Stephen Posted June 9 Report Share Posted June 9 Aircraft Review - Boeing 777-200ER v2 Ultimate by FlightFactor Aero Most airliner flights in Simulation go under the two hour rule, or a route that can be done from breakfast to lunch, lunch to dinner or after dinner and on into the night. So mostly they will also be short-haul Simulations. The market will then cater for this demand, providing B737s, A320s and the various E-Jets. But there is a club devoted to another segment of Simulation, called Long-Haul. Or services that cover not only trans-ocean, but also transcontinental routes, these flights are mostly around the 10 to 12 hour flying time mark, it is an exclusive club, because of the logistics of setting up your aircraft, and then with the long times of flying involved. These significant aspects creates a very different discipline from the two-hour quick routes. But Long-Hauling is also the ultimate challenge in Simulation for aircraft, as to get it right, it can be the most rewarding to the simulator user involved. But to do good long-hauls has always been a very mixed affair in the X-Plane Simulator, mostly because really good long-haul aircraft have not been a priority for developers.... it's a niche area, so why go there. So we have always craved any Long-Haul Airliners, and the pick of the bunch was always the Boeing 777 Series, mainly because it is the most popular long-haul aircraft used by airlines in 1687 of the type being built. The B777 was created in a reaction for the newly created ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards) that allowed twin-engined aircraft to perform the same routes as only a four-engine aircraft could only be earlier regulated, but obviously two engines are much more efficient than the heavier four. As early as November 2009, XPJets announced a project for the B777, a standard setting project that brought a 3d cockpit and a quality in design unheard of in X-Plane. But in a development phase of three years, it got slower and not quicker as the project droned on, it felt at the time of a dream never to be realised. Then in September 2012 VMAX in cooperation with FlightFactor released almost out of the blue a Boeing 777 Worldliner Professional, a ground breaking design with not only a 3d cockpit, but it was also plugin based outside the X-Plane PlaneMaker environment. Within months XPJets were gone, and the project was abandoned. (If your curious the XPJet site is still available). The VMAX/FlightFactor 777 v1 aircraft went on to be one of the most successful Simulations in X-Plane, with -200ER, -200LR, -300ER, -200F (Freighter) variants added later. But by the early 2020's the design was getting very long in the tooth, eight years in X-Plane is a design lifetime, it was time for something new... and here it is in the Boeing 777-200ER v2 Ultimate. And considering the huge reputation of the earlier B777 v1, another plus is that the leading FlightFactor developer in Roman Berezin is now a Boeing 777 rated pilot, and all that personal input has gone into this new V2 version.... so X-Plane and it's devoted followers are expected a lot from this new development. First impressions of the Boeing 777 v2 are actually quite interesting? Your expecting a very highly, even evolutionary experience... but you don't actually get that. Certainly in every way the B777 v2 is totally absolutely better and different than the 12 year old v1, and certainly as presented here and as lavishly in X-Plane v12.1.0 with its better effects and even better antialiasing, it looks beyond gorgeous... However the original B777 v1 is so hugely familiar, in that it sorts of softens the change to the newer version. But that is not the point here, and of the B777 v2. X-Plane quality and detail has doubled, tripled in quality over the last few years, and our eyes are very used now to the grandiosity of the outstanding detail available, certainly since the introduction of X-Plane 12. Yes the FlightFactor B777 v2 has that "Wow" factor! But the point of this aircraft which is very important to explain very early in this review, is that it is the depth of the design, the deep "feel" factor that is the hidden unique bigger feature here as what we shall see later. Also from the start let us abate another fear... frame rate! The aircraft is hugely (code) complex and a highly extremely detailed Simulation. So it has everything in that can ruin a perfectly good Simulation by destroying your framerate. But the FlightFactor B777 v2 is very good on your framerate, yes it uses up a few frames, but FlightFactor have been very aware of making this aircraft as very efficient as it can be from the start. Yes tricks are used, but it works very well on my computer configuration, and so if you have the required requirements, then you should be fine (I get middle 40's, and a framerate that rarely drops into the high 20's). What is the thing about X-Plane users debating aircraft noses? Mostly usually A320s. Flightfactor had to redefine this B777 nose, I don't know why because it is perfect. The FlightFactor v2 comes with the GE90 high bypass turbofan engine that has been designed and developed by GE Aviation primarily for the 777 aircraft family. It outputs thrust ratings anywhere from 81,000 to 115,000 lbf. The Pratt & Whitney engine variant is planned, and notable that even later the Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engine option will also be available. The GE90-94B (94,000 lbs) on this airframe is excellent in detailing and design, it is the straight fan blade, not the curved blade version installed here. The biggest criticism of the v1 was the very poor wingflex. That has been totally changed here with a more realistic flexible animation, plus the design of the wing (curve and profile) is far better in it's design... even impressive. When we are faced with a extremely quality designed aircraft, you don't look at the big picture, but at the smaller intricate detail for your guidance on what has been presented... open up the Flap, Leading Edge and Speed Brake panels, and have a look inside, the results are beyond excellent. Notable is the really nice leading edge extension and retraction fitting, also the huge amount of detail under the speed flap panels, it is very well done... honestly, you may never give this detail a second glance, but you are still very satisfied on knowing it is all still there. The same goes for the elaborate landing gear... enjoy the incredible detail available here, all links, pins, hydraulic and pneumatics are all laid out in great detail... it is the outstanding realism shown here that you will long be talking about. Nose gear is also at the same high-quailty detail threshold, and the detail goes right up into the gear bay. Cockpit glass is also really