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PMDG 747-400/400F for FS9 Version 1.20 Update/Schedule

Captains-

I have a few schedule updates that I thought might interest you. I've wanted to provide you with these updates, but had to nail down a few details before we could go public with them.

I have three products to clarify- so I am going to make three individual posts in order to ensure that the information is easy to read and find!

PMDG 747-400/400F FS9 Version 1.20 Update:
==========================================
The PMDG 747-400 for FS9 is rapidly approaching her third anniversary since release, and we have noticed an increasing divergence between the FSX based airplane, and the FS9 airplane. As such we felt that this might be a good time to invigorate the airplane with a comprehensive, single source update to include all the the historical changes we've made to this airplane, up to and including most of the improvements we've made while continueing development on the FSX platform!

We recognize that many of you are still flying The Queen in FS9, and we felt that this was a good way to continue giving you added value for your continued support and enthusiasm for our flagship product!

Effectively what we have done here is to produce a single update that will bring any previous version of the FS9 PMDG 747-400/400F up to date as version 1.20. This means that any previous download or CD installation will receive:

-> A new Version 1.20 update including many changes we made for FSX.
-> The Version 1.12 udpate that was only released to FSX 747-400 owners.
-> The universal sound update initially released on late 2006.

This will allow you to have the most current PMDG 747-400 using only a single update, and you won't have to worry that you might have missed an update someplace along the way!

As with the FSX update I mention in a different thread, we have tried to incorporate many of the user requests from this forum, and while we have included many of them- we have not captured all of them.

This update will be available via our download page and we expect to release it concurrently with the FSX update. This version 1.20 update will install with any download or CD version of the FS9 PMDG 747-400, including those who have the PMDG 747-400F installed also.

(Please note that the list below includes the V1.12 changes which we made available to purchasers of the FSX 747-400, and the universal sound update- so the list of fixes is quite long! This installer will udpate any previous version including CD based installations.)

CHANGE LIST FOR FS9 VERSION 1.20:
=================================
1) GPWS Altitude callouts now heard irrespective of gear position
2) Fuel entry box now editable by hand to enter values manually
3) Improved engine spool inertial delta to improve autothrottle handling of high energy changes.
4) Corrected flaw in outboard aileron lockout system logic.
5) Improved LNAV propensity to correct XTRK errors.
6) Improved LNAV handling of course tracking in various scenarios.
7) Corrected logic for CWT L/R and STAB L/R pump switch PRESS lights.
Corrected EGT Limit bar behavior during engine start.
9) Corrected Fuel On index bar behavior during engine start.
10) Corrected incorrect logic preventing VREF election for return to field prior to climb/cruise.
11) PROG page opens to 1/3 correctly .
12) Tightened autopilot roll logic to improve lateral tracking behavior in turbulence.
13) XTRK error correctly populates rather than remaining blank.
14) Updated EPR modeling on PW/RR engines to reflect more accurate values.
15) PW/RR EPR less than 1.00 ram effect model based on dynamic pressure and throttle position.
16) CLB thrust reduction now correctly senses flap lever position rather than flap angle.
17) Modified EGT behavior during shutdown to incorporate more realistic temps/behaviors.
1 PMDG Options "TCAS Show All Traffic" setting now ignores Above/N/Below switch in order to show
all traffic. (Above/N/Below switch still functions correctly if "all traffic" is not selected.
19) Corrected behavior of GPWS Gear Override Switch.
20) Considerable changes to handling of soft constraints in VNAV climb/descent. (Should fix occasional
problems with UNABLE NEXT ALT logic and calcualtion of ToD when the first waypoint after ToD is soft.
21) Improved Direct-To maneuvering algorithm with LNAV engaged.
22) Changed sequencing criteris for flyover-type waypoints to improve flyover performance.




