The installation will start already with an absolute impudence, more specifically, it said just not the installation begins:
Since one has done just for the expensive 50 "boxed" version, only to find that the installer does not work ("Can not connect to server"). Only after you have tried Google gets you out that the outdated v1.007 installer on the DVD can no longer be used, because the manufacturer has decided to change its licensing system. One should download the new installer - unfortunately is not there where. One should sign in his shop (huh?) And then somehow can get an update.
Since "Aerosoft" (au hurt) is on the CD sleeve, I looked at Aerosoft - the Dash-8 Q400 is as listed in the Support area only in the X-Plane version, no trace of the PC version. Only after renewed Google session you will find the discussion where you can then find the right link to Majestic- "User Area" on the one can download the 500MB installer of a pretty stingy-lame server. Thank you also, which is then already the next impertinence for me because I have to rely on prepaid mobile internet and just therefore have to resort to "Boxed" products. Otherwise I would have equal the downloadable version purchased for less money and get an instant, her ... äh..Künstler! So I did get just a box with a completely useless CD and the registry key instead of the "boxed" version and now also needs to buy more bandwidth for my internet.
When searching me then also fell to that the number of activations is limited for this add-on to 5 - when you consider that you have to occasionally re-install a flight simulator PC, and sometimes new hardware is purchased for a better flying experience, on the then must be re-installed - which is not much. The problem with copy protection is generally that including really only the people suffer who have purchased the product as honest buyers legitimate for a lot of money and the manufacturers ensure the survival of who it has just downloaded somewhere remains completely untouched. If the tutelage of honest buyers but also as to the extreme as it is here with the understanding of the inability to be aware of the injustice of this thing in mind past. The product already bought one should so buy again, if you had time to have a while PC problems unlucky.
It comes but even thicker: The thing usurps even resources to waste for checking the integrity of the buyer permanent - after starting the FSX with the Dash had this burst suddenly tire. Funny Bug I thought and have googled it. As things turn out makes the Dash the (loudly Majestics developers) when she says that the registration is invalid, and not because they would simulate flat tires in the AOK version. This obviously comes not only with me occasionally as the threads on the subject prove, and if the problem is not by itself solves one should reinstall with administrator privileges and verballern a remaining of the registrations.
Overall, an absolute paragon of user hostility, neglect and said in German, the total Vera .... ung.
General
===========
In the box there is therefore a useless CD and an English for FSX add-on remarkable thick "Pilot Notes" System Guide with 140+ pages. The installation of the Q400 has a whopping 2GB on the plate. After the v1.010 installer is finally downloaded, you will be asked if you (for some more FPS) would like to have a VC version with "Wing Views" or rather no. This is a truly magnificent time for such a question before this thing ever was able to load the first time and a convenient way (Link / Shortcut / batch or at least one manual), the switch afterwards there is not - does not matter, as expected, there is no FPS difference between the two and the theoretically visible from the VC Tragfächen you only get with a TrackIR without finger contortions to face.
A "Control Panel" -Äpp controls the communication of external FDM engine with FSX, here also the aircraft is loaded and refueled (which like some other features of the FSX out no longer works), for which a relatively complex W + B- calculator page is available.
So swung into the cockpit and once looked, then I tried without extensive manual study to do a lap, which surprisingly even funtionierte, of course, a few things are already familiar to me. Others do not: It will probably cost me to fathom alone a week how to bring the case to blare at either no or better music at the gate ("Hit the Plane Down," "Highway to Hell", "Do not fear the reaper "...).
What is good on the concept of Majestic Q400: Even without deep study of manuals, documents and the (existing or yet to be paid) appropriation of a good deal of knowledge about the operation of an airliner and its systems is this aircraft in FSX flyable. The knowledge So you can gradually learn while you already moved the Dash through the area and get used to. The crux of the matter: The documentation assumes a considerable knowledge, which they of course can not give (otherwise they would have a couple of thousand pages long). In addition, it is rarely due to differences between the actual procedures and the implementation in a model, which then nice belies that some of the switches to operate in reality "dummy switches" are. Also: English muffle have as many chances of fun with the simulated Dash as chances of simultaneous employment as a Dash-8 captain and US president.