good, with the perfect rainbow effect showing glass thickness and light reflection. Side windows are a bit blander, as is the door detail, to save Frame Weight is a consideration. APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) outlet is very good, and the APU air flap opens up as well. Externally the FlightFactor delivers what you would expect at this price range, ULTRA detail and quality work. ________________ Cabin The view we all want to see... the boarding of the aircraft. Front door is exclusive First Class, even exclusive, exclusive 1st Class... no one goes in here but the VIPs and the ultra rich. Front section of the 777 cabin is all "Suites" or cabin style. There are eight of these cabins, and they are all are styled very Emirates Airlines. Very exclusive.... Then twelve First Class seats in the section behind. Well done in the Emirati style, in gold and wooden highlights If you enter via the second door (the usual boarding door), the First Class cabin is now to your left, right is the small twelve Business class seats. The sixteen lie-flat Business seats are the same as the more forward 1st class seating. Then the two large economy cabins... coming in here you feel the huge scale of the inside of a Triple Seven, it looks and feels massive. Economy Seats are really nicely done with a pretty seat material pattern, footrests and nice armrests. All overhead cabin detail is well done with working "No Smoking" and "Seatbelt" signs. All toilets on board can be accessed, but they are extremely tight inside. Internal door detail is also really well done in perfect detail. All the (large) galley areas are expertly done and well detailed, they feel very authentic to the period of the aircraft. Your probably thinking by now "Why the hell is my computer not going to melt down". But there is a trick going on here? close your cockpit door and all these cabin sections will disappear "poof", and that will lighten your framerate load, open the door and it all comes back! FlightFactor had a feature that opened and closed the cabin window blinds, personally I didn't like it, as I like to look out of the aircraft from the cabin perspective, when looking out, and then down came the blind... It's back on the 777 v2, but you can also turn the feature off if you want to. But we are not finished with the cabin configuration yet? FlightFactor gives you the options to change the cabin configuration. There are five different cabin configuration that you can choose from... the above is EMIRATES Style, (3 Classes with Cabins), TURKISH Style (3 Classes but no Cabins), 3 Class Cabin, 2 Class Cabin and a Single Class Cabin. ________________ Cockpit Look right on entry though door 1, and there is the familiar corridor to the cockpit, the door can be opened externally by using the keypad code (just don't forget the code, or you will be locked out?). To the right is the crew sleeping area, but currently not accessible, the toilet to the left does work. Familiar? well yes, been in here before. Obviously it is not the 777 v1 cockpit, but your first glances are deceiving, it's the colour tones and cockpit arrangement that is so familiar. Then you start to decipher the detail, the HUGE amount of detail in here... it will take time to absorb it all, and you should take that time to look around in here, marvel at the all the work. The seat armrests can be folded upwards, and the seat back can also be adjusted to your personal best position, both seats are animated to move backwards and then sideways to get into the position. Seat design and quality is first rate, yes you can spend 12 hours or more in those seats with the lambswool covers. Side window blinds are animated, and you can also crank open the side window, by first pulling the lock lever back, then winding the handle lower left. Most developers have struggled to make the Boeing 777 cockpit look anything realistic, or come alive. The Brown matt colour is a problem in that it makes everything look very ordinary. But to give FlightFactor credit in having done a very good job here in doing the impossible to bring this cockpit alive, it certainly looks realistic. The central pedestal is really well done, the controls are perfect, and there is a AutoThrust disconnect switch on the end of the throttle handles. Both yokes are perfection, smooooth and worn, very nice. There are the switches on the left arm front for "Trim" and for "Autopilot Disconnect", the PTT (Push-To-Talk) switch is hidden behind the left arm, but works. Some 777 Yokes had the 3 Number Memory device from the B737, but in not here. TCAS is with TCAS full version 7 functionality and you have the classic STBY Instruments and also ISFD (Integrated Standby Flight Display). The nameplate says "Boeing 777" ________________ Power Up This section is usually in the Flying part of the review, but it is worth the discussion here in this case. First when you approach the aircraft 'Cold", there is a "Load Sheet" between the throttles, a nice touch... if you click on the paper, it will be moved to the document tray under the MCP (Mode Control Panel). Starting up the Triple Seven from cold is a long but very authentic process. Turn on the Battery and nothing happens? But you can then start the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit)... still nothing happens for a long time? then the SAI (Standby Altitude Indicator) comes partly to life... still a loooong wait, then finally the displays will flash themselves on and off, still waiting.... then suddenly the 777 systems will come to life, But you will still need to set the current position Coordinates in the FMC (Flight Management Computer) and switch on the ADIRU (Air Data Inertial Reference Unit), and a 2nd system called "Secondary Attitude Air Data Reference Unit" (SAARU). Once set the "Time to Align" is shown in the upper left side of the Navigation Display (ND). So it takes ages to power the 777 up, but there is helpers to Align the system instantly if you can't wait, there is also an optional setting to have the aircraft powered up (turnaround/ready at the gate) if you want that option. Me I love the whole process of the realistic start-up procedure, even if it does lose you twenty minutes or so every time. You can thankfully leave the B777 in the state it was after the last flight (turnaround), so you don't have to do this power-up procedure every single time you want to fly. ________________ FlightFactor do give you a screen on startup, in that you can quickly reconfigure the aircraft to the Simulation you are wanting to do, or carry on forward to the more detailed settings that are already saved in. A third startup choice is the "Situations" a save of the aircraft in the "saved" state. There is however something very familiar about