Author Topic: Cargo loader support for B747F and B777F acft?  (Read 3395 times)

w6kd

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 106
Cargo loader support for B747F and B777F acft?
« on: October 15, 2017, 10:05:27 pm »
Reading the news release, it specifically mentions UPS 757, 767, MD-11, and A300 aircraft when describing the cargo loading system. 

Does the new cargo loader system also support B777F and B747F aircraft (specifically, the PMDG cargo birds) given that there really aren't any good options for 757/767, MD-11, and A300 add-ons in P3Dv4?

Regards

Bob Scott

virtuali

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 50659
    • VIRTUALI Sagl
Re: Cargo loader support for B747F and B777F acft?
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2017, 09:38:16 am »
You should probably have a look at the scenery, to understand why the new cargo loading system can only work with a plane with a forward cargo door.

There's a fixed plaform, and the plane must align the main cargo door to it, in order to have the loader vehicle doing only a very short travel to reach it. If you tried to align the main cargo door of a 747 or a 777 to it, the airplane nose will be too far ahead, basically touching the building.

In real life, 747s and 777s do not park there, but in the open.

So, we made a specific detection in GSX that, if the airplane main cargo door is in the back, the parking is treated as a regular cargo parking so, you can still park the airplane there and use GSX, but it will be loaded as usual, from the right side, using the baggage truck trains.

Yes, it's unfortunate there aren't too many options for  757/767/A300/MD11 in P3D4. It's a pity some plane developers doesn't seem to mind of letting their good products to die, like the PMDG MD11 or the QW757.

I even tried to reach out Qualitywings, asking if they needed any help porting the software to 64 bit (I have some experience now, having ported all our modules to V4 in time for the sim release day), but they didn't seem to be interested.

At this time, the best options in P3D V4 are both freeware:

- SkySpirit 767-300F

- Thomas Ruth A300

We can only hope Level-D will be releasing their once beautiful 767 for V4 one day...
« Last Edit: October 16, 2017, 12:24:30 pm by virtuali »

Wise87

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 118
Re: Cargo loader support for B747F and B777F acft?
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2017, 10:53:23 pm »
Level-D is also working on a 757 but there is no telling when that will release. As far as the old 767, it never had a forward cargo door so don't expect to see one anytime in the future. Your best bet is the CaptainSim 757 which I like more than the QW version. As far as the 747 goes, they park on Ramp 11 mainly on the west side next to 35L.