Facts about Dash-8 there is plenty to read, here is a personal opinion based on the realism of the model and general research: The Dash-8 is an aircraft that increasingly overshot with each version in terms of size and power of the possibilities of the original design is. Because the Dash is zusammengekloppt so beautiful from cheap Chinese parts and has so still found in its latest incarnation a niche between expensive Economy-jets and Antonov from Surplusbeständen, they will probably still expected a short while in industrialized countries passengers. Back to model:
FDM
===
The FDM is not calculated on this aircraft in FSX, it runs in a separate process outside the FSX, not only to the FSx 'weak turboprop simulation to circumvent. This can - according to the now-depth observations of the Board - also backfire and result in lengthy experiments with the "affinity mask" in the FSX.CFG and the various timer options in the configuration program. Some users report asynchronously running time in the plane, a one-hour flight can then sometimes even take 1.5 hours because the timer can diverge.
The most important thing you need to know about the handling of the model: it is realistic, so realistic that you want to despair. The real Q400 needs a handle to the rudder trim and / or a lot of pedal work for any change of pitch or speed. Who does not have a controller with buttons for 2-6 supernumerary side and aileron trim and precise pedals least and instead tried to work with the switches in the VC, will experience many frustrating bad-offs and landings with the Dash. You can turn off the "Propwash" Although my .ini file, but only very and then you have the only (well, in his own way) entertaining cast on the model overboard.
The first lasting impression makes the Dash-8 at the beginning of the takeoff Rolls - the thing accelerates with brute force, what the marketing, the term "propjet" actually is some truth content. In the model, which is to "remember" because of the missing cockpit animation only on the airspeed. Upcoming lasting impression are "want to the left of the web rolls" and the yaw and roll after takeoff. Without preselected trim you here more busy than you have hands. Likewise, if you AFCS (formerly known as "autopilot") off the end of the ILS approach and at the same time has a yaw end, rolling, unstable Something about the hand that vehemently defends against to make the runway. Below a bug will be described, which makes this situation even more hairy.
This extra-long misery of a time-stretched to the limits of what is possible aircraft is sensitive to the pitch axis and simultaneously heavy and slow the elevator - a getting used combination - and it has a comparatively large amount to do it yourself on cruise altitude if you just fly only without autopilot straight want. Brachiale 2x 4000PS Power and the "reverse" position by 30% reduced Throttle lever travel make the right power setting for precision work. Speaking of - Yoke / Throttle / pedals must be calibrated in the configuration program on abundant complicated way.
In short, who wants to have a plane with all "Bells and Whistles" and Autoland and his ego otherwise will flatter with great landings, should buy one of the ultra complex Jets prefer. I can now at any rate understand quite well why the pilot was in the other day I was so thrown the Q400 in the best weather on the ground. Previously, he has been hanging around a half long path length in the air. Seems to me virtually unknown.
Systems
=======
... Are visually much more complete than technically available: The switches are all there and can be served - but behind many there is no system that could be controlled - there are "dummy switches", which at best cause any display. A damage model and system failures the 2-3x as expensive "training" and "Pro" versions reserved, so you can hardly break something. As soon as one has understood how to put the engines in motion you can fly away and will actually go already alerted the annunciator panel, which Knöppe you also ought to press, it must not necessarily do then but. In principle, just a particularly elaborate version of the simplest procedures trainer - a cardboard with painted instruments and a broomstick.
There are often a functioning weather radar (you download the Dash with a stored air, it is broken) and an over sensitive TCAS with the most important functions, GPWS and the usual warning systems, Cabin Pressurization, air conditioning, ventilation and defrosting are simulated superficially.
The Auto Flight Control System (AFCS) for Cessna drivers getting used to, and compared with other systems quite cumbersome. It is theoretically VNAV capability but the machine has made me rauszufummeln not like how this works without autothrottle. The FMS can, nor to import schedules from any course FSX Flight Planner format, which is annoying. The only remaining options for the lazy desk pilots' flight plans manually tap into the FMS "of" Direct-to "mode and. In Majestic forum there are many complaints about faulty function of something verbugten FMS - it shows Airways occasionally at the 2nd call up the menu, adds to the choice of SIDs and STARs basically meaningless "no link" empty Waypoints added without you could do something to it, etc. - a clunky affair, which apparently works much worse than other FMS solutions.