it all, you have certainly been in here before, as you know this cockpit so well... but everything in here is not as it initially seems to be? Start probing, or switching things in here, and absolutely EVERYTHING works! every button, switch, lever and system is operational, or has a physical reaction to your inputs, all of the OHP (OverHead Panel) switches and buttons AND every Circuit Breaker (Fuse) works... EVERYTHING. All instrument displays will "Pop-Out" into Windows via the screw on the display's facia. These include both PFD (Primary Flight Displays), NAV/MAP (Navigation Displays), Upper EICAS ((Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System) and Lower Secondary Engine Display. All Pop-Outs are moveable and scalable on your screen or display. Both FMCs (Flight Management Computer) also popout, plus also so does the rear central third FMC. Front FMCs (CDU1/CDU2) are both Navigation, the rear FMC (CDU3) is for the aircraft's Interaction. Notable was that only the one left side FMC display worked on the B777 v1. If you are used to the B777 v1 FMC layout and input parameters, you should really have no problems with the B777 v2 setup. Programming in the system was quite developed on the v1, and yes there has been improvements here in the details, but overall there is little change to confuse you. Note the orange "K" on the top left of the FMC, it is to allow direct data input from the keyboard into the scratchpad. a There is a sort of "Simbrief" interaction, that will load the SimBrief data into the system, but a lot of the detail (mostly weights) you will have to input yourself. It is not as cross-referenced as say a ToLiSS input loading. But fill in a few of the main details, like mentioned aircraft weights, fuel weights and C.G (Centre of Gravity), and so then the rest of the crucial data will then be filled in for you, like the TakeOff Refs and the required Trim percent setting. The Instruments and layout is very comprehensive in here, so there is a lot to learn. FlightFactor have not only provided a complete individual Instrument "Cockpit Guide" (157 Pages), but also provided is a flat cockpit poster to study the instrument layouts. Another manual which is included in the package is the full "Flight Crew Operations Manual" of 525 pages, and you will need it to work through everything that is required to use and access this complex cockpit. So it is not only a "Study" aircraft, but a "Deep Study" aircraft, as this 777 is called the "Ultimate" for a reason, but it is far more than that, this is an airline operation level Simulation. ________________ Interaction One of the big features on the FlightFactor B777 v2 is interaction. These tools can help you not only load or service the aircraft, but can also be set it up via the First Officer. Also the Captain, Cabin Crew and Ground Crew are all interactive. This is done here via voice (if annoying? then you can turn it off if you want to) and do the same actions through (Captain's) commands. Let's do the basics. First there is a "Ground Crew" to help you around the aircraft, they are called via first two selections from the menu "Ground Personal on Ramp", and "Captain Commands/Ground Crew" to make them active... the interaction is done via the CDU3 on the upper pedestal. You "Call" the Ground Crew via the intercom system, or the MIC button (MIC switch must be on), then the ground Crew will appear and interact with the crew... Then placed around the aircraft are the many Hi-Vis dressed Ground Crew that are all animated, which is really well done here. So to add or takeaway anything on the ground you communicate through the CDU3 interface, just like you would do on a real Triple Seven. Need rear door service? then contact the Ground Crew, then select the service you want (CATER SERV)... when acknowledged, the Ground Crew-Member will ask you if you want anything else? Notable down in the lower right corner, are the people (crew) that are currently active on the intercom. Although the Service Vehicle is now set by the rear (5L) door, the door is still closed? (all active Ground Equipment is shown in green) A note here, in that all the service vehicles will appear from the sky! You can turn this feature off, and it's one I'm not too sure of? it's not as very realistic as the usual "drive up" mode? So you will now have to call the Purser on the intercom... to open the the door from the Directory! And there are several pages of items you can interact with. The Purser will again acknowledge your call and then open the rear (5L) door for the Service Crew. There are also features to do Maintenance on the aircraft.... First though you have to call "Maintenance" on the Intercom, then the engineers arrive by the engine to be maintained... The Maintenance options however are all on the menu and include (Reset) Engine Cylinders, (Replace) Blades, (Refill) Engine Oil, (Replace Oil Filter) and APU Servicing. Wheel/Tyre Changing and even wheel servicing is also available, and all the Maintenance done here is noted in the aircraft's log as the "Wear&Tear" of the aircraft. The interaction system is even more advanced than this, in that you can also use real voice interaction... It should be noted that voice recognition operates on a "Push-To-Talk" principle -the key combination assigned for voice recognition should be held down while you speak and released upon completing the command. By default, a list of main commands is available for use, and they are located in the "main" section of the commands file. You can also address the first officer by saying "first officer" and all commands from the "first officer" section will become available to you. If your silence lasts for more than 40 seconds, the first officer will return to their duties, and only commands from the "main" section will be available again. You can hand over control of the MCP to the first officer by saying "your MCP" or "you have the MCP". The first officer will be pleased to set the heading, track, speed, altitude. So this is a very deep intergated system with interaction with the Boeing 777. It will take not only time to learn, but to actually learn and to immerse yourself into this complex, but very real world environment... you also have the choice to turn off the intergration system if you find it overwhelming. The full capabilities of the system are far too long or too complex to completely explain here... but it does create another level of serious Simulation experiences. ________________ EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) One of the biggest interactions with the FlightFactor Boeing 777 v2, is via the EFB, or "Electronic Flight Bag", which is a built in tablet on each side of the two pilots. You can access a page by both the outer button (as you really