PMDG 777 Released

[V1ROTA7E 782]

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/300728-16jun24-pmdg-777-300er-has-a-release-date-on-the-calendar

 

SWEET

 

Captains,

I am happy to share with you that at long last, our PMDG 777-300ER for Microsoft Flight Simulator has a release date! Final preparations are underway and we anticipate making her available for purchase on 25JUN24, with provisional backup days extending out to 30JUN24 should they be necessary to address any last-minute issues.

This is the first time we have assigned a release date to the product, as we have undergone a lengthy and vigorous internal process to ensure all of us at PMDG happy with the fit and finish of our simulation before deciding it is time to hand her over to you.

PMDG_77W_001.jpg


The PMDG 777-300ER is the launch simulation for our new 777 product line for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The product line will eventually grow to include the 777F, 777-200ER and 777-200LR airplanes, each as it's own unique product, allowing 777 fans to purchase only those pieces of the fleet that are interesting to them. We fully expect the PMDG 777 to exceed the expectations of died-in-the-wool simulation aficionados and casual simmers alike, with strong visual splendor mixed in with the highest level of technical simulation available for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

When we launched development of this product line, we sought to incorporate as much feedback from our DC-6 and 737 customers as possible in order to ensure the 777 becomes your go-to airplane time and again. The product comes with a fully detailed cockpit that was created using many modern tools, including lidar scanning and photogrammetry techniques to ensure the visual and contextual accuracy of the flight deck environment. Switches, buttons, levers and sounds were all carefully crafted to ensure a magnificent flying experience whether you are using a mouse on a gaming display, or wearing your favorite VR headset.


PMDG_77W_006.jpg

The systems simulation in our 777 is second-to-none with all major and minor systems simulated to a fanatical level of detail that passes the scrutiny even, of experienced pilots, engineers and maintainers. Packed into the product we have also included a hugely upgraded PMDG Universal Flight Tablet with many new features included specifically to support this major title release. The 777 is fully simBrief enabled and is using a modern, SQL based navdata format with data provided by our friends at Navigraph. (Something we have been missing for some time now- and we are happy to finally have it included in this product!) Our 777 has received an updated lateral pathing model that allows her to accurately interpret, draw and fly all lateral path segments defined in the navigation database provided they are achievable by the real world counterpart to our simulation. If you are a detail oriented sim pilot who likes to learn and understand the nuts and bolts of the airplane you are flying, the PMDG 777 will satisfy your passions, with all systems modeled down to the component level and real time computation of temperatures, pressures, fluid flow rates, densities, volts, amps and ohms included in the core of the simulation technology. The accurately modeled tire wear simulation based upon the actual manufacturers wear specifications will cause your aircraft tires to wear depending upon the type of flying and braking that your tires experience regularly. (Long taxi distances can be just as hard on tire life as heavy braking, for example, and all of this is included.)

The Boeing Electronic Checklist is included, along with all of the certificated normal and abnormal procedures for the airplane. This will help you troubleshoot any pesky mechanical failures you may experience in operation of the airplane, and will certainly keep you operating the airplane correctly.

PMDG_777_008.jpg

With the 777 being a long-hauler, significant attention to detail has been provided toward a fully customized engine and fuel consumption model. Leveraging the core of the simulation platform's atmospheric engine, we have built an airplane that accurately reflects the performance and astounding range capability of this magnificent airliner. When running both short and long range fuel-scoring tests against both simBrief and real world operational flight plans, the PMDG 777-300ER routinely landed within 0.3% of planned fuel burn, which is well within the margin of error even for real world operators.

Speaking of long-haulers: We have integrated datalink via Hoppie network for those who are familiar and wish to use it, and the datalink can be used outside of Hoppie to bring in some useful in-flight data to the flight deck, as well as importing your operational flight plan from SimBrief.


PMDG_77W_004.jpg
(Gear shot- because some folks got emotional about us showing them earlier this year. )

Comprehensive customization options, something unique and powerfully part of the PMDG product lines for many years, are present in force in this release, along with a detailed and feature-rich failures model that will challenge the skills of any pilot to real world scenarios and the sort of normal maintenance wear and tear that you'd expect to find with in-service 777s the world over.

For the first time, we have included with this simulation a full, detailed passenger cabin that can be reached by opening the cockpit door and walking through. The cabin is configured with four distinct seating zones, seat-back displays, integrated cabin lighting that is tied to a modified simulation of the Boeing Sky Interior to adapt lighting to follow day/night cycle changes, scheduled lighting changes to reflect all phases of flight from boarding to taxi and departure, meal services, galley cleanup periods, sleep and wake cycles, etc. Door arming indications and passenger signs are fully integrated as well, with all cabin features being correctly and accurately assigned to their real world power sources and controls.

PMDG_77W_003.jpg


The exterior model of the airplane is magnificent, with many subtle details including exterior work lighting, gear-bay-unsafe warning lights and the usual bevy of aircraft exterior illumination.

The sound model provides a full-featured audio experience for the user, changing to reflect the sound environment as you move about the exterior of the airplane or from the cockpit to the cabin and back again.

There are many other new features still to come as we continue development through the rest of the 777 fleet, and they will be made available to you as free updates to keep your PMDG 777 running fresh well into the future.

