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Also ich würde wetten, dass es eine Jetstrem 41 wird

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Na da tippe ich doch auf eine Jetstream

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Captains-

As promised a bit earlier today with our "Sneak Peek" (you didn't tell anyone, did you?) we also want to give you a bit of information on what we anticipate this product looking like when it rolls out to you (hopefully) next month!

The PMDG BAe JetStream 4100 is a highly detailed, feature-rich study simulation of this modern commuter turboprop. From the early planning stages, our intent with this product has been to add a complex turboprop simulation to our growing stable of airliners, while using the development process to design, test and implement new technologies that can then be transferred to our larger airliner products. (more on those in a moment...)

(Oh boy- does that sound like Corporate-Speak?)

As you can see from images posted in the "Sneak Preview" thread, we've raised the bar on detail in the Virtual Cockpit rather dramatically. We've done this using a few design techniques that have helped us to create an visual environment that exceeds anything we've done yet.

Given the size of this airplane relative to our widebody airliners, we've been able to dial up the visual detail on the external model, using nearly 1800 photographs taken by the development team as a guide to accuracy, detail and finish.

Systems: Obviously, we have a treasure trove of resources related to this aircraft. We have also received some wonderful help from various corners of the J41 community, and this has helped us to prepare the highly detailed simulation of the systems on the airplane. Hydraulic, pneumatic, pressurization, electrical, ice and rain protection, fire protection, etc. All are modeled in fantastic detail, including even the nuances of the airplane.

The J41 uses second generation glass displays, and these are modeled precisely in the simulation. Fit, form and operation matches the Operating Manual.

We have chosen to model this airplane based on the 4101 model airplanes operated by my line, so we've included the TCAS v7, but it operates in TA mode, just like the real one... No fancy RA mode here, so be prepared to have a few moments of stark terror searching the sky for intruders that only the computers can see.

The autopilot / flight director operation is realistic, which will give you a bit more work to do if (like me) you've become spoiled by the wonders of LNAV/VNAV. This autopilot will give you full LNAV capability in conjunction with the GNS/XLS flight management system, but you are going to learn some new techniques to plan and manage your vertical profile!

We've added visual ice accumulation on areas of the airplane that would normally be expected to collect ice in such conditions. We've also given you the ice-detection system that will remind you when it is time to begin paying attention to your airplane.

Speaking of paying attention: The Red and Yellow attention getters (read: Warning and caution system) operates realistically, along with the annunciators, caption panel and aural warnings.

We've recorded a vast range of sounds from the actual airplane, which will add dramatically to the immersion of the simulation!

Oh- and since you only get to see those attention getters and hear the warnings when things break- we are hard at work on an all-new failure-control module that will reflect some of the changes that you guys have been asking for over the past few years. There is some question in my mind as to whether this module will be ready for release-time, but we'll keep you posted. If it doesn't make the release- it will come to you in an update for certain. (We hate not delivering a finished product...so we'll see how it plays out...)

Some of the new items we've brought into our development process for the first time:
- Accurate model of the geared, garrett turboprop power plant. These engines are managed VERY differently than the free-turbine engines most of you are used to. We'll have some classes here after release so we can keep you from burning up your new engines on the first flight.
- All analogue gauges in the airplane are modeled in 3D. If it has a needle and moves, it's done in 3D. This of course results in super-smooth animation.
- We are introducing something we call the "Ramp Manager." This applet can be brought up from within the simulation and will allow you to arrange for parking codes, chocks, baggage carts, the airplane's overnight parking kit, Ground Power, etc.
- The load manager will allow you to set your passenger, cargo and fuel loads as on other PMDG products- but now you'll see passengers in their appropriate seats within the cabin.
- We've included a number of "Easter Eggs" that we'll just leave you to find. Some will amuse you, and some will surprise you with the innovation and realism that they add!

Some things we've cut out:
- We drastically cut back on the size of the manual for this airplane. We shed 1300 pages from the MD-11 manual- so you'll only get 500-or-so pages with this one. We are currently working to see if we can't provide a printed version of this manual in the <$50 range- which should please those who enjoy our printed MD-11 manuals.
- We have elected not to develop a 2D cockpit for this product. This will displease some users who very much enjoy their 2D cockpit- but this is a design decision that allows us to focus our efforts on on greater levels of innovation by saving a significant amount of development time as well as system overhead. We are also in the process of putting together a comprehensive series of pre-defined view points that will make it easy to navigate and utilize the virtual cockpit.
- We will not release an FS9 version of this product. Market data shows a decreasing trend on FS2004- so we have decided for this new product line to focus only on FSX- as this allows us the greatest opportunity to explore new technologies.

So- this our "Secret Project" that became not-quite-so-secret a few months ago. We hope you know how much we enjoyed seeing the conversation progress in which you all debated what the project was. Given the drift of that conversation, you will no doubt be delighted to learn that the next airplane in the series will be a Dash. We aren't telling you which one, however... We can't take all the mystery out of it, now- can we?

(Now aren't you glad you read until the end of the post?)