do in the B777), or by pressing the tab directly on the screen. Grey is active, the teal box is not-active. Again both displays "Pop-Out" via the upper right side screw. Beyond the Start up "Main Menu" page menu, there are 34 EFB pages to access, so it is a very deep and complex menu system, again time will be required to work through and work out all the EFB Menu options. This EFB is one the most complex on any X-Plane aircraft. I'm not going to cover all of the 34 menu pages in detail, but just show the highlights of what is available in here. Main Menu The "Main Menu" shows you 13 Menu options; Airport Map, Performance (blank), Briefing, Navigraph Services, Airplane, Simulation, Ident Page, Terminal Charts (Blank), Documents, Video (blank), Pilot Utilities, Simplified Loading and Shortcuts... lower is the option to Initialize Flight. Navigation in the EFB is excellent, not only a direct "M" to the "Main Menu", but you can <- go back to the last page, or use the in page "UP" or "BACK" nav tools Airport Map Just type in your ICAO Airport Code in to scratchpad and up will come a scalable map of the airport, and your current aircraft position on the Map (Navigraph Subscription Required). Briefing Here you can load into the EFB the full Simbrief flightplan Brief, the layout includes 8 different options that are segmented from the SimBrief Application. It is full of all the required data for the flight, and for the aircraft setup, including the Flightplan, Weights, Fuel and Weather/Winds enroute. Navigraph Services Here you log into your "Navigraph Services" account, you then add in your "Simbrief Username" (note important! this is your "User Name", not the usual SimBrief ID that you use here), then press "Get Data from SimBrief tab to load in your already created Flightplan/Brief. ________________ Airplane There are 14 tab options on the "Airplane" tab; Doors, Ground Service, Weight & Balance, Maintenance, Pushback, Cabin Controls, Dispatch (MEL-Minimum Equipment List), Training, Failures Control, Captain's Commands, Walk-Around, Loading Service, Ongoing Processes and Align Adiru Now. Doors There are 8 main cabin doors that you can open, plus the three Forward, Aft and Bulk Cargo doors. There are also two small access doors in ACC and E&E that also can be opened. There is an AUTO/MAN option and EMER OPS option as well. Ground Service There are two pages of 22 options on the "Ground Services" pages. Page 1 includes; GPU 1&2, Chocks, Bus, Stairs (1L), Air-Con Truck (L&R), Stairs (3L), Cater Service, Lav (Service) and Water Truck. Page 2 includes Gear Service, Pneumatic (Service), Engine Maintenance, Fuel (Tanker L&R), De-Ice and Hydraulics (Service). Other Options include the two Baggage Loaders called transport here. Like the FlightFactor v1, you have to have the Bus/Gate/Stairs visual to load Passengers, Fuel Trucks to Load Fuel, and the Baggage Loaders to load the Cargo, this is done from this page. There is a lot of ground equipment available here, stairs for 1L and 3L doors, but not for 2L, which oddly is the main loading door for Economy Class? Again the Catering Service Vehicle is on 5L, but not on 1R? The De-Ice feature is very similar to the one with ToLiSS aircraft, but be aware, it takes a lot of it's own considerable time to go around the aircraft, so if you want to fly quickly, then don't activate this feature, but very good it is with three De-Ice trucks all working together. On the "Ground Services" page left lower are two more options... Maintenance and Presets. Maintenance we will look at shortly... Ground Service State Presets Here you can use set presets, including; Preflight, Fueling, Pax (Passenger) Loading and Pushback. There are also three "Custom" presets you can "Save", and use by the "Load" Preset option. Weights & Balance This W&B section will set up the aircraft in weight and C.G. Balance. You can import the data from "Simbrief" to fill in the load factors. It is quite comprehensive, but also far more straight forward than the odd v1 layout You can adjust the weight of most things, from the passengers (also ICAO Summer Correction!), Cargo and its placement and fuel. At the end there is a full "Weight Summary". It is all very well presented and comprehensive. There is a very helpful "Fuel Planner" tool, but overall FlightFactor still also provides you with a "Simplified" system to quickly load the aircraft if you don't want to go into the minute details of absolutely everything. So you can just do a quick "Load" of the details from Simbrief and then quickly load the aircraft ready for flight (note Simbrief doesn't currently load in the FMC data as noted earlier). Maintenance You not only have failures, but you also have the life running wear and tear of the aircraft. These areas are contained in the Maintenance tab of the aircraft. Galleys&Restrooms, Hydraulics, Gear&Tires, Electrics, Engines, Oxygen all have to be maintained or repaired. Hatch Inspection will open 19 hatches or access points on the aircraft. The hatch detail around the 777 is excellent, the dome/doors open to reveal the Honeywell Radar is really well done, as is the placement of the AlliedSignal Engines 331-500 APU in the tail. You can also open the cargo doors externally via the opened small access hatch, but you have to get close to activate the switch to open and close the highly detailed cargo door. Note the loader personal inside the cargo compartments. You can "Test" (GPWS), Check the "Current" list of Maintenance Issues, and also do a "Instantaneous Full Maintenance", to rectify everything in a one button press. Pushback The FlightFactor 777 v2 has it's own dedicated Pushback tool. (BetterPushBack doesn't work on this aircraft?)... but it is a very good one! Set the Boeing 777 ready for pushback (brakes off), and then Select "Start Pushback". This will call a very highly detailed pushback truck to the aircraft, then you "Connect" the Pushback Truck to the nose gear of the aircraft. When connected you get a control panel that shows you the Torque of the load, and the Speed in Kmh. There are also four views you can have in four boxes top left, External, Rear view, Close rear view & cabin view. The Arrow will show you your push direction, and the drivers seat rotates into the direction you want to go. Power is by your throttle, and that is shown in the Torque dial, brake is again the usual "B" brake, shown as a T in the window... then the B777 can be pushed back... steering is Left-Right via your joystick. It is tricky to use until you practise with the controls, but very good it is in moving the big Boeing around. When correctly positioned, you can "Disconnect" or "End Process", to disconnect the truck, then press "Wave Off" which gives you a animated walking ground person, then the ground