A number of days in the past, RHDSimulations got here fairly actually out of the blue with its launch of a Boeing 767-300ER for Microsoft Flight Simulator, and in the present day we’ll check out its related perks and flaws. There’s quite a bit to say about each fields.
But, firstly, there is a massive elephant within the room that we have to handle: this isn’t a high-fidelity add-on, and it is from the (typically abused as a advertising and marketing beat) definition of “study-level.” Its methods are based mostly on the default 747, and whereas some customized work has been added, it is not meant as an in-depth and granular copy of a 767’s operations.
It is principally meant as an leisure product that appears like a 767 and flies loosely near it, geared toward an viewers for whom that is sufficient. It is not aimed on the hardcore crowd who calls for a deep simulation of an plane’s methods and operation.
A part of the flight simulation neighborhood is extraordinarily hostile towards this type of add-on, going so far as questioning its legitimacy as a product, calling it a rip-off, and comparable controversial feedback, so let’s get this out of the best way: this type of product is completely reputable and straight responds to a requirement from the market. It is not a rip-off if the customer is knowledgeable concerning the nature of the product, and particularly if the developer made some effort to create one thing that is sensible as a substitute of simply slapping fully unfitting avionics on a cheaply made 3D mannequin and calling it a day.
Excessive-fidelity plane for a model new simulator take a very long time to make as a result of analysis and the sheer quantity of coding required. As a consequence, it’s going to probably be a minimum of one other yr or extra earlier than we’re capable of fly a true-to-life 767 in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Till then, low-fidelity merchandise can fill that hole for individuals who are nice with them and revel in merely flying an plane that appears and considerably looks like a 767.
The choice just isn’t having a 767 in any respect, and whereas some hardcore simmers will lean towards that “all-or-nothing” method, there are a lot of who get pleasure from this type of product and it is completely nice that they’re served.
This sort of add-on is not new to Microsoft Flight Simulator and it is not even appreciably extra widespread than it was earlier than. It has at all times been a part of flight simulation and has at all times been polarizing. Some justify their hostility with the concept it “steals enterprise” for higher-fidelity merchandise, or that it discourages their creation, however that has traditionally by no means been true. Those that need a high-fidelity product would not chorus from buying a perfectly-simulated 767 when it is lastly launched simply because this exists, and I’ve by no means seen respected builders who create high-fidelity plane surrender their tasks as a result of low-fidelity alternate options exist.
There are already many examples of low-fidelity plane that have not stopped the builders who’ve the suitable assets and know-how from saying, creating, and even releasing their extra superior merchandise. The existence of a (frankly abysmal) 737 MAX because the early months of the sim’s lifetime hasn’t stopped PMDG from making theirs. The market has supplied an (additionally abysmal) Eurofighter Hurricane simply as early, and but a a lot better one has been launched and one other is within the works. The truth that a developer has launched a number of 777 fashions which are principally simply reskinned 747s and a C-130 that does not actually have a flight deck hasn’t discouraged PMDG and Blackbird Simulation from engaged on their very own high-fidelity add-ons of the identical plane. The existence of the default Airbus A320 hasn’t blocked Fenix from launching a really profitable study-level simulation of the airliner.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator market could be very massive and features a broad vary of customers with all kinds of calls for. There’s loads of room for each simplified and high-fidelity add-ons, and each fulfill the particular calls for of segments of the person base, all of which should be served.
Now that we have kicked the elephant out of the room, we will proceed to find out whether or not this particular Boeing 767-300ER by RHDSimulations is nice or not based mostly on what it affords to its particular goal. If you happen to’re not a part of this goal and also you solely get pleasure from high-fidelity airliners, you have already got your reply and you will have to attend till an add-on with a deeper stage of simulation is launched. If you happen to’re amongst those that get pleasure from flying this type of plane, learn on.
Let’s begin with the visuals. The outside of the plane is definitely fairly good. Whereas it is not excellent and there are areas with much less element just like the pitot tubes and components of the touchdown gear, now we have a wonderfully acceptable visible mannequin right here. It even comes with bells and whistles like decals, which not everybody makes use of simply but, and enhance element very successfully.
PBR is skillfully utilized, the weathering on the textures could be very properly made, and regular maps aptly create the impact of growth as a consequence of pressurization and riveting on the fuselage. Particularly if you do not get too shut, the plane appears to be like very good certainly. If you happen to do get very shut, some imperfections begin to seem, however that is true of many add-ons these days, together with some made by extremely respected builders.
Animations all work fluidly, and wing flex is included and appears fairly pure. There are 11 historic liveries included, plus a generic white one, and one particular to the developer. They’re properly carried out, however just a few related airways that function massive portions of Boeing 767-300ER with GE engines just like the one depicted like Delta or ANA are lacking. Including just a few extra liveries out of the field is probably one of many fields which this developer might enhance on with out excessively straining its assets.
Shifting on to the inside, the flight deck is fairly respectable, albeit maybe barely on the easy facet, particularly when it comes to texturing. But, it has animations you might not anticipate like the power to open the home windows (together with the right latching mechanism) and to slip the seats again. The lighting can also be fairly properly carried out, enabling you to fly at evening completely comfortably.