The following updates were included in a private update for customers who also purchased the FSX 747-400, but are now included in this update:

CHANGE LIST FOR FS9 VERSION 1.12:
=================================
1) Improved takeoff trim display gauge clarity
2) Change in Lower EICAS ENG page automatic display logic (only when fuel set to CUTOFF in flight)
3) Correction in Spoiler handle position detection logic to improve response and correct control.
4) EICAS Target N1 / Ref N1 indications removed when in REV mode
5) Reversers logic altered to prevent REV lockout when NAI active.
6) Modified Cost Index Equation: The equation is a differential equation solved by successive iterations.
7) This is a very CPU intensive operation. The element of the numerical procedure has been optimized,
yielding a factor of 5 speed up with minimal effect on result accuracy, thus reducing the required
load on the CPU for the mathematics involved.
CDU Legs page - predicted Alt Improvements: Above / Below type (e.g. 6000A8000B) soft constraint both
vertical flight path prediction and VNAV mode bug corrections and predictive improvements. Also
UNABLE NEXT ALT message will appear in all cases referring to soft altitude constraints.
9) CDU N1 page - flight phase improvements: Regular thrust limit page (instead of TO limit page) will
appear now below flap retraction altitude.
10) CDU Fix page - changes to RAD/DIS to be BRG/DIS
11) CDU Cruise page - change in step alt code: At 2R the last step altitude target would not appear when
step climb was not possible. It does now above the NONE header.
12) FMC: Various small and large behavior corrections.
13) GA thrust limit will automatically be set now only if ToD is sequenced and flaps are out (or GS is captured
as before)
14) Retuned the entire pitch channel of the autopilot specifically to enhance behavior.
15) This includes all related pitch modes (VS, FLCH etc). The main target was to improve mode stability even
at high simrates and in connection to idiosyncratic FS9 "real" weather handling. The pitch channel in
some places was enhanced with a secondary control routine to improve effectiveness in pitch sensitive
roles such as glide slope tracking.
16) Various cosmetic changes to CDU display and text handling.
17) Adaptive refresh rate control for CRTs / LCDs based on target and actual frame rate (order is PFD, ND,
EICAS, standby instruments)
1 Numerous performance optimizations of display and computational code to reduce processor load on FS9.
19) Various other assorted minor fixes along the way.
20) Improved wing flex and wing flight path distortion modeling.



The following updates were included in the OCTOBER 2006 released UNIVERSAL SOUND UPDATE, and are now included in this single source installer:

NEW FOR THE PMDG 747-400 SOUND UPDATE (initial release: 26OCT06):
=================================================================
1) Three unique cockpit view soundsets reflecting the individual characteristics of the GE, PW and RR engine types.
2) Three new spot view engine soundsets reflecting the characteristics of the GE, PW and RR engine types.
3) Each individual engine has its own unique sound files and performance characteristics for both cockpit and spot views.
4) Complete integration of cockpit and spot view engine soundsets providing a consistency of sound experience when switching between the two views. Pitch is precisely matched between the internal and external views.
5)New engine startup and shutdown sequences for cockpit and spot views based on actual N1 rpm rather than a single sound file trigger.
6) Improved cockpit recirc fan sounds.
7) New improved pack sounds to reflect realistic cockpit conditions.
New realistic cockpit wind sound. The scope of its performance has been expanded to reflect real cockpit environment conditions. This was verifed extensively by PMDG's 747-400 Tech Advisors (who between them have about 40,000hrs listening to this airplane...)
9) Gear Up sound modified to reflect realistic cockpit conditions.
10) Improved Gear Down sound with a new feature to reflect the nose gear wind turbulence when nose gear is lowered.
11) New engine reverse sounds for all four engines for improved effect.
12) Groundroll sound edited to add better sub bass rumble. The scope of its behavior has been modified to attain realsitic cockpit conditions.
13) Touchdown sounds improved for better effect on hard landings.
14) New FMC chime and Passenger/No Smoking sign sounds.
15) New inflight speedbrake sound with improved sub bass rumble response.
16) Sub bass extensions have been added to various engine sounds in cockpit and spot views to provide extra low rumble effect.
17) Gear Down and Reverse Thrust sounds will not reset any more when switching views during the playback of these sounds.
1 Miscellaneous sounds including TCAS, GPWS, switches and callout sounds have been mixed and rebalanced to provide a consistent sound level across all the files.
19) All sound files have been reprocessed to improve integrity and looping consistency.
20) Exhaustive re-engineering of all sound files and engine data to remove digital and FS sound engine related sound crackling in cockpit and spot views.



Robert S. Randazzo
Precision Manuals Development Group
www.precisionmanuals.com