Sound
=====
I do not know whether the Dash-8 Cockpit is somehow extremely silenced - at least I have recently 3m sat behind the cockpit and it was also because the front still pretty loud. The only flight attendant had to enlighten me about my duties in the event of an emergency (I was at the emergency exit) and we both already have to raise the voice for the very brief exchange.
The Majestic Q400 engines achieve, however just the relative volume of the standard Cessna where other "loud" models try to increase the noise by maximum modulation of the samples. Of course, the warning sounds, etc. are too loud in proportion.
The sound is otherwise well done, it sounds a lot like the Dash-8 on the existing momentum would be (apart from the low level) very well suited to fight with a powerful playback system play very true to the original (but which you can only if you happen lives at an airport), the prop-reverse sound exactly as I remembered it - impressive. Extra sound files provide a portion of the tones that can secrete as a Dash-8. The Q400 comes with its own sound system that sounds different (eg cockpit sound and wireless) can send to various audio devices, unfortunately again only from the "Pro" version.
In an FMS page you can prepared Cabin Announcements play, flying dudelt nasty elevator music on the floor and plays flight phase controlled also complete series of Cabin Announcements by a script from. This include the "Fasten Seat Belts and" No smoking "switch time to something good, unfortunately this does not always reliable. It is also a short" pushback "-Sprechfunksequenz available.
Animations and effects
=======================
The typical G-force-controlled cockpit animations in FSX are no longer present in the Dash-8. On the one hand a pity the other hand, these animations have yes a really stupid mistake, they make the operation of a VC rather difficult. Since it is in such an airplane "button-heavy" probably a good thing when buttons not slide away permanently by the movement of the aircraft under the mouse pointer.
The windows to mist up, after venting is the disc in 2 steps 'plop!' again clear, sometimes not - it is not always easy to understand why the left side window is fogged up again, although ventilation and heating run. May also form a visible ice on the leading edges of the wings and on the disks.
The animation of the yokes and the update rate of several screens are unusually slow / choppy and angular by default. You can call a generator van to the aircraft and there are wipers. The corresponding rain on the VC-discs not.
Outside there is propeller animation, there are very well animated "Wingflex" and of course the usual Steueroberflächen- and animtaion.
Exterior
=========
If I counted correctly, the aircraft comes with 19 liveries of current and yesterday's carriers. "Yesterday Carrier" by the way some (eg SAS) to do with the fact that this aircraft type his own Wikipedia article specifically about chassis defects has - after at least as many "incidents" were known in connection with failing chassis and chassis parts for the past 15 years, some carriers have adopted by this machine.
The textures are crisp, sitting in the cockpit 2 pilots permanently begrabbeln the overhead panel, the chassis is very detailed. Here there is little to complain about, except for the always pointing at the viewer APU "exhaust" at the rear and the system-related shutdown "Smooth Transition" of the "observer" camera.
In the outer cameras to the aircraft suddenly the weather is gone and here again disturb very careless selected camera positions, half in and half out of the machine, with extremely drawn zoomed fisheye effect. "Cabin View" there is only when you turn the cameras outside inward. But not worth it.
Interior
=========
The VC definitely has a high level, you have to, however, but sometimes pretty zoom a label and really being able to read. But is also a large cockpit. The night lighting is great. Funny: When you load the machine at night you need to find a flashlight to the light switch on the overhead panel. Really "Cold and Dark" should therefore not store the machine - it also corresponds rather the reality that the crew is on board and the cockpit is already energized, therefore invites the FSX machine in this state.
Not less than 7 individual lamps including switches and at least 9 Dimmer control the lights in the cockpit and on the panels. The VC can be proud of.
Issues
========
Much of the Majestic Q400 would in principle be a good thing - if this model would not suffer from uh .. idiosyncrasies with me. The hakelige FMS and the flat tire, I've already mentioned, today I had loaded the machine (for the 3rd time in EDAH) fresh in the FS and suddenly 100% fuel load (Fuelpad there is no one in the square). When I had fed the W + B manager with the request data and the FS again maximized, the tanks were completely empty (it should actually be 4440kg it), after re call the configuration program it was true then, but I do check that cross - and rudder are not neutral.
