747-200

[thecrazedlog]

Hey:

I've always loved the older aircraft with the steam gauges: One of my favourite aircraft was Ready for Pushback 747-200. You had to manage all three positions at once: No automation, no FMC, INS systems all the way. I loved it. Same with SSTSIM's concorde.

So while I doubt very much that HH would do it (cmon... all you need to do is remove the FMC, replace a bunch of instruments and some graphics! ) I would very happily purchase a 747-200 version of PSX.

Anthony

[Hardy Heinlin]

If I were to start developing a PSX style 742 sim now, it would be finished in 40 years. I won't do that.


|-|

[Britjet]

So the Alpha version could be out by next week?

[Hardy Heinlin]

Yes.

[Hessel Oosten]

...could...

h.

[torrence]

So the Alpha version could be out by next week?

Hardy didn't say '40yrs OLD', Peter.

Cheers,
Torrence

[B747-400]

Remember the Enterprise ... Scotty and Kirk?

Jim, I need 40 years!!
I'll give you 6 years, Scotty.
OK Jim, I'll do it in 5 months ... 

[thecrazedlog]

So the Alpha version could be out by next week?

Well see he said if "he started now" and "I won't do that". So it could be that he's already started and almost finished!

(I can picture Hardy tearing his hair out now in frustration )

[Avi]

If I were to start developing a PSX style 742 sim now, it would be finished in 40 years.

I thought a lot about this sentence. Obviously you didn't mean that but I am wondering; if you had all the technical and electrical data (which I'm sure you don't and I doubt if you can get it), how long would it take? You worked almost a year on the FMC. The INS must be much simpler. There will be far more Qh and Qi vars but the systems of the classic can't be more sophisticated and complicated than the B774, can it?

I "found" Ready For Pushback very late and played with it for a very short time but enjoyed it a lot (especially the CIVA INS unit add-on).
A modern B742 sim could have been a very nice one.

[thecrazedlog]

If I were to start developing a PSX style 742 sim now, it would be finished in 40 years.

I thought a lot about this sentence. Obviously you didn't mean that but I am wondering; if you had all the technical and electrical data (which I'm sure you don't and I doubt if you can get it), how long would it take? You worked almost a year on the FMC. The INS must be much simpler. There will be far more Qh and Qi vars but the systems of the classic can't be more sophisticated and complicated than the B774, can it?

I "found" Ready For Pushback very late and played with it for a very short time but enjoyed it a lot (especially the CIVA INS unit add-on).
A modern B742 sim could have been a very nice one.

I wondered this myself. I've got 12 years experience in IT as a systems administrator and have some (basic) idea of programming. I would imagine that most of the systems between the 747-200 and -400 would be fairly similar, its just that on the -200 they were human controlled and on the -400 they were computer controlled. The weather, visual, ATC and physics engines are already done.
Hardy, please understand that this isn't us saying "why aren't you do this, this is so easy", its more a case of "hey, this doesn't look as bad from the outside, what are we missing?". I for one would be quite interested to know the answer to that if possible, I enjoy learning about this sort of stuff.

[Avi]

"hey, this doesn't look as bad from the outside, what are we missing?".

Have no mistake, I don't ask "what are we missing" because, as a tester since Alpha 1, I know (and wrote it: technical and electrical data).
I was just thinking about the time frame and what could be derived from PSX.

[Hardy Heinlin]

The time till the release consists of several time components:

Research (look for sources, determine facts and fakes) -- takes a looooooooooooooong time
Learn (understand the connections between facts) -- takes a loooooooooooooong time
Design abstract models of what has been learned -- takes a loooooooooong time
Develop software code of what has been designed -- takes a loooooooong time
Write the code -- takes a long time
Paint bitmaps and draw vector graphics -- takes a loooooooooooooooong time
During all of this, test and modify -- takes a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time
Write and illustrate a big manual -- takes a loooooooooooooooong time
Help PSX (744) users -- takes a loooooong time
Discuss with PSX (744) users -- takes a loooooooooooooooooong time
Improve PSX (744) -- takes a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time


The zero-motivation to make a 742 consists of one component:

I do software development and design for a living; it's not a hobby. To survive I need to earn a minimum of 30K Euro per year. At the time of the 742 sim release there will be no demand for 742 training software anymore.


|-|ardy

[Mark]

I do software development and design for a living; it's not a hobby. To survive I need to earn a minimum of 30K Euro per year. At the time of the 742 sim release there will be no demand for 742 training software anymore.

I presume (given that we're past the mid-point of the bell curve of 747 adoption) you might do one more simulator before retirement? What are the good (future-proof) choices for this?

[Hardy Heinlin]

Cessna 152?

[B747-400]

Sounds great!
A 152 Sim in PSX quality would be a valuable tool for flight schools and students learning to fly! Like my son does at the moment!

I would go for that sim as soon as it is released! 

Cheers
Hans

[Avi]

A C152 sim will require a full outside view as it is mainly a VFR aircraft. This might be a deal breaker 

[Britjet]

One of the bigger Airbuses then...

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

H'bout another vehicle with heavy in the call sign?

[asboyd]

Nah only got 3 engines and two of them drop off after take off...

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Na na na the first stage has 27 engines.