personnal shows you the connecting pin (à la BetterPushBack) It is a very good Pushback tool, one that gives you a lot of control, plus clever working animated ground staff doing their jobs, I love it. Cabin Controls Here you can set the aircraft's Climate Control, Cabin Light Control & WC (Toilets) Maintenance. All very clever on the detail of settings of the aircraft's in flight requirements. MEL - Minimum Equipment List MEL is the "Minimum Equipment List", this is a document based on the master MEL (MMEL) provided by Boeing. Each operator can modify the MMEL (making it harsher) to suit its SOPs. In this model you have the opportunity to do the same. The MEL is electronic in your EFB, however, it will not prevent you from actually dispatching the flight. There are three numbers A/R/O –available / required / operational. For example, the airplane has 3 AFDC system available, If at least one item on the list will have the O-number < R-number, the flight will not be dispatchable. It is a complex system that is still ongoing and being developed by FlightFactor. Failures - Training Two Selections in "Failures" and "Training" can be cross-referenced between each other. The "Failure" feature is very comprehensive with two pages of 14 separate categories, and in that you can also create "Failure Scenarios" There are currently 1000+ failures programmed into the system and their number will increase in the future. You can also "Reset All Failures" in a global setting. Of the failure that can be triggered. The status column will show if it's INACTIVE or FAILED, and the random failure time column shows the time in hh/mm/ss till the system will randomly fail. Failures are also categorised into three classes: Major, Regular and Minor. Within the set MTBF a major failure can occur at a random event with a probability 3 times smaller than regular and a minor 3 times larger. You can add in an "Event", Then select the category that you want to fail... The "Search" is a great option here to find the item in the hundreds of choices. Then you can select the "When/Where" Failure from a drop down tab (Immediately, In time, above/below Altitude, above/below speed, in case of failure). The "Training" page gives some of the same functionality as the "Failures Control" page but with some preset aspects. The preset failure pages (on the right) have time/location chose bar on the top, choice of side (in this example) below and then a list of possible abnormal conditions. You may choose one condition at a time. Some conditions will also trigger a single failure, some will trigger several at once. Some will initiate a scenario of abnormal behavior whose path will depend on your action. Captain's Commands If you want to do the spoken commands via a button press, then you can via the "Captain's Commands" page. The requests cover the; Ground Equipment, Hatches, De-Ice, FWS (Front Wheel Steering) and Installing pins in the gear. Walk-Around There is a Walk-Around checklist, that you can check off, and then reset. Other Airplane options include; a Loading Service, Ongoing Processes Overview and to "Align (the) ADIRU Now". ________________ Simulation Under the "Simulation" tab is all the areas to set up the aircraft to your liking; General, Avionics, Ground Operations, Situations, Graphics, Effects and Sound, Interaction, Crew Interaction and Check list options. "General Options" gives you parameters on the way you would like the aircraft set up to your personal preferences Avionics Under the "Avionics" tab, you get the usual wide and varied FlightFactor system of options in setting up the avionics of the aircraft. The "EFIS" options are excellent and give you a lot of instrument display choice, the setup system is VERY deep. Highlight here are the "Segment Display" options, as you can set the displays to; All White, All Amber, All Red, Mixed Amber, Mixed Red and Mixed Any. Situations On of the biggest strides in features in X-Plane was created by ToLiSS (other developers had variations of the idea). In that you could save a "Situation" and reload the situation back into X-Plane to recreate the place, time and aircraft setup as it was saved. If you have a Computer crash, or just want a certain aircraft set up, then you can choose and reload the original situation. The version here is as good as the ToLiSS version, as it will reload every single parameter saved. In my case here I have set up the aircraft for flight, including programming the FMC on the route. When ready to depart, I can then just LOAD in that "Situation" and I am ready to fly! You can change the save order by either "As cending" or "Descending". Notable at this point, there is currently no "Auto" save, a system that will save situations automatically every time set (5min, 10min, 15min). But FlightFactor notes this option will be done soon. Other Situation options include, Graphics, Effects and Sound, Interaction, Crew Interaction and Subtitles. The SOUND options are quite basic; Master, Exterior, Interior, CoPilot and Environment, but it is very adjustable to the volume of the sound. A clever tool is the "Pilot Utilities" set of tools for; Speed, Length, Weight, Temperature, Volume, Pressure and Time Zone Conversions. There is also a "Timer/Stopwatch" tool as well. Documents, Manuals and Images can also be used in the EFB in a "Document Library", and there are provisions for you to load in your own pdf and jpg images. What we have covered here in the EFB, is only the highlights. As noted there are 34 different pages to access and use (learn as well), so it is the biggest menu system ever in X-Plane, probably in Simulation as well. So you are not only learning the actual aircraft, but it's needs and settings as well. ________________ Checklist The "Checklist" is oddly not part of the EFB - Flight Bag. But it is set in the lower EICAS Display. You access the checklist via the button on the right "Display Access Panel" (lower far left). The checklist is very comprehensive, and has three major modes: Amplified, Supplementary and Normal. Normal (Regular) is the main checklist. Other checklist options are for different pilots and certain procedures (Ampified) and Non-Normal systems Menus You get a big magenta cross cursor to navigate and select items on the checklist.... overall the checklist is very comprehensive. ________________ Banner Menu All of above can mostly be accessed via the X-Plane banner menu "Boeing 777 200ER for quick and easy access to critical items. There are four menu options; Options, Equipment, EFB and Captain. Options covers; Avionics, Cabin, Checklists, Effects, FO, General, Ground, Interaction, Subtitles and Systems. Equipment covers; Baggage Loaders, Passenger Bus, Main Cargo Loader, Catering Truck, Chocks, De-Ice Equip, Engine Maintenance