Over the coming week we are going to be highlighting some features and areas of the airplane that we think you will find interesting- and you can expect to begin seeing the airplane in video with many of your favorite streamers in just a few days.

PMDG_77W_007.jpg

Some answers to a few common questions:

Pricing: TBA Prior to Release

Marketplace Availability: A few weeks after PMDG.com release. (The delay allows us to rapidly iterate any fixes that may be necessary in the immediate post-release period. Updates through marketplace can often take several weeks, so we want to release on Marketplace when we know it is stable and ready.)

MSFS 2024 Compatibility: Based upon publicly available statements from Microsoft, this is not a concern. We have not seen MSFS 20204 yet, so we are basing this feedback upon Microsoft's communication that products are compatible between platforms.)

Paintkit: Will be available at release.

SDK: Will be available at release.


Wrapping up, I am going to include a collection of images here in this post that you can enjoy. The images show many of the features and details listed above, and maybe even a few more details for the eagle-eyed observers among you.

I'd also like to close by thanking our many, many, highly dedicated and enthusiastic customers for your patience and loyal support as we have worked our way through this development cycle. We set a goal for ourselves at the beginning of 777 development to ensure we lived up to your expectations for this product when it lands in your sim, no matter how long it takes. At PMDG we do not build a product based upon a calendar schedule- we build it based upon product definition, fit and finish. Sometimes developing highly sophisticated simulations takes time- and no amount of wishing it would go faster will make it actually go faster. When we set a release date, it means we are satisfied that the product is finished- and while this may create stress or frustration for some users, it is a unique approach that we feel allows us to create products that are going to exceed your expectations on day one.

Ultimately- that is what we care about most, because if the product is excellent, you will continue to support us- and that is the point of our relationship with you in the first place!

So- to all of you watching and waiting and dreaming of the 777: The wait is nearly over. She finally has a release date. Until then, be well and study hard. There is a ton of 777 flying in your future!

Edited June 16 by V1ROTA7E

[thepilot 650]

Nice. Really looking forward to putting the new LNAV to the test.

[cepact 533]

it was time ...

[Just-66 6]

I'm finally using my store credit for its intended purpose!

[lwt1971 7,989]

Finally!! The high fidelity modern long-hauler goodness begins in MSFS. All simulation depth mentioned is most welcome, and let's see how the new LNAV fares. Can't wait to do some Emirates ops.

Couldn't care less that they took longer, as long as they used that time to refine it as they say they did. At least on release doesn't seem like it's missing any non-trivial functionality like the 737 did.

Loving these particular bits:

• Our 777 has received an updated lateral pathing model that allows her to accurately interpret, draw and fly all lateral path segments defined in the navigation database provided they are achievable by the real world counterpart to our simulation
• If you are a detail oriented sim pilot who likes to learn and understand the nuts and bolts of the airplane you are flying, the PMDG 777 will satisfy your passions, with all systems modeled down to the component level and real time computation of temperatures, pressures, fluid flow rates, densities, volts, amps and ohms included in the core of the simulation technology
• The accurately modeled tire wear simulation based upon the actual manufacturers wear specifications will cause your aircraft tires to wear depending upon the type of flying and braking that your tires experience regularly. (Long taxi distances can be just as hard on tire life as heavy braking, for example, and all of this is included.)
• The Boeing Electronic Checklist is included, along with all of the certificated normal and abnormal procedures for the airplane
• With the 777 being a long-hauler, significant attention to detail has been provided toward a fully customized engine and fuel consumption model. Leveraging the core of the simulation platform's atmospheric engine, we have built an airplane that accurately reflects the performance and astounding range capability of this magnificent airliner. When running both short and long range fuel-scoring tests against both simBrief and real world operational flight plans, the PMDG 777-300ER routinely landed within 0.3% of planned fuel burn, which is well within the margin of error even for real world operators.
• There are many other new features still to come as we continue development through the rest of the 777 fleet, and they will be made available to you as free updates to keep your PMDG 777 running fresh well into the future.
  • wonder what these are
     

Edited June 16 by lwt1971

[btacon 1,915]

Day One Buy.  I’ll let you know what I really think about the PMDG T7 after a test drive or two.

-B

PS. I’d bet money it will be a largely positive review but who knows.  Have you seen the landing gear?  Tsk, tsk…

[El Diablito 446]

I wasn't far off with my guess for release date. It looks magnificent. I'm booking my first flight out of Flightbeam's SFO as we speak.

[jcomm 6,127]

WOW!

[Maxis 1,939]

Good news. looking forward to it !

[JBDB-MD80 1,583]

That is some very nice news as I thought it would be out after Independence day on July 4 of in the U.S..I imagine many long hauls on Saturday the 29th Including me. Now the crying and moaning can cease for a while.

Edited June 16 by JBDB-MD80

[Baber20 1,550]

Anyone willing to post all the images here ?

[RichieFly 759]

Was hoping they'd announce soon and here we go.

Great to hear.

[F737MAX 5,938]

Great!

We know the date when we can start chasing them for the 737MAX, 747 and whatever is planned for after... 😁

[Maxis 1,939]

10 minutes ago, Baber20 said:

Anyone willing to post all the images here ?

google fselite and the release article can be found there with pics

[Amon1973 1,436]

Anyone fancy guessing the price?

I'll go for £60.