2 hours ago, abrams_tank said:

QW originally estimated they would release their 787 to MSFS by Q2 of 2021. No, that is not a typo!  Q2 of 2021 was 2 years ago. It's now Q2 of 2023. QW has missed their estimate by 2 years.

I get it that a lot of 3rd party aircraft developers often have "rosy estimates" and underestimate the work needed to release their add-on to MSFS (ie. Randazzo).  Missing your estimate by 1 year, okay, that's pretty bad, but I think it can happen in the worst of circumstances.  But missing your estimate by 2 years? Yeah, I think something is not going well at all.

I don't want to start the rumor mill but I've long been thinking there might have happened something to the team like private trouble that keeps them from developing anything. AFAIK they are part time devs only. Otherwise, their communication game would be horrendous because one would assume at least one of the team could drop a one liner at some point in 2 years on what the hell's going on.

 

4 hours ago, F737MAX said:

Of course, the big question is whether QW is actually working on bringing an aircraft to MSFS...

I've already accepted the answer is No. Their latest update was from a year ago, when they ditched the Q2 2021 release date.

4 hours ago, captain420 said:

Do you think the default 787 will be potentially better than QW's 787 after WT's AAU2 update? Also, which version do you all think has better cockpit graphics? QW 787 or MSFS?

I liked the P3D QW787 graphics. While I hope WT will do better regarding 787 avionics (and I hope they are portable to the Kuro 788), I don't expect a similar improvement with the EFB (specially with the QW copy-paste feature).

More details from Matt and Working Title from their discord: https://discord.com/channels/750764704175226992/763804431413673984


Hello @everyone, as you may have heard yesterday at the MSFS Developer Q&A, Avionics and Aircraft Update 2 is focused on upgrades to the 787-10 and the 747-8i! We're super excited to be bringing upgrades to these aircraft to you.

The 787 and 747 will come with the high quality of avionics that you've come to expect from us. That includes complete LNAV (including RF legs and complex procedures), full RNAV & RNP, IAN, performance-based (i.e. predictive climb, cruise, and idle descent) VNAV, and more. A very complete suite of performance based data and features will be included, such as takeoff and landing V Speed computations, support for ECON and cost-index, performance based fuel predictions, optimum and maximum flight level, and static and assumed temp thrust derates, all based on the real performance data. Speaking of performance, both aircraft will feature updated flight models as well bringing them much closer to book/expected numbers and behavior. The 787 will also feature a greatly overhauled HUD with runway outline and HUD Takeoff mode for low/zero visibility operations.

Specifically for the 787, it will feature the full display pane system, and both aircraft will feature split FMCs/CDUs and MFDs. The 787 will also come with a new fly-by-wire system that faithfully replicates the unique C*U law used in Boeing aircraft. As a special bonus, the 787 will also feature a few updated sounds, to really capture that one-of-a-kind Trent 1000 whine. For systems (electrical, fuel, hydraulics, air systems, etc), we have a number of updates that will reduce the number of inoperative buttons and switches and much more faithfully represent pilot interactions during normal operations, including, yes, IRS. We expect that the depth of the systems (non-avionics) parts of the aircraft will land somewhere between the CJ4 and the Longitude.

At this time, we again will need to rely on third parties and the community to drive third party features and do not currently plan to include them ourselves, such as SimBrief import and chart support, due to legal restrictions. For the 787 EFB, our goal is to have a unit available that will do performance planning, but right now we cannot guarantee it. Performance calculations will be available via the FMC, however.

Currently, the planned date for the AAU2 opt-in sim update beta flighting is May 15th, with a planned release date of June 23rd. These dates are subject to change as conditions dictate. Keep your eyes peeled on ⁠#progress (https://discord.com/channels/750764704175226992/765379847031226419) for more sneak peeks of the aircraft as we travel together on the road to the beta!

Thanks all, and fly safe!

--------------------

And some more recent comments on questions re: comparisons with QW and the Salty/HD mods:

Q: Another I totally understand if you can't answer this question, how close would you say the 787 after receiving the update will be to the quality wings 787 level, I know that airliners require a lot of time and effort so i'm probably expecting less when it comes to systems but maybe very close for the avionics part.
A: Matt (nishmaster) [Z-5] — Yesterday at 14:36 - I know everyone will have that question but it's kinda impossible to answer

Matt (nishmaster) [Z-5] — Yesterday at 14:23
With the absolute greatest amount of respect to both HD and Salty, because they're both amazingly awesome and have done some of the best work around, we do expect the aircraft to exceed the mods by a reasonable margin. It's just a resources thing, and a difficulty with working with encrypted files, not having access to data, etc. I'm personally super looking forward to how they'll mod the new stuff!