Kit, Fuel trucks (L&R), Gate, Ground Air-Con (L&R), GPU Primary/Secondary, Ground Starter (L&R), Hydraulic Replacement kit, LAVS Service, Secondary Stairs, Tyre Replacement Kit, Luggage Transporter and Water Replenishment Truck. EFB covers; Show/Hide EFB 1&2, Airplane, Situation, Shortcuts, Doors, Ground Service, Weight&Balance, Loading Service and Pushback. Captain covers; Read Briefing, Remove Ground Equipment, Request Close Hatches, Disconnect from Ground Crew, Request De-Icing and Establish Communications (shortcut). ________________ Lighting, Internal & External The lighting on the B777 v1 was actually quite good. But here you have a decade of advancement and refinement. These images here show you X-Plane v12.1.0, and the even more refined effects, including bloom lighting effects. All the Boeing 777 lighting modes are active, and adjustable. You you do actually expect this on an aircraft of this scale. One note is that you can easily "Overbright" the instruments, and with that setting they become too bloomy (there is also a setting called "Lamp Glow" that also highlights the bloom) and you lose the realism. So all the lighting settings for the instruments need to be toned down to look and be realistic. Get the tone right and the cockpit is breathtakingly realistic. The highlight is the centre console with all those the transparent knobs, it is beautiful beyond belief... .... all the lighting for the MCP and Main instruments are lovely and adjustable to your personal satisfaction, and there are MAP lights for each of the pilots (the spots are beam adjustable). The two side lighting options are CHART and WORKTABLE. There are also two main cabin lighting settings. DOME (lower left image) is the adjustable lighting, and STORM (lower right image) is a full cockpit lighting setting. There is also the "MASTER BRIGHT option as well. The down-lights are hidden behind grids on this version, but the sources are not completed yet in this pre release version, I expect them to be fixed for the release. Cabin Lighting There are three cabin lighting settings on the EFB. Main (overhead) cabin lighting, Ambient (wall) cabin lighting and Galley (Kitchen) lighting. There is also the emergency Lighting. The main cabin lighting is modern LED, and the wall lighting is the older strip lighting we know so well, and really well done here... both Seatbelt and No Smoking signs work. Galley lighting is very nice as well, it feels very authentic to the aircraft and it's 90's design. External Lighting All the external lighting is completed. Includes both taxi and nose lights, to supplement the main landing lights. Navigation, Beacon (upper/lower) and Strobe lighting is perfect, and both white and red/green navigation lights are presented. The WING lights up the engines/wing and there is a tail light, and again all very good, but a touch more brightness would be nice... but they are both still far more brighter than the images depicts here. ________________ Flying the FlightFactor Boeing 777 v2 7th June 1995 was a significant day. As it was the inaugural first flight of the Boeing 777 Series aircraft. The Route was from London Heathrow (LHR) to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD). The Boeing 777 was in response to United's requirements of an aircraft to replace the Douglas Tri-Jets, and in being able to fly three different, but significant United routes in Chicago - Hawaii, Chicago - Europe and Non-stop from Denver (a hot and high airport) and again to Hawaii, plus the bonus of having a more efficient two-engined aircraft on all long-haul routes. It is a typical London overcast grey day... If on ground power, you have to turn the battery OFF, then back on again to start the APU (Auxiliary Power Unit), it's a tricky thing to start up, but in most cases it is a "Low Oil" indication that has to be rectified. I mentioned the "Tire Pressure" warning earlier as well... another item to be rectified before flight, or the warning is a consistent annoyance once airborne. Did you set all the "Doors" to "Auto", you better, as the aircraft won't start unless you do, it's that sort of simulation. Ready for pushback... I'm still not fully competent with the Pushback tug, I am getting better at driving it, but it is not as easy as using the BetterPushback tool. That said it is very good, and very realistic, and note the ground worker with the pin. There is the option to adjust you eyesight in the seat to your real height, adjustable on the EFB, it bounces you up (or down) until it feels right. Time to start the GE90 engines. Set the bleeds for power from the APU, and turn the START switch. Number 1 Engine first then No. 2. There is the noted 25% to 30% N2 indication before moving the selected engine Fuel Control switch, that then completes the fully automatic B777 startup engine sequence. The GE90-94B has excellent startup procedure sounds, the whine, then the deeper powered fan whine when running in an 3d environment, but it is the background sounds that are very impressive in the cockpit. You hear the engines, but it is the hum in your space that you feel the authenticity of the aircraft around you. Flaps set to 15º, Trim is set to 32.8% of MAC. One thing I am very impressed with the interaction of the switchgear, is that the response is not immediate, but is slightly delayed... press a button and it will slightly hesitate before doing the action, it gives the switches or buttons a very authentic and realistic feel as you use them. Slight power to the throttles and Park-brake off, and I am moving. If this is your first time at this point, it is a very memorable moment, your now this far with a clean OHP and running engines, as its an achievement to get this far, and that is what also makes this simulation so special. The skill required to get the aircraft ready for flight as this is a very complex real aircraft, and now your in complete control and doing everything right. Taxiing is nice, actually not that different from the v1, but you are very aware that this 777 is a very different concept. It is 3494 nm to Dulles, at a 8 hours flying time. A last glance around the instruments, and you set the clock running.... brakes off and throttle up. The whine then comes in, a howl really and your feeling the combined energy of those two GE90-94Bs at 94,000 lbs each moving you now forward. Your powering down LHRs 27R runway, and with a heavy 15º flap the aircraft is quickly wanting to lift (5º is a better setting)... v2 is 148 knts, and as soon as you touch the bug you are pulling back on the yoke to easily go airborne, "Positive Climb" is the call from the right seat. You wonder how such a very large six wheeled bogie could fit into the aircraft's belly, two main bogies in fact... they do and it is worth watching the