t had a chance to fly her yet - dealing with non-flightsim stuff. But I’m eager to put some of the pro tips to use…
After a lot of approaches (using a flight recorder program to quickly set them up)
I found keeping 100 bmep and using flaps was actually quite easy to do. The plane behaved very well holding glideslope. And staying at the required speeds.
It’s going to be my standard method of landing now.
Flare was tricky since I’m still getting used to the sight picture. A lot of horrible trampoline bounces… Getting better though.
One thing to look out for when you pull back the power the plane really drops fast so don’t do it too early.
My first landing, I’m quite sure, bottomed out the oleo struts on the main gear. She sits a bit higher than the Arrow III I’ve been flying lately…
Well I have had most of the PMDG products over the years, and yes she’s still a handful, first post is very good advice. read the manuals and watch the PMDG YouTube videos. they are very helpful and will help you not ask why wont the engines start…lol
Might be just me but I find this plane much more accessible than a modern Airliner.
I watched all the tutorials and use the AFE like a good captain would and it’s not that hard to fly.
Isn’t it great how easy the PMDG DC-6 is to fly with all the realism settings turned off. The easy mode allows beginners to get into the air almost immediately, and then they can start turning on the realism settings when they are ready to dig in and start learning the systems one step at a time.
But they never have to turn on the realism settings if they don’t want to, and they can still enjoy flying the DC-6 with automated systems enabled.
I’ve had a nice flight from Brussels to Amsterdam with a quick landing on Rotterdam, without any manuals, i just couldnot resist trying her like a blank piece of paper, and writing the first words from the get go. (and yeah, i usually start from the runways as i cannot stand cold and dark procedures with most aircraft). Whilst testing the controls, the gustlock cought my attention, opening the throttles, barreling down the runway, whilst watching the manifold pressure, oil pressure and whatnot, to opening up the cowl flaps for climb. It was awsome every step of the way… i’m pretty sure those manuals will teach me how to properly do it, but i just hadda do it blank slated that first flight just using my basic engine control knowledge x4 (and quite a lot of searching around the cockpit,hahaha)… she’s definately a keeper
It’s an amazing airplane, with great need of airplane/engine management skills. I was actually surprised i didn’t blow anything up just yet. 2 Safe landings on the logbook!
Now… ehr… for those manuals, i think it’s time. Thanks for a wonderful product.
The DC-6 is now my favorite AC in MSFS. It’s just stunningly beautiful, and a pure joy to fly! Just in time for the Norway update too. Fantastic aircraft, both irl and in the game!
Hi,
yes, you are right, but watching the tutorials or reading the PDFs is what you should do. But personally, I have a Hic with it.
I’ve been flying sims for a few years now, mostly on x-plane, I’ve flown a lot with the Zibo 737 and the 757 from FF. I am not used to propeller planes. I bought the CRJ and was able to take it in hand right away. I bought the PMDG, because I know the reputation of PMDG and I had the opportunity to test their 737. So I bought the DC-6 without hesitation. Yes I made the mistake of not understanding why my control surfaces were not working and I sent a ticket to tore, they answered me in 5 minutes! wouha, super reactive!!! So not knowing this plane at all, I did not know that there was a system of locking the control surfaces, to avoid damaging the linkage when the plane is parked. Sorry for the PMDG support team. All this to say, that reading is not my strong point, I understand the main lines of a text in English, but it stops there. I know that the world of pilots and MFS is in English, but I’m not English. The PDFs are only in English, moreover the PMDG tutorials are in English and learning from a translation is not always clear.
So I made the mistake of blocking the control surfaces, and today I’m learning by myself by flying it and analyzing the mistakes I could make to damage the engines, I have no choice, I’m kind of self-taught, it’s really enjoyable to do it alone, and the fact that it is a study, is really gratifying for oneself, even if in real life we don’t have the right to make mistakes in an airplane, and requires a lot of reading and learning, if I liked reading and learning as well as speaking English, I would surely be a pilot today; )
I’ve run into an odd thing with the flaps. I fully extended the flaps using the yellow lever and nothing happened. The HUD in the exterior view showed zero flaps and it was clear looking at the wings that they were fully retracted. The tool tip over the flaps handle indicated full flaps.
Not sure if I did something wrong or there was a glitch. It has only happened once to me though. Previous flights were fine however.
Ty Alan!