There’s even a full cabin behind the flight deck, and albeit it is pretty simplified in its modeling and texturing, I am constructive those that love this type of element will recognize its presence. General, visuals are definitely this add-on’s strongest swimsuit.
Alternatively, the sounds are positively the weakest level of this add-on. Not solely they don’t seem to be nice, however they typically really feel like they’re looping and at instances they play in incorrect conditions. I can hear the engines spool up whereas the plane is chilly and darkish as quickly as I seem on the gate, which is kind of immersion-breaking.
As talked about above, the methods are based mostly on the default 747, however a minimum of the developer has made some effort to extensively redesign the avionics to make them appear like these of a 767, which is that this package deal’s essential benefit over its direct competitors. One of many largest flaws of many low-fidelity add-ons is that the avionics of the default plane are simply lifted straight out and pasted into the plane’s screens. On this case, RHDSimulations went a step additional than many of the relaxation on this class of plane, and that is laudable.
Whereas lots of the controls are inoperative like on the default 747, just a few have been reactivated, just like the IRS knobs, albeit their performance is simplified. The gasoline indicator on the overhead panel additionally works appropriately, which is a pleasant contact.
That being mentioned, there are positively parts that retain their 747 heritage the place they should not, just like the flaps setting within the “takeoff” web page of the FMC that does not settle for the right values for a 767 or the “method” web page calculating Vref speeds that look like positively out of vary for the mannequin.
Do not anticipate superior options like customized LNAV or VNAV (they work simply in addition to the default 747), holds, or go-around procedures, as a result of they are not obtainable. Which means that you could possibly take this plane for a spin on on-line networks like Vatsim, because the fundamentals of the autopilot work kind of nice, however you are more likely to trigger frustration among the many controllers as quickly as one thing unexpected occurs, which isn’t unusual.
High quality of life options which have began to be fairly widespread like an EFB and Simbrief integration are additionally absent. Alternatively, in the event you’re used to flying default plane in Microsoft Flight Simulator, you may really feel proper at dwelling. I suppose a bonus of utilizing the default autopilot is that you can plan your routes straight on the world map and discover them absolutely entered within the FMC with no need any additional motion. You should use Simbrief, thoughts you, however you may should both load the route on the world map by way of file import or enter the waypoints and airways manually.
The flight efficiency is one thing that is at all times arduous to guage with out being a pilot, however I felt that the engines are probably too highly effective whereas the braking energy on touchdown seems to be far too sturdy. This factor stops on a dime even on very low autobrake settings. Gas consumption feels roughly proper, however this definitely seems to be a subject by which the developer has plenty of room for additional enchancment.
Principally, this plane will allow you to pretty comfortably fly out of your origin airport to your vacation spot, however any procedures past that are not actually relevant.
When it comes to efficiency, I used to be affected by a maddening stutter that decreased my body fee significantly on my i7-13700K with GeForce RTX 4070 Ti and 32 GB DDR5 RAM. That being mentioned, it does not at all times set off and I couldn’t discover a widespread trigger. I additionally do not expertise it with some other plane, making it very complicated. Fortunately, I requested round, and this does not look like a super-common challenge, so it could not have an effect on you. If it does, you are not alone and the developer has been made conscious of it.
When the problem does not come up, efficiency is completely clean, as there are no super-complex methods bogging the simulation down. If you happen to’re not amongst these affected, you should not have any downside utilizing this add-on so long as your PC configuration lets you’ll be able to fly default airliners comfortably.
The final consideration I will make is concerning the value, which is $26.39 plus relevant VAT on Simmarket. Some might discover it extreme, particularly in comparison with the very inexpensive and glorious 737-600 by PMDG. That being mentioned, now we have to contemplate that PMDG is an organization that may positively afford to take a success on the least fashionable mannequin of its airliners to attract in prospects whereas charging a reasonably penny for the opposite extra fashionable fashions.
This 767 embodies two years of labor (sure, even one thing pretty primary like this takes a very long time to create) for a one-developer group, who has to depend on an exterior retailer to promote their plane. Which means that a large slice of the value will go to the retailer itself. A small operation like RHDSimulations additionally does not profit from the pricing flexibility greater builders get pleasure from, so I might watch out earlier than calling this overpriced. In the end, the worth of cash is totally different for various individuals, and you will have to determine by yourself whether or not the worth this affords matches the asking value.
In the end, the Boeing 767-300ER by RHDSimulations definitely comes with options that may make it pleasant for the group who enjoys simplified airliners. Personally, it is beneath what I require from an airliner and I definitely would not use it as a every day driver, however it’s acceptable for infrequent flights once I need to simply sit within the flight deck, take off to a vacation spot a few hours away, and benefit from the sights.
That being mentioned, there are plenty of customers of Microsoft Flight Simulator that get pleasure from default-level airliners, and this product is for them, not for me. Seen underneath that lens, whereas I consider there may be work to be carried out on a number of points for this add-on to be thought-about good (primarily sounds, higher integration of the FMC, and higher tuning of efficiency and flight mannequin), I might mark it on the very least as a viable possibility in the event you love the 767, particularly if the developer continues to work on it and improves it over time.
TechRaptor reviewed the Boeing 767-300ER by RHDSimulations for Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC utilizing a replica supplied by the writer.