operation. Also note the excellent quality of the detail of the aircraft... it is a work of simulation art. Your flying the "Triple Seven", and a good feeling it is. I climb 2000 fpm to 12,000 ft. But the B777-200ER is quite impressive if you want to push the parameters. To 5000 ft you can use 3000 fpm, to 15,000 ft you can do 2500 fpm and in a mach climb 0.83 to altitude 1500 fpm. Sounds on the flightdeck are gorgeous and numerous, but externally the grinding whine of the GE90s is stupendous. If you thought this was my first flight in the Flightfactor B777 v2, then I'm sorry I mislead you, as it's actually my second. The first was an orientation flight from Gatwick (EGKK) to Barcelona (LEBL). But there was the quick realisation of how this "Heavy" flew, in fact it was an unnerving experience. Don't get me wrong here, the effects are the opposite of what I expected. The unnerving aspect is how really, really good the feeling and handling of this big aircraft is. it is uncanny as a simulation. In FlightFactor developer Roman Berezin as a Boeing 777 rated pilot, has dialing into the simulation the perfection of it's abilities, and it is an amazing experience to explore the aircraft under your control and within 2%-5% on the real world standard certification test. So remember everything works in this cockpit, but everything else works as well, the touch of the controls, the aural sounds, the feel of the aircraft in actual operation. Obviously I have not flown any aircraft in other Simulation platforms but X-Plane (okay I flew a little in MSFS), but could I call this out as one of the best ever of an aircraft simulation on a computer. That aspect is a very big call "The best ever", and surely someone will question my reasoning... but in a decade or so of long haul flying, I can't remember any experience as good in feel as this aircraft. Mostly it does exactly what you want it to do, but with the right inertia in movement and operation. That deep down and beyond pretty well everything else, this is the core of the depth of this Boeing 777 simulation, that real depth of feel. For all tons of features and mega menu options, this is a new depth of immersion simulation that you are now entering... another higher dimensional level, and it is a huge jump forward in flying aircraft on computers. I'm now at 37,000 ft (FL370). In most cases I usually climb up to a lower Flight Level, then step up to the final set altitude, burning off fuel for say 500 nm before the final climbing to altitude. But this aircraft is not a full Gross Weight (ARW) 222,209 kg, as the current MTOW for the -200ER is 656,000 lb (297,550 kg). So today I have to climb higher and quicker to get on top of a weather pattern off the west coast of Ireland, and the -200 did that flight level change aspect with ease. Range for the 200ER (Extended Range) is 7,065 nmi (13,080 km) as this is the first generation B777. The LR (Long Range) had an endurance of 8,555 nautical miles (15,844 km) as the -200LR features an increased MTOW and three optional auxiliary fuel tanks in the rear cargo hold. Max speed is Mach 0.87 – Mach 0.89 (499–511 kn; 924–945 km/h), with a usual Cruise Mach 0.84 (482 kn; 892 km/h). Ceiling is 43,000 ft. I haven't explored too much the crew interaction feature, with say the First Officer doing the flying. But long haul is about hours of just monitoring the instruments and doing the notes. I spent some very long hours in the B777 v1, notably in the F - Freighter -200 version, I expect that version to come soon, as also is promised a -300ER and a -200LR. From the left seat it is a very nice place to be... this is an excellent Simulation. If flying Oceanic (Atlantic or Pacific) there are "Oceanic Control Areas". these routes do use a "Airway" or North Atlantic Tracks (NAT), but they don't work here in programming the route in the FlightFactor B777 v2. The Airway here is "NATD", or four coordinated waypoints. To insert the waypoint you have to airinc shorthand the waypoint. So 55°0'0.0"N 020°0'0.0"W is shorthanded to 5520N and 5°0'0.0"N 030°0'0.0"W is converted to 5530N. There is a section 11.31.16 (766) in the DOC manual that explains it. One thing about long haul is that you have plenty of time on your hands.... so you can tend to focus on the areas around you. The quality of the eyebrow with the X-Plane 12 dynamic lighting show how exceptional the Simulation in realism is today, and just looking around the cockpit is a very satisfying experience, even with a few X-Plane 12.1.0 Field of view shots. Long haulers love their "Toys", or things to play with to pass the time. One I really love here is "Coffee". Now if your a serial coffee drinker like me, then you would consume a few cups in the air, but what if you drank the whole "FlightFactor" branded cup and it disappears? Well you go to the CDU3 "Interface" and call the purser (if active again they are shown lower right screen). Note the comms for the Purser is different from the Ground Crew comms, then ask the Purser for a fresh cup of coffee (R4), and lo and behold, you will now have a fresh cup of hot coffee (smiles). It works in the rear seats as well, and you can even order a "Crew Meal", but no food is actually delivered (well not yet!). Then the Navigation display starts to fill up with waypoints, it's Newfoundland, and we are now over the "Pond". Approach to Washington Dulles (IAD) 19L is via STAR HYPER 9, it is a straight in from the north approach. I start my descent about 160 nm out, down to 10,000 ft ( I never do TOD descents, they are too steep). Again it is that the aircraft responds so very well to your inputs, that is a sign of a very well developed aircraft. The TERRAIN radar feature is very good as well, this was on the FlightFactor B757/767, very good there, and so it is here. A note, in that the FlightFactor B777 v2 uses some custom commands, but odd ones? Like the Autopilot can be disengaged via the usual X-Plane Command, but you have to set the 1-sim AT (Autothrottle) disconnect via the FF custom command. You can choose between or both Left and Right AT buttons on the Throttle quadrant, and another note is to press the button for both the AP and AT disconnect TWICE to kill the noisy alarms.... Gear down! Final approach and soon the 19L ILS (ISGC) capture is coming up for a CAT III landing. Open the B777 v2 shows off all it's incredible innards, the detail available to you here is really quite special, even the hardest punter will marvel at all this detail. Approach speed is around 150 knts. Watching B777 landings (YouTube) I noted most pilot's disconnect the AT at about 300 feet, then let the big Boeing continue it's falling approach, to move into a nice flare when passing over the threshold, that what I did here and came into a perfect landing around 