Matt (nishmaster) [Z-5]
To be honest, I think a lot of folks have inflated senses of what airliner avionics are: really the latest GA avionics are a good deal more complex
Matt (nishmaster) [Z-5] — Yesterday at 09:27
What's in the 787 is way closer to a proline 21 with some additional screen pane stuff than a G3000 or Fusion
K20017 [Z-4] — Yesterday at 09:28
Airliner avionics are cavemen era compared to a G5000 capability.

Matt (nishmaster) [Z-5] — Yesterday at 09:23
I can't comment too deeply on manufacturer relationships but we have documentation access and well as independent pilot resources

 

Edited May 5, 20233 yr by lwt1971

How do we opt into the AAU2 beta? I hope it's nothing like getting into the SU betas as I don't want to take the chance of the sim not working and have to reinstall everything from scratch again.

2 minutes ago, captain420 said:

How do we opt into the AAU2 beta? I hope it's nothing like getting into the SU betas as I don't want to take the chance of the sim not working and have to reinstall everything from scratch again.

From the latest development update from Asobo yesterday:

Public beta testing for Aircraft & Avionics Update 02 (AAU_02) will begin soon. If you joined the Microsoft Flight Simulator Beta during a previous update preview and did not manually leave the Beta, you will automatically receive this new preview update once it is available. If you are not enrolled but would like to help test this upcoming release, we will provide instructions on how to join when the AAU_02 beta begins.
 

1 hour ago, Nixoq said:

I don't want to start the rumor mill but I've long been thinking there might have happened something to the team like private trouble that keeps them from developing anything. AFAIK they are part time devs only. Otherwise, their communication game would be horrendous because one would assume at least one of the team could drop a one liner at some point in 2 years on what the hell's going on.

If I were to guess, they may have lost a core developer(s) that was critical for the 787 project.  When MSFS hit the market, the demand for developers that had a background with aircraft development for flight simulators probably went through the roof. Finding a professional developer with experience with aircraft development for flight simulators probably isn't that easy to find.  It could very well be that another company poached a critical QW developer from QW.

This would explain how they went from a Q2 2021 estimated release, to dead silence 2 years later, with nothing to show. Anyways, this would be my guess.  I don't have any solid proof, but it's very weird for QW to go silent like this for 2 years straight, and miss their original Q2 2021 release.

12 minutes ago, lwt1971 said:

Matt (nishmaster) [Z-5]

To be honest, I think a lot of folks have inflated senses of what airliner avionics are: really the latest GA avionics are a good deal more complex
Matt (nishmaster) [Z-5] — Yesterday at 09:27
What's in the 787 is way closer to a proline 21 with some additional screen pane stuff than a G3000 or Fusion
K20017 [Z-4] — Yesterday at 09:28
Airliner avionics are cavemen era compared to a G5000 capability.

@lwt1971 Thanks for for the WT Discord update!

Wow, I never knew the G5000 is much more complicated than airliner systems logic. I like that last quote from K20017:

Quote

Airliner avionics are cavemen era compared to a G5000 capability.

🤣🤣🤣

49 minutes ago, abrams_tank said:

@lwt1971 Thanks for for the WT Discord update!

Wow, I never knew the G5000 is much more complicated than airliner systems logic. I like that last quote from K20017:

🤣🤣🤣

Really? The G5000 is supposedly more complex than the A320 and its ECAM system? I find that hard to believe.

4 hours ago, TrevorS said:

Is the 787-10 available as an addon?  I only see liveries available in marketplace. Is upgrading my version of MSFS the only way to get the 787?

You have to upgrade. 

19 minutes ago, Fiorentoni said:

Really? The G5000 is supposedly more complex than the A320 and its ECAM system? I find that hard to believe.

I suspect it's related to the processor power and the available memory. The A320 Ceo processor probably dates from the late 60s/early 70s if not earlier. I've no idea if they used a more recent processor for the A320 Neo. The G5000 probably has a more recent processor and more memory so is capable of more functions. All IMHO of course. Perhaps someone has more definitive info.

55 minutes ago, Fiorentoni said:

Really? The G5000 is supposedly more complex than the A320 and its ECAM system? I find that hard to believe.

In this case, if Matt says it, I believe it.

3 minutes ago, Krakin said:

In this case, if Matt says it, I believe it.

Heh, that's my thinking too. If Matt say it, I believe it 👍

Interesting read on GA/bizjet avionics complexity vs bigger aircraft like Boeing/Airbus: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2022-09-23/bizjets-fly-better-modern-integrated-avionics
 

Edited May 5, 20233 yr by lwt1971

 

3 minutes ago, lwt1971 said:

Interesting read on GA/bizjet avionics complexity vs bigger aircraft like Boeing/Airbus: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2022-09-23/bizjets-fly-better-modern-integrated-avionics
 

Thank you, still suprised, but I'll take it 🙂

MSFS is really gunning for that "best for IFR" title.