- The separation of FDE and scenery calculation can still have unschönere side effects: For me the whole airport occasionally slips around a little under the plane or slightly varies its height. For me, just a little bit bearable, in other so much that you have to rumdoktern with the timer settings again. But it somehow Turn off when the runway centerline suddenly jumps after landing 2 meters to the right.
- The navigation of Q400 referenced exclusively its own, external database, not the data of FSX, but still superficial drive the NAV screens. What does that mean you can tell if one of some ILS approaches seems suddenly to fly to an imaginary parallel runway and the localizer display multiple points next depends. The view from the window and the instruments show the FSX data while the aircraft undeterred uses the data from its own database and Runway flies to that does not have the same position as the one we see before us in the scenery.
- When approaching EDDH on my first test flight the Q400 suddenly began to behave itself as if it is flying through a hurricane of category 5 - the Yoke runs frantically through the area, warning lights come on and the AP turns off. In fact, the airplane is hard to tame. Weather Check says 19KTS wind, nothing else. After sinking under the cloud base was again all OK so far. In order to verify that I am right after landing risen again with the Legacy over 2000ft - nothing, steady wind, no gusts, let alone a storm and only minimal "hubbelige" air.
As it turns out, the Q400 is seemingly incompatible with general weather. First suspected weather add-ons, but my tests (and other users) refuted with normal weather topics from the FSX fell - these create this exaggerated reaction when "turbulence" in the form of air or cloud vortices part the weather is. The model certainly has some good qualities, but that's almost a death sentence. Since it buys a particularly realistic advertised airplane and then you can fly with it without clouds only by sunny weather. Unfortunately, you knew that beforehand not always what you should guhgeln, but if I had found out earlier, I would never have bought the plane. Realistic weather is an indispensable part of a realistic simulation not only for me.
- Not really a problem but inconvenient: After a flight with the Dash, the FluSi is still where the restrictions imposed by the Dash still apply, even if you have completed the flight in a state. The program So you should restart to continue flying with another aircraft can.
Performance
===========
Majestic promises on his website that the Q400 would eat "little more FPS than the standard aircraft." It was also generally praised the good performance again, so I have the time believed and therefore ordered the Q400. The manufacturer's claim is in my experience, but unfortunately completely nonsense: In a test Szenerie- / overload situation the standard C-172 comes at 27FPS which RealAir Legacy on 20 and Q400 to just 13fps, making it no longer nice to move. Even in the overflight of standard scenery come in the cockpit maximum 18fps existence where my computer otherwise (without Framelimiter) 70-90 brings about. Because of the claims about the performance, I have the Q400 preferred the "pimped" 737 models. Even after FSX.CFG Tweak Messy has not let that really improve.
Conclusion:
======
This is not the first time that I have to wonder what the test reports Schreiber relevant FluSi media as a layman can actually really test or allowed or how much unpaid beta testers are actually worth.
I have to evaluate the sold here "boxed" version and as does the thing with the Installer two stars because you only get one box and no real "boxed" version and then only after painstaking search gets what you pay for. The counter advertising violent CPU load will cost at least another and the various bugs for another 2 - so that we would be in the red area with the Stars. Although the Majestic Dash-8 Q400 certainly has qualities it remains at a star for an add-on that I would rather not buy and that has so deserved no.
At the end is an airplane whose only challenge is its uncomfortable, though supposedly realistic flight characteristics, and with neither depth nor real system with animations or other "immersion" boasts -Boostern on the entertainment side. On the contrary, are actually reduced in comparison to the standard planes. Once you have the bird reasonably under control remains the feeling increasingly depend on the countless quirks in the implementation and the flyer is rapidly losing the last appeal. The performance is also not want to believe how the manufacturer and I can recommend the thing most outspoken fans of the aircraft type - after all, it is the only trash-8 on the payware market, in addition to the completely fallen through in the municipality first work of the company - the Q300.