143 knts. It's all action when the main bogies touch the runway... FULL reverse power and touching on the toe-brakes to keep the Triple Seven straight, your all arms and legs in bringing this massive aircraft down to a safe taxi speed. The roar of the reverse thrust is huge, and really well done to your finely honed ears, it is all so all very realistic, that the hairs on your neck tingle with excitement of the reality of the moment. And the recreation of that 7th June 1995 inaugural first Boeing 777 flight is done... the rest is as they say is history, in creating one of the greatest aircraft in airline service to date. That aspect is now very realistic to everyone, with the chance to fly this exceptional FlightFactor Boeing 777ER ________________ B777 Liveries Provided with package are six B777 Liveries... there is a FlightFactor House, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, KLM and United UC. Quality is excellent on all the provided liveries. But your not going to miss out on your favorite livery, the painters are already churning out liveries at a rate of knots, and already there is plenty of choice, here are three; American One World, Singapore Airlines and Delta. ________________ Summary The VMAX/FlightFactor 777 v1 aircraft went on to be one of the most successful Simulations in X-Plane, with -200ER, -200LR, -300ER, -200F (Freighter) variants added later. But by the early 2020's the design was getting very long in the tooth, eight years in X-Plane is a design lifetime, it was time for something new... and here it is in the Boeing 777-200ER v2 Ultimate. And considering the huge reputation of the earlier B777 v1, and another plus is that the leading FlightFactor developer Roman Berezin is now a Boeing 777 rated pilot, and all that specialsed input has gone into this new V2 version. This v2 of the "Triple Seven" breaks boundaries in every direction you can think of for a simulation. And it is about as feature laden as you ever could wish for. Highlights include perfect mirrored systems of the real aircraft and comes with highly detailed modeling, and it is almost to the extreme in replication of a real world B777, and this all coming in the latest X-Plane 12 guise and it's effects. But it's the features that stand out. Highlights include Aircraft and Ground crew interaction (with real animated ground crew), full maintenance on the aircraft and regular servicing is also required. Failure list is a 1000+ options and the largest most comprehensive 34 page EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) in simulation. Full ground Servicing and external to internal aircraft access is also available, with five different cabin configurations that you can choose from. Sounds are extensive, and are highly realistic, from the cockpit environment to the start up procedures, and in flight external and quality internal soundscapes. All sounds in are doppler and 3d 360º aural motions. Hundreds of custom sounds are recorded from the real aircraft, with a significant 3D stereo sound system just for the engines. Notable is that the systems and set up of this aircraft is complex and complicated to mirror real world operations, so to be aware there is required a fairly large learning curve and study aspect to the aircraft, however FlightFactor do provide tools to set up and fly the aircraft in a more simplified approach, so you can access the Simulation at the level you want to, then go deeper as you learn your skill sets. But the real breakthough on the B777 v2 is the more deeper flying characteristics and handling than on any other Simulation. A ground breaking revolution in the way you approach and fly a Simulated aircraft on a computer. The FlightFactor v2 is probably the most leading aircraft simulation ever produced, and that is a big statement. The FlightFactor v2 had a huge expectation of this one of the larges and most comprehensive release for the X-Plane 12 Simulator. It does actually, and in many areas achieve, even deliver more than those high expectations... that statement alone delivers another level in the journey of Computer Simulation, it's an historic release in more ways than one and an excellent investment, but a release that delivers and exceeds in those high accolades is a moment to savour and remember, but most of all to fly.... Highly Recommended. __________________ Yes! - the Boeing 777-200ER v2 Ultimate by FlightFactor Aero is Coming Soon! from the X-Plane.Org Store here : Boeing 777-200ER v2 Ultimate Price is US$99.00 Requirements Plane 12, X-Plane 11.50+ Windows 10+, Mac OS 10.15+ (Intel or Apple Silicon) or Linux 14.04 LTS or compatible, 64 bit mode Disk Space: 5 GB X-Plane 12: Minimum Requirements: CPU: Intel Core i3, i5, i7, or i9 CPU with 4 or more cores, or AMD Ryzen 3, 5, 7 or 9, or equivalent RAM: 16 GB Video Card: a Vulkan 1.3-capable video card from NVIDIA or AMD with at least 6 GB VRAM Current version: 1.0 (June 14th 2024) Designed by Flightfactor Support forum for the Boeing 777-200ER v2 Ultimate Download The FF Boeing 777-200ER is a 432Mb download with an installation size of 5.20GB, in your X-Plane Aircraft folder, this is an X-Plane 12 aircraft only. All updates are via the built-in Skunkcrafts Updater Documentation There is excellent full coverage documentation and installation details for the B777, including; 777reqs.txt changelog777.txt cockpit.pdf (157 Pages) manual.pdf (76 Pages) poster.jpg systems.pdf (Official Crew Operations Manual) (528 Pages) terms_of_use.txt voiceCommands.txt _____________________ Review System Specifications: Windows - 12th Gen IS1700 Core i7 12700K 12 Core 3.60 GHz CPU - 64bit -32 Gb single 1067 Mhz DDR4 2133 - PNY GeForce RTX 3080 10GB XLR8 - Samsung 970 EVO+ 2TB SSD (and a new PSU) Software: - Windows 11 Pro - X-Plane Version 12.1.0 Beta Plugins: JustFlight-Traffic (X-Plane.OrgStore) US$52.99 : Global SFD plugin US$30.00 Scenery or Aircraft - EGKK - London Gatwick Airport v2 by PilotPlus+ (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$21.00 - EGLL - London Heathrow International Airport - XP12 and 11 by Taimodels (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$28.00 - KIAD - Washington Dulles International Airport by Nimbus Simulations (X-Plane.OrgStore) - US$29.95 Note this review was covered in the latest X-Plane12 Beta release v12.1.0, but the aircraft and it's systems were also tested in the earlier X-Plane 12.05r1, with no significant issues. The FlightFactor aircraft shown in this review is also an Alpha v2.0.10 release. Review by Stephen Dutton 14th June 2024 Copyright©2024: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved hi_nihaozaoan, skytitude, Kiwiflyer and